The Tale of Hansel and Gretel and Their Beautiful Stepmother

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Hi kids! I’m Jason, and this is another episode of the Ghosty Twist Podcast.

As I suspected, no one has listened to my podcast yet. Shocking, isn’t it? Actually, it makes sense. Why? Because I can’t find anyone to tell kids about me! I’m invisible—how am I supposed to meet real people?

People! People! People! They don’t believe in ghosts anymore. Can you believe that? I know, I know—some people don’t even believe in fairies, unicorns, dragons, or other magical creatures. Hey, people! I’m right here! A real ghost in Lynn Valley Public Library in North Vancouver.

Let me prove I’m real by telling you some things about the library that you might recognize.

If you visit the library, you’ll head straight to the children’s books section. On your way, you might pass Ms. Smiler Number 1—the friendly staff member at the front desk who’s always smiling. Sometimes, there’s also a very serious-looking man working there.

Now, let’s keep going. The recording station is on the second floor, where you’ll find Ms. Smiler Number 2. She’s in charge of the recording studio. But that’s not all—there are lots of other staff members I should name too!

That’s enough ghostly proof for today. I just wanted you to know that I’m as real as it gets.

Now, let’s dive into today’s story. Have you heard of Hansel and Gretel and their mean stepmother? Well, get ready for a big twist in this classic tale! Here we go:

Once upon a time, there were two children, Hansel and Gretel, who lived with their father. Their mother had to leave because she got a job in another city. One day, she told their father:
“Hey, I got a job in another city. Let’s go together!”
“No way! I love living and working here in the forest,” the father replied.
“But there’s nothing here! We don’t even have money,” said the mother.
“But we have each other,” the father insisted.

They argued and argued until finally, the mother said:
“No, you don’t have me. I’m leaving, and you’re responsible for Hansel and Gretel now. Goodbye forever.”
And with that, she left and slammed the door.

After some time, the father fell in love with another woman and got remarried. The stepmother was as beautiful as a princess and kind to Hansel and Gretel. But they still didn’t have much money. So, the father, stepmother, and two kids all lived together in a tiny house in the middle of the forest.

One day, the father said, “Let’s send Hansel and Gretel away so there’s more food for us to eat.”
But the stepmother shook her head. “No way! It’s dangerous out there!”
The father argued: “But everyone knows they’ll find a candy house made of chocolate and sweets! And even though a bad witch will try to catch them, they’ll escape with a bag of gold and bring it back. Then we’ll be rich!”
The stepmother replied, “Shame on you! I’ll never let them go on such a dangerous journey. If you want money, go fight the witches yourself.”

Hansel and Gretel, who had been eavesdropping, jumped in with a brilliant idea.
“Let’s fight the witch together!” said Gretel.
“We need a bag of sand to spread along the way so we can find our way home,” she added.
Hansel said, “How about breadcrumbs? We could use those instead.”
“No, brother, birds will eat them. Don’t make such a silly mistake,” Gretel replied.

She continued, “Here’s the plan: Hansel and I will eat the candy house to lure the witch out. When she comes for us, it’s your turn!”
“What should we do next?” asked the stepmother.
“You and Dad should sneak into the house and find the gold. Then we’ll all fight her together and escape!” explained Gretel.

The father panicked. “This is so dangerous! I’m out. You do whatever you want.” And he left.
But the stepmother said, “I’m in. Let’s find that witch’s candy house!”

So they set off together, and their plan worked. They found the candy house, outsmarted the witch, and became rich. When the father came asking for a share, the stepmother said:
“No pain, no gain. If you want treasure, you have to earn it yourself.”

Eventually, the father set off to find the candy house himself. And he did find it! But… the witches caught him and gobbled him up.

And that’s the end of the story.

Closing

That’s the end of today’s episode! Did you enjoy it? If you’re ever near Lynn Valley Public Library, drop by! You might just spot me—if you believe in magic!

If not, send me your voice! Visit my website at ghostytwist.com, where you’ll find a magic recorder. Leave me a message, and your voice might even be featured in my next episode!

Thanks for listening, kids. Until next time, keep your stories spooky and your twists twisted. Byeee! 👻