Little Red Was Really Rude

by Mary Jenkins


     There was a tear in the young wolf's eye 
as he stood behind the tall oak tree at the edge 
of the forest.  "Why are they so mean to me?", he 
ask himself. There were no wolves his age to play 
with and he wanted so badly to play with the laughing 
children.  He was a gentle, polite wolf and had many 
deas for new games, but when he tried to play, the 
children were always very rude.

     The first time he had ask Little Red Riding Hood 
if he could play, she put her hands on her hips and 
sternly told him, "We don't want you to play with us.  
You are a dirty, mean old wolf, so GO AWAY!".  He could 
hear the children laughing at him as he tucked his 
tail between his legs and slowly walked back into the 
dark woods.

     When he came to watch the children one day, 
Little Red was nowhere in sight.  He cautiously, but 
bravely, came out of the woods and ask one of the children 
if he could play.  Quickly, he told them of a game and 
they were all excited about playing it.  The wolf was 
happier than he had could remember ever being.  He had 
new friends that accepted him as he was, and was going
to play and laugh just as he had always wanted to do.

     Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him, and he 
knew instantly that it was Little Red who was walking 
up to him.  His heart was broken as she shouted the 
cruel words, "I've told you before, you can't play 
with us so, "GO HOME!".  The broken hearted wolf 
waited to see if any of the others would tell her to 
let him stay, but no one uttered a work.  His feelings 
were so hurt, that before he realized it, he blurted 
out, "One of these days, Little Red, you are going to 
be sorry you have treated me so hatefully".  He turned 
and ran behind the closest tree so no one could see 
him crying.

     The wolf never forgot how Little Red had treated 
him that day, even though he was fully grown now.  
Instead of going to his favorite tree to watch the 
children play, he watched a very pretty grown-up 
Little Red pick apples from the beautiful trees in 
the orchard across from the woods.  Each time he saw 
her putting apples in her wicker basket, he thought 
about getting even with her.  He wanted her to 
experience the sad feeling of loneliness just as he 
had so many years before.

     He had gone to Little Red's grandmothers many 
times in the past years, and the air around it always 
smelled of fresh baked apple pies.  Grandmother was a 
small, frail looking woman with a golden heart, nothing 
like her rude granddaughter.  He had soon realized 
just how great a person she really was. She had seen 
him at the edge of the forest, and left big pieces of 
pie and a tall glass of milk for him many times.  
After a time, he learned to love and trust the old 
woman and they became very close friends.

     On day he told Grandmother how Little Red had 
treated him when he was younger and how much he 
wanted to get even with her.  Grandmother knew
how rude and bullish Little Red could be and had 
talked to her about her behavior many times, but 
the child never changed.  Grandmother didn't
approve of  the wolf's idea of getting even, but 
did think teaching her a lesson might not hurt her.  
As they sat at the little table in the middle of her 
one room house, they decided on a plan.

     On Little Red's next trip to Grandmothers, the 
wolf quickly stepped from behind a tree onto the 
path in front of Little Red.  "May I carry the heavy
basket for you Little Red?", he ask.  "Why would I 
want YOU to carry it? You are a mean, nasty old wolf 
and would probably eat all the apples," she said in 
a rough voice. "I'm just trying to be friendly," he 
replied, but once again he heard her say "GO AWAY!! 
I'm on my way to my grandmothers and you are in my 
way.  You are always where you aren't wanted".

     She pushed him off the dirt path and continued 
on her way. The wolf smiled a secret smile as he 
watched her and thought of the surprise waiting
for her at the end of her journey.  Hurriedly, he 
dashed through the trees to the one place he knew 
he was loved, and accepted as himself...to 
Grandmothers house.

     As Little Red came closer to the house, 
she heard laughter coming from within.  She peered 
in the window and to her surprise, saw the wolf 
sitting at the table.  As she glanced around the 
room she noticed her grandmother standing on her 
head in a corner.  They were both laughing so hard 
they had tears in their eyes.  Little Red heard 
the wolf tell her grandmother through his laughter, 
"I knew you could do it, all it takes is a little 
practice."  Little Red had no idea of the many 
things her grandmother and the wolf had taught each
other by just being good friends.

     The laughter stopped as Little Red burst 
through the door saying, "How dare you have that 
terrible wolf in the house, Grandmother1"  Grandmother
quickly came to her feet, turned to the stove and cut 
two big pieces of the pie. As Little Re watched, 
her grandmother placed a piece of the hot apple pie 
in front of the wolf and sat at the table across 
from him.  Just as he said "thank you", she ask if 
he would like a glass of ice cold milk to go with it.  
"Yes, please, Grandmother", he politely replied, 
as he cut into his pie.  As they ate their pie, 
the two talked and laughted, as if they were the 
only ones in the room.

     Little Red knew she was being ignored and 
didn't like the feeling of being left out, 
especially in her own grandmothers home.  When she 
ask her grandmother why she was being treated in 
such a manner her grandmother sternly said, "It was 
very rude of you to come into my house in the manner
you did. As you can see, I have company, the wolf is 
very polite and I enjoy sharing my home with him.  
Now if you will just go away, we can enjoy our
desert".  Little Red couldn't believe her ears.  
Grandmother preferred the company of a wolf to hers.  
"Grandmother make him go away," the girl said
nervously, but her grandmother continued to eat 
and smiled at the wolf. "LEAVE THIS HOUSE", a 
bossy Little Red screamed at the wolf.

     Looking into Little Red's eyes, Grandmother 
ask Little Red if she felt hurt and left out because 
of the way she and the wolf had been treating her 
within the past few minutes.  Little Red assured her 
that she was very hurt by their actions.  Only then, 
did Little Red realize how she had been acting all 
those years, and how badly she must have hurt others, 
including the wolf.  Then she not only amazed her 
grandmother, but the wolf also, when she walked
over and held her hand out  to the wolf in friendship.

     Inviting Little Red to sit down and join them, 
Grandmother told her granddaughter of the plan she 
and the wolf had, and how pleased they were that it 
had turned out so well.  "I'll never be rude to anyone 
again", Little Red promised.  Little Red was never 
told what the wolf's idea of getting even was,
and if her grandmother hadn't been such a wonderful 
and understanding person, he would have gone through 
with it.

     There were numerous lonely nights the wolf 
had dreamed of going to Little Red's grandmothers 
and eating the little woman up.  He visualized
putting on her night cap and gown, then jumping 
into her bed and waiting patiently for Little Red 
to bring the huge basket of apples.  He would call out
"Come in, my dear", as she knocked on the wooden door, 
then gobble her up as she came close to the bed.

    As he remembered his dream, a smile slowly 
crossed his face.  He realized now, how much better 
it was to sit and enjoy the company of friends......
than to have them as dinner.

The End






This page hosted by 
Get your own Free Home Page