CHAPTER

GRETEL

Gretel’s stomach rumbled loudly in the dark and she wrapped her arms around her middle. It was harder to hide the noise at night. During the day she could distract it, or hide it with laughter she didn’t always feel, but made Hansel look less worried. She curled to her side on the thin mattres, willing her body to be silent before Hansel awoke.
But he was already awakened. “It’s okay, Gretel,” he whispered. “I’m hungry, too. Let’s go into the forest and see if we can find something to eat.”
There hadn’t been more than stale crusts of bread shared between them for the last three days. But the forest was dangerous. What could two children do against the fearsome creatures and evildoers? Her stomach rumbled again.
Hansel tugged her hand to make her sit up. “Put your boots on, and bring your cloak.”
She did as he said and slid her hand into his. Having their fingers interlocked always made her feel better. Like they belonged like that. They crept to the top of the stairs, careful to avoid the creaky floorboards. Faint candlelight flickered over weathered wood planks and danced shadows over the walls. They couldn’t get too close to the bannister or they’d be spotted, but a hushed argument carried up the stairs.
“No. I will not allow it,” Father’s voice rumbled.
“It’s just a trinket,” her stepmother’s haughty voice whined. “Why not sell it?”
“It’s hers and won’t hear any more about it.”
Gretel closed her hand around the golden ball that hung from her necklace. That had too be what her stepmother wanted to sell. But her mother had given it to her. Gretel would rather only eat crusts of bread for the rest of her life than sell her necklace.
“Then, don’t you see? If we keep the children, we’ll all perish.”
Heart pounding out of control, Gretel pressed into the comforting circle of Hansel’s arms. His mother was saying things to Father that couldn’t be right. Gretel stared into Hansel’s pale green eyes. Normally he looked sure, like he could fix anything, but right now even he seemed scared. He squeezed her hand, and she felt a little better.
“We can’t feed them,” Hansel’s mother said. “If we take them into the woods and leave them there, someone more fortunate than us will find them and give them a better life.”
How could Hansel’s mother say such things? Hansel’s mother had never liked Gretel, but why would she abandon her son?

“Things will turn around.” Father’s tone was the one that meant no more discussion would be tolerated.
“As you say. Husband.” The cold voice wasn’t right. It sent a shiver through Gretel. Hansel hugged her close. “I won’t let her lose us, or sell your necklace.”
“Thank you, Hansel.”
“Come on.” He tugged on her hand. “We better not let her catch us listening.”
There would be no sneaking out as long as Father and his wife sat by the fire. Fortunately, Gretel’s stomach seemed to have accepted there wasn’t any food and was quiet. She let Hansel lead her back to the tiny cubby they shared.
She crawled onto the scratchy blanket covering the straw they used as a bed and snuggled against Hansel and he drew the other blanket over them.
“Sleep, Gretel. I’ll be right here.”
With Hansel watching over her, Gretel slept.