Learning English

Mariam
Hello, my name is Mariam. Today's story is one that you may have last heard when you were very young. It involves two children who head off into a forest where things take a turn for the worse.

These children are a girl and a boy called Hansel and Gretel. When they were very young their mother died but their father remarried. Of course, as is always the way in fairy tales, the children's new stepmother turns out to be cruel and evil.

This is how cruel she is – one day she leads the children deep into the forest. The children are scared, especially as their father has told them never to go there. But she turns a blind eye and leads them deeper and deeper into the forest, turning this way and that. And then she leaves them there all alone, apart from the birds and the squirrels and some other wildlife. But that smart-thinking Hansel has used some breadcrumbs that he found in his pocket, to lay a trail so they can find their way home. Simple!

Unfortunately, when they turn back to follow the trail they realise that those birds that I just mentioned, have eaten all the breadcrumbs, so the children are stranded in the deep dark forest. And to make matters worse, they walk further and further into the forest. By now they are hungry and tired – and there's no fast-food burger bar to be seen. Then there's an interesting turn of events. They suddenly turn up at a beautiful and colourful little cottage. Amazingly the cottage is made out of sweets and cakes – imagine that! So without delay, they start to eat it – hmm, it tastes delicious.

We'll leave the story there for now. But join me next time to see how this 'sweet' story turns into a sour one. Bye for now.