The Legend of Red Riding Hood
Once upon a time, on the edge of the deep wood there lived a young lady who always wore a hood of scarlet. Because of this she was called "Red Riding Hood." Red's mother, who was an herbalist, wanted to move deeper into the forest in order to find the rare potent ingredients that grew there. However she did not want to subject her daughter to the dangers that lurked deep within the shadows. Because of this decision, Red was of course upset but accepted it. Arrangements had been made that Red would stay with her uncle. Upon hearing this news Red became even more upset for her uncle was a stern man. He rarely smiled or laughed. When he wasn't hunting or farming he would sit down in one of his armchairs and read a read a book.
When Red and her uncle arrived at his cottage by the lake he did something very cruel. He locked Red in a corset made of iron. As she quivered in fear on the floor he told her that she would not be able to leave and live with her mother until she was strong enough to break the corset. She smashed at it every night with her bare fists. She hated it. And sure enough a week later the corset finally broke. She showed it to her uncle in triumph. He was reluctant to let her go but agreed on one condition. He gave her strict instructions to stay on the path and be sure to follow the trail of the needle and steer clear of the way of the nail. She agreed at once and set off on her journey.
As she neared the fork in the road, a hunter who had been watching her decided to follow her as to at least make sure no harm befell the girl for he knew the dangers of the forest better than almost anyone. As Red finally approached the fork in the road something jumped out at her. It had the body of a man but the features of a wolf.
The wolf was sly and cunning and asked her, "Where might you be going on such a lovely evening my pretty girl?" Red was nervous and still a little shaken from when the wolf had jumped at her but she was polite and answered, "I'm on my way to my mother's house in the heart of the forest." The wolf quickly devised a plan and said, "Since I am a creature of the night I know my way around the forest well and you might get there faster if you take the way of the nail." She stood silent for a moment but eventually answered, "Thank you. I will be sure to take that in mind." With this she walked off on the trail of the nail. The wolf waited until she was out of sight and made haste down the quicker way the way of the needle.
Suddenly the wolf's eyes ran red with hunger. He wasn't going to let anyone meddle with his plans for a meal. The hunter who had seen this all began to follow the wolf swiftly and silently. But when it comes to being followed unseen wolves are much harder to fool than little girls. The wolf knew he was being followed and decided to stop and confront the hunter. With this a fierce battle began. The wolf bared his teeth and raised his claws just as the hunter removed his cape and drew his sword. Both were equally fierce and strong. But in the end the wolf's speed prevailed. The wolf managed to escape the hunter leaving him lost in the forest.
The wolf finally arrived at the cabin in the heart of the deep forest. Without any hesitation he ran inside and killed Red's mother just as she arrived down the way of the nail. Thinking quickly the wolf took the mother's nightgown and put it on. The wolf finished his disguise just as Red knocked on the door three times. The wolf said in cloyingly sweet voice to come in. Red was hungry from her long walk through the forest and asked the wolf if he had anything to eat. The wolf said that there were food and drink laid out on the kitchen table. Red eagerly sat down and took a bite of meat just as a hawk perched itself on the windowsill. The hawk, which had seen everything, told her, "Do not be foolish young girl for you are eating you own mother's flesh." She said to her "mother", "Mother, the bird says that I'm eating your flesh." And the wolf replied, "Throw a hatch at that nasty bird he tells you lies." But by the time she turned to speak to the hawk it had already flown away. She then took a big drink from a glass of wine. Her mother's cat walked over and said to her, "Ignorant girl you are drinking your own mother's blood." This unnerved the girl. Red's hand suddenly began to shake. She turned to face the wolf and said, "Mother, your cat said that I'm drinking your blood." And the wolf replied, "Toss a shoe at that cat he is good for nothing." But the cat had already left in search of a new home. Red finished the rest of her meal undisturbed.
After finishing her meal Red told the wolf that she was sleepy and wanted to rest. The wolf told her to undress and make ready for bed. As Red walked back into the room she noticed her mother staring at her with hungry eyes. It was then that she started noticing queer things about her mother. "Mother, look at how big your eyes are," she said. And the wolf replied, "Without them, I couldn't see you nearly as well my dear." Red then said, "Mother, look at how big your ears are." The wolf replied, "All the better to hear the beating of your heart my daughter." "Mother, look how long your nails are," said Red. And the wolf said, "Without them I couldn't reach out and touch you my dear." As if she had lost all hope Red said in a quivering whisper, "Mother, look how big your teeth are." The wolf pulled down the hood of the nightgown and ate Little Red Riding Hood.
Having escaped the forest the hunter arrived too late. He saw what the wolf had done and swore that one day he would kill him. But wolves really are smarter aren't they…