Little Red Riding Hood

Once upon a time, there was a sweet little girl who was loved by everyone who looked at her, but most of all by her grandmother, who would have given her anything. Once, the grandmother gave her a little cap of red velvet, which suited her so well that she never wore anything else; thus she was always called “Little Red Riding Hood.”

One day, her mother said to her, “Come, Little Red Riding Hood, here is a piece of cake and a bottle of wine. Take them to your grandmother; she is ill and weak, and these will do her good. Set out before it gets too hot, and when you go, walk nicely and quietly. Do not stray from the path, or you may fall and break the bottle, and then your grandmother will get nothing. When you arrive, do not forget to say, 'Good morning,' and do not peer into every corner before greeting her.”
“I will take great care,” said Little Red Riding Hood to her mother, and she set off.

The grandmother lived out in the woods, about a mile from the village, and as Little Red Riding Hood entered the woods, a wolf met her. Little Red Riding Hood did not know what a wicked creature he was and was not at all afraid of him.

“*Good day, Little Red Riding Hood,*” said the wolf.

“*Thank you kindly, wolf,*” she replied.

“*Where are you going so early, Little Red Riding Hood?*”

“*To my grandmother's house.*”

“*What do you have in your basket?*”

“*Cake and wine. Yesterday was baking day, and these are for my poor sick grandmother, to help her feel stronger.*”

“*Where does your grandmother live, Little Red Riding Hood?*”

“*A good quarter of a league farther into the woods. Her house stands under the three large oak trees, near the nut bushes. You must know it,*” replied Little Red Riding Hood.

The wolf thought to himself, “What a tender young creature! What a delicious meal—she will taste better than the old woman. I must act cunningly to catch both.” So he walked alongside Little Red Riding Hood for a while and then said, “Little Red Riding Hood, look at the beautiful flowers all around you. Why don't you take a look? And listen to the sweet singing of the birds. You walk along so seriously, as if you were going to school, while everything else in the woods is so merry.”

Little Red Riding Hood raised her eyes, and when she saw the sunlight dancing through the trees and the lovely flowers blooming everywhere, she thought, “*If I bring grandmother a fresh bouquet, it will make her happy. It is still early, and I will arrive on time.*” So she left the path and ventured deeper into the woods to pick flowers. Each time she picked one, she saw an even prettier one farther ahead, and so she went deeper and deeper into the woods.

Meanwhile, the wolf went straight to the grandmother's house and knocked at the door.

“*Who is there?*” called the grandmother.

“*It's Little Red Riding Hood,*” replied the wolf. “*I have brought cake and wine; please open the door.*”

“*Open the door,*” called out the grandmother, “*I am too weak to get up.*”

The wolf lifted the latch, and the door opened. Without a word, he went straight to the grandmother's bed and devoured her. Then he put on her clothes, dressed himself in her cap, laid down in her bed, and drew the curtains.

As the wolf lay in grandmother's bed, a mysterious glowing butterfly fluttered through the window, leaving a trail of shimmering light. The wolf felt uneasy - something was different about this version of the tale. In the distance, sounds of drums echoed through the woods, growing louder.

As Little Red Riding Hood wandered off the path, she stumbled upon a peculiar sight: a group of squirrels having a tea party! They wore tiny top hats and monocles, sipping acorn-cap tea and playing cards. One particularly dapper squirrel waved at her with a miniature cookie in hand.

Little Red Riding Hood paused, remembering her mother's warning about staying on the path. The squirrels' tea party was delightful, but something in her heart tugged - grandmother was waiting, sick and alone. She touched her red cap, a symbol of her grandmother's love, and made her choice.

As Little Red Riding Hood turned back toward the path, she heard distant drums growing louder and saw the mysterious glowing butterfly from before, seemingly beckoning her to follow. The forest seemed different now - more magical, yet somehow more dangerous. Which way should she go?

The glowing butterfly landed on a nearby tree trunk, transforming into a small, elderly fox wearing spectacles and a worn leather messenger bag. “Child,” it spoke softly, “your grandmother faces a danger far greater than illness. The wolf who stalks these woods is no ordinary beast.”