The Story Of Little Red Riding Hood In The City

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The Story of Little Red Riding Hood in the City

by Guy A. Duperreault

Once upon a time, in a dark and treeless part of the city, there lived with her mother a little girl with short black hair. The little girl was known as Little Red Riding Hood because the bright red coat she always wore had a big hood and because no one in the neighbourhood knew her name. Everyone thought that Little Red Riding Hood was very strange because she wore that coat every day, rain or shine, and because she did not play with anyone. What they did not know was that the coat was a cherished gift from her beloved grandmother, who lived in a suburb beyond the other side of the city. Nor did they know that Little Red Riding Hood's mother was afraid of the city and the people in it and so forbade Little Red Riding Hood from playing with or talking to the other children. Little Red Riding Hood was very lonely. Because her mother took pride in her responsibilities to provide a clean home and good and abundant food for her daughter, she worked at two part-time, low paying, jobs. And she took night school classes in order to get her grade twelve and a high paying job. But this meant that she was too busy to play with Little Red Riding Hood. "I'm too tired tonight," she said almost every night, or "Can't you see I'm doing school work?" Nor would she take her out shopping. "I don't have time to look out for a little girl in the hustle and bustle of the city," she said many times. Nor did she let Little Red Riding Hood help in the kitchen. "The kitchen is a dangerous place!" her mother said over and over. "I don't have time to look out for you and cook at the same time." Little Red Riding Hood did not even have the opportunity to love or hate a baby sitter. "We can't afford a baby sitter. Besides, you are a big girl now and don't need one any more." Little Red Riding Hood could not remember ever having had one. Because Little Red Riding Hood's mother was frightened of the city she went to selfdefence classes twice a week. After getting home from them she would show Little Red Riding Hood the new punch or block or kick or fall. Little Red Riding Hood strove to master them with the hope that her mother would then let her play with the neighbourhood children. But no matter how good Little Red Riding Hood got she was still forbidden from playing with the other children. For a long time Little Red Riding Hood begged her mother to let her play with the children whose laughter and crying she could hear through the windows and in the hallways outside their one room apartment. But Little Red Riding Hood's mother refused to even consider it and even threatened to lock Little Red Riding Hood her in her room with nothing to eat if she disobeyed. Eventually Little Red Riding Hood stopped asking to play with the others, even though her heart ached to be with them. Instead she hugged Piglet, her rather ragged teddy bear and only friend. With each day that went by Little Red Riding Hood felt a little more lonely and spoke a little less often. And bad as all this was, which was very bad, the worst was that Little Red Riding Hood's mother had no time to listen to her stories. Whenever Little Red Riding Hood would ask "Mom, can I tell you a story," her mother would say "Not now, dear. I'm busy. But I'll be happy to hear it later." Or she would say "Not now dear, we're eating. It is improper to eat and talk at the

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same time. Tell me later." But later never came. Eventually Little Red Riding Hood stopped speaking altogether, but her mother didn't notice. The only fun that Little Red Riding Hood had was on Tuesdays. On Tuesdays her mother would give Little Red Riding Hood a cookie tin filled with blueberry muffins and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies to take to her Grandmother's house. Her mother would walk Little Red Riding Hood to the bus stop. Sometimes when they walked Little Red Riding Hood would smile at the children who had stopped playing to watch her, but invariably her mother would say "How many times have I told you not to talk to strangers? And that includes smiling!" On those days it was only the thought of visiting her Grandmother that kept Little Red Riding Hood from crying. On this particular Tuesday, when the bus came, her mother said "Remember! Don't talk to strangers!" She had not noticed that Little Red Riding Hood no longer talked at all. Then, as usual, her mother told the bus driver to look out for her little girl. And, like he did every Tuesday morning, the bus driver tipped his hat and smiled. Then her mother turned to Little Red Riding Hood and said "Be a good girl" and kissed her on the forehead. She waved good-bye as the bus pulled away. About an hour later everyone on the bus was startled by a resounding BANG! The driver quickly slowed the bus and parked it. "Nothing to worry about folks!" he called out over his shoulder. "We've got a flat tire. That's all! Just a flat." The passengers mumbled and grumbled. "I've called the garage to get it changed," he yelled over the muttering, "so please wait outside until the next bus comes. That should be in an hour or so. Have a nice day!" And so Little Red Riding Hood found herself amidst a group of milling disgruntled adults. No one noticed her, least of all the bus driver. When Little Red Riding Hood looked around she realized that she knew the way to her Grandmother's house from here, so she began to walk. She looked at the beautiful trees and flowers in the yards. From the bus she had never really noticed how beautiful everything was. Nor had she been able to stop and smell the flowers as she was now did with great delight. This is my lucky day, she thought. Eventually she came to a huge park, one filled with trees which reached the sky and touched the clouds. At the sight of the park she knew she was almost at her Grandmother's house because they had visited it in the past. As she was walking by it, she saw beneath the trees she saw a big and beautiful squirrel. It nervously looked at her while it put its tiny hand-like paws to its mouth, took a bite from the nut or piece of grass then, in bursts of rapid jawing, chewed the morsel. Little Red Riding Hood was fascinated. She had never been this close to a squirrel before. When the squirrel finished eating it looked at her and seemed to ask "Do you have something else I can eat?" Little Red Riding Hood looked at the tin of muffins and cookies in her hands. She thought that her Grandmother wouldn't miss anything because, despite thick glasses, she had been declared legally blind two years ago. So Little Red Riding Hood carefully opened the tin and took from it one of the cookies. Little Red Riding Hood carefully put the cookie on the open palm of her hand and reached out to the squirrel. The squirrel did not move. Little Red Riding Hood inched closer and closer until the squirrel bolted into the park and up a tree. Little Red Riding Hood rushed into the park after it. Once inside she stopped short. All about her were tiny wild flowers, the most beautiful she had ever seen. Some were yellow, others white, others pale lavender. She was enchanted and, for the first time in many weeks, began to hum a happy song. These flowers would be a great gift for her Grandmother, Little Red Riding Hood thought. So she began to pick them. She followed the tiny flowers deeper and deeper into the park,

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humming and singing. "Hello, little girl," a deep, gravely voice said, as if out of nowhere. Little Red Riding Hood jumped with fright and dropped all the flowers. "Don't be frightened," the voice rumbled, scaring Little Red Riding Hood even more. "Here, let me help you," it said, and out from the shadows strode a gigantic Wolf. Little Red Riding Hood was too frightened to move. The Wolf gently set the cookie tin in front of her. "Here," he said, "I believe you left this behind." And then, with surprising tenderness, the Wolf gathered up the dropped flowers. Without a word he held them out to her. "Th-th-thank you," Little Red Riding Hood stuttered. "My pleasure, Miss," the Wolf said. As she took them her hand brushed, oh so lightly, the Wolf's paw. It's fur was so soft and warm that Little Red Riding Hood's fear immediately disappeared. "Who are you?" Little Red Riding Hood politely asked. "I am a friend of your mother's," the Wolf lied soothingly, rubbing his head gently against Little Red Riding Hood's side. "She sent me after you to make sure no harm befell you." With these words Little Red Riding Hood scratched the Wolf behind his ears. He in turn began to softly nuzzle her other hand, and gave her small fingers tiny, gentle licks. "I can help you," said the Wolf after a while. "You can?" Little Red Riding Hood asked. "How?" "You need a place to put your flowers," the Wolf answered. "Without water they will quickly wilt." "That's okay," Little Red Riding Hood said. "They are a gift for my Grandmother. She lives nearby. I am on my way there now." "Of course!" said the Wolf. "If you like, I can take the cookie tin to her. That way your hands would be free to pick even more flowers. Surely your grandmother would be even more pleased?" crooned the Wolf. "How thoughtful of you," said Little Red Riding Hood with a smile. So she gave him the tin and the key to unlock her Grandmother's door. "I'm sorry, but I have forgotten where she lives," lied the Wolf a second time. "That's okay," said Little Red Riding Hood who then gave him the directions. "Don't be long," said the Wolf. "You don't want to worry your Grandmother!" And with a quick wag of his tail the Wolf sped away into the trees and out of sight. While Little Red Riding Hood was picking flowers the Wolf hurried to her Grandmother's house and quietly let himself in. "Who is there?" asked Grandmother when she heard the lock click open. "Is that you, Granddaughter?" "No, it is I," said the Wolf who, in one big gulp, swallowed Little Red Riding Hood's Grandmother whole before she could say another word. While he waited for Little Red Riding Hood he grew sleepy, so he went into Grandmother's bedroom and climbed onto her bed and quickly fell into a deep and peaceful sleep. When Little Red Riding Hood arrived at her Grandmother's house she found the door ajar. That's strange, she thought to herself, because Grandmother always keeps the door locked. "Grandmother! It's me!" Little Red Riding Hood called out after going in. "Where are you?" "I am here," said the Wolf, waking himself up as quickly as possible and trying to imitate the Grandmother's voice, "in the bedroom. I'm just resting, dear." When the Wolf hurriedly hid

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himself underneath the blankets he knocked Rupert, Grandmother's stuffed tom cat, onto the floor with his tail. "You sound sick, Grandmother. Are you ill?" Little Red Riding Hood asked as she walked into the bedroom. "Yes, dear, I am," answered the Wolf. But one look at the bed and Little Red Riding Hood could see that it was not her Grandmother, but the Wolf, who was in bed. "Hello, Wolf," she said. "Where is Grandmother?" "She is here, in bed with me," answered the Wolf in his normal voice. "Why not join us? It is warm and cosy." Little Red Riding Hood walked around to the other side of the bed. As she was starting to take off her coat she noticed her Grandmother's stuffed cat on the floor. Little Red Riding Hood knew that her Grandmother would never let Rupert stay on the floor. "Where's my Grandmother?" Little Red Riding Hood demanded. "She is right here, with me," the Wolf lied as smoothly as he could. "See," he said as he lifted up the blankets invitingly to Little Red Riding Hood. Little Red Riding Hood went to look. "Where?" she asked. "Here!" the Wolf growled menacingly. But before he could even try to eat her, Little Red Riding Hood hit him so hard on the nose that his eyes watered up like fountains so that he couldn't see. He howled in pain. As he tried to dry his eyes and get clear of the blankets at the same time. Little Red Riding Hood ran from the bedroom as fast as she could, yelling "HELP!" as loudly as she could. Somehow, for the first time in a long long time, her mother actually heard her. She dropped the tray of food she was about to serve and ran out of the café and hailed a taxi. Meanwhile the Wolf had recovered and took chase after Little Red Riding Hood. She heard his claws on the hardwood floor getting closer and closer, but was out the front doorway just as the Wolf pounced. Little Red Riding Hood quickly swung the heavy door closed and the Wolf hit the door head first at full speed with a crash that shook the house. He fell onto the floor in a crumpled heap. Little Red Riding Hood cautiously pressed her ear against the door to determine if the Wolf was moving or not. There was not a sound, as the Wolf had been knocked unconscious. She tried to open the door but it was locked and the Wolf had her key. Unsure about what to do next, Little Red Riding Hood waited by the giant chestnut tree in the front yard. About twenty minutes later her mother jumped out of a cab and ran to her. "What happened?" she asked. "A Wolf ate grandmother!" Little Red Riding Hood said. "And it tried to eat me too!" "He did, did he?" her mother said angrily. With her key she opened the door and walked into the house. She tripped over the Wolf which jarred him back to consciousness. Little Red Riding Hood, who had followed her saw that the Wolf was regaining consciousness, cried "Look out!" to her mother. From the floor Little Red Riding Hood's mother swing her foot in a strong kick under his chin which had enough force to snap it back hard against the door jam. Once again the Wolf lost consciousness and lay inert on the floor. Then her mother jumped to her feet and ran to the kitchen. She returned with sharp knife and with a couple of quick flicks she had cut open the Wolf's belly. Out popped Little Red Riding Hood's Grandmother, a little disoriented, but otherwise fine. She was put to bed, muttering "My, my, my...." Little Red Riding Hood made sure that her Grandmother's stuffed cat, Rupert, was set on the bed table to watch over her. When Little Red Riding Hood got back to the living room she said to her mother "We can't

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leave the Wolf like that!" "You're right," her mother said. "Get some thread and needles," which Little Red Riding Hood did from Grandma's sewing room. Then Little Red Riding Hood and her mother sewed up the Wolf's belly, but not before filling it with the flowers Little Red Riding Hood had picked for her grandmother. When the Wolf woke up, which wasn't until late that night, he was from that moment on their guardian. And neither Little Red Riding Hood nor her mother were frightened of the city and strangers any more. Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf played with the other children in her neighbourhood and, whenever Little Red Riding Hood had a story to tell, her mother and the Wolf listened.

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