Little Blue Riding Hood

Once upon a time—for this is how all good stories begin—there was a girl named Little Blue Riding Hood. Now Blue was a very friendly sort of girl, and she looked forward to visiting her grandmother every Sunday afternoon. So, when Sunday rolled around, she waited patiently while her mother filled up a basket full of delicious baked treats, and then Blue headed off through the woods to visit her grandmother.

As Blue was walking through the woods, she heard an unusual noise. She froze and listened. She heard the noise again, only this time the sound was closer. Being especially brave, Blue walked towards the noise. When she got to the spot where she was sure the noise was coming from, she pushed back the limbs and leaves that blocked her view. To her surprise, there was an elf caught in a trap.

The elf looked at her and seemed relieved that someone had finally found him. He spoke to Blue and said, “Thank goodness someone has come at last! I seem to have gotten myself tangled up in this trap. If you release me, I’ll grant you one wish for freeing me, but be careful with the wish because wishes can be quite dangerous if not used correctly.”

Blue thought seriously about the elf’s words, for she was a serious type of girl. She thought of her loving parents, her wonderful grandmother, her great life. She looked at the basket of goodies and knew she always had plenty to eat, and she had a good place to live. She could think of nothing she would want to wish for. She told the elf, “I will release you on one condition. Use the wish yourself for I already have everything I need.” Then Blue released the elf and went on her way.

The elf was shocked but then smiled and made a wish. He didn’t look like himself as he walked out of the woods, but the handsome, young man knew his destination that day. He went in search of a young girl like none other, and the rumor is he found her, and they most likely lived happily ever after.