FlashNano2022 22 A Bedtime Story

 

Nov. 29 FlashNano2022: A Bedtime Story

The 22nd in a month long daily exercises in writing flash fiction to prompts

 

A mother is in her daughter’s bedroom. The little girl is in bed as her mother begins to read a bedtime story.

Mother:               Once upon a time…                                                                                

 

Marcia:                 How long ago was that?

 

Mother:               Before you were born. There was a little girl named Red Riding Hood.

 

Marcia:                Was Red her first name and Riding her middle? Was her last name Riding-Hood?

 

Mother:               It was a nickname.

        Her mother gave her a basket of goodies to take to her grandmother.

 

Marcia:                (yawn) What kind of goodies?

 

Mother:               An egg salad and coriander sandwich plus ginger cookies.

                              The little girl was told to walk through the woods.

Marcia:                Can’t her mother drive her? (yawn)

 

Mother:               It’s only a short walk.

 

Marcia:                (yawn) Can’t Grandma pick up the basket at the little girl's?

 

Mother:               Grandma is in bed with a cold.

 

Marcia:                Maybe the little girl will catch it. (yawn) (yawn)

 

Mother:               The little girl put on her pretty red cloak with her hood and …

 

Marcia:                (deep breathing). 

 

The mother puts down the book and pulls the covers over the sleeping child. After putting out the lamp and putting on the night light, she tiptoes from the room, relieved she doesn’t have to finish the bedtime story.