Wolf! Wolf! Or Is There?

Opening the storybook and reading the woven tales within,

a young girl’s eyes gleamed witnessing the story begin.

“Wolf! Wolf! There’s a wolf!”

the shepherd boy cried.

Out of boredom maybe,

and so he tried.

A tale so familiar and so similar to her own.

The young girl mused, having an idea of her own.

“Daddy, I want the newest doll!”

she cried, making sure he heard her call.

Her father said “No! We have no money.”

But she replied, “But, I want to be seen as pretty.”

The father paused seeing his daughter distressed.

Seeing this, the girl spilled tears going on a tirade.

“There’s a bully at school saying I’m not

pretty without a doll.

They say I’m ugly, poor and I’m dull.”

The father, saddened, said, “Alright

I’ll give it to you, now I’ll tuck you in goodnight.”

The very next day, the girl got what she wished.

All the others praised her, for her doll was unique.

“Your doll is pretty, now it needs a house!”

“You’re right! I need one.” she said without doubt.

And so she went back home, greeting her father with a hug.

Saying another request upon their living room’s old rug.

The father was skeptical yet toiled with wood and bricks all night.

While the girl turned the page of the tale in sight.

“Where’s the wolf?”

Roused the adults who carried pitchforks, worried and incensed.

There was no wolf to be found

Yet there remained unrest.

The next day came, with great fanfare for the girl.

For the others were amazed at the dollhouse now unfurled.

“Your doll house is so cool! But what’s wrong with your dress?”

“It looks old and torn along with your shoes, a mess!”

The girl smiled and told them she’ll change.

“Like magic, I say. Like a book’s next page!”

And so the next day came and the girl showed up, aglow.

With her brand new dress and shoes she showed.

“Am I pretty now?” She asked.

“Well yes, of course! But how about a new bag?”

The girl was distressed as she remembered her dad.

For his face had gone sallow, fatigued and bad.

As the girl headed home, she opened the book containing the tale.

The words surprised her, making her go pale.

The days went like that,

With the boy having fun

Never knowing that one day,

everything would turn to none.

She hurried home clutching the tale in her palm.

And upon her arrival she tried to maintain her calm.

“My daughter, it seems I have become sick.”

The young girl cried, “Don’t worry it’s my fault for being weak.”

“There are no bullies, those are tall tales I speak.

I cried about bullies-of wolves, to be at the peak.”

The wolf tore up the sheep,

Eating its prey with relish.

The boy cried out the words

Yet no one turned to listen.

“I was desperate for attention,

Being recognized was what I seeked.

I tried and tested waters

Surprisingly ,you agreed.”

The father gazed at her daughter warm as it was before.

It seemed the both of them had lessons to explore.

To learn being content, and to learn to withhold,

A message to share, a new tale to be told.

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Written by Angelie Maguinda

Visual by Joannah Mae Migriño

Layout by Trisha Mirallo