Jessica swallowed the bite of sandwich and asked, "Why in the story was the witch only going to bake you in the oven and boil Hansel?"
Gretel smiled and said, "The brothers Grimm wanted to add a bit more drama to the tale and what better way than to have me carrying the water to boil Hansel in."
Jessica had to admit that it made sense. She thought about her next question as she chewed another bite of her sandwich. Finally she asked, "If this is the little house in the story why isn't it made of bread, cake, and sugar?"
"It never was made out of it but rather the witch had covered it in bread and cake," Gretel said shaking her head.
"In your version you were thirteen but I always thought that the Hansel and Gretel in the story were about four or five or maybe eight at the most," Jessica said and finished her sandwich.
"That was for drama too," Gretel said chuckling. "You see we weren't left in the woods by our mother and father. We left to make our own way since our father was having trouble providing for all of us. Now before you say anything about how we shouldn't have been out on our own remember that it was a different time. Girls were considered women as soon as they got their first period and boys were considered men around the age of thirteen."
Jessica looked at the table. What she was about to ask might make her mom suspicious but she felt that she had to ask it in order to figure out who was lying. She looked up and asked, "Why didn't the witch bake you both right away when she baked the prince right away?"
Gretel shuddered and said, "I don't know. It did seem like she had adopted us but Cthulu must have worn her down since she did eventually decide to bake us. In fact it was soon after that she had tried. I let Hansel out and he pushed her into her own oven." She laughed obviously remembering the scene. "Now I think we should go hunt for our supper. Tomorrow I'll show you how to bake bread and light a fire with magic."
Jessica got up and took her plate to the sink. As she followed her mom out of the cabin she thought about all she had been told so far. She didn't know who was telling the truth but until she did she felt that it was better to stay with her mom. At least this way she would be able to learn some magic that may help her survive if she did leave.