Little Red

Once upon a time, in the land of Make-Believe, there was a young woman who lived in a village near a forest. Every time she went out in public she wore a red face covering. You see, there was a plague sweeping across the land of Make-Believe. It was dangerous and frightening to everyone. But within the village, there was a group of people who did not think the plague was serious. They called her “Red” to mock her for wearing a face covering.

One morning, Red decided that she wanted to visit her grandmother who lived deep within the woods. It had been quite a long time since she’d been able to see her, fearing that she might bring the plague into her home. But Red had been cautious and was feeling good. So she packed her lunch bag and headed out to the forest.

The sun was shining and Red was singing some of her favorite songs. She was so lost in her joy that she failed to notice a shadowy figure approaching her from behind. As she turned a corner, she noticed a man was standing beside her. He was covered in hair and had a long beard. His ears stuck out from behind a crimson hat.

“Young lady,” the beastly man asked, “what are you doing out here?”

“I’m going to visit my grandmother,” Red replied. “She lives in a house down by the brook.”

“You know,” the man said condescendingly, “that thing on your face isn’t doing anything.”

Red didn’t know how to respond. She thought, what does it matter to him if I wear it or not? If I feel safer wearing it, who cares? But Red was alone in the woods and the man was getting closer to her. She could see his tobacco-stained teeth as he licked his lips.

“You’re quite pretty,” he said, hungrily.

“I have to go,” Red said.

She turned to leave but the man was not finished with her.

“Why are you in such a rush, honey? I’m just trying to talk to you.”

“I’m sorry,” Red said, “but I am very late.”

“That’s because you’re taking the wrong path,” the man explained. “What you want to do is go down that other one. It’s faster.”

“Excuse me, but I have been to my grandmother’s many times. I think I know how to get there. Now, please, I must be going.”

“Very well. You don’t have to be like that. I’m just trying to help you.”

Red turned without saying a word and continued down the path. It was getting late and the sun beginning to set. In the distance, she heard the man call her a bitch.

Little did Red know that the man knew a shortcut to her grandmother’s house. Well, not so much a shortcut as he had a horse and could travel much faster. He raced through the woods to beat her to the tiny cottage. Once arriving, he banged on the door.

“Old woman,” he shouted. “Come out, something has happened to your granddaughter!”

Inside, the old woman put her robe on. She hadn’t been expecting any company today and wasn’t made up for going out in public. She also took a small piece of fabric and covered her mouth, just to be safe.

“What?" Who’s there?”

“I am a friendly woodsman, here to help you. Open the door. I must speak to you about your granddaughter!”

Granny was worried. She knew Red was quite capable of taking care of herself but the woods were dangerous, especially so during a plague. She opened the door and the man rushed past her into her home.

“That cloth on your face is hurting you,” the man said. “It isn’t helping. It’s actually suffocating you and might even cause the plague!”

“Oh dear,” Granny said.

“Yes, think of it. We did not need to ever wear masks before. But then, after a few people got sick, we started wearing them all the time and the plague just spread and spread. It’s the masks that are causing all of this!”

“Are you sure,” Granny croaked, “about that?”

“Yes, quite sure. I have done my research. Everyone has the plague already. Wearing the mask just keeps it inside your body longer. The best thing to do is gain what I am calling a “natural immunity” to it. You have nothing to fear. Once you get the plague, you will never get it again.”

Granny thought about it for a moment. She wasn’t sure what to think. Many of her friends had said similar things. But the local physician who made rounds throughout the woods told her to protect herself. But the man was loud and seemed confident. She lowered the fabric from her mouth.

“Good,” the man said with a smile.

Red arrived at the cottage soon after. She knocked on the door and called out for her Granny.

“Granny, it’s me.”

No reply came from within. Red was nervous. She entered through the door and saw a shape laying in her grandmother’s bed. She approached cautiously, calling out to her once more.

“Come closer, dear child,” came a voice from the crumpled mess of blankets and pillows.

“Granny, why are you wearing that red hat?”

“All the better to keep my head warm,” came the reply.

“But Granny, why are you so hairy?”

“All the better to keep my body warm.”

“But Granny, why aren’t you wearing a mask?”

“Because,” a voice roared from beneath the covers, “I don’t need one!”

The man lept from the bed and ran towards Red. She let out a scream and ran to the door.

“What have you done with my Granny?” she asked.

“I gave her the plague so she wouldn’t get it!”

“That doesn’t even make sense!”

“Come here!”

“HELP!”

As it so happened, the local physician was making his rounds. He was due to be at Granny’s place earlier in the day but his wagon broke a wheel. As he repaired it, he heard Red’s cries for help and started running to the cottage. He got the door, still open, and went inside.

But he was too late. Granny was dead, lying face down on her bed, a last desperate attempt to save her life. Red was barely awake, feverish, and breathing heavily in the corner. She would pass soon as well. There was nothing the physician could do. He’d seen it many times before. It seemed to him that there were two plagues sweeping across the land of Make-Believe.

He closed the door, his shoulders low, and walked back to his wagon, the wheel still in need of repair.