in an orange garden

by bofa xesjum

perhaps you would prefer one of these tasty orange scones. what taste do they have? red riding hood asked grandmother. presumably the taste of oranges, grandmother countered the question contentedly but in that case, why not just eat an orange? what a tiresome child, grandmother thought for the hundredth time. it was what is often loosely termed a lovely day. the death dealing barbarians were supposedly two hundred miles away. you young people are all the same, grandmother observed absently. how trite, red riding hood thought, but did not say. a parakeet flew overhead, heading west, toward the flowing river. red riding hood suddenly felt an urge to say something . but remembering her promise to mrs roberts, the housekeeoer, refrained. julius, the butler, watched from the safety of the woods. he understood the situation but did not approve of it. a grasshopper jumped through the grass and onto grandmother’s shoe. what good can come of this, red riding hood mused. a great quiet enveloped the lawn and the blue sky. reminding red riding hood of the kindness of the abbess. she fell asleep, quite oblivious of her rudeness to grandmother. grandmother was happy to indulge her, closing her own eyes. suddenly both were awakened by a mighty shout behind them. the barbarians poured out of the trees into the garden. the mighty chief of the barbarians presented himself to grandmother. he bowed to her perfunctorily, while eyeing red riding hood. and just who might you be, grandmother asked him composedly. only a poor swordsman, in the service of the whirlwind. and are you only passing through, or staying a while? we have marched a long way, and desire some refreshment. i am afraid i am not operating a refreshment establishment. the barbarian laughed politely at grandmother’s desperate attempt at sangfroid. really, i expected better from the queen of the wolves. what did you expect? and what do you expect now? i expect courtesy from the fairly conquered, the barbarian replied. then i wish you speedy progress, continuing in your conquests. we would like a few tokens of your sincere appreciation. the horde had now formed a semicircle behind their leader. the barbarian turned his smiling gaze to red riding hood. very well, then, grandmother said, you know what you want. red riding hood, now wide awake, looked at the barbarian may i finish my scone? it is really quite tasty.