𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻

𝘣𝘺 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘰 𝘙𝘪𝘧𝘦

Red overhears the wolf’s plan to dress like her grandmother. Let him indulge his little fantasy. Who cares? Nothing in this tiresome town deserves her attention. Last night she dyed her bright red cape an inky black to suit her mood. Now midday, the “forever good girl” trudges down a worn trail to meet the demands of her grandmother. Midway, Red discovers an intricately paved path. About a half-kilometer away she hears music and laughter. She will take this passage to escape her prescribed life. Red will share her basket with the first person she meets. Maybe she’ll share more. ✦

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Margo Rife is a fiction writer and playwright. Her work has been published in New World Writing, Reflex Fiction, The Drabble, Horror Tree and other publications. Margo’s monologues have been performed at various theatres. She finished Snowbirds, a novella-in-flash and a MG fantasy novel during the cold Chicago winter. Twitter: @rife_margo