Within the Pages

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Walking down the path heading to Red's grandmother's house I keep thinking back to the conversation with Harry. I am going over and over it in my head. I feel as if there is something odd about it. Not in the 'I'm trapped in Little Red Riding Hood and talking to the big bad wolf' odd, but something is off and I just can't put my finger on it. It's on the tip of my brain, just out of reach. I debate this through the entire walk. I'm interrupted when Red tells me that we have arrived at her grandmother's house. We are there already. Was it 5 minutes, 10 minutes or an hour? I find myself losing track.

"Be careful Red," I warn her. "Something feels off here." I speak from the pit of my stomach where the anxiety is spreading and taking over every nerve in my body.

"I'm sure it's fine" She starts to charge toward the front door.

To make sure she's safe, I accompany her to the door. She opens the door and walks through. I am right behind her. We head toward the kitchen silently. I strain to hear anything and I think that I hear something. After a moment of continued silence, I resume following Red into the kitchen. She is already there ahead of me. I turn into the entrance. As soon as I am through, the only thing I see is Red swinging a frying pan at my head. I quickly duck. It's not soon or quickly enough. With a scream that could curdle milk, she brings the frying pan onto the top of my head. I see stars as I fall to the floor. It reminds me on a slow motion movie yet, it's me and I am the character dropping to the floor.

I come awake. The stars are gone but the anxious feeling has decided to stay awhile. I am lying flat. I am not on the floor. Oh no! I am in grandmother's bed! My arms are tied behind my back and some kind of thing is covering my face leaving just enough room for me to see. I can see the front door from where I am. The covering feels heavy and light at the same time. I start to panic and hyperventilate a bit. A few seconds after I try squirming to get out but the ties are bound too tight.

The door bursts open and a big, burly guy comes in with an axe. I recognize him to be the famous woodcutter from the story. He spots me and yells "AHA! WOLF!" He raises his axe high over his head while racing toward me. I see my short life pass before me like a bad scene in a play. It was uninteresting but happened just as everyone says it does.

In the middle of my viewing of my life story, the Big Bad Wolf, aka Harry, comes in and eyes both the woodcutter and me. Thinking that I was a wolf in trouble, Harry rushes to intercept the woodcutter. He knocks the big guy to the ground beside me. I hear the metallic clang as the axe is dropped. While falling, the woodcutter sees my hands tied behind my back. Yes, he is brilliant in his deduction and realizes that wolves do not have hands, but paws. Woodcutter man gets up right away. He has decided to save me from the big bad wolf now. Oh my. I feel like I am on a merry-go-round. I'm being killed; I'm being saved; nope, I'm being killed again. Wait, I am safe. It is any wonder that the anxious feeling has taken up permanent residence?

Harry runs out the door and into the forest. The woodcutter quickly frees me constantly apologizing. Sure, I forgive you for trying to cut me in half. Bygones.

"It's ok Sir," I let him off the hook. "I had no idea that the Little Red Riding Hood would do this to me. I totally got her wrong. She did this. She's to blame; not you."

"Don't worry. I'll take care of her," he tells me. "She will get hers. Now, would you like to tell me why you are wearing such strange clothes? I have seen some strange things from capes to aprons to pointy hats but nothing like this." He throws his hands toward me in confusion.

I look down at my clothes and realize that's why I got an odd look from the wolf! He sees me covered with paint and in my school uniform!!! Oh well. I can't go back in time now. Well, maybe I can. I can't really say anything isn't possible anymore, can I?

"I've been brought into this world and I need to find my parents Sir. Saying that, I could use a clean up."

"Parents? I did see a young couple that wore clothes that looked about as strange."

"You saw my parents! I can barely contain my excitement. Where are they?"

"Many, many moons ago, I took them to the border of this land, They said they had to get back home as quickly as possible so I brought them to the closest piece of land to us. I have not seen nor heard from then since."

"Where is that? Where is the border? I must find it. I must find my parents. Help me please," I begged.

"The cottage is owned by three bears. Be careful though," he warned wagging a finger. "I hear they really don't like strangers and are protective of their territory. No one goes there and no one comes back."

"Can you get me close Sir?"

"I can take you as far as our land reaches but cannot go any further. It is the Golden Rule. No one goes there."

"Oh thank you Sir! This means everything to me. I owe you for your help." I felt enthused. I was ready to find my parents and this kind man was going to help me. All thoughts of Red's reversal had left me.

Some time later, we arrive at the edge of town. While I don't see anything, the woodsman is completely certain of it. "I cannot travel with you beyond this point," he informs me. "I belong here, not beyond the border. I have pointed you in the right direction and sincerely wish you find your parents but I must get back. Your plan is to find the bears and my place is with the wolves and Little Red Riding Hood." With a fond wave of his hand, he turned and disappeared into the coming mist.

"Thank you Sir. I understand. Goodbye." My voice fades into the mist as if I hadn't said a word. I turn away. I take five steps and it is now bright and sunny. I am heading right into the next book, Goldilocks and the Three Bears.