Little Red Riding Hood

There was once a little girl who always wore the red cap her grandmother had made for her. Because of it, everyone called her Little Red Riding Hood. One morning her mother placed a cake and a small bottle of wine in a basket and asked her to carry them through the forest to her sick grandmother. “Keep to the path,” her mother said, “and do not run about, or the basket may be spoiled.”

Little Red Riding Hood stepped into the wood. Leaves whispered overhead, and wildflowers shone beside the path. There she met a wolf, who spoke as though he were the politest creature in the forest. He asked where she was going, and the child, not knowing how dangerous he was, told him the way to Grandmother’s house.

The wolf hurried ahead with a wicked plan. Before he went, he said, “See how lovely the flowers are. Your grandmother would be glad of a little nosegay.” Little Red Riding Hood looked around and saw blossoms bright in the grass. She left the path to gather them, going deeper and deeper among the trees.

Meanwhile the wolf reached the cottage, knocked, and was let in. He swallowed the grandmother, put on her cap, and lay down in her bed. When Little Red Riding Hood arrived, the room felt strangely still. “Grandmother, what large ears you have,” she said. “The better to hear you with,” answered the wolf. Then came the questions about his eyes, hands, and mouth, until the wolf sprang up and swallowed her too.

A huntsman passing by heard the heavy snoring and entered the cottage. He saw that it was not Grandmother in the bed, but the wolf. Carefully he rescued both Grandmother and the child. Little Red Riding Hood was glad to see the sunlight again. From that day she remembered that flowers may be beautiful, but the safe path matters more.