The Big Bad Wolf's Perspective

The forest is the only home that I have ever known. I lived in it and do tend to it often. I truly have tried to keep it tidy and clean. Although admittedly I have had to deal with a lot of rubbish left by irresponsible and careless people, or even animals.

On this bright and sunny day, I also had to deal with rubbish (as per my usual routine). One careless camper had left some, and I was forced to clean and tidy up after him. That is when I heard footsteps, gentle footsteps, coming. As an immediate jerk of a natural response, I quickly jumped to hide behind the shadow of a tree and glanced out from behind the tree. I saw a small child, a girl, walking down a trail carrying a basket filled to the brim with food, I could easily smell the delicious food from a mile away. Although she looked rather suspicious, her clothing was fully scarlet red, with a cloak covering her head as if she was hiding from someone or something. I revealed myself, unafraid, and stopped her in her way to see who she was.

"Good day, little one. Could I know who you are and what is your business here?"

"Um--Good day, wolf. They all call me Little Red Riding Hood. I am headed to my nana's."

"Oh, really? Does she live near to here?"

"Yes, just further down this pathway."

Listening to her innocent voice and pleasing answers, I judged her to be an honest and good person. "Alright, listen, little girl..." I arched my posture in what might've looked intimidating to one. "I really don't think it's very safe to be going through these parts alone. You could get lost. Would you like for me to accompany you the rest of your way, for your safety?"

"Hey, that's none of your business! I will hurry off now."

Her response startled me, but I regained my posture. "Yes, as you wish, little girl." I said briefly, eating up her rudeness as I watched her continue along the trail.

I wasn't willing to forget what she said to me, though; I am truly always sensitive when it comes to the words that are spoken to or about me. I never be able to forget what has been said to me even if I tried to. (It is one of my many weaknesses.)

I devised a plan though during the time I stood there thinking. I ran off to have an early head start and then sped up my pace to arrive at Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother's house not that much before her.

When I arrived, I quickly tapped on the modest door like there was no tomorrow.

"Who is it?" A croaky, assumedly concerned voice called from the other side.

"It is me, ma'am, the wolf. I come here with no means to harm you or ruin your day, in any way. I ran across your granddaughter, the one they call Little Red Riding Hood. She is on her way here, now. If it wouldn't bother you, may I please come in?" I said in my most respectful and formal way of speaking, in an startlingly calm and respectful manner.

"Oh, my! Yes, I wouldn't mind that at all. There's a key hidden under my doormat. Open the door with it, if you would like." I stealthily slipped my sharp claw under the mat and received the key, promptly enabling my access to grandmother's house. The immediate scent of sickness hit me immediately as I wandered inside.

"Sit down and rest, wolf." The old woman coughed, sounding rather sickly.

I sat down at the bed end instead and started speaking to the frail woman. "A million apologies for bothering you under such circumstances. I do hope you get well soon."

"Thank you... You said that my little red is on her way?

"Oh, yes. I have to tell you this. Time is only wasting. I talked to her and found out who she is and where she's headed. She seemed like a very nice girl at first, that is until I told her that it wasn't safe to go through the forest alone (because it isn't). That's when she struck me with such startling rudeness. I really think that she ought to know better."

"That really doesn't strike me as part of her nature. Are you sure that it was her??"

"Yes, definitely."

The grandmother submitted to silence for a minute, and I was the one who broke the silence. "Ma'am, here's what we could do in this case. I think she should be a taught lesson immediately. Or she will grow to be a naughty and an immature woman."

"Yes..." replied the old woman briefly.

"So, what do you think?"

"There is really no other option here, wolf. But I..I...' grandmother was interrupted by a bellowing sneeze.

"God bless you." I politely offered.

"Thanks. How is it that you plan to do it?"

"Well, I can't teach her a lesson while I'm my same old self, so we need to roleplay it out. Um...I could pretend that I'm you. Actually, that is what I need to do."

"What is my role then?"

"Oh yes, I guess you'll need to be somewhere else. Or...you could just hide somewhere around here, if it wouldn't be too much for you?."

"Yes, I will go with the latter." She sneezed into her handkerchief again

Before I knew it, I was in the old woman's clothes, maskingmy true identity. Those large spectacles of hers were irritating my eyes and nose, but there was nothing I could do about it. I was laid down under the blanket when the door was knocked from the outside. I heard the girl's pleasant voice.

"Nana, it's me, Little Red Riding Hood!"

"Why, come in, my dear!"

The little girl tottered in slowly, she was clutching some colorful and fresh flowers as well. She was so stunned while she looked at me, that she dropped the flowers and the basket on the bed and said, "Nana, I haven't seen you in a while. What big ears you have!"

I wanted to count that as an inconsiderate insult, but I kept my wits about me and made up an explanation. "The better to hear you, my dear."

At the moment when I wanted to complement her and tell her that she's a good and a clever girl, but she continued to make another comment.

"Nana, what big eyes you have!"

I kept playing ball with the girl, completely unwilling to blow my cover. "The better to see you, my dear."

"Nana, what big arms you have!"

That comment of hers was truly more pleasant than disrespectful, though it was just part of the game. "The better to hug you with, my dear."

"Nana, what big teeth you have!"

The last comment hit me like a million arrows all at once. I was surprised into disbelief of the degree of antipathy this girl apparently so lovely hid in herself. Yes, I am aware of my problems and disadvantages. I am a furry figure with enormous teeth and claws, but there's nothing I can do about it I can admit that to myself. Unfortunately, that was also the last straw. I know that I should have had better myself, but I leaped out of the bed and started to growl, shrieking, "The better to eat you with, my dear!"

Now, to be truthful, no wolf in his right mind would ever eat a little girl. Everyone knows that. Although I scared her so much that she started running around the house, shouting: "Help!"

I trailed after her making the attempt to calm her down but to no avail, sadly. I took off the old woman's garments, but the situation got even worse (as it often does). The door was thrown open and a hulking lumberjack with an axe appeared, being about seven or eight feet tall. I saw him thunderstruck as I was and knew that I was in for it. It was a life-or-death situation, so since I wasn't willing to end up a prey, I harked back to the open window and leaped out of the house.

I would love to say that this is the end of a good story, and that I lived happily ever after except that wasn't the case, sadly. The girl's nana never narrated my version (of course, no one ever has sympathy for the wolf). After a short time, rumors began to go around that I was some sort of a 'big bad wolf' and everyone has known me as only that such since then. Everyone began to readily avoid me, and I submitted to this sudden, forced isolation. I am also one of the most wanted beasts and I live in danger, looking over my back every now and then. I did not ever hear from Little Red Riding Hood again, and I don't expect to. I try to keep my head up nowadays, but I know that my life won't ever be the same just for a lesson that I wanted to mercifully teach to a startlingly rude girl and somehow, I became the big bad wolf.