Little Red Riding Hood
Once upon a time, in a village surrounded by vast forests and green meadows, there lived a girl named Little Red Riding Hood.
This nickname came from a beautiful red velvet hood that her grandmother had given her and that she never took off because she loved how it looked on her.
One sunny spring morning, Little Red Riding Hood's mother, while finishing baking an apple pie, called her daughter.
—Little Red Riding Hood, I want you to take this cake and some honey to your grandmother. I heard she's feeling a little under the weather, and I'm sure this will brighten her day.
—Sure, Mom, I'll go right away.
Little Red Riding Hood responded, excited by the mission she had been entrusted with.
—Remember, daughter, don't stray from the path and go straight to your grandmother's house. The forest is very beautiful, but it's also easy to get lost in it. And don't talk to strangers.
—I'll do everything right, Mom.
—said Little Red Riding Hood as she kissed her mother before leaving.
Little Red Riding Hood began her journey to Grandma's house, enjoying the warm sun and the birds singing.
I hadn't walked far when, from among the trees, a wolf appeared. It was large and gray-furred, but its voice was soft and friendly.
—Good morning, Little Red Riding Hood. —
The wolf greeted with a smile that seemed harmless.
-Hello!
—she replied, immediately remembering her mother's advice, but not wanting to seem rude to the stranger.
—What a beautiful morning, isn't it?
—commented the wolf, approaching slowly.
- Where are you going so happy?
—I'm going to my grandmother's house
Little Red Riding Hood answered
— She's a little sick, so I'm bringing her a cake and some honey to make her feel better.
—What a thoughtful granddaughter you are!
—said the wolf, feigning admiration
— And tell me, where does your grandmother live?
—In a little house on the other side of the woods, beyond the old mill
—Little Red Riding Hood replied, feeling reassured by the friendly conversation.
The wolf frowned, quickly calculating his next steps, but kept his tone friendly.
—You know what? It looks like we're both going in the same direction. I've got an idea for something to make the journey more fun: how about we race to your grandma's house? You can follow this nice path, and I'll take... another path I know. We'll see who gets there first. It'll be fun!
Little Red Riding Hood, who loved challenges and suspected nothing, accepted with enthusiasm.
—All right! May the best man win!
—she said with a smile, excited by the idea.
The wolf, hiding his malicious joy, quickly entered the forest, while Little Red Riding Hood continued her walk, distracted by the flowers and small animals she encountered along the way. Unbeknownst to her, she had accepted a challenge that would test her obedience and cunning.
While Little Red Riding Hood lingered on her walk, marveling at the butterflies and picking wild flowers, the wolf, who knew every shortcut in the forest very well, ran quickly toward Grandmother's house.
His legs moved nimbly and silently over the leaves, and in no time, he reached his destination.
Grandma's little house was just down the path, surrounded by tall oak trees and with a chimney that let out a trickle of smoke. The wolf, with a malicious grin, crept up to the door and knocked softly.
-Who is it? -
A weak and tired voice was heard from inside.
The wolf, pretending to be Little Red Riding Hood as best he could, lied, saying he was bringing cake and honey from his mother.
—Oh, dear, I'm in bed and can't get up. Just pull the string by the door and come in.
The wolf, wasting no time, opened the door and entered stealthily. There he found the grandmother lying in her bed. Without giving her time to react, the wolf quickly covered her with a blanket and hid her in the closet.
Then, very cleverly, he put on some of his clothes and his nightcap, and lay down on the bed, covering himself up to his nose with the sheets.
Not long after, Little Red Riding Hood, her basket now full of flowers and gifts for her grandmother, finally arrived at the little house, a little tired but happy about the beautiful day she was having.
Seeing the door ajar, she felt a little strange, but thought that her grandmother might have gotten up and not closed it properly.
—Grandma, I'm here! —
he exclaimed happily as he entered.
The wolf, from the bed, modified his voice to sound weak and sickly.
—Come in, dear, I'm in bed. Let me see what you brought me.
Little Red Riding Hood cautiously approached the bed, sensing something odd about the atmosphere. The room was darker than usual, and there was a strange smell in the air.
—Grandma, are you okay? Your voice sounds strange.
—Yes, dear, it's just a cold. Come here and give me a kiss.
Little Red Riding Hood came a little closer and then noticed something strange about the figure lying in the bed.
—Grandma, why do you have such big ears?
—They are to hear you better, my girl.
—And those eyes, why are they so big?
—They're to see you better, dear.
Little Red Riding Hood began to feel a growing fear, every detail began to become more alarming.
—But Grandma, what big teeth you have!
—The better to eat you!!!
At that moment, the wolf jumped out of bed, revealing his true form.
Little Red Riding Hood gave a scream of terror and quickly retreated toward the door. The wolf advanced toward her, but at that very moment, a noise was heard outside the house. The village hunter, alerted by the screams, was quickly approaching.
Little Red Riding Hood, paralyzed with fear, could hardly believe her eyes. The wolf, now fully revealed in his fearsome form, was approaching her with an evil grin.
But before he could do anything else, the door burst open and the village hunter appeared, alerted by the girl's screams.
—Stop right there, you evil beast! —
shouted the hunter, raising his shotgun.
The wolf, surprised and frightened, stopped in his tracks and looked toward the door, calculating if he had any chance of escape.
—Little Red Riding Hood, run to me!
—exclaimed the hunter.
Without hesitation, Little Red Riding Hood ran into the hunter's safe arms, who quickly pulled her behind him.
—Come on, hunter, you don't have to break up with me. We can work this out another way.
—Silence, wolf! —
replied the hunter firmly—
—I won't let you hurt anyone else.
The hunter made a drastic decision to ensure everyone's safety in the future.
—I can't let you be a threat again.
—said the hunter seriously.
With a swift, sure motion, the hunter raised his shotgun and aimed directly at the wolf's heart. Despite the wolf's pitiful gasps, he knew he couldn't risk it causing further harm. With a single, decisive shot, he ended the threat the wolf posed. The wolf's body fell to the ground, and the forest seemed to breathe at peace again.
Little Red Riding Hood, still trembling, approached the bed and remembered her grandmother.
—My grandmother, where is she?
The hunter, realizing there was still more to do, approached the closet and carefully opened it. There stood the grandmother, frightened but unharmed.
—Little Red Riding Hood, my dear, thank God you're okay. —
said the grandmother as she came out of the closet with the help of the hunter.
—Thank you for saving us, Mr. Hunter. —
said the grandmother, hugging Little Red Riding Hood.
—Remember, Little Red Riding Hood, never stray from the path and don't talk to strangers.
Said the hunter.
—I'll remember that.
Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother enjoyed the cake and honey together, grateful for the brave rescue and the lesson learned.
Little Red Riding Hood, now wiser, promised that she would never again ignore her mother's advice.