July 2007 Entry: Grandmother's Tale (aka Red Riding Hood)

[Publius]

Here it is, I've only had today to work on it; names are placeholders right now except Red's, Grandma's and the Path of Pins and the Path of Needles (which comes from the original version of the tale). Pretty much the rest I made up and very well could change in the days I have left before final submission.

Regarding the Pins and Needles: Terry Windling says that this has to do with the maturation process of young women. The Path of Pins was for maidens. Notice I have a meadow for Red to tarry in, as she did in some versions of the tale, as well as a place to catch butterflies, as she is supposed to have done as well. Meanwhile the Path of Needles was for sexual maturity/becoming a woman. When the Wolf asks her at the beginning if she will take the Path of Pins or Needles he is actually trying to pick her up. I placed some of the pitfalls of that in the path, which is obvious why Red would want to take the longer Path of Pins...