Hansel and Gretel

"Tomorrow morning, we will take the children deep into the forest. That is the only way for us to survive."

When a great famine swept across the land, the stepmother’s cold voice cut through the darkness of the small hut. Their weak father lowered his head, abandoning his conscience. In the corner of the bed, the hungry siblings lay awake, hearing every word of their parents’ cruel plan.

The first time they were abandoned, they returned home safely thanks to the white pebbles Hansel had gathered beforehand. But the second time was different. The door was locked, and all Hansel had in his hand was a single piece of dry bread. The birds of the forest ate every breadcrumb the children dropped to mark their path. The siblings were completely stranded.

After wandering the forest for three days without food, a white bird appeared before them. Following it, they reached a strange little cottage made of sweet pastries and sugar windows. As the children eagerly tore pieces from the walls, the door opened and an old woman leaning on a cane emerged.

"Oh my, you poor little lambs. Come inside, quickly."

It was a trap. The old woman, nearly blind, was a witch who preyed on lost children.

The next morning, the witch grabbed the back of Hansel’s neck while he slept and threw him into a small iron cage in the yard. Then she shook Gretel by the hair and shouted:

"You useless girl, fetch water from the well! I must feed your brother well and fatten him up. Once he’s plump enough, I’ll cook him for my meal!"

Gretel cried every day as she carried water and cooked. Each morning, the witch went to the cage and yelled, "Stick out your finger! I need to see how much you’ve fattened!" Because her eyesight was failing, Hansel cleverly held out a chicken bone instead. Believing it was his finger, the witch grew frustrated that he never seemed to gain weight.

At last, after a month, the witch lost her patience. She decided to eat Hansel whether he was fat or not.

"Girl, light the fire! Fill the pot with water and heat the baking oven as well. Tonight I’ll boil that boy and bake bread with the leftover dough!"

Gretel trembled as she looked at the blazing stone oven. The witch intended to shove Gretel inside and cook her along with Hansel. Standing before the flames, the witch pushed Gretel toward the opening and barked:

"Get in there and check with your own eyes whether the temperature is right for baking!"

Gretel sensed the murderous intent in the witch’s eyes. Pretending to be weak and foolish, she shook her head.

"Grandmother, it’s too dark inside. I can’t see anything. And the door is too small—how can I fit? Please show me how to do it first."

"You stupid girl! The opening is wide enough! Even my head fits easily!"

Annoyed, the witch leaned her upper body deep into the oven. At that moment, Gretel summoned strength she had never known and shoved the witch hard into the oven.

As the witch tumbled inside, Gretel slammed the heavy iron door shut and secured the latch.

"KWAANG!"

A scream unlike anything human erupted from behind the closed door. Inside the blazing oven, the witch writhed in agony as heat consumed her. Gretel didn’t look back; she ran to her brother and unlocked the cage.

"Hansel! The witch is gone! We’re free!"

The siblings found a chest full of pearls and jewels beneath the witch’s bed and stuffed their pockets. Then they fled the burning cottage. Smoke rose into the sky, carrying the stench of the witch’s end.

The journey home was peaceful. When they arrived, the cruel stepmother who had plotted to abandon them had already died of an unknown illness. Their father embraced them with tears of remorse, and thanks to the witch’s treasure, the family never knew hunger again, leaving their bloodstained past behind.