Little Red Riding Hood put on her cape, took up her basket of goodies, and departed for Grandmother's house. As she skipped through the woods, a voice addressed her. "Whooo are you taking those goodies to, my dear?" it said. Red looked all around, but she didn't see who spoke until an owl flew down to the ground before her.

"Oughtn't you be a wolf?" asked Little Red.

"Oughtn't you have manners enough to answer my question?" asked the owl.

"I don't see how it's any of your business," she said.

"Then I don't see why I should answer to your empty-headed speciesism," said the owl.

Red paused, then said, "I'm taking them to Grandmother, in the little white house in the woods."

"Ah," said the owl. "I'm filling in for the wolf. She got called away, something about some pigs."

"Oh," said Little Red. "What now?"

"Well, I suppose I fly ahead to Grandmother's and eat her. Except she doesn't really appetize me. Does she keep any mice?"

"No, she hates mice," said Red.

"Well, I could tell her you're lost in the woods, and cause some mischief that way," said the owl.

They agreed, and then started again.