Once upon a time there was a little girl who always wore a bright red hood. But this story isn't about that little girl. This story is a tragedy, and our tragic hero is a wolf.
     Now, it has often been said that the wolf is the most evil of nature's creatures. He is that which eats small children and demolishes the houses of pigs. But stereotypes are the tools of the foolish. This wolf was good… or at least trying his best to be so.
     So it was that our hero wolf, while out on a stroll through the woods, came upon a woodcutter.
     "A wolf!" cried the woodcutter," I shall lay you flat with my axe, you foul beast!"
     "Wait!" the wolf pleaded," I mean no harm. Do not wish to pursue evil ways and seek to do goodness to others."
     The woodcutter, though doubtful of the wolf claim, did not wish to harm what could be one unique among his brethren." Very well," he said," I will let you go this time. But see too it that you do good deeds, or else I will find you again and lay you flat with my axe."

     The wolf smiled and ran off into the woods, eager to do as the woodcutter suggested. It was on this journey that the wolf encountered Little Red Riding Hood. He stopped to ask her," Where are you going little girl?"

     The young girl, knowing how dangerous it can be to speak to a wolf, replied nervously," I'm going to my Grandma's house to borrow some sugar."
     The wolf instantly saw this as his chance to prove his good intentions." I can run much faster than you can. Please allow me to go and fetch the sugar for you."

     "N-no, thank you," said Red Riding Hood, and she quickly dashed off down the path. The wolf, still wanting very much to help the little girl, decided he would get the sugar for her anyway and ran off down another path to Grandma's.

     He arrived at the cottage well before Red Riding Hood and knocked loudly on the door. Not getting an answer he decided to take a look inside, where he found on the table a note from Grandma, saying," Gone picking berries." This pleased the wolf very much as he thought to himself," Hmm… now I can take the sugar and meet Red Riding Hood on the way back, shortening her journey and not having to bother Grandma." Happy as can be he took the sugar from the shelf and headed out the door.

     As he reached for the doorknob he stopped suddenly as he heard Little Red Riding Hood singing as she came up the front path. Suddenly very afraid that she would react with fear as she had before he panicked and quickly looked around for somewhere to hide. Not finding any suitable place he grabbed some of Grandma's clothes and put them on and then got into her bed. He settled away just as Little Red Riding Hood came in through the door.
     " Hello Grandma," said Red Riding Hood, and seeing the sugar in Grandma's hand she walked right up to the bed," I came to borrow some sugar."
     " O-oh! Of course dear," said the wolf in his best Grandma imitation as he handed her the sugar.
     " My, Grandma! What hairy hands you have," said Red Riding Hood.
     " Umm… all the better to keep me warm, my dear," replied the wolf quickly.
     "My, Grandma! What big eyes you have."
     " A-all the better to see you with, my dear," said the wolf, getting scared now that his disguise would fail.
     "My, Grandma! What big ears you have!"
     " All the better to hear you with, my dear."
     "My, Grandma! What big teeth you have! Oh my! You're the wolf!" shouted Little Red Riding Hood. The startled wolf jumped up as fast as he could and ran to the door. Just at that moment Grandma and the woodcutter came in to see what all the noise was. Quickly the woodcutter blocked the wolf's path and, swinging his axe, laid the wolf flat.
     The three stood around the fallen wolf and looked at him. Looking up, the woodcutter spoke," Too bad. He could not change. A wolf is a wolf."
                                                                                                                                                         The End