Gretel and Hansel

A short but ghastly tale

“Are there many left?” Gretel asks.

She is as you want her to be. No matter what other adjectives you choose to describe this story (and several will no doubt come to mind), it is unquestionably democratic. Her size, complexion, hair style, accent, native language, clothing and everything else about her are up to you. This is your story as much as anyone’s. Not too young, though. Whatever age you decide she is now, you’ll soon wish you’d made her older, because of the way this will end. The ending isn’t negotiable. Democracy isn’t going to reach quite that far.

She is talking to Hansel. Again, decide for yourself what he looks like, who he is. Just keep one thing in mind: he is Gretel’s brother. They are not friends, they are not lovers, they are not anything else you might think of. Gretel and Hansel are sister and brother. That’s very important.

Gretel is asking Hansel about breadcrumbs.