Red

Chapter Three: Grandmother's house

After picking a few pretty flowers, Red finally made it to Grandmother’s house. She knocked on the door. “Come in, dear.” called Wolf in a voice somewhat like a grandmother’s would be.
“I’m much too frail to get to the door.” Red entered into the house and the memories began to come back to her. There on a table laid a plate of cooked meat. Before Red could ask, Wolf said
“A nice wolf told me of your coming, so I prepared a meal for you. Please, sit and eat.” Red
made her way to the table and sat.
“I’m so glad to see you again.” said Red. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“And I of you, young granddaughter.” Said the supposed grandmother. “Don’t let your meal go to waste. You must be hungry after your trip.” Red nodded and, using the fork and knife laying by the plate, began to eat her food. While eating, she noticed a crow perched on the window sill. He had seen all.
“Do not be deceived,” whispered the bird, “for that is not your grandmother.”
Red was shocked.“Grandmother,” said the girl, “that crow said that you are not who you say you are!”
“Nonsense, young girl. That bird knows nothing. Continue your meal.” said Wolf, as
sweet as can be. Red looked to the window sill once more, but the crow had gone. Once again
while eating, Red noticed a black cat sitting in the corner. She had seen all.
“Do not be deceived,” whispered the cat, “for the flesh you eat is that of the one who
lays in the bed in front of you.”
Red was again shocked. “Grandmother,” she said, “that cat said that this meal is of
your flesh!”
“Nonsense,” said Wolf once again, “that cat knows nothing of the sort. Didn’t that
huntsman tell you that the animals can be deceiving? Continue your meal.” Red looked to the corner, but the cat had gone. She looked down at the plate of meat and suddenly felt uneasy. How did Grandmother know the Huntsman had given Red that advice? She looked at her grandmother, and all the details slowly crept back into her mind.
“Grandmother, such large ears you have!” Said the frightened girl.
“All the better to hear you with,” assured Wolf, still as sweet as can be. Red started to feel dizzy.
“Grandmother, such large eyes you have!” These details did not seem right.
“All the better to see you with,” said Wolf, smiling from ear to ear. Red looked closely at this smile.
“Grandmother,” said Red slowly, “such large teeth you have. Large and sharp, as if
you’re some sort of animal!” The realization struck her hard. She heard the crow caw. She
heard the black cat meow. Wolf, removing the nightgown, slowly got up from the bed. He crept
ever closer until the two were face to face.
Wolf placed his paws on Red’s shoulders. “There, there, dear granddaughter. You’ve
nothing to be afraid of. It’s only your dear grandmother.”