Today I have the pleasure of featuring a fairytale re-imagined by Jesse Kimmel-Freeman…She has re-imagined Little Red Riding Hood…
Once upon a time there was a seventeen-year-old girl name Emma. Emma was loved by all but especially her grandmother. Her grandmother loved her so much she made her a fine red velvet riding cloak. She wanted to ensure that Emma was nice and warm on the long walks that the girl liked to take. Emma loved the cloak so much that she never took it off, and everyone called her “Little Red Riding Hood.”
One day her mother asked Emma to take some cookies and milk to her ill grandmother. Her mother instructed her to behave properly while she walked and once she made it to her grandmother’s. It was important to stay on the right path and to respect her elders.
And so Emma left for her grandmother’s. The walk was far and Emma knew that if she dawdled, her poor sick grandmother would have no sweet cookies to help her feel better or nice milk to soothe her throat. Emma walked quickly and kept to the path.
“Good morning, Little Red Riding Hood.” A man dressed in all red called out to her.
“Morning, Mr. Claus.” She replied.
“Where are you headed all alone?” He smiled at her with rosy cheeks.
“I’m going to see my sick grandmama.” She told him.
“What do you have in your basket?” His eyes glittered like two shiny pieces of coal.
“I’m bringing my grandmama some cookies and milk to help her feel better.” Emma smiled at Santa Claus, her straight black hair following around her hood with the sudden breeze.
“Cookies and milk you say?” He licked his lips.
“Yes, now I really must be on my way.” She walked quickly away for she knew just how far her grandmother’s was.
Now Santa Claus thought to himself, “ that girl would surely be on the nice list. Bringing treats to her ailing grandmother. I bet they are very good cookies and the milk is nice and cold… I must be very crafty if I am to get those cookies.”
So Santa walked behind Emma for a little while. When he was certain of where she was headed, he slipped passed her and went to the grandmother’s cottage. He twitched his red nose, a few stray cookie crumbs falling from his beard and up he flew onto the roof. The chimney held no fire, so down he went.
He slid out the bottom in a nice cloud of black.
“Who’s there?” The woman called out from her room.
“Do not fret, it is only Saint Nick.” His voice full of joy.
“It’s not Christmas, what are you doing in my home?” She shouted.
Santa Claus quickly looked around the room for something he could use to tie the woman up. He found a pair of nylons hanging by the fireplace- along with a pair of socks. He grabbed them both and made his way to her room.
“What are you doing?” The woman called out in distress.
“You’re on the naughty list,” was all he said as he tied the old woman up and stuffed her in the closet.
He pulled on her robe and nightcap and got in the bed.
Little Red Riding Hood knocked on her grandmother’s door. She was tired from her long walk and wanted to return home to hang out with Dominic.
“Come in, Little Red.” A gruff voiced called out.
Emma was concerned because her grandmother didn’t sound well at all. She entered the house and found it to be quite dirty and dark.
“Grandmama?” Her voice barely over a whisper.
“I’m in my room.” She heard the reply.
She inched closer to the room, feeling dread and worry.
When she walked in, her grandmother looked bloated and odd.
“Grandmama, are you alright?” She asked as she came closer to the bed.
“I’m just a little under the weather, that’s all.” The gruff voice told her.
“Oh! Grandmama,” she said, “your ears have grown- they’re quite big now.”
“All the better to hear you, my dear child,” was the reply.
“But your eyes, what big eyes you have!” She said.
“All the better to see you with, dear.”
“And your hands, they’ve become so large!”
“All the better to hug you with.”
“Oh! But, grandmama, your mouth is so big!”
“All the better to eat your delicious cookies with.”
Santa jumped from the bed and snatched the baskets of treats from the frightened girl.
“Where is my grandmother?” She demanded.
“Don’t make me put you on the naughty list too, Red.” The fat man replied.
Emma watched in horror as Santa Claus devoured the cookies and guzzled the milk. His mouth crusted in crumbles. She was disgusted with the jolly man. Then she heard a noise.
She crept to the closet and found her grandmother tied up inside. She quickly undid the knots and freed her.
“Oh, it is on Santa.” Her grandmother exited the room and came back with a heavy cast iron skillet.
“How did you…” The shocked Santa said.
“You think you can just barge into my home, eat my treats, and leave me tied up in my own closet?” Her grandmother took a swing at Santa.
“Now, now.” He chuckled at her.
“I put you on the naughty list, Mr. Claus. Go back to your pole.” She swung and connected with his head.
Down he fell in a lump of red.
“Grandmama!” Emma squealed in shock.
“Don’t you worry, Emma. Get Grandmama the shovel… I’ve some trash to bury.” The old woman said to the girl.
Santa and his cookie stealing ways never bothered anyone ever again.
Follow Jesse on her blog and her website.
Thank you for that flash piece Jesse. I have always loved the story of Red Riding Hood and I enjoyed reading your version. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Hop. 🙂
Remember, Readers there is a contest going on this blog for the HolidayHop. Read all the rules and take up the challenge here. There are fantastic prizes, just here on this blog you can win an ebook copy of an amazing collection of short stories plus you go into the grand HolidayHop prize draw for the Kindle Touch.Don’t forget to hop to the other bloggers this holiday season and let the festive spirit infect you!
Kim Koning 