Once upon a time, in a land far away there lived a little girl who lived in a little house in a little village. Her grandmother called her Little Red because of her fiery hair. Everyday little red would bring food to her grandmother, it was her mother’s choice, not hers. Every day she would take her red bike up the main road up to her grandmother’s house. The trip took hours so by the time Little Red would get home the sun would barely kiss the horizon. Every day she would give her grandmother the food she needed. Every day she would listen to her grandmother complain and throw a fit, day after day after day for years.
When Little Red’s mom came home from work she was enraged to see the crimson bike in front of the house. She barged into the house like a hurricane of rage and fury. She burst into Little Reds’ room and dragged her out of her bed, “You were supposed to be at your grandmother’s house, ” she hollered, “she needs this food, or she is going to starve and die. Is that what you want little Red?”
“No mother.”
“Then take this basket, get on your bike, and bring her her food. Here take this extra load of bread because she is probably extra hungry.” Her mother handed her the loaf and pushed her out the door. “Remember, be safe and don’t talk to strangers.” She said monotonously before throwing Little Red her coat and slamming the front door.

Little Red knew that if she were to take the main road she wouldn’t be home till morning. Instead, she decided to take a shortcut through the woods, cutting her trip in half. It is a very dangerous path, full of vagrants and wild beasts, so she doesn’t often take it. However, in stark contrast to its occupants, the forest was beautiful. The forest floor was decorated with flora of all colors and the tree leaves were just barely tinted orange, hinting at fall. It looked like a scene from Little Reds’ favorite book. The air was fresh and sweet and the quiet humming of the wildlife was quite relaxing. With all things considered Little Red only really felt at home in this forest, it was like an extension of herself in every way.

As the sun set the forest was plunged into darkness. The evil creatures of the night came out to play and Little Red was still making her way through the forest and some way behind her was a four-legged friend waiting in the shadows. Little Red needed to take a moment to stop and catch her breath. A low voice came from every direction, “Hello, little girl. How-.”
“Close, but no cigar.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s not little girl, it’s Little Red. See the difference?”
“I- you- anyway. Hello, Little Red. What brings you to my woods so late at night?” The white wolf sneered.
“I’m on my way to my grandmother’s house. She needs some food and I have to bring it to her.”
“Oh?” the wolf changed his demeanor. “Well, these woods can be very dark and dangerous for a young girl like yourself. It would be a shame if something were to happen to you.” Little Red looked the wolf up and down, they locked eyes. The wolf’s eyes were empty but holding some secret desire. Little Red adjusted the extra loaf of bread in her basket. “Let’s make a deal,” said Little Red with a smile, the wolf’s teeth shimmered in the moonlight.
“Thank you for the escort Mr. Wolf, ” Little Red said handing Mr. Wolf a loaf of bread, “I look forward to seeing you again.”
“And so do I, ” he said with a chuckle, “so do I.”
And with that Little Red got back on her bike and rode away. Meanwhile, Mr. Wolf went down his own shortcut to Little Reds’ grandmother’s house.

Little Red arrived a few hours later. She knocked on the front door and there was no response. “Grandmother?” Little Red chirped, “Anyone home?”
“In here sweetie,” she called from her bedroom. Little Red let herself in. The door screened as she closed it, leaving it ever so slightly open.
“My my my, ” Little Red, “grandmother what big eyes you have.”
“The better to see you, ” grandmother said taking off her glasses, “Is that what I’m supposed to say, you insolent little girl?”
“I see, as sharp as ever. Speaking of sharp, ” Little Red said as she picked up the glass with a set of dentures in it, “What sharp teeth you have.”
“Stop playing these silly games and give me my food.” Grandmother reached for the basket Little Red held just out of reach.
“Ah ah ah, not so fast. There’s one more.” Grandmother gave Little Red a suspicious look. “Since when?”
“Today, ” Little Red sat the glass back down, “Grandmother, what a big nose you have.”
“How dare you, you little-,”
“No, that won’t do at all. You’re supposed to say the better to smell you with. Right, Mr. Wolf?” The door crept open behind Little Red, revealing a snarling wolf.
“That’s right Ms. Red, ” Mr. Wolf growled.
“Do you hear that Grandmother? Ms. Red, rolls off the tongue don’t you think?”
“What’s going on here? Little Red, why is there-”
“It’s Ms. Red,” she snapped, “You know what?”
“What?” Grandmother whimpered.
“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, right Mr. Wolf.”
“That’s right Ms. Red,” he began to chuckle.
“I would say it’s been fun grandmother but it wasn’t.” Little Red took her basket and walked past Mr. Wolf. “Little Red, wait-” but Ms. Red was already closing the door.
Ms. Red sat down in the kitchen and started taking out the packed food.
In the next room over Grandmother was screaming and crying for help.
Ms. Red unfolded the cloth on her sandwich.
Mr. Wolf’s claws scraped along the hardwood floor.
Ms. Red put the tomatoes from the sandwich to the side.
Mr. Wolf barked as he jumped into grandmother’s bed.
Ms. Red took out her knife to cut the crusts off the sandwich.
Grandmother’s bed springs rattled.
Ms. Red cut her sandwich into four triangles.
There was a loud shout followed by a quiet slosh just as Ms. Red took her first bite. Then the two are.

An hour later Mr. Wolf walked out of the room. His white fur was stained red. “Thank you for the meal, Ms. Red, ” the wolf said, licking his paw.
“Of course Mr. Wolf.” Ms. Red lowered a cut of meat for Mr. Wolf, “I know you are probably full but so am I.”
“Why thank you, Ms. Red, ” when Mr. Wolf approached the meat he couldn’t help but notice the gash running down Ms. Reds’ arm. The piece of meat was being marinated in it. It smelled fresh and sweet. Before Mr. Wolf could think his instincts kicked in and he lunged at the wound. If he only took a moment he might have noticed her other hand clutching her knife. Just as Mr. Wolf lunged at Ms. Red, Ms. Red lunged at him.
He got to her first, sinking his teeth into her arm. She was quick to respond by cutting his cheek, causing him to release his bite. He retreated to the wall, slack-jawed and bleeding, Ms. Red stood up. Just as Ms. Red took a step there was a knock on the door. “Hello! Anybody home? I’m lost and I could really use a place to stay for the night, ” shouted the visitor. Ms. Red looked down at the bloody wolf and out the window. At the door stood a big burly man with an ax thrown over his shoulder. Before the wolf had a chance to react Little Red screamed at the top of her lungs. She collapsed to the ground as the ax man burst through the door towards the sound of the scream.
The scene was brutal. The bloodstains on the bedroom wall were visible from the kitchen and there was a poor little girl on the floor. She was pointing a knife with a wounded hand at the dirty white wolf in the corner. The axeman was mortified. He drew his ax and Little Red flashed the wolf a mocking smile.
The wolf tried to explain but he couldn’t move his jaw, so nothing came out. He tried backing up but there was nowhere to go, the axeman was blocking the exit.
The axeman walked closer raising his ax in the air.
The wolf tucked his tail between his legs.
It was a clean chop and with a thud, the ax planted itself in the floor at the feet of the wolf. Me Wolf was no more.
The axeman helped Little Red dress her wounds and got her out of the house. Little Red escorted him through her woods and they told everyone what happened, granny was attacked by a wolf, and while Little red was fighting back the axeman burst in and finished the quarrel. “Be careful, ” Ms. Red would say, “you never know who’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”