Little Red Riding Bow

Once upon a time late in the 1880’s there wandered a little girl named Grace, but everyone called her Little Red Riding Bow because she always had a little red bow perched on the top of her head. She twinkled like a little star and was always cheerful. She brought joy to all the people around her. As she ventured into the forest to gather nuts and berries she feared no animal. She loved the world and the world loved her.

Little Red Riding Bow didn’t feel like herself one day and fell ill. She lied in bed sick with a deadly case of the flu. Her evil grandma had to go out and gather nuts and berries instead. Angry that she had to do Red’s work she mumbled to herself barely gathering anything perking up when she hears a small whimpering. Hoping it was an animal she could cook up and eat she went towards it. An old brittle wolf lied before her moving as if it caused him a lot of pain and a lot of effort. His breathing was raggedy and rough. Sweat dripped down his fur.

He rasped,” Little old lady I’m very old and need some food. I’ll give you these 3 gold blocks if you fetch me some meat.”

The grandma liked the idea but didn’t want to go looking for the wolf so she told him…

“Okay old wolf I’ll go get you your meat just stay put”, the grandma ordered.

Just before she left though she wanted to see the gold to make sure the wolf wasn’t trying to trick her for a free meal. In his clawed hand were 3 shining gold blocks. The grandma craved the gold but had no meat. Red and her had been living off of nuts and berries for months! She wanted the gold, she need the gold! She figured,” I’ll just steal the gold when he’s sleeping!” The grandma smiled proud of her idea. She would come back at nightfall.

The dark night draped itself over the sky. The moon was a slender crescent and the stars sparkled like glitter. As she brushed through tangled vines and roots she peered into the clearing and saw the old wolf chanting a spell.

“Ba bam ba bam ba ziggly boo! The gold will stay with me unless I give it to you. Ba bam ba bam ba ziggly boo!” The spell settled onto the gold.

Now she couldn’t steal the gold. Frustrated she turned to run back to the house. A twig snapped under her foot with a loud SNAP! As she glanced back the wolf turned to her, his ears perked up to points, his huge eyes pinpointed on her. Terrified she sprints as fast as her skirts would let her nearly tripping over every root.

She crashed through the door and slammed the door shut pinning it closed with her back when she realized she hadn’t gathered any nuts or berries! She was starving! Her stomach growled greedily for food. There was a little left from yesterday but they were saved for Red. Even though they were supposed to be for Red she gobbled them up without a hint of guilt. Instead she was quite mad. Red was just dragging her down. She didn’t need Red. Red was just a whining nuisance. The evil grandma then came up with a gruesome idea. She would give the wolf Red.

The grandma could’ve wait any longer she charged into Red’s bedroom and shouted so Red would be sure to hear.

“Wake up you lazy bum! I’m taking you on a trip into the forest!”

Red who could barely stand let alone walk collapsed to the floor. Her grandma groaned as she hefted Red up in her arms and headed out into the cold night air.

The wolf was relaxing on a rock about to fall into a deep slumber when he saw a twinkling little girl held in the grandma’s arms. He glared at the beady eyed women.

“Here’s your meat you mangy mutt! Now hand over the gold!” the grandma spat.

The wolf looked around. He didn’t see any meat. The grandma dropped Red to the ground. The red bow snapped out of her hair and found itself crushed to crumbles by the grandma’s foot.

“Never liked that bow. It was quite tacky. Now eat up and give me my gold!” the grandma shouted growing more and more impatient each second.

How could he be expected to eat that little girl?! He may have been a wolf but he wasn’t that cruel! When he looked at the girl he had no feeling to eat her. Instead he actually felt happy but as he eyed the old women the hunger returned. His mouth began to drip with saliva and his stomach rumbled. He knew what to do. He leaped over Red and snatched the grandma’s leg.

“What are you doing?! We had a deal!” the grandma shrieked.

The wolf didn’t answer. He gobbled her up and hovered over Red smacking his lips and licking his snout. Red backed away in fear, her eyes never leaving the wolf. She winced when he touched her with his claw.

“It’s ok little girl. That wicked witch is gone. Now let’s go buy you a new bow”, the wolf said with a smile and they lived happily ever after.

THE END……