Week 14 Storytelling: My Bad Luck

“Liz, we are no longer supporting you.  You have to move out and get a job.  You can not live in this house forever.”

I looked up in shock at my parents.  “Wait what?!  You said I had until I graduated, but I am in the middle of my sophomore year!”

“Yes, however, you have showed such adaptability towards college and we now have your sister’s wedding to plan also.  So the timeline has moved up a bit.”

“A bit?!  How about a lot?!  It is SO unfair that you are just dropping this bomb on me!  Besides, Sara has been saving for this for the past for years!  Can’t you help me out any?”  I turned from my mom to my dad, a horrorstruck look on my face.

They looked at each other, sadness in their eyes.  “We can support you until you get a job and start making money yourself.  But as soon as you start getting your paychecks, we won’t give you any more money.  How about that?”

“Fine, whatever.  Y’all always liked Sara more anyway,” I grumbled as I walked out of the living room.

Stunned by the massive bombshell I had just been given by my parents, I went into my room, unsure of what to do.  I stared at my ceiling in shock for about the next 30 minutes.  Panic raced through my mind like the cars zipping past at the Indy 500.  I had no idea what I was going to do.  But I got my stuff together and started to make a list of everything I needed to establish.

Most importantly was a job.  Second was a place to live.  While we lived in a college town, there were still plenty of recently graduated people, many of which I knew.  I could talk to them about the different places to live and what my best options were. 

As I started to make the list and started to plan of what my next steps were going to be, my mind stopped racing and started to put things back into order. 

Over the next few days, I messaged all of my friends about potential apartments and then sent my resume to as many places as I possibly could.  My future seemed like someone had tossed everything into the air, and I was just waiting for it to land so I could put everything together again. 

(Wikipedia)

Soon enough, I got a job at a bagel place and found an apartment where I could live with one of my friends.  The nice part about the job was that I could work early in the morning and then be able to take my classes during the day and then do homework at night. 

A little while later, after I had finally gotten a routine down, I realized how much I had been able to accomplish in such a short period of time.  “Maybe my parents were right,” I said to myself one day as I got ready for work, “I can handle just about anything that gets thrown at me.”

Author's Note: I wrote this story based on the first half of the story The Dirty Shepherdess.  I read the story, and I was just inspired to take the and change it so it was more fitting for this day and age.  I also wanted to change the setting a little so that is was more appropriate towards our age group, i.e. college age people.

Storytelling Week 13 - My Diary

Dear Diary,

You would not believe the crazy things that have just happened!  It has been about a year since I have last written!  Can you believe it?  Me neither.  I am now 16 years old.  Let me tell you everything that has happened in the past year. 

It all started with my 15^th Birthday.  I was wondering around the castle, just enjoying the day, when I found a passageway that I had never seen before.  I went down the passageway and found a room that I didn’t recognize.  In the middle of the room was this weird contraption.  I had never seen an object like it before.  There was an old woman just sitting there working with it!

It was such a curious looking object, that I took some steps forward to take a closer look.

(Wikimedia)

“Why hello there!” I spoke out, curious to know more about the object she was working with.  “What are you doing there?  I have never seen such an object.”

“Why I am spinning sweetheart!  I am surprised you have never seen one of these before.  Every young girl should know how to use a spinning wheel.  Come here, how about I show you.”  She looked up at me, smiled, and stood up as she offered me her hand.

I took the hand, and sat down, unsure of what I needed to do.  “Here dearie, you take the thread, bring it around and it will be collected over here.”  She took my hands and showed me how to pull the thread around the contraption and then let me have a turn at using it myself. 

I started to feel more confident as I pulled the thread from the wheel and around the little spinning parts and then to where the thread was brought together.  Then suddenly, I felt a prick on my finger.  Not a sharp pain, but enough to make me take notice.  Suddenly the world started going dark and I was out.

I had no idea what happened next.  All I knew was that suddenly I opened my eyes and there was this GORGEOUS man standing next to me, smiling down on me.  I looked around me, confused as to what was going on.  I was back in my room and lying in my bed!  I took a closer look at the man and he was wearing princely attire!  He helped me up out of bed, though it took some effort.  He explained that I had been asleep for many years and he had come to rescue me!

Can you believe it diary?  A prince to rescue little ol’ me?  Oh!  I almost forgot to tell you one of the most incredible parts!  He also told me that he fought a dragon to rescue me!  I just simply couldn’t believe it!

That is it dear diary.  I mean, I am glad there isn’t anything else.  It sounds like a story out of a fairy tale!  I am off to go enjoy some fresh air.

Until next time diary,

Briar Rose <3

Author's Note: I chose to write a diary entry from Briar Rose after she learns about everything that has happened.  I thought it would be interesting to write a diary entry about what had happened.  I also changed the story to make the amount of time she is asleep be only for a year.  I also changed the dialogue a little for the sake of the story.  The final change I made was that I changed the interaction between Briar Rose and the old woman to provide a little more suspense and to make a better story overall.  

Storytelling Week 12 - My Secret

                  I hated my wings.  I was apparently born with them.  When I was born, they more like little nubs sticking out from my back but as I grew older they became more and more clearly defined as wings.  My father had a special brace made for them.  I always wore it, unless I was positive no one would see.  As I grew up, I became rather reclusive because I didn’t want people to find out my secret.  I was scared that people would make fun of me or have me thrown into a weird science lab for experimentation. 

                  Everything changed when I met Annabelle.  She was so kind and caring.  No matter how much I wanted to withdraw into my little world, she always brought me back into the real world.  She didn’t care what I did, she just wanted to love me and be with me.  And that was all I needed from her.  After dating for quite a few years, I finally got up the courage to propose to her.  I kept thinking that she was going to turn me down and laugh in my face.  But true to herself, she was so excited to marry me!  She started wedding preparations as soon as possible, and next thing I knew we were married.  However, we got married without her knowing my big secret. 

(Wikipedia)

                  Annabelle never pried into the things I wanted to keep secret, and I loved her even more for that.  I finally got up the courage to tell her.  I sat her down and began to tell her.

                  “So . . . I know that we have been married for a little while now.”

                  “Yeah, and?”

                  “Well, you have always been good about not asking me why I always wear a shirt.”

                  “Well, you have never wanted to talk about it, so I wanted to let you tell me when you were comfortable with it.”  Goodness, she was so patient with me.

                  “And I decided that today I will tell you what is going on that.”  I started to un-button the shirt I was wearing as I was talking.  “You see . . . I have always been hiding this huge secret.  I want you to promise that you won’t do anything when you find out this secret.  Like, give me over to a science lab or something like that.”

                  “Oh of course I wouldn’t do that sweetie!  Do you think I would be that cruel?  Now what is this secret?  You are making me nervous.”

                  “Well, the thing is, I was born with these . . . . “ I ripped off my shirt and the brace to allow my wings to reach their full span.  “What do you think?”

                  “Oh my goodness, John.  They are beautiful!  I think they fit you perfectly!”

                  “Really?  I have always wanted to get rid of them”

                  “Oh don’t do that!  Your secret is safe with me.  They complete you.  I wouldn’t want you without them.”  And with that, she threw her arms around me and gave me one of the most loving kisses I have ever received from her.  I returned the hug, knowing my secret is safe with her.

Author's Note: I chose to use The Unknown Bride as my inspiration from this story.  I took the idea of King Midas' ears in the story and created a story from that idea.  In the story, King Midas has donkey ears that he hides under his crown.  The only person who knows this is his wife.  She is told not to tell this secret, but because she cannot hold this secret in.  So she goes to the swamp to tell the swamp the secret.  The story then has a knight come along and hear the secret, and then the story goes on into following the knight in his quest for his queen.  However, that is not important to the story that I am writing.  The Unknown Bride has three different parts to it and the part I chose, the first part, is the only part that has King Midas mentioned in it.  I also decided to add in a little X-Men flair as well, for those of you who are fans of the series.  I am not the biggest fan so if I get any details wrong, please forgive me.

Storytelling Week 11

Alice was sick of all of this.  She couldn’t believe how incompetent the Queen and King were!  They were just doing whatever they wanted and didn’t even care about the people they were effecting! 

“Sentencing first then reading the verdict!”  The Queen declared with the pompous attitude that Alice was really getting sick of.

(Wikipedia)

“That is not how it goes!” Alice huffed.  “You have to hear the verdict before the sentencing!”

The Queen glared at Alice and started to turn a rather interesting shade of purple.  “OFF WITH HER HEAD!” She yelled at the top of her lungs.  All of the guards rushed towards Alice with hesitation.  Her head was hitting the ceiling of the huge courtroom.  How were they supposed to control someone who was as tall as the building they were in?  They also liked Alice.  She didn’t yell like the Queen and actually seemed to be kind.  They all gathered around Alice, looking up at her, unsure of what to do next. 

“Stop, stop, stop!” yelled Alice.  “This is not how it is supposed to be!  The Queen and King are the people that you are supposed to want to follow.  Not the people you HAVE to follow!  Everyone is supposed to have a ruler that they want ruling their kingdom.  Not a tyrant that does what he or she wants!”

Everyone in the courtroom looked around at each other, unsure of what to do next.  Then, one by one, all of the cards turned around and faced the Queen and King.

“You have controlled Wonderland enough!  We no longer want you to be the rulers of Wonderland!” one of the cards yelled out.

“Yeah! Enough!” Shouted everyone else in the room, including the animals in the jury box.  The King and Queen exchanged nervous glances.  Everyone could read their expressions, and it said What was going to happen next loud and clear. 

Suddenly, all of the cards charged for the King and Queen shouting at the top of their voices.  It was all chaos and confusion for a while after that.  But eventually, everything calmed down.  Everyone in the room stopped and turned to look at Alice.  “Well, what do we do now?” wondered Alice.

The white rabbit sat up on the stand where the King and Queen had been before they ran out the door.  “Anyone opposed to Alice becoming Queen of Wonderland, speak now.”  The room was quiet.  No one said anything.  “It is settled then.  Alice is the new Queen of Wonderland.”

The room erupted into cheers.  Someone gave Alice a piece of cake, where she became the same size as everyone else.  She then went and ruled Wonderland and Wonderland was the happiest it had been in a long time.  

Author's Note: While taking inspiration from the entire story of Alice in Wonderland, I mainly used Alice's Evidence (cont.).  I wanted to take the ending that we all know so well and change it so there is a different ending to the story.

Storytelling Week 10: My Romance

"My mother is crazy.  She wants me to go marry some BUTCHER, of all people.  Who does she think she is?!  Who does she think she is dealing with?!" I ranted to myself as I walked through the woods. I hated the idea of killing animals.  I would much rather spend my time in the woods or with Angelo.

Even thinking of him made me smile.  He was one of the woods people who never interacted with the village.  They had an area all to themselves in the woods and were able to provide for themselves as well, which is why they never went into the village.  Most of the people in the village didn't believe that they existed.  They all thought it was some sort of legend that was passed down from generation to generation.  But I had met them and was even in love with one of the members.  I like to spend time in the woods.  One day, I wandered a little farther than I should have.  I suddenly heard voices and went off to investigate.  I had found the woods people!  I couldn't believe it.  The first person I met there was Angelo, and the rest was history.

I went over to Angelo's hut.  He was sitting there, working on making a basket to collect plants in the forest.  When he looked up and saw my face, he automatically knew something was wrong.  I sat down and explained the horrible, horrible situation.

The horrible situation was the fact that my mother wanted me to marry the local town butcher.  Heavy set, rude, and not even caring about the animals that he slaughtered, I couldn't picture a man more unsuitable for me to marry.  Somehow my mother thought that he would be a good person to settle down with though.

Angelo listened to my woes and let me work through my tears and my ranting.  We had been together long enough that he knew I needed to get through everything first or I would just end up snapping at him.  After my tears finally stopped flowing, he had the biggest grin on his face.

"Why are you smiling?" I asked him suspiciously.

"Because, my dear, I have a brilliant idea that you are going to love," he said, his voice shining with excitement.

"Oh yeah?  And what is this great idea?"  I asked him dubiously, thinking there was no way he would be able to turn this situation around.  But as he started to whisper to me what his idea was, I started to become excited as well.  I could not wait for this plan to happen.

A few weeks later, I was getting dressed for my wedding to the butcher.  Everyone else was buzzing around with excitement but I was as calm as I could be; considering what was going to happen, I needed to be as calm as possible.  Before I knew it, I was ready to go.

(Wikipedia)

I started to walk outside when my mother made me stop short.

"Where do you think you are going?!" My mother exclaimed when she saw I was heading outside.

"To the woods.  This will probably be the last time I can go to the woods.  I need to say good bye."

"Ok go.  But don't stay out too long!  The ceremony starts in an hour!"  She yelled after me as I walked out the door.

I reached the woods and breathed a sigh of relief.  I had made it.  I started walking and didn't stop.  I kept walking and walking and walking.  Finally I found Angelo.  He almost started crying when he saw me.

"You look amazing my beautiful bride.  Let's go get married, shall we?"  And grabbing my hand, we walked into the hut that was to be our chapel.  I never looked back.

Author's Note:  I wrote this story based off of story The Fairy Bride.  I liked the story and how the story developed, but I thought that there also could be so much potential when Neen-i-zu's side of the story was taken into consideration.  I also just finished watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy for the first time recently, so hearing the story mention fairies inspired me.

American Indian Fairy Tales by W.T. Larned, with illustrations by John Rae (1921).