bedtime story

This is the story I tell to Z every night, just before he turns over and goes to sleep, but after we read something subversive by Pinkwater.

Once upon a time there was a girl whom everyone called Little Red Riding Hood, although that was not her name. Her name was Dorothy. She was called Little Red Riding Hood because she had a short cloak, almost a cape, with a hood. It was scarlet and she loved to wear it in almost any weather.

One day LRH was playing. (/sometimes in the yard, sometimes she is tending to her pony, sometimes she is playing a game inside/) Her father called to her "Little Red Riding Hood! Could you come here?" He talks to LRH about her grandmother or her grandfather, and some item of food that he has made for them that needs transport. This role is occasionally played by LRH's mother. The conversation continues with a suggestion that LRH might need a snack along the way. The foodstuff goes into a basket and a healthy snack goes on top. Then LRH heads out.

The path is clearly marked, but very long. The local environment changes to match the habits of tonight's guest animal. At about the halfway point, LRH is tired. She sits down in some shade or on a rock near a hot spring . About half of the snack is eaten. Feeling refreshed, LRH continues her trek. She encounters tonight's guest animal. TGA speaks cleae English but is otherwise not anthropomorphic; their concerns are appropriate to their species, and they are hungry. Coincidentally LRH's snack is a plausible meal for TGA. She offers to share. TGA accepts and after consumption praises the food and compliments LRH for her graciousness. LRH continues along her path. No further incidents occur until she arrives.

The grandparents thank LRH for the food. Dinner is prepared, often with LRH's help, and dessert is highlighted. All chat pleasantly, and LRH is transported home by a grandparent or parent.

bedtime story

This is the story I tell to Z every night, just before he turns over and goes to sleep, but after we read something subversive by Pinkwater.

Once upon a time there was a girl whom everyone called Little Red Riding Hood, although that was not her name. Her name was Dorothy. She was called Little Red Riding Hood because she had a short cloak, almost a cape, with a hood. It was scarlet and she loved to wear it in almost any weather.

One day LRH was playing. (/sometimes in the yard, sometimes she is tending to her pony, sometimes she is playing a game inside/) Her father called to her "Little Red Riding Hood! Could you come here?" He talks to LRH about her grandmother or her grandfather, and some item of food that he has made for them that needs transport. This role is occasionally played by LRH's mother. The conversation continues with a suggestion that LRH might need a snack along the way. The foodstuff goes into a basket and a healthy snack goes on top. Then LRH heads out.

The path is clearly marked, but very long. The local environment changes to match the habits of tonight's guest animal. At about the halfway point, LRH is tired. She sits down in some shade or on a rock near a hot spring . About half of the snack is eaten. Feeling refreshed, LRH continues her trek. She encounters tonight's guest animal. TGA speaks cleae English but is otherwise not anthropomorphic; their concerns are appropriate to their species, and they are hungry. Coincidentally LRH's snack is a plausible meal for TGA. She offers to share. TGA accepts and after consumption praises the food and compliments LRH for her graciousness. LRH continues along her path. No further incidents occur until she arrives.

The grandparents thank LRH for the food. Dinner is prepared, often with LRH's help, and dessert is highlighted. All chat pleasantly, and LRH is transported home by a grandparent or parent.