RED: A Naturalist/Realist's Twist on Little Red Riding Hood

Red

By: E. J. 

Little Red Riding Hood, poor as can be,

put on her red coat that came down to her knees. 

She was handed a bag full of slices of bread 

and a note to her gram from her mother that read...

"I wish I had money for treatment to spare.

Sadly, I only have this bread to share.

With love from your daughter.

Please know that I care."

So out in the rain Little Red did go. 

What lay ahead of her, she didn't know. 

Beyond neon lights, in the bars, music boomed. 

Through muddy puddles the richest cars zoomed.

All through town Little Red walked on. 

"Oh my!" she exclaimed. "This walk is so long!"

Her hair was now wet. She was shaking with fright. 

She couldn't wait to get out of the cold, rainy night. 

Then from the darkness a deep voice boomed.

A tall man had emerged.

His beard wasn't well groomed.

"Hello little girl. Where are you going?" 

His wolf-like eyes looked down on her glowing. 

"To grandmother's house." Little Red spoke sweetly.

She then began to back away discreately.

"But in the rain? The walk must be so far. 

Wouldn't you like a ride in my car?"

"Oh yes," she admitted. "But she lives over there. 

It's nice, however, to know that you care.

Grandma is sick. I musn't waste time.

Thank you again for being so kind."

Little Red carried on quicker now than before.

A step wasn't lost for her feet that were sore. 

As for the wolf, oh he wasn't done. 

His fun for the night had only begun. 

He jumped in his car and drove right past her. 

Though she walked fast, he had to be faster. 

Through the back door (it was open by luck)

and down a dark hallway the wolfman snuck. 

He crept up to grandma fast asleep in her chair. 

He came so close that his paws touched her hair.

But a knock at the door made him jump in the air. 

He ran in the closet, hid with the brooms, 

and watched Little Red come into the room. 

"Grandma, how are you? I missed you so much!" 

Poor grandma's hands were cold to the touch. 

"Little Red," grandma said. "I'm so glad you're here!

I cannot speak loudly. Come closer dear."

Little Red obeyed and came close to her ear. 

"I have some good news for you and your mom. 

The treatments have worked. 

The cancer's all gone!"

"That's fantastic grandma! You'll be alright!

I brought you some bread.

Can I please have a bite?"

"Sure Little Red. Take as much as you may.

But before you do, I have something to say."

Grandma spoke low, as quiet as a mouse.

Not a noise could be heard through the entire house. 

"Take my instructions. Listen closely now dear. 

There's someone in the closet, 

not too friendly I fear." 

However, the wolfman had very big ears. 

Out of the closet, he yelled, "Stay where you are! 

Make one more move and you won't go very far!"

He reached in his pocket and pulled out a gun

and right at that moment, grandma screamed, "Run!"

But Little Red didn't make it. She was too slow. 

He grabbed her red coat. She yelled, "No! Let me go!"

"You've made me angry!" He boomed. "Sit in that chair!

And for your sake, I tell you, don't move a hair!"

Little Red and her grandma sat and watched scared. 

"Now look what you've done! This could have gone nicely.

I wouldn't be mad if you'd done precisely

what I told you to do. 

Now that's all thrown away.

And for all your actions, little girl, you must pay!"

He pointed his gun at grandma, then thought.

"This is not enough fun. Oh no, it is not."

He opened the barrel and emptied the gun

of all of the bullets except for just one.

Then he pulled another revolver from out of his waist. 

He took his time. His actions weren't in haste. 

"Now Little Red, let's play a game. 

Russian Roulette would be the name."

He handed her the gun with just one bullet inside 

and put the other against her head so she couldn't run and hide. 

"You have one chance and I'll let you free.

Aim at grandma over there, you see? 

Pull the trigger just once for me. 

And if the bullet hits her skin, 

the game will be over. 

You will win."

Little tears fell off her face.

She was more than scared. 

Grandma didn't make a move.

She just sat and stared. 

A barrel raised.

A trigger pulled. 

Strange how fate works in this world. 

A life was lost that rainy night,

all because of bread. 

The wolf and girl haven't been seen 

since grandma's blood pooled red. 

The End.