<p class=ql-align-justify>This short story is a parable for 8-11-year-old African American Native American Spanish American and Puerto Rican children.</p><p class=ql-align-justify>And it has a coming-of-age theme in that it presents a fairy godmother-type figure who protects two pre-teen siblings from their cruel stepfather who forces them into dangerous nighttime adventures wherein they learn many lessons.</p><p class=ql-align-justify>Hence this story is like the treasured fable Hansel and Gretel.</p><p><br></p>