Short Story: Little Red Riding Hood


     I saw the above picture in a magazine my wife brought home a few days ago. Apparently I couldn't get it out of my head because when it came time to write my short story for my writers group, Dime Stories International, this is what came out.

Little Red Riding Hood

“Your dog has an eye patch?”
“Wolf.”
“What?
“My wolf has an eye patch.”
I blinked again making sure I wasn’t seeing things. Nope the large grey and white haired creature let out a low growl in my direction as it padded across the deck and sat next to its master.
“So listen, if you are going to be First Mate on my ship there are a few rules you need to know.”
“I don’t want to be First Mate on your ship.” I said.
“Well, I’m sure Little Red Riding hood didn’t want a patch over his eye either but he’s making the best of it now isn’t he?”
I glanced over and the wolf paused long enough from licking itself to look at me, showing its large dagger like teeth in a snarl.
“You named your wolf Little Red Riding Hood?”
“Well I couldn’t very well name him wolf could I? That’s like naming you…” He paused as he ran a hand through his Mohawk like haircut. “That’s like naming you human and that wouldn’t be very nice now would it? What is your name by the way?”
I looked at the man in front of me who had known me my entire like with a raised eyebrow, “Uncle you know my name.”
“Quick refresher lad.” He said pointing a finger in my direction with a smile.
“It’s Jack.”
“And right you are John, from now on I’m just going to call you First Mate.”
I opened my mouth to protest my newly appointed position and that he had got my name wrong again but my uncle didn’t give me a chance, “Rule number one, there are no rules. Rule number two, you will never serve me beans or beanstalks, they make me gassy and create an overall poor working environment for everyone on board. And the last rule is… care to venture a guess?”
I shook my head squinting my eyes at my Uncle, “How can there be a rule two and three if rule number one was that there are no rules?”
“Ja… er… I mean First Mate please focus, what would you guess rule number three to be?”
I threw up my hands in a show of surrender. “I don’t know, never touch Little Red Riding Hood’s eye patch?”
My uncle took a step back and with huge brown eyes asked me, “How did you know that? Well I guess that’s why your First Mate.” He said answering his own question.
“Your first duty as my second in command it to find us a crew to man The Pandora. The ship will need at least a dozen crewmembers to operate efficiently.”
“Right,” he said placing both fists on his hips and taking in a large breath. Letting it out slowly he gave me a smile. “Well that’s a great days work for me I’m off for a nap. You can head into Granny’s Town and start signing up recruits. Take Little Red Riding hood with you and remember rule number three.”
Jonathan Yanez: Short Story: Little Red Riding Hood

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Short Story: Little Red Riding Hood


     I saw the above picture in a magazine my wife brought home a few days ago. Apparently I couldn't get it out of my head because when it came time to write my short story for my writers group, Dime Stories International, this is what came out.

Little Red Riding Hood

“Your dog has an eye patch?”
“Wolf.”
“What?
“My wolf has an eye patch.”
I blinked again making sure I wasn’t seeing things. Nope the large grey and white haired creature let out a low growl in my direction as it padded across the deck and sat next to its master.
“So listen, if you are going to be First Mate on my ship there are a few rules you need to know.”
“I don’t want to be First Mate on your ship.” I said.
“Well, I’m sure Little Red Riding hood didn’t want a patch over his eye either but he’s making the best of it now isn’t he?”
I glanced over and the wolf paused long enough from licking itself to look at me, showing its large dagger like teeth in a snarl.
“You named your wolf Little Red Riding Hood?”
“Well I couldn’t very well name him wolf could I? That’s like naming you…” He paused as he ran a hand through his Mohawk like haircut. “That’s like naming you human and that wouldn’t be very nice now would it? What is your name by the way?”
I looked at the man in front of me who had known me my entire like with a raised eyebrow, “Uncle you know my name.”
“Quick refresher lad.” He said pointing a finger in my direction with a smile.
“It’s Jack.”
“And right you are John, from now on I’m just going to call you First Mate.”
I opened my mouth to protest my newly appointed position and that he had got my name wrong again but my uncle didn’t give me a chance, “Rule number one, there are no rules. Rule number two, you will never serve me beans or beanstalks, they make me gassy and create an overall poor working environment for everyone on board. And the last rule is… care to venture a guess?”
I shook my head squinting my eyes at my Uncle, “How can there be a rule two and three if rule number one was that there are no rules?”
“Ja… er… I mean First Mate please focus, what would you guess rule number three to be?”
I threw up my hands in a show of surrender. “I don’t know, never touch Little Red Riding Hood’s eye patch?”
My uncle took a step back and with huge brown eyes asked me, “How did you know that? Well I guess that’s why your First Mate.” He said answering his own question.
“Your first duty as my second in command it to find us a crew to man The Pandora. The ship will need at least a dozen crewmembers to operate efficiently.”
“Right,” he said placing both fists on his hips and taking in a large breath. Letting it out slowly he gave me a smile. “Well that’s a great days work for me I’m off for a nap. You can head into Granny’s Town and start signing up recruits. Take Little Red Riding hood with you and remember rule number three.”

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