Friday, April 22, 2016

Week 13 Storytelling: Hansel and Grethel Find Their Way Home

Hansel and Grethel
(Source: Wikimedia)

Another week has gone by without a word or sign from my dad. The last time I saw him and my stepmother was almost six months ago.  During those six months, my sister and I have been at the orphanage in downtown Oklahoma City, waiting for their return.

The thing is, our family has a secret, but I didn’t think it would abandon to them abandoning us. At least, I didn’t think my dad would because I knew how much he loved us, but I also knew it wasn’t really my dad’s doing.

Our stepmom, Lisa, is another story, however. I knew she never liked us, even when my dad first introduced us to her a few years ago. There were times when she made my sister and I feel like the outsiders in the family. The way she controlled my father made zero sense at first until I saw what she was.

“Grethel, I think it’s time we leave here,” I suggested one evening. “I have a feeling I can find dad and we can be reunited again.”

Initially, I could tell Grethel was excited by my proposition, but then a worried expression crossed her face.

“But what about Lisa?” she whispered. “What if we find dad and she doesn’t let us see him?”

Everything I knew about Lisa and her past came to the surface, but I was afraid to tell Grethel. I mean, how do I tell my sister that Lisa is actually a witch and cursed our father? An honest to goodness witch, and not anything remotely close to Glenna the Good Witch.

Lisa has powers that no one knows about but my dad and I. One night a while back I saw her mixing potions into baked goods and homemade candies. My father walked in as she was finishing and forced him to eat the candy and freshly baked cookies. After that she had complete control over my dad. She even forced him to leave us at the orphanage.

“The only way to find dad is to follow to trail of candy Lisa left behind,” I told Grethel. “I also have something else to tell,” I whispered.

It was time Grethel understood the danger we were about to embark on. We were not just on a mission to save our father, but we were on a mission to save our father from a very powerful witch. It was only a matter of time that the candy trail Lisa left behind would lead us to their whereabouts. I only hoped that we weren’t too late.

Author’s Note: I based my story loosely on that of Hansel and Grethel. I chose to do the style through the mind of Hansel’s. The reason I chose this style is because I enjoy hearing the narration of stories through the main character. I like that it follows the thoughts of the main character and tells the story from his/her perspective. In the original Hansel and Grethel translated by Margaret Hunt, Hansel and Grethel’s father was being bossed around by their new stepmom. The family was so poor that the stepmom suggested getting rid of the kids by leaving them in the forest. While the stepmom discussed this with the father, Hansel was listening and decided on a plan. He gathered stones from outside the house so the next day when their father and stepmother led them into the forest, Hansel left a trail of pebbles behind him so they could find their way back home. Once the children are home, the stepmom wants to leave them in the forest again. This time she locks the door so Hansel is unable to gather stones to leave a trail. He instead leaves a trail of breadcrumbs, which is ate by birds and they are unable to find their way home. While they are lost, they come across a house made of candy. They begin to eat it and the owner comes out the front door and invites them in. That’s when they discover she is a witch. She locks Hansel away to fatten him up to eat later and forces Grethel to do chores. Grethel then finds a way to rescue Hansel and lock the witch away. They escape with her riches and make it back home. Upon arriving home they find their dad and find out their stepmom is dead. They all live happily ever after.
           
Bibliography:  This story is Hansel and Grethel from Brothers Grimm Unit by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm, then translated by Margaret Hunt (1884).  





4 comments:

  1. This story was great! I liked that you made it modern but still magical. I can totally see a kid reading this story and half believing it because you made enough of the aspects realistic. Also, who doesn't love a classic evil stepmother? It's nice that Hansel was looking out for and trying to protect his sister! I'd be interested to know how this story turned out in the end!

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  2. Ashley, great story! It was short, sweet, and to the point, but still allowed the reader to get a clear perspective of what was going on the children's lives. It's rather unfortunate that these children had to undergo such things. I can only imagine what that must have been like to see that your father had been possessed and there was nothing you could do to help them out. I would love to know how Lisa crossed paths with their dad and if he ever realized what had happened to him. I would also like to know what happened once they left the orphanage to find their dad.

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  3. Hey Ashley! This is a great story providing a clear perspective of what is going on in the children lives. It is sad to read the unfortunate things these children has to go through. I couldn't imagine seeing your father possessed and not being able to do anything about it. I am curious t o know what happen once they left the orphanage to find their dad.

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  4. Ashley, I love the perspective you went with in this story and involving the children's lives, though it was sad. It is scare to think about a family member getting possessed and not being able to do any thing about it! I too am curious what happened after they left the orphanage.

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