Sue Bea Montgomery

Little Red Riding Hood: A classic story, but there's more to every tale than meets the eye. Before you judge a book by its cover, you've got to flip through the pages. In the re-telling of this classic fable, the story begins at the end of the tale and winds its way back. Chief Grizzly and Detective Bill Stork investigate a domestic disturbance at Granny's cottage, involving a karate-kicking Red Riding Hood, a sarcastic wolf and an oafish Woodsman.

In a candle-lit restaurant, couples dine. Sarah and Don, on their third date, are melting in each other's gaze. When she goes to powder her nose, a brisk salesman sits down next to Don. He's Phil, selling insurance for a broken heart. Soon Don is actually interested in the terms of the contract: counseling, a cook provided for six months, replacement of any albums lost in event of breakup. There's wardrobe consultation, patented lines to feed your friends so they won't think you blew it, and, to clinch the deal, Phil's company, Mutual Love Life, provides a loaner. But, before Don can sign on the dotted line, Sarah comes back from the ladies' room with something on her mind.