Short story Hansel and Gretel of this century
By: Nitzy Rodriguez
Tags: Fiction, Fiction Writing, Short Story, Creative, Hansel And Gretel

by N.A.R.P

Hansel and Great Gretel

We wish the best for new years. All of us hope for improvement, whether in school, at work or life. We start the new year with lots of energy, a smile and hoping to accomplish our wishes. Our world divides us into social classes, some are rich and most are poor. In the middle of our journey we stop having the energy we had in the beginning. The world seems nothing like a fairy tale. Children go to school not because they like it but because it is an obligation. Their motivation starts fading by mid march. Their parents go to work ; just following their daily routine. People get bored with their schedule over a while. The ones saying “I’m joining a gym this year’’ become the ones saying “don’t have time for that’’, I better work and rest.

When nobody expected something to happen, boom; classes were canceled, some businesses started to shut down. Announced by the weekend, all new york city were closed. Unconscious, we couldn’t believe it. There we were for over a week. On our beds waiting for the news. A deadly virus striked the world. Spring breaks canceled, no plans for a night out, field trips ruined and high school seniors remained hopeless in the process of quarantine.

Online classes continued, some people worked from home and the rest were stuck home unemployed. It might seem like a nice vacation but it was nothing like it. There were people outside with gloves and masks. They were out because they had to go shop for groceries. People started panicking, they wanted all of that to be over. It felt like a nightmare, they had never been stuck home for that long. Rent was due, so was the internet bill and other expenses.

El barrio East Harlem where the poorest people live, some latinos, African Americans and others. Mostly minorities, as we are to imagine, they did not have funds to take care of their rent or food. Hansel and Gretel lived by the neighborhood. Their family is a bit strange, one of those families where you could find either an enemy or a friend. Gloria was their mother, their father had died in a car accident as he was going to work in Brooklyn. Gloria found Kevin in a bookstore , after a couple of months they fell in love and Kevin moved to Gloria’s place. Both of them worked at a local store in Manhattan. Though, Gloria’s children struggled to get along with Kevin. It is not easy for a child to see their father die and then waking up to the idea of having another person in their father’s place. Gloria noticed that Kevin wasn’t used to children so she tried to understand him. Gretel, “Great Gretel’’ nicknamed by her dad, she was an influencer in her instagram account. Great Gretel would write feminist messages to support women’s rights whenever she had time to. Hansel was preserved and he used to let Kevin express how much he hates them. On the other hand, Kevin supported patriarchy and he was a manipulator. When everybody was quarantined , Kevin started having trouble with his temperament. He couldn’t get money for food and other essentials. The arguments between Kevin and the children grew bigger. The situation made Kevin want to kick Hansel and Great Gretel out. He was waiting for the right moment to do so. Kevin sent the children to a supermarket on 125th street. He had told Hansel that Kevin was going to meet them there. Gloria arrived home and she noticed that her children were gone. Kevin told her that the kids were playing in the park.

In the night the kids had found their way home. Kevin was mad as they told Gloria that he had left the children all by themselves. Kevin planned another way of getting rid of them. This time leaving them in Coney Island where they couldn’t find the way home. Of course, in New York City you can’t leave children in the streets. Kevin forgot that part and continued with his plan. Gloria was always busy looking for food or some sort of help during the crisis.

Didn’t take long for the cops to call the parents. Gloria had explained everything. She was upset and Kevin assumed his guilt. Asking for Gloria and the children’s forgiveness, he spent some time in jail. At the end Hansel and Gretel received food stamps and financial assistance to pay up the rent. They had some stories to tell their mother while they were in Coney Island they encountered a homeless man who had followed them for a few blocks. Also, when they were in the supermarket they met a crackhead that made silly jokes. Hansel and Gretel had felt scared but they didn’t deny they had a good time.