Hantel and Gresel: Food Critics

By T.K. Wrathbone

We all know the story of Hansel and Gretel, right? But do you know the story about Hantel and Gresel?

Once upon a time in some weird German black forest cake land lived twins called Hantel and Gresel. They were poor, starving children, but after being sent into the forest for food by their mother they were starving no more, for they had found the motherlode of all food.

Sure it was built in the style of a house...

And sure a lonely old woman lived there...

But surely she didn’t mind sharing with two starving children...?

Needless to say, she soon put Hantel and Gresel to work to support their newly acquired sugar addiction and that’s how they became the world famous food critics they are today.

Ah, their long life was oh so good...and fattening...and sweet...until they found out about the deep dark secret curse being kept from them...

• Language: English
• Publisher: T.K. Wrathbone
• Release date: Jul 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781925683271

T.K. Wrathbone

Welcome to the spine-tingling world of T.K. Wrathbone!T.K. Wrathbone is a children's TV show veteran who loves watching disaster and creature/zombie movies and TV shows, but not at night.T.K. started writing many a year ago back in primary school, but only started her author career in 2015 with the release of her first three stories and anthology. She will write and release stories until there are twelve Bones books and a special edition numbered 13...For more information visit – www.tkwrathbone.com

Book preview

HANTEL AND GRESEL:

FOOD CRITICS

T.K. Wrathbone

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

About the Author

Other Titles

Copyright

Chapter 1

Hantel, why don’t you und Gresel go und play in de woods today, Mrs Grudebaker suggested to her son. She wiped her hands nervously on the ratty old hand towel in the ratty old kitchen. I don’t have any food to give you, but you could pick some fruit from de trees und berries from de bushes.

But, Mama, Hantel replied, picking at the holes in his lederhosen. We’ve been told not to go into de woods. He sat on the floor playing with the straw man doll he had made.

Und who told you dat? She pulled out a kitchen chair that her husband had found by the side of the road. Their household furniture was sparse as they had no money to afford new or even nice things, so everything came from other people dumping it by the roadside.

De mayor announced it last week in de city square. He watched his mother. You were dere Mama, you heard him too.

Well. She fussed with her ratty old apron. Dings have changed und it’s now okay for kinder to go into de woods again.

Hantel wondered what his mother was up to, and why she was so eager for him and his sister to go into the woods.

Why don’t you take dis basket und bring some fruit for us. She gathered the basket and a couple of ratty towels. Wrap up de fruit so it stays nice, und bring it home for us.

Hantel’s stomach growled. You’re just being silly, he told himself. Mama only wants us to collect some fruit so we can eat und have supper. Nodding else. Okay, Mama, I will go und find Gresel.

Dat’s a gut boy. She patted him on the head as he hugged her. Gutbye, my son, take care of your sister. After handing him the basket, she watched him call to his sister who joined him in the front yard. They both waved goodbye and skipped hand in hand along the road that led to the woods.

She fretted. Oh, dear, how could I have done dis? I can’t, I cannot do dis.

Mr Grudebaker came out from the bedroom and heard his wife’s comment. Patting her on the shoulder he consoled her. Dere, dere, it had to be done. We have nein money, nein food, und now we lose dis house. We had to let de kinder go.

Mrs Grudebaker sobbed and wiped the tears streaming down her face. It doesn’t mean I have to like it or agree wid it.

*****

Completely unaware of what was really going on, and why Mama had sent them into the woods, Hantel and Gresel skipped gaily down the dirt road, holding hands, and swinging the basket as they went.

Hullo, Mrs Gunderson, Gresel called, stopping to chat with their neighbour.

Hullo, Gresel, Mrs Gunderson replied. How are you zwei today? She was sweeping her front porch and pathway to her pretty white mailbox, sitting on her pretty white picket fence.

Gut, danke, Mrs Gunderson, Hantel said, standing beside his sister. He and Gresel were twins and didn’t go anywhere without one another.

Und where are you zwei off to today? she asked, resting on her broom.

We’re off to de woods to collect some fruit. We’re hungry, und Mama und Papa have nein food. Hantel showed her the basket. We’re bringing it back for supper.

A worried frown slid down Mrs Gunderson’s face. Into de forest? she said. Why would your Mama send you into de forest, when just last week we were being told to keep our kinder out of de forest?

Hantel frowned in return.