Now this is the story of a girl named Red.
She ran the town with a hood on her head,
And she always did what her mama said.
That’s Red...Red Riding Hood
She lived with her mama on the edge of the wood.
One morning Red’s mama got the urge to bake,
She made bread and brownies, seven pies and a cake,
“If we eat it all up, we’ll get a belly ache!”
So Mama began to fret and to stew.
Then she thought, “I know what to do.”
Mama called to Red, “Just look at the hutch,”
I got carried away making goodies and such.
Take some to Grandma, cause she loves them so much.”
“Okay, Mama, I’ll do just what you ask,”
Red eagerly jumped right into the task.
She picked a basket up off of the floor,
She filled it clear full, then she filled it some more.
Red carried that basket right out of the door.
“Good bye Mama. Don’t worry about me.
I’m off to see Grandma. I’ll be back around three.”
Red started off, but hadn’t gotten too far
When a big old wolf said, “Stop where you are.”
He was brown and hairy, with a long thin scar.
“What’s in the basket?” he asked with a smile.
“Come sit down beside me. Let’s talk for awhile.”
“I’ve got goodies for grandma” said the dear little child.
“How nice,” said the wolf. He appeared to be mild.
Red didn’t know he was wicked and wild.
She said, “I’d like to stay and visit, you know,
But I’m in a hurry so I really must go.”
“Good-bye. I’m going to grandmother’s house.”
“Be careful, dear child,” called the wolf, that old louse.
Red left. Wolf scurried away like a mouse.
“I’ll go and see grandma,” Wolf thought with a grin.
I’ll meet with Red there. Let the fun begin.”
Wolf took a shortcut through the deep dark wood,
He arrived at the house and on the porch he stood.
He leaped in the window. “My, my. Grandma looks good.”
“Help! Help!” shrieked Grandma, the poor little soul.
The wolf grabbed her up and swallowed her whole.
That crafty old wolf had a glint in his eyes.
“Red’s on her way. She’s in for a surprise.
There’s Granny’s nightgown. What a great disguise.”
He quickly jumped into Grandma’s bed,
And he pulled the covers up round his head.
Red skipped through the woods, humming a tune.
She knew she would see her Grandma real soon.
She arrived at the tiny cottage about noon.
“Grandma,” said Red, “Come open the door”
“It’s me! I’ve brought goodies galore.”
“Come in, dear child,” a strange voice she heard.
Red entered the house, but said not a word.
She looked at the wolf, who looked quite absurd.
It should be Grandma lying there in the bed.
But it sure looked like an imposter instead.
“Oh, Grandma!” said Red with surprise,
“Why do you have such great big eyes?”
“To see you better,” came that old wolf’s lies.
“Come closer, my dear, the light is so dim.”
Red moved in close and got a good look at him.
“But, Grandma!” Said Red, “How do you suppose,
You happened to have such an awfully big nose?
It looks much larger than our garden hose.”
“Dear child,” said the wolf being ever so bold.
“Can’t you see I have a terrible cold?”
“Grandma, I haven’t seen you for awhile
But your teeth are enormous and quite out of style.”
Then Red saw that wicked wolf’s horrible smile.
And he leaped right out of the bed.
He snarled and growled then grabbed at poor Red.
Red hollered and yelled and ran round the room.
‘Til her toe got caught on the edge of a broom.
She tripped, and prepared for the ultimate doom.
“Say your prayers,” the wicked wolf said.
She did . . . then rolled under the bed.
“Help, Help,” Red cried, hoping someone would hear.
A woodcutter was working in the forest quite near.
He heard Red’s cries filled with terror and fear.
He rushed inside and fought a great fight.
He grabbed the old wolf and tied him up tight.
That woodcutter was brave through and through.
He had captured the wolf and rescued Red, too.
Red sobbed, then sighed, then whispered, “Thank you.”
This story is over but there’s a moral, my friend,
Be wary of strangers, and that’s the end.
