by Laura Tereshko

Red was on her way to her grandmother's house. She was off to celebrate her grandmother's graduation from college. For just under 50 years she had been married to a wonderful husband and had 3 children and worked as a housewife. Now, all of her children had families of their own and her husband was retired, so she could now focus on her own priorities. She had always admired her grandchild, Red, because of her perseverance to reach for the stars. "Anything is possible if you just try hard enough," she always said to her grandmother.

Red decided to take a walk through the woods to her grandmother's house since it was such a perfect day. Her parents had to go to the store and pick up some food for the party, so Red was to meet them there and help set up for the joyous event. Enjoying her walk in the woods with her sassy new bright red jacket for the crisp cool weather, she came upon a clearing. Although the walk was not to far, she decided to sit a while and enjoy the calmness of the woods. The chirping birds, rustling leaves and trees made her feel as though her life was traveling too fast. She could never "stop and smell the roses" as the saying goes. For, she lived by the motto, anything is possible if you just try hard enough. Well, she sure did try! Thinking back to the last few years of her life brought a smile to her face, but not easily. She had had many tough times to get where she was today. Graduating from college, then pursuing a degree in medicine at the top of her class, Red was one of the most sought for veterinarians in the Nation.

She had always encouraged her grandmother to return to college and get her education in teaching, something she had always wanted to do. Even if she wasn't able to teach full time because of her age, it still allowed her to be active in her community.

Getting up from the bench to return to her walk, Red was suddenly jarred from her daydreams of being a little girl and walking the path to grandma's every weekend. A wolf ran in front of her and stopped her in her tracks. It stared at her for a minute and sat down on its back haunches. Red was a bit nervous to be facing a wolf so near to her without anyone around. Suddenly the wolf moved towards her and opened its mouth to speak.

It said, "Hello Red Riding Hood, where are you off to today?" Red breathed a sigh of relief and began laughing. "Max! You scared the daylights out of me! I didn't know you got your fur trimmed! When did that happen? I didn't even recognize you? I thought you were about to eat me up!" Max came a little closer and said, "Oh Red, I can't imagine that! It was just cut last week, but I still look like my old self! How are you? It's been such a long time!"

"Oh I'm doing quite well," Red answered. She proceeded to tell him all about her schooling and life after college up to the present day. "Did you hear about grandmother? She just graduated from college!" exclaimed Red!

"She told me all about it the other day. She had put out a couple of dead mice that she had caught in the house and had given to me. We talked for a few minutes about it. She warned me that she wouldn't be around as much as usual and not to be upset if my meals came later. I told her not to worry about it. It was about time for me to start looking for my own food around here. I have been cooking on the side. My wife told me to pick up a chore since she's gone all day at work and I'm home with the kids. I guess it's fair and all."

"Well good for you Max! Are you headed over to the party? I'm going over to help set up right now. You can say hi to mom and dad if you'd like. They'd love to see you," questioned Red. "I didn't realize the party was today! I'll go get the wife and kids. Darn it! I was going to make my famous stuffed quails! Oh well, I guess I'll have to throw together a fruit salad. I know grandmother loves fruit!" replied Max, the wolf.

"Oh, I would just love to see your little ones," exclaimed Red Riding Hood. I have worked with so many animals at the veterinary hospital, but I haven't seen and wolves come in yet. I would love to ask them some questions about what they are curious about and like to get into. It would really help me out with the other animals that come in. Some of them are so little that they can't even talk! It makes it harder for us to diagnose their problems."

"I'll grab the wife and kids and meet you over there in a little bit," said Max. "See you soon!"

"Bye Max!"