The Untold True Story about Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf

They met in the wood. A special event. The lovely trees noted it in their green diary to recall it years later when they were longing for it. The encounter made the joyful birds stop singing. It was that important. Their focused eyes met. Looking for a piece of understanding. A communication between two living souls. Little Red Riding Hood was not afraid. In her extended dictionary the word bold was written in golden capital letters. The ferocious wolf was intrigued. Normally every being would step aside when he crossed their path. The cute little girl was different. Yes, she was.

They started an intellectual conversation where wisdom was shared at the highest level. The wolf listened to the warm voice of the little one: 'Everyone told me to be afraid of you, big wolf. But I decided to follow my own gut. Frankly you come across as gentle and special.' The wolf took the words in with utmost care, as if he was nurturing his own soul. Slowly. But surely. 'She is indeed brave', he concluded after a while. The wolf was told all his life that he was a non wanted one. A terrible creature that could only harm others. He acted upon that belief and destroyed everything on his path, except ...

Little Red Riding Hood continued to talk to her wild forest creature. 'In fact can you give me a ride to the next village? I want to visit my family because Christmas is approaching'. The wild wolf laughed. In a second he considered to make her belief he would do the right thing. But then he decided to do it differently this time. He would behave. Going out of his way to leave his comfort zone. A huge change for a wild animal. The girl felt his good intentions and smiled. The wolf gave her a paw and she climbed up his shoulder and then on his back. His ears were excellent to hold on to.

Three days later they arrived in the village of her family. Everything was made ready to celebrate Christmas. Her grandmother, a wise old lady, was the proud owner of the golden mirror. Once you were invited to look into this extremely rare mirror you would clearly see your own nature and true potential. The little girl had the plan to bring the wolf to that golden mirror. When she saw that her grandmother was still in a deep sleep, she took the mirror and put it out in the vast field of corn around the house.

The curious cats in the neighbourhood for once were not catching birds or mice, they were completely into following the mysterious scene that was about to unfold. The mirror started to reflect light. More light. Bright light. It connected to the universe of stars above. The wolf came closer. The little girl petted him. Like a sort of dog. The wolf accepted it and got a little sleepy after such a tender gesture. He forgot who he was told to be. He went back in time, when he was a newborn to the world. The mirror at work.

He saw two paths in the forest, the known one and the unknown version. This time he took the not evident path. His skin renewed completely. His appearance became magically different. New thoughts and feelings rose to the surface. He erased all of his past ideas and felt completely refreshed. Little Red Riding Hood was content. Her wild friend had become his best version. When she looked at him a second time there was no longer a vision of a wolf in need for terror. Oh no, she saw a very beautiful house dog who was shaking his tail with total joy.

Grandmother woke up. She started to make the most delicious Christmas pancakes and then Little Red Riding Hood knocked on the door. The mirror silently moved back to the hidden room of the house where treasures find peace. Grandmother opened her arms to hug her little sweetheart and looked at the creature next to her. 'You have a house dog, baby? He is so cute!' Little Red Riding Hood got a kick out of that because in that moment she understood she had found the key to the world of pure magic. The dog licked the hands of grandmother and together they ate the best pancakes. 

His tender and faithful nature made the old trees dance. Nobody else than the forest and its creatures would ever guess that the house dog once had been a wild wolf. They say that the golden mirror never stopped to make a difference. Even after all those years. Grandmother is in heaven by now and little girls become classy women after some time. But one thing will never change, the golden mirror continues to transform all beings that are ready to shine like the brightest star. It is not a fairy tale. It is true. If you wish upon a star, so are you.

By Liesbeth Leysen