Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood

Once there was a little girl whom everyone in the village loved, and her grandmother loved her most of all. One day, Grandmother made her a little cap of red velvet. It suited the girl so well that from then on everyone called her Little Red Riding Hood.

One morning, Mother put a cake, a jar of raspberry jam, and a bottle of berry drink into a basket.

“Grandmother is feeling weak today,” she said. “Take these treats to her. And remember: stay on the familiar path, don’t wander deep into the woods, and don’t tell strangers where you are going.”

“All right, Mother,” Little Red Riding Hood promised.

Grandmother’s cottage stood beyond the forest, near three old oak trees. The road was not long, and the morning was so bright that the girl walked along humming to herself.

At the edge of the woods, she met a wolf.

He bowed politely.

“Good morning, Little Red Riding Hood.”

The girl was surprised, but she greeted him too.

“And where are you going so early?”

Little Red Riding Hood was about to answer when she remembered her mother’s words.

“Visiting someone,” she said.

“And what is in the basket?”

“Some treats.”

The wolf narrowed his eyes. He was cunning and loved finding out other people’s secrets.

“Look at those flowers!” he said suddenly. “Surely you won’t walk past without gathering a bouquet?”

Little Red Riding Hood stopped. The flowers really were beautiful: bluebells, white daisies, and tiny woodland violets.

“Grandmother would love them,” she thought.

She stepped only a few paces off the path. Then she saw another flower. And beyond it, another.

Before she knew it, the girl had wandered among the trees.

Meanwhile, the wolf ran straight to Grandmother’s cottage.

He knocked.

“Who is it?” came a voice from inside.

The wolf answered in a thin voice.

“It’s me, Little Red Riding Hood. I’ve brought cake and jam.”

Grandmother immediately became suspicious. The voice sounded similar, but not quite right.

“Tell me the song we sang last Sunday,” she called.

The wolf was confused. He did not know any of Grandmother’s songs.

“I don’t remember! Open the door quickly!”

Now Grandmother knew that a stranger was outside. She quietly fastened the inner bolt and moved toward the pantry, where there was a second little window.

But the wolf found an unlocked kitchen window and climbed inside. When he saw Grandmother, he did not attack her. Instead, he decided to frighten her.

“Hide in the pantry and keep quiet,” he growled.

Grandmother did not argue. She went into the pantry and locked the door from the inside.

The wolf pulled on her nightcap, climbed into bed, and drew the blanket all the way up to his nose.

Soon Little Red Riding Hood arrived. Remembering her mother’s advice again, she knocked.

“Grandmother, it’s me!”

“Come in,” the wolf answered hoarsely.

The girl stepped across the threshold and immediately felt that something was strange. The room was far too quiet.

She walked over to the bed.

“Grandmother, what big ears you have today.”

“All the better to hear you with.”

“And what big eyes you have.”

“All the better to see you with.”

“And what big hands you have.”

“All the better to hug you with.”

Little Red Riding Hood took a step back.

“And why does your voice sound so strange?”

The wolf threw off the blanket.

“Because I’m not your grandmother at all!”

The girl was frightened, but she did not scream. She rushed for the door. The wolf tried to block her way, but his paw caught on the edge of the blanket and he tumbled onto the floor.

Little Red Riding Hood dashed outside and called loudly for help.

A forester happened to be passing nearby. He heard her cry and ran to the cottage.

When the wolf saw the grown man, he leaped out through the kitchen window and raced into the forest so fast that leaves whirled behind him.

“Grandmother!” cried Little Red Riding Hood.

A knocking sound came from the pantry.

The forester opened the door, and Grandmother stepped out.

“Are you all right?” the girl asked.

“I am,” Grandmother smiled. “And you?”

Little Red Riding Hood nodded, then hugged her tightly.

“I left the path. And I nearly got into terrible trouble.”

“The important thing is that you understand that now,” Grandmother said. “Everyone makes mistakes. What matters is learning from them.”

They sat down at the table, cut the cake, and brewed some tea. The forester was given a slice too.

A few days later, Little Red Riding Hood carried treats to Grandmother again. This time she walked straight along the path and did not let herself be distracted.

At the edge of the woods, the wolf appeared once more.

“Good morning,” he said. “Why not take another road today? The berries are sweeter there.”

“No, thank you,” Little Red Riding Hood replied. “I know my way.”

And she walked on.

The wolf stood there for a little while, then disappeared among the trees. He understood that his tricks would not work this time.

When Little Red Riding Hood reached Grandmother’s cottage, they locked the door together, set the basket on the table, and laughed.

“You know, Grandmother,” the girl said, “now I understand that being brave doesn’t mean never being afraid.”

“Then what does it mean?”

“Remembering what to do even when you are a little scared.”

Grandmother nodded.

“Now that is true wisdom.”

From then on, Little Red Riding Hood did not stop admiring flowers, listening to birds, or enjoying the forest. She had simply learned to do those things in places and at times when it was safe.

And for many years afterward, her little red velvet cap could still be seen bobbing along the familiar path between the village and the three old oak trees.

May this story leave a little light in your heart ✨