May 2026 Flash Fiction Winner: Myth
MYTH FLASH FICTION WINNER
Red wanders down the river path
by Jory Akuhata
Aotearoa/New Zealand
At noon, Red wanders down the river path carrying food to her sick grandmother.
By the river waits Eel, ancient and clever, inviting her to take a dip.
But Red runs home instead, her mother tells tales of Eel dragging girls screaming beneath the current.
At dusk, Red enacts a cunning plan.
From the riverbank, her voice drifts through bends and branches, she invites Eel to play.
Hungry for her, Eel forces himself deeper into the narrow stream until he can no longer turn back.
At dawn, Red wanders down the river path carrying roasted eel to her sick grandmother.
Jory Akuhata: “I’m a māori writer from Aotearoa, drawn to the craftsmanship of Māori storytelling. These stories have survived across oceans and through time without being written down. Some elements these stories include, heroes that use cunning and have practical knowledge about the world hidden within them. My submission reimagines Red Riding Hood through these lenses.”
A note from our May flash fiction judge, Joseph Langley [@josephlangleyauthor], on why he selected this piece:
“I fell instantly in love with the clever narrative completion of "Red Wanders Down the River Path", moving from noon to dusk to the hope of dawn, celebrating Red's cleverness. This is as much a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood as it is a brilliant self-packaged story of triumph and care. Red shows the truth of all of us: we will overcome any fear in order to take care for our loved ones.”
Congratulations, Jory! 🌟
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