Hansel was very smart.  His plans of action were always calculated and efficient.  The next day, before they were ordered to start on the household chores, Hansel ran half a mile down to the lake.  He gathered dozens of skipping stones. When he returned home, Hansel could see that his mother and sister were packing up for what looked like a normal journey into the woods – though Hansel knew that this time their mother had different plans for them. He held his sack of skipping stones tight as he approached his mother. “Times are tough, my dear children.  We must venture into the forest to help your father with his work,” she declared. “But –” both children started. “No \'buts\'!” their mother scolded. And so, Hansel, Gretel, and their mother journeyed into the thick-wooded forest.  It was as eerie as thick fog on a stormy night: the sky was a dark grey, and the trees were black and gloomy. Luckily, Hansel had remembered to drop the shimmering stones on the ground every few feet – so that they could follow them back on their return home. “Hansel, what is it that you think you’re up to?” their mother shouted impatiently. “Mother!  Mother!  Look at those squirrels in the tree.  I swear they are dancing as if they are fit for the ball!” Gretel called, using her quick-wit in order to distract their mother. Gretel knew exactly what Hansel was up to. She pieced it together as she watched her mother\'s face scrunch up. “Where?  I see no squirrels!  I see no dancing!” their mother exclaimed, now confused and distracted, giving Hansel time to catch up. “Oh, hurry on up.  We only need to travel a little bit further,” their mother grumbled. “Where are we going, Mother?” Hansel asked.  With no response, the children’s worst nightmares were confirmed.  Their mother was going to leave them in the forest. Hansel dropped another rock. Gretel heard it fall. They traveled for a while, Hansel occasionally dropping stones, until they reached a small clearing.  Their mad mother ordered Hansel and Gretel to sit on a dead log. “I am going to gather wood.  Stay here, and I will come back for you shortly,” she lied. The children stayed seated, reluctantly.  They waited and waited AND waited, but their mother never returned for them. Hansel began to worry for their safety.  He cried to Gretel:  “What if we are attacked, or eaten?  What about wolves?  Bears?  Cougars?  Raccoons?  Gretel, oh Gretel – what are we to do?” “I will feel it out,” she replied, getting up from the dead log.  She took Hansel’s hand, and the two followed his trail of stones.  Their flat surfaces shimmered in the moonlit night. Hansel and Gretel finally arrived back home at the break of dawn; however, they were so tired that both immediately fell asleep right in front of their cottage door. They awoke tucked in their beds to the sounds of the woodcutter and his wife arguing. “How could you leave our beloved children in the forest all alone?” they heard their father ask sadly.mmmm