Little Red Riding Hood and the Bamboo Stalks

The gentle hum of the ceiling fan danced with the soft whispers of the night, casting fleeting shadows across the cozy bedroom. The warm glow of a bedside lamp painted the room in a soft, golden hue, where an ornate wooden crib stood in a corner, cradling the serene slumber of a child, while Elizabeth and James nestled together in their sleep.

           The faint sound of footsteps echoing through the hallway, an unusual occurrence at this late hour, stirred Elizabeth from her dreams. Beside her, James, her husband, lay deep in sleep, undisturbed. Concern etched across Elizabeth’s face as she nudged James awake.

           “What was that?” she whispered urgently. Her voice barely audible as she leaned in closer to James. Her pulse was quickening with each passing second.

           “I’ll go check,” James murmured while fumbling to grab his glasses, his tone laced with caution. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, his movements deliberate and silent. His heart was pounding in rhythm with the erratic sounds outside their bedroom door.

           The creak of the floorboards beneath his cautious steps seemed to echo louder than the thundering of his heart. With bated breath, he reached the door, the cold metal chilling his palm. His fingers curled around it, a flicker of tension racing down his spine before he slowly turned it, inch by inch.

           As the door creaked open, the soft glow of the hallway spilled into the room, revealing the silhouette of a small figure standing at the threshold. A tiny voice broke the silence.

“Daddy? Mommy?”

Relief washed over James as he recognized the voice. It was their daughter, Emily. Her wide eyes shimmered with unshed tears, wrapped in her pajamas, clutching her cherished teddy bear to her chest. James lifted Emily into his arms and carried her to Elizabeth.

“What’s wrong sweetheart?” Elizabeth pulled Emily into a warm embrace.

“I can’t sleep,” Emily whimpered softly. “I am scared of fireworks.”

James couldn’t suppress his soft smile. His heart was soothed by the presence of his little angel.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. Do you want to sleep with us tonight?” he offered.

Emily nodded without saying a word. The ear of her teddy bear now in her mouth. James closed the door gently and returned to the bed.

“Mommy, why do people make fireworks?” Emily asked. Her voice more composed within her parents’ embrace.

“Well, darling,” Elizabeth pondered with a smile, “people make fireworks to celebrate special occasions with lots of loud, colorful lights and sounds.”

“Is it really scary though? Look at little John, he’s sleeping soundly,” James added, pointing towards the cradle.

“I am just… scared. I hate fireworks. They play fireworks everyday,” the poor little girl replied softly.

As the night progressed, conversation tapered off, but Emily remained wide awake, nestled between her parents.

“Do you want to hear a story, sweetheart?” James offered, noticing Emily’s struggle to sleep.

Emily nodded in response.

"Have you heard of Little Red Riding Hood? Once upon a time, she was having a picnic with her friends, and suddenly, she got a call from her grandma. 'Oh dear, come here, your friend has come to visit!' Grandma said. Little Red Riding Hood dashed to her grandma's house, so excited that she even forgot to say goodbye to her friends because she was full of anticipation!" James began, his voice infused with enthusiasm.

“Daddy, what’s a anticipation?” Emily asked innocently. A hint of drowsiness started to appear on her cute little face.

“Anticipation is when you feel really excited about something that’s going to happen soon. You know when you’re waiting for a fun day out at the park?” Elizabeth chimed in, as she was awakened by her husband’s storytelling. “It’s that super-happy, excited feeling when you’re waiting for something fun.”

           A brief hush filled the room before Emily’s next question emerged.

           “Mommy, why can’t I go to the park anymore?” she asked.

           “Well, that’s…” Elizabeth hesitated, unsure how to respond.

           “Hey- hey! Do you want to hear the story or keep asking questions, little Emily?” James interrupted playfully, feigning irritation to keep Emily engaged. He was acting too well, even Elizabeth thought that he was genuinely irritated.

           “Story…” Emily drawled sleepily. Her eyes were half-opened, but her mouth was still moving, eager to hear more.

           "Alright, then let's continue. When Little Red Riding Hood arrived at her grandma's house, she was surprised to find her childhood friend, Wolf! She was so happy, she didn't know how to celebrate. Grandma suggested, 'Why don't you throw those bamboo stalks into the fire?'” James paused, taking a breath, and looked at Emily with a gentle smile.

           “Do you know why Grandma asked her to throw bamboo into the fire?” James asked, noticing Emily’s tired eyes.

           “What’s a bamboo?” Emily asked, her eyelids drooping with drowsiness.

           James chuckled softly, understanding her growing fatigue. “Bamboo is a tall, strong plant. It’s like a really, really big grass, much taller than the grass in our backyard. People use it for many things because it’s very strong and can grow very tall.”

           Emily nodded slowly, trying to absorb the information. “Like a super tall grass…” she murmured, her voice growing faint as drowsiness overtook her.

           “That’s right, just like a super tall grass!” James replied, lowering his voice to match her sleepy tone. “And Grandma thought the bamboo could make a surprise when thrown into the fire.”

           “Surprise…” Emily mumbled, her words trailing off as her head began to nod.

           “Well, when you throw bamboo into a fire, it can make a loud bang, just like the sound of fireworks. Grandma wanted to surprise everyone with a loud noise, like a fun celebration!” James explained, noticing Emily’s struggle to stay awake.

           “Did it work? Was it a big surprise?” Emily asked, her voice barely audible now, her eyes fighting to stay open.

           “Yes! It made a big, unexpected noise. That’s how firecrackers were born! They exploded with a loud bang, just like the bamboo in the fire,” James continued, keeping his tone gentle, hoping to comfort her into sleep.

           Amidst the sweet exchange, Elizabeth smiled softly while watching the interaction between the father and the daughter. Every now and then, she couldn’t help but silently chuckle at the amusing conversation. She adored witnessing the tender moments between James and Emily, finding joy in their imaginative dialogue.

           Emily’s eyelids grew heavier, her face showing signs of dozing off. “So, firecrackers are like exploding bamboo…” she murmured, drifting further into slumber, her mind blending reality with imagination.

           “Yes, just like exploding bamboo. Do you want play with firecrackers, Emily? Maybe it will help your fear with fireworks,” James asked.

However, there was no reply—Emily was already deep asleep, her chest rising and falling in a peaceful rhythm. James smiled, content with the night’s storytelling and the serene sight of his daughter resting soundly.

           "That's not quite the Little Red Riding Hood story," Elizabeth chuckled softly, her eyes glinting with affection for her sleeping daughter.

"Who cares? If it works, it works," James said, poking Emily's rosy cheeks, who is sleeping soundly, signifying his success.

"Imagine if one day she finds out your stories were all made up. She might hate you, Daddy," Elizabeth teased.

"I'll worry about that tomorrow," James said with a smile before turning away, pulling the blanket.

Silence returned to the room.

"How long will this last?" Elizabeth asked, her voice tinged with concern as she patted Emily's head gently. James, facing away in the dimness of the room, turned towards her, a tender gesture in the midst of uncertainty. His fingers traced through her hair, a comforting touch that sought to assuage her worries.

"When the time comes, the time comes. Let's sleep," he replied, his voice attempting reassurance, yet a flicker of unease remained hidden in his tone.

Silence yet again enveloped the room.

Elizabeth still couldn’t find solace in slumber. Sensing her restlessness, James shifted closer, his touch now a gentle caress on her cheek.

“You know,” he began softly, attempting to lighten the atmosphere, “Emily’s bravery is unmatched. Fell asleep like a little warrior, yet here you are, wide awake. Maybe she’s teaching us a lesson in courage tonight.” His playful remark was met with a soft laughter from Elizabeth, a delicate sound that she hushed, mindful not to disturb their peacefully sleeping daughter.

“You always find a way to ease things, don’t you?” Elizabeth whispered, her voice carrying a blend of admiration and gratitude.

“I always try to find a way,” he murmured, drawing her closer into an embrace, seeking to offer a semblance of reassurance through his affectionate gesture.

With the festival of 'fireworks' showing no signs of ending, they nestled into a restive slumber, wrapped in the warmth of their shared love.