Chapter 28 Home cooked meal
“Rose, remember you must not put salt in your Babushka’s food; she doesn't like it.”
“Yes mother.” The little hooded girl said obediently, “Oh I almost forgot Father wanted you to meet him at the forge before the dinner bell.”
“Well it was good of you to bring that meat down for him anyway. I shall be back. Do try not to let anything burn.” Elena wiped sweat from her brow. Rose had been kind enough to kindle everything for her before the hunters even returned, it was beyond boiling. She would enjoy a fresh walk outside. No sooner had she left than little Red took off toward the garden. “Babushka," She called out a little distance down the hill. “Babushka, have you gone home yet?!”
“What is it child do not bray!” Old Grandmother waddled out.
“Please help me! Mother left to go find Father and I cannot reach your pirog!”
“Use the paddle child that is what it is for!” Grandmother grunted with pain as she made her way down the hill with her walking stick.
“Grandmother it only pushes further back!” Rose wailed, “It is the special meat Father sets aside for you, the meal for your tender teeth.”
“You needn’t tell the whole world.” Grandmother muttered irritably while the child skipped on ahead. The little girl giggled at her sourness.
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As they entered the lodge kitchen Grandmother sniffed the air as her stomach growled.
“So this is where you have been all day huh? Avoiding your lessons with me for sweets?”
“Ugh, Mother wished it. I smell like the nasty burning meat in the oven.” The girl tilted her head and the hood fell practically down to her nose. She opened the oven door.
“I see nothing in there.” Grandmother bent over.
“Oh Babushka I know your eyes are bad can you at least lean in and smell to see if it is burning?” The little girl pushed her lip out.
“Give me the paddle.” Grandmother licked her lips and inhaled the smoke.
“Of course, Grandmother” The little hooded girl raised her red cloaked arms to send the paddle crashing at the witch’s backside. In addition she ran up and kicked her rump with both feet. Grandmother’s body went head first in the oven which had been carefully prepared so that nothing blocked its full entry. Her thighs stuck a moment the little girl broke the paddle over her knee to make two wooden stakes and speared them into Grandmother’s calves. The prodding worked and the woman writhed all the way in.
Gretel slammed the door, lashing a fancy silk ribbon around the latch handle to knot it shut. It would be a terrible sentimental loss, a necessary one. Billows of black smoke began to puff out of any and all small openings. Unholy cries and curses came from within.
“Scream all you want you toothless goat.” Gretel laughed, then she imitated Rose’s voice while leaning her cheek against the trembling door. “Dear Mother has gone off to the forge and Father is still gone in the woods with his hunters. Roast Well!”
Grabbing a sack she ran from the kitchen giggling. Hearing her child’s laughter Elena looked back from a great distance to see her child skipping away from the kitchen merrily; this was followed by an explosion with great billows of black smoke.