Big Hungry-Wolf

                                                                       Big Hungry-Wolf (or Big Bad-Wolf)

                                                                                   By Gabriela Marrero

     Once upon a time, there was a Big Bad Wolf whom was disliked by everyone, I mean they hated him. His huff and Puff, his huge appetite, his rude manners, and his deceitful persona… and by his I mean myself. Yes, Hello there kiddies, I am the Big Bad Wolf. OH! Hold on, now don’t run yet. For let me tell my tale, of the Little Red Cap and her grandmother I once devoured.  It was a beautiful day in my woods, I mean leaves everywhere scattered on the floor, the wind was at a moderate just flowing through my furr…now all I was missing was food. I was in the mood for something sweet, a little strong, a little homemade. Like something I had eaten a few weeks ago, that one little girl who was picking flowers in the woods, if I can remember precisely she had short curly hair, a white dress, shiny shoes, and was a little bigger than the usual ‘little’ girl.  Which was very convenient, I don’t appreciate the hairs getting stuck in my sharp teeth. But wow I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget ‘AHH Mrs.Darcy’. That’s all she managed to get out when I ate her, I never caught her actual name, so that’s what I decided to call her.

     Well anyways here I go, on my way to the human trail, where they all seem to walk, thinking that it is safe, thinking that I won’t step in their way. If only they knew this path was my favorite buffet. The safe road, more so a provider for the hungry Wolf, he hands me an open palm and greets me with offerings every time I peer upon him.  

     I waited and waited, I layed on the pile of leaves counting clouds, I layed on the leaves picking flower petals, I layed on the leaves picking at my teeth. I thought of waiting here until it got hot, which was pretty soon to come.

     That is when I saw “little red cap” the most loved little girl in town. She carried with her a basket of wine and some cake. “DELICIOUS” I whispered to myself, and I was not talking about the basket of foods, I was talking about the girl under the cap.  

“Good day, Little Red-Cap” Said I.

      I greeted her with the most offering of smiles, for I was told before by my fellow friends that it could be weirdly sociable, which I took as a compliment… I am very proud of my looks and features.

     “Thank you kindly, wolf” responded she. She seemed surprisingly calm, being a little girl I assumed she would run off. But to my luck she did not.

     So I continued- “ Whither away so early, Little Red-Cap?” I wanted to make her suspect no such thing of what I was about to do.

“To my grandmother’s” answered  she, I followed:

“What have you got in your apron?”

“Cake and wine; Yesterday was baking-day, so poor sick grandmother is to have something good, to make her stronger”

‘You’d make my appetite stronger’ I thought to myself. But I followed

“Where does your Grandma live, Little Red Cap?”

     “A good quarter of a league, farther in the woods; her house stands under the three large oak trees, the nut trees are just below; you surely must know it” replied Little Red-Cap. And then a light bulb appeared on my forehead and brightened my face and my appetite. I shall go to the Grandmother’s house, eat her first and then receive seconds when Little Red-Cap gets there. OOO I am a smart one indeed.

     But I do need to deceive her, maybe take her off course so she does not suspect my genius plan. So I continued to engage her in conversation and walk her towards Grandma’s house. Making myself seem friendly, pointing out the beautiful eye of nature. We spoke of the flowers, we spoke of the rivers, we spoke of the trees, we spoke of the leaves: “See Little- Red Cap, how pretty the flowers are right about here- why do you not look around? I believe too, that you do not hear how sweetly the little birds are singing: you walk gravely along as if you were going to school, while everything else out here in the woods is merry”

Oh how she fell into my trap. She was under a spell with the ornaments of the woods.

     She raised her eyes when she saw the sunbeams through the trees making figures on the ground. One was of a nest, the other of a butterfly and the other as a mouth. And how my mouth was salivating as I thought of my future dinner and dessert, how her glistening eyes looked almost as caramel dripping on a sundae.

“ I suppose I take Grandmother a fresh nosegay: that would please her too. It is so early in the day that I shall still get there in no time”

     PERFECTTTTT!!! I shouted in my head. I did not have to do much work, for silly Red-Cap had done it for me. Off the path she went fetching flowers for her Grandmother. Although I do enjoy my food garnished, I could not wait any longer; So goodbye to Little Red-Cap and off I went. Good thing I walked with her for so long, she took me pretty far along the path, only half a mile and I was right at Grandma’s doorstep. I then knocked, and a ill voice answered: “Who’s there?”

“Little Red-Cap” -I replied-“I bring cake and wine, open the door please”

“I am too ill, cannot get up so fast, the door is open and you may push it and come it my dear”

I swooshed inand did not even have time to speak, because in seconds I had my mouth full of Granny bits.

     I don’t  remember waiting much longer for Little Red-Cap to arrive, for she must’ve picked those flowers quickly. I heard the door creek, lucky me I was disguised in Grandma’s clothing, I am smart…Have I said that already?

Well anyways, she started to question my appearances. After the “Goodmorning” she followed, first: “Oh Grandmother! What big ears you have”

So I answered “The better to hear you with my dear”

Second: “Grandma, what big eyes you have!”

“ The better to see you with my dear”

Thirdly: “Oh, what big hands you have”

“The better to hug you with sweetie”

Lastly: “Grandma, what a terribly sharp mouth you have”

“The better to eat you with!!!”

So I lunged at her and swallowed her whole. Boy was she tasty, I think she was better than “Oh! Ms. Darcy indeed”

     After I had appeased my appetite I needed a rest, I had done so much for my meal that morning. I, the smart and charming wolf deserved a rest. Good thing Grandma’s bed was king size, that is what I was feeling after such a good feast.

      I do not remember much of my sleep. Other than being RUDELY woken by an empty stomach and a rock in  my insides. Someone had stolen my food!!! And so here I am gasping for my last breath, writing down my last words in this piece of paper and pen I found next to Grandmother’s stance. I think these will be my last words, for I cannot move and no one is to come for me. I was smart, I was charming, I got my perfect meal, I don’t deserve this…Remember me as you read this: Hungrily, Big Bad Wolf.