Red Riding Hoodie

I was lost and I knew it. Dry leaves crackled under my feet with each step. The  moon was a giant yellow flashlight in the sky. Grandma was sick, so I found myself navigating my way home on my own two feet instead of in a car. I had foolishly taken a shortcut through the woods, and when it became obvious I was lost, it was too late to turn back. I tugged at the frayed ends of my old red hoodie and fingered my long-dead phone.

“Going somewhere?” A stranger growled.

Now, it had been drilled into my head by my parents the number one rule: don’t talk to strangers. But I was lost, and maybe, just maybe, this person could help me. So I ignored my parents advice and turned around.

I was surprised to see a rather small, skinny wolf instead of a man. I wondered for a second if I had imagined hearing voices. The wolf looked at me questionably and asked, “I said, going somewhere?”

“Y-you can talk?” I sputtered out. My eyes were wide and my heart was pounding.

“Yes I can talk. Now where are you headed too, little girl?”

I stiffened. “I am NOT a little girl. I’m almost fourteen. I’m on my way to my Grandmas house, if you must know.”

“Interesting.” The wolf took a step closer and  I noticed how very sharp his teeth were.

I knew I was losing it. Animals don’t talk. But since I was already insane, would it really hurt to ask for help?

“I’m lost actually,” I confessed.

The wolves eyes gleamed in the darkness with unnatural intelligence. “I’ll make a path for you, when you hear me howling you will know I found the house, then follow my prints.”

“Okay.”

Then the wolf took off running in the same direction I had been walking for hours and hours.

When I was alone, I started thinking about how much of my sanity I had left. Was I in reality at a hospital right now getting treated? That would explain the talking animals. Or was I dreaming?

I shivered and wished I had worn a warmer jacket, it was cold.

A piercing howl tore through the woods, and I thought oh, what the heck. I’ll just follow the tracks. Who cares if i’m dreaming or not?

And without a second thought, I took off into the woods. Following a wolfs prints.

After some time I started to slow down. There was mud on my cheek, a hole in my jeans, but at least I was warm. I could see Grandmas house in the distance. The lights twinkled cheerfully like a welcome home sign. The prints lead right up to the front porch of the house. “Grandma! Grandma!” I called out, dashing through the door.

“Yes dearest?” Called Grandma in a raspy voice upstairs.

“I’m home! I’m home!” I bounced up the stairs.

“I’m glad. I was getting worried about you.” She said gravely.

She sounded strange. Not at all like herself. I paused outside her door.

“Are you feeling okay, Grandma?”

“Oh no dear, I have a terrible sore throat.”

“Oh.”

I walked inside her room. I started coughing because the room smelled strongly of Vix Vaper rub and cough drops.

“Come closer, dear.”

‘Why Grandma?”

“The better to see you with my dear.”

For some reason that triggered an old story in the back of my mind. Something about a little girl in the woods....

I came closer and saw how different Grandma looked. The blankets were pulled up so far that all I could see were her shiny, shiny eyes. She wore a cap on her head.

“Why Grandma, what big ears you have.” I said when I came close.

“The better to hear you with, my dear.” Grandma said in a high sweet voice.

“What big eyes you have Grandma.” I whispered, slowly backing away. I was suddenly scared and I had no idea why.

“Like I said before, all the better to see you with my dear.” Then she gave a terrible smile, and I knew  why my heart was pounding and my legs were shaking.

“What big teeth you have Grandma!” My eyes were as wide and innocent as a lambs.

“The better to eat you with my dear!” And the wolf cackled as he sprang out from the bed, dressed in Grandma’s clothes.