The Continued Story of Hansel and Gretel

This is a short story that my 11 year old son wrote for an assignment at school - a fractured fairy tale.  I love this kid.

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Once upon a time...what am I saying, that's been over done. Hmmm an original introduction... hmmm...  I've got it!  Wait, nope, I lost it.  You know, let's just skip the pleasantries and get straight to the story.

You know the stories, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Red Riding Hood, The Three Little Pigs etcetera, but what you don't know is that they all connect.  They interact, and have lives outside the storybook.  That, my dear reader, is where this tale takes place.

Not long after escaping a sugary death-trap, two siblings were walking home through the woods. At the same time a young girl was riding home after a near fatal encounter at her grandmother's house.  We begin with said siblings.

"We've been walking forever, how long until we get home?" complained a weary Gretel.

"I've told you three times now, we're a day's walk away. Just deal with it," Hasel replied beginning to get irritated.  They had been trudging through the dim woods for hours.  Gretel wished that they were home, out of the gloomy forest, but she was glad that they had escaped the sugar-coated tomb that was the witch's house.  They hobbled along, their feet sore, and their stomachs aching.

"We should've kept some of the candy," Gretel said quietly.  "Just think about it.  Sweet juicy gumdrops, minty candy canes, and all the ging-"

"Stop it," Hansel said abruptly.

"I just-"

"No. Stop talking!" he hissed.  "Do you hear that?"

"I don't see what-"

"Howlooaoo!" sounded  a fierce howl.

"What was that?" Gretel cried frantically.

"It sounded like a wolf," Hansel replied, hoping he sounded calmer than he was.

"Are there wolves in this forest?" Gretel asked nervously.

"I'm not sure, but that sounded like it was miles away.  We'll be fine," Hansel replied, convincing himself as he said it.

Just then a girl appeared, riding through the forest.  She stopped right in front of them.

"Hullo, what are you two doing in this part of the forest?"  She asked.

"We're just heading home, " Gretel replied nervously.  She wasn't sure what to think about the new girl.  Something about that red cloak just put her on edge.

"You'd best hurry.  These woods are dangerous," she warned.  Suddenly, another howl sounded in the distance, as if to emphasize her point.

"That one sounded closer!" Gretel squeaked.

"Calm down.  It's probably hunting something else."

"Oh, yes, about that..." The Red Cloaked Girl began, " you see, that might be lil' ol' me it's after."  Hansel and Gretel stared at her.

"So..." Gretel began.

"We should run," Hansel finished.   They took off, Hansel and Gretel sprinting and the Red Cloaked Girl pedaling madly.  They moved so fast, the world seemed to blur.  They ran until they reached a clearing.  In the center there stood an ancient stone tower.

Ivy covered much of the old masonry, and the rest seemed to be crumbling after centuries exposed to the harsh elements.  They only visible entrance was a large arched window high above the ground.

"Look! There's a rope!" Gretel yelled, pointing to a rope leading up to the window.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Hansel exclaimed. They hurried up the rope.  As he climbed, Hansel realized that it was not a rope, but strands of tightly woven hair.  He kept climbing; he could investigate when they were safe.

Finally they reached the window.  Hansel pulled himself up and into a room.  It was lit by lamplight, casting an orange glow about the room.  Bookshelves lined the walls, and a drawing pad and a large easel sat in one corner.  Lying on a bed was a girl, the owner of the hair rope.  She appeared to be asleep, though how she could sleep while people climbed her hair, Hansel couldn't fathom.

They decided not to wake her and settled down to sleep on the stone floor.  While they tried to sleep frustrated howls echoed in the forest.

When they awoke, the girl was still sleeping.  Hansel left a thank-you card, and some money, before climbing back down the stone tower.   Hansel, Gretel and the Red Cloaked Girl walked for a few more hours before they finally parted ways.

Well, that really says something about people, doesn't it?  They record what hey think is important, and "forget" the rest.  If everything was written down life would be far more fascinating, sadly, it's not.