"Little Red" An Autobiography

By LeAnn Mathis

My height may be little, but my story is anything but. My life was full of magic, sorrow, and love. I helped stop Rumpelstiltskin, overcame poverty and bullying, survived a wolf attack, and ultimately raised four children on my own after two tragedy-laced marriages. I was misjudged and labeled a witch at the end, but I stayed true to myself and my morals. How many of you can say the same?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hearth Publications
• Release date: Apr 4, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311656339

LeAnn Mathis

The world itself is an inspiration. My Dad was in the army so my family got to see quite a bit of it growing up. I've taken that variety into my writing and I create stories based on whatever inspires me at the moment. Questions about my lunch meal, a Hawaiian Place of Refuge, and things my kids do have all been transformed, and I hope you enjoy what they grew into. Happy Reading. -LeAnn Mathis (The pen name for Stephanie Neilan when the books are just for fun.)

Book preview

Little Red

An Autobiography

Translated by LeAnn Mathis

Copyright 2014 Hearth Publications All Rights Reserved.

Email [e-mail] for permissions or to contact the author.

Cover Image - Allie. Little Red Riding Hood Cloak. Oct 2012. Digital Image. Web. March 31 2016 Modifications: Isolated the cloak

(Creative Commons Copyright: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

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Table of Contents

Rumpelstiltskin

The King’s New Clothes

The Pied Piper of Hamblin

The Little Red Hen

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Little Red Riding Hood

Hansel and Gretel

Cinderella

Rapunzel

Rumpelstiltskin

My earliest memories were of my father taking me to visit the royal palace. Whenever there was a special event going on, I would get a sneak peek at the gorgeously decorated halls, hear the singers and musicians practice, and try some of the special dessert recipes.

It was so different from our simple home. Our paintings weren't famous, the only music in our home came from Mother's voice when she sewed, and we rarely had the clotted creams and fresh raspberries that the king always ordered.

The palace was preparing for the spring festival when Father took me to see the lilies. They had just bloomed, and I was excited to smell them. I leaned over to get a good whiff when I saw the king walking towards us. His straight back and heavy tread scared me so I crouched down and crawled underneath a shrub so he wouldn’t see me.

The king looked over his shoulder once before saying, There is a girl, a miller’s daughter, in Bremman who can turn straw into gold. I want you to find her and bring her to me.

Father nodded. Of course. What shall I tell her and her father?

Tell them I demand to see her gift for myself. If she can really do what they claim, then I will marry her. I need a wife anyway, and there is no way I will let her gift fall into other, less deserving hands.

My father bowed as the king spun on his heel and strode back towards the castle.

As I crawled out of my hiding spot and dusted the dirt off, Father said, I’m sorry, but I have to take you home.

I nodded. I knew he would. I took one last glance at the flowers before we left.

He promised he’d be back in three days, four at the most, and I watched him pack his bags quickly. He then kissed Mother and I goodbye and got into the waiting carriage.

Three days later, I was perched in a tree by the palace walls so I got to be the first to witness his return. The royal carriage was a closed barouche, but the curtains were drawn back so I could see my father. He was pointing out the sights to a lady sitting across from him. She reminded me of a partially formed dough ball with her pale, thin hair, dewy eyes, and round body. The most magical looking thing about her was her pearl jewelry, but Father would not have returned with just anyone.

I asked Father to tell me all about her when he got home.

Over dinner he said, "She is a very sweet, quiet girl, but not someone the king would have looked at twice if it weren’t for her gift. She said nothing while I explained why I was there and what I was looking for. It was the miller who told me about the discovery and showed me the thin piece of gold that perfectly resembled the straw it had once been.

As I turned it over in my hands and tested it to see if it was real, the miller said she could leave that night. I told him tomorrow morning would be fine. Father shrugged his shoulders. I had already secured my room, and the Bremman Town Musicians were in town.

Mother laughed. Were they good?

Father nodded. Very. Those animals almost made me wish I had chosen a farm life until I remembered what that smelled like.

We left early the next morning and had an uneventful trip back. She had never been to the capital before so I told her what to expect. I never thought the king would shut her away in a room within moments of her arrival. Father shook his head.

"He had filled an entire room with straw, leaving space for only one spindle and a chair. He demanded that she change it to gold right then and there. She burst into tears, and the king warned her that if she couldn’t do it, then he would kill her for lying. That made her cry harder.

"I reminded the king that she had just left her loved ones and needed food and rest. He extended her deadline until tomorrow morning and ordered some food brought to her. I wish I could have done more for her, but…