Once upon a time, in a small village bordered by a dense forest, lived a poor woodcutter with his two children, Hansel and Gretel, and their stepmother. The family struggled to survive, often going to bed hungry. One night, Hansel overheard his stepmother plotting to abandon him and Gretel in the forest to save food for herself and their father.
Hansel, quick-witted and brave, comforted Gretel, promising to protect her. Under the moonlight, he sneaked outside and gathered shiny white pebbles. The next morning, the stepmother led the children deep into the forest, claiming they were gathering firewood. Hansel dropped pebbles along the path, leaving a trail. When the stepmother abandoned them, Hansel and Gretel waited until nightfall, then followed the glittering pebbles back home.
Their father was overjoyed, but the stepmother was furious. She locked the door the next night, preventing Hansel from collecting pebbles. Instead, Hansel crumbled his small piece of bread to mark their path. The stepmother took them even deeper into the forest the next day, and again, they were left alone. But when they tried to follow the breadcrumb trail, they found birds had eaten every crumb.
Lost and hungry, the children wandered for days until they stumbled upon a house made of gingerbread, cakes, and candy. Starving, they began to eat. An old woman emerged, inviting them inside with promises of soft beds and warm food. Unbeknownst to them, she was a wicked witch who lured children to fatten and eat them.
The witch locked Hansel in a cage, forcing Gretel to cook rich meals to fatten him. Each day, she demanded Hansel stick out his finger to check if he was plump enough, but Hansel, clever as ever, extended a bone instead. The witch, half-blind, was fooled, growing frustrated as weeks passed.
Finally, impatient, the witch decided to cook Hansel regardless. She ordered Gretel to check the oven, planning to push her in. But Gretel, feigning ignorance, asked how to do it. When the witch leaned into the oven to show her, Gretel shoved her inside and slammed the door, leaving the witch to perish.
Gretel freed Hansel, and they filled their pockets with the witch’s jewels and gold. After days of wandering, they found their way back to their father, who had driven the cruel stepmother away. With the witch’s treasure, they lived happily and prosperously ever after, never hungry again.