Week 12 Storytelling: Henny-Penny

"Ouch!" I heard from down the field. 

I peeked out from the opening of my fox-hole home and saw a little hen staring up at the sky. She hen started to panic and run around. I laughed to myself watching this bird freak out about how it thought the sky was falling, when really an acorn had hit its head. This is the perfect opportunity to have this situation work in my favor, so I continued to watch and follow the hen. 

The hen had run into a rooster and told him of what was happening. I watched as the hen and the rooster both started to panic together and they went on their way. I heard that they were headed to tell the king (the eagle) at the top of the mountain. 

The hen and the rooster ran into a mouse and told it that the sky was falling. The mouse believed them and continued on their journey to the eagle with them. Later on down the road the hen, the rooster, and the mouse ran into squirrel. The squirrel listened to their story, believed them, and then continued on their journey with them. 

I stalked after them for quite a while until I decided it was time to set my plan into action. I ran up ahead to where they could not see me and had them walk straight into me. The hen, the rooster, the mouse, and the squirrel all warned me that the sky was falling and that they were headed to the king to tell him. I listened to them and then stopped them by saying,

"Why, this is the wrong direction to the king. I know a faster way to the top of the mountain. We don't have much time so you should follow me!"

Since they were all so panicked, they did just that and fell into my sly plan. I led them straight to my fox-hole and told them to come in one by one and that I would send them up a large stairwell that led straight to the king. 

The squirrel came in first and right as she came far enough in to where the others could not see I devoured her. She was so delicious! The perfect amount of muscle and fat to keep my stomach happy. I called out for the mouse to come in next. The mouse came in without any suspicion and then again I devoured her. She was delicious as well. Her tail I could've lived without, but still perfect for my hungry tummy. Then I called in the rooster and he came just as willing. I went to go bite his neck and accidentally missed. The rooster gave out a large yell and screamed for the hen to run away. After devouring the rooster I ran out of my fox-hole in search of the hen. The hen was nowhere in sight and I had missed out on another meal. Maybe next time I will drop the acorn myself on the hen's head. This situation worked out so well for me the first time! 

Sky (pexels)

Author's Note: This week I read the stories from the English Fairy Tales Unit. I have grown up hearing a lot of these tales and thought it would be nice to either hear them again or learn some more. I've always really liked the "Sky is Falling" storyline. Lots of different authors have used this tale in their stories. The movie, Chicken Little, is about this tale and I once read a children's book about a chacalaka bird instead of a hen. In my story, I decided to make the story in the thought process of the fox. He is the one that distracts the animals from reaching the king. He uses this scenario of the sky is falling to get yet another meal for himself. 

Bibliography: English Fairy Tales Unit written by Joseph Jacobs and published in 1890.

Week 11 Storytelling: Best of Friends

I had a neighbor named Hank. He was the old man that lived across the street. I would see him sitting on his porch every afternoon petting his old corgi, Harry. Both Hank and Harry were lethargic and overweight. They even almost looked like each other. They would sit on the porch all afternoon and watch the world go by. When I was little he would just watch us play and smile. We always liked going up to him because he would always try to trick us with some riddles. He knew millions of them and most of the time we would never get them right. Where he learned all of these I will never know.

Hank (Pixabay)

Hank would say with a twinkle in his eye, 

"I went to the wood and got it; 

I sat me sown and looked at it; 

The more I looked at it the less I liked it; 

And I brought it home because I couldn't help it."

My friends and I would sit there stumped. Then Hank would laugh after us giving up and say, "A thorn!"

We would yell and ask for another one and Hank would always agree. 

"Long legs, crooked thighs,

Little head, and no eyes." 

And there again, we would all be stumped.

Hank would laugh and say, "A pair of tongs!"

Again Hank would start on his next riddle.

"There was a king met a king

In a narrow lane;

Says this king to that king, 

"Where have you been?"

"Oh I have been a hunting 

With my dog and my doe."

Pray lend him to me, 

That I may do so."

"There's the god take my dog."

"What's the dog's name?"

"I've told you already."

"Pray tell me again."

Hank would then ask, "What is the dog's name?"

After sitting there puzzled for a little while and after having him repeat it twice more, I finally yelled, "Take! The dog's name is Take!" 

Hank laughed while congratulating me and then said, "Now that you have gotten one right go on and play and I can tell you some more another time."

Over the course of my life I had heard hundreds of riddles from Hank. I would go and sit there and listen while petting Harry the entire time. I started writing down his riddles once when I noticed that he was getting older. I wanted to make sure that his legend lived on because he was always so much fun. The day he died the whole neighborhood mourned and all showed up to his funeral. Harry sat at the bottom of his casket the entire funeral. He was sad that he had lost his best friend. After the funeral I took Harry home and made him mine. He wasn't mine for long though. I only had Harry as a pet for three days before he died as well. I guess Harry died of a broken heart. I buried Harry right next to Hank at the gravesite and hoped them well. Now, I am the one that knows all of these riddles thanks to Hank and Harry, the best of friends. 

Harry (Wikipedia)

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Author's Note: This week I decided to read the Nursery Rhymes Unit. I have always grown up reading and hearing nursery rhymes so I thought it would be nice to learn some more. When reading this unit, I discovered that I didn't want to just choose one nursery rhyme. I thought the riddles section was interesting and funny so I focused on them for my story. I decided to make this story about an old man and his dog. For me, I always think that older men and women have a lot of wisdom and have old phrases and sayings that they often use in daily conversation. I wanted to make this man a friendly fellow that had a best friend of a dog who loved to talk to people. Kids are always fascinated by older people so I thought that having the old man tell the kids riddles was going to be a good dynamic. I also wanted to show how close of a relationship the dog and the old man had together. I always love a man's best friend story as well. Lastly, I wanted the kid in the story to grow up to love the old man and have his riddles for the rest of his life. 

Bibliography: Nursery Rhymes Unit from the The Nursery Rhyme Book by Andrew Lang in 1897.

Week 10 Storytelling: What Goes Around Comes Around

"Why won't the car start?" I asked myself as I was leaving the house to head to my buddy Chase's house. The Thunder game was starting in the next ten minutes and I definitely did not want to deal with my car now.

"I'll just go on and walk. It's a nice day and he doesn't live far," I told myself and started on my way.

I briskly walked passing one house after another until I arrived at an intersection between two larger streets. I was almost to Chase's house by this point and the game was about to start. However, I noticed this older lady who was having difficulty stepping down from the curb to cross the street. I thought to myself, "I might as well help her across the street; I still have time till the game starts." I offered her my arm and she took it gladly.

Street Crossing (Pexels)

"What a nice man you are," she said to me when crossing the street. 

"Not a problem, ma'am. I figured you could cross the street on your own, but I thought you might like the company anyways," I teased. 

"What is your name, sweet young man?" she asked me. 

"My name is Tom. And what is yours?" I asked her. 

"My name is Louisa Potters, but you can call me Louisa," Louisa said.  

"Well, Tom, you look young and full of possibility. How old are you, son?" continued Louisa. 

"I am twenty-two, Louisa. I am a senior here at the University of Oklahoma. You may not answer, but may I ask how old you are? I'd say you are twenty-four tops!" I joked. 

"I'm too old for you, that's for sure!" laughed Louisa as we made it across the street safely on the other side. 

"Where are you headed, Louisa?" I asked still laughing over her last comment.

"Well.....I....uh.....over there I think. I am meeting my son for lunch somewhere around here," Louisa stood puzzled. 

The game started in five minutes and I could probably make it to Chase's house in time if I left now, but part of me knew that I needed to make sure Louisa got to where she was meant to go. 

"Do you know the name of the restaurant that you are looking for?" I asked Louisa. 

"I knew it five minutes ago, but couldn't tell it to you now. I just can't remember. I know that if I am on this block, though, that it's probably one of these restaurants," giggled Louisa. 

"How about I help you find it so I'll know that you there safe and sound?" I assured her. 

"I know you probably have something better to do than helping this old lady," Louisa teased. 

"Maybe I just want to have a pretty lady on my arm for a little while longer," I said while giving her a wink. 

We spent the next twenty or so minutes walking from restaurant to restaurant asking for her son David. The entire time she asked me about my family, my studies, and where I was heading after graduation. I told her that I had not found a job quite yet and that I was searching for a great opportunity that I could excel in as a businessman. She told me of her past and said that she looked forward to the future as well. We walked up to the last restaurant on the block and walked inside. A man jumped up from his seat and gave Louisa a great big hug. We had found the right restaurant and I introduced myself to her son, David. 

"Tom, thank you so much for helping me find my son. I am most grateful and even happier for a new friendship," said Louisa.

"You are most welcome, Louisa. I'm lucky to have met you!" I responded.

I started to turn away when I heard her yell after me.

"Tom! Would you mind giving me your contact information?" she said with a glimmer in her eye.

"Are you going to take me out on a date?" I joked as I wrote down on a piece of paper that the waitress had brought over. 

"Oh, you're too young for me!" Louisa joked as we made our final goodbyes.

I left the restaurant and finally headed to my buddy's house. I arrived in the middle of the first half and had a great rest of the night. A week or so later I received a call from David Potters, Louisa's son. At first he thanked me for helping his mother and joked about how friendly she can be with everyone she meets.  

"I met you at the restaurant and you seemed pretty personable and you went out of your way and helped my mother when you most likely had other things to do. I would like you to come in for an interview with my business company," said David. 

A couple of months later and I had finished school, graduated, and officially started my first job at David's business company. It turned out that Louisa's son was a very successful businessman who had an incredible company where any of my classmates would have loved to land as a job. Louisa dropped by one day to give me a "Happy First Day of Work" gift. This was the first time I had seen her since that afternoon I helped her cross the street. 

"Oh, it is great to see you, Louisa!" I said as I gave her a big hug.

"Us friends have to stick together, you know. You helped me so I thought I'd help you," said Louisa with a twinkle in her eye. 

From that moment, I realized that it wasn't just David meeting me for the first time and seeing my potential. Louisa had made it her goal to give back to the person who helped her. From this moment in time, we were forever friends. It's the little things in life that can make a difference in the end. 

Louisa (Pixabay)

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Author's Note: For this story I used the story, The Pecan Tree's Best Friend, from the Tejas Legends Unit. In the original story, a family of orioles, a type of bird, saw a hurricane getting closer and closer to them. With not having enough time to escape, they were frightened. The pecan tree told the orioles that they could hide in the holes in his bark to keep them safe during the storm. The orioles ended up surviving the hurricane and were grateful as they continued south after the storm. Later the father oriole noticed that a last minute winter storm was headed towards the pecan tree in the beginning of spring. The bird flew back to the tree to warn him not to bud quite yet so that he would be able to produce pecans later. He was the only tree that listened and ended up being the only tree that season to produce pecans. From that moment on orioles and pecan trees became friends forever, which is why we often see orioles in pecan trees today. In my story I decided to make it about a boy who helped an old lady cross the street and help her find her way. In return the old lady ended up helping that boy in his future by helping him find a job. It is a story about caring for others and having lifelong friends. 

Bibliography: The Pecan Tree's Best Friend. When the Storm God Rides: Tejas and Other Indian Legends. Retold by Florence Stratton in 1936.

Week 9 Storytelling: Need of Help

"Be careful on the slide, honey," said Molly.

Molly is a single mother of a beautiful daughter named Elizabeth. Elizabeth had curly blond hair and a smile as big as the sun. Today, in the gorgeous New York City, she decided to take her daughter to the park nearby their house. 

"Mom, look at me!" Elizabeth squealed while climbing up the rock wall. 

The weather had been so nasty recently with thunderstorms and hail that Molly decided to get some fresh air the second the sun peeked out. Molly sat reading a book she had just bought at the bookstore a couple of days before. 

New York City (pixabay) 

"Watch me, watch me!" yelled Elizabeth from the swing. 

The park was fairly small but there were many other kids there as well. Everyone had been so cooped up because of the weather that everyone was wanting to enjoy the sunshine. Molly sat on her bench watching Elizabeth, reading her book, and enjoying the fresh air.

"Is anyone sitting there?" asked a woman looking for a place to sit. 

"No one is sitting here. Please, sit down!" said Molly. 

Molly started a conversation with this other woman who had also taken her kids to the park to play. They talked of mutual friends, life in the city, the struggles of being a parent, and more until Molly noticed that Elizabeth wasn't calling out for her like she usually did when playing at the park. Molly searched for Elizabeth and she wasn't in sight. She had been so distracted meeting a new acquaintance that she didn't check on her daughter for quite some time. 

"Elizabeth! Elizabeth! Where are you? Can you hear me?" shouted Molly. 

As much as Molly screamed there was no answer. In panic, she asked all of the children and adults who were at the park if they had seen where she might of gone and no one really knew. 

"I think she was on the swings. It looked like she was with her dad. They left a little bit ago going towards the hot dog stand," said a little boy named James. 

Hot Dog Stand (wikipedia)

James' father, Roger, heard his son and graciously told Molly that they would help her find Elizabeth. 

Roger was a single dad who's wife had died the past year. He took his son James to the park to get him away from the television in this nice weather. Roger grabbed his son and asked if he had seen a little girl named Elizabeth while playing in the park. 

"Ma'am, I will help you find your daughter; she must not be far." reassured Roger. 

They first called 911 and told the police officers the whole story, but Molly could not wait around. Molly, Roger, and James all took off towards the hot dog stand and asked pedestrians as they walked by if anyone had seen Elizabeth. There wasn't much luck at first but a man had recognized a picture of Elizabeth and said that they had turned down the next block to the right not took long ago. 

"I am going to run ahead to see if I can catch up. Look after James and continue on this way. Give me your number so that if I find them I can give you directions. We'll find her." said Roger. 

They exchanged numbers and Roger took off running and turned onto the next block to the right. He ran and ran, searched and searched, until he saw in the distance a man holding a little blonde, curly haired girl's hand a couple of blocks ahead. He took off on a sprint and gradually caught up to Elizabeth and the man. He followed them down the street for a little while so that he could come up with a plan to safely retrieve Elizabeth while not losing the man as well. 

He called Molly and told her of the news. Roger told her of his location and a rough estimate of where they were headed. 

"Call the police back and tell them of where we are so that the man will not get away," Roger told Molly. 

Police (flickr)

After a couple of minutes when the police were in sight driving down the street, the man holding Elizabeth's hand noticed the sirens. Before trying to maneuver and go a different way, Roger grabbed Elizabeth and forced the man to let go. Roger safely held Elizabeth in his arms and told her that he was a friend of her mom's and that she was on her way. While the man was trying to run away the cops caught up to him and arrested him on the spot. Minutes later Molly and James came running down the street in search of Roger and Elizabeth. Elizabeth ran into her mother's arms being happy to see her. 

"I'm sorry!" cried Molly to Elizabeth. 

Because of the help of Roger, Elizabeth was safe and back with her mother. He didn't have to be the one to help them, but he did anyways because he knew that if it were him in that situation he would want the help. 

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Author's Note: This week I read the story, The Woman Stolen by the Killer Whales, from the book, Tales of the North American Indians, located in the Native American Marriage Tales Unit. In the original story, a woman is stolen from her husband by killer whales and taken into the ocean. She was captive there underwater. Her husband found the help of a shark to save his wife. The shark came up with a plan to save the wife and tricked the whales. The husband and wife swam to safety while the shark stayed behind to fight off the killer whales. This story is about a person giving up his or her freedom and helping people in need. It is not their job to but they do it anyways. In my story I decided to make it about a mother who lost her child at the park. A kidnapper steals the child and the mother is hopeless by herself. Roger becomes the shark in the original story and goes out of his way to help Molly, the mother, find Elizabeth, her stolen daughter. In the end they find Elizabeth making it a happy story, just like in the original story. I decided to also not hurt Roger as much as the shark probably was in the original. 

Bibliography: The Woman Stolen by the Killer Whales. Tales of the North American Indians. Stith Thompson. 1929. 

Week 7 Storytelling: Little Friends

I was seven when I was first visited by my miniature friends. I remember the night just like yesterday. I was in trouble with my parents because I started a fight with a couple of kids at school. After scolding me, they sent me to my room for a time out. While sitting on the floor I heard some noises coming from the corner of my room. To my great surprise I saw miniature people coming out from a hole in the wall.

There were four miniature people, two miniature horses, and a miniature dog. The horses were about as big as grasshoppers, the dog as big as a small ant, and the people about the size of flies. I scooted against the wall in both terror and curiosity.  They walked closer and closer to me, which made me uneasy.

"Don't be afraid.  We come in peace," said one of the miniature people.

They told me that they liked to visit kids who seemed like they needed some extra friends. They introduced themselves as Jeb, James, Janice, and July. They introduced the horses as Pete and Pat and the dog as Rufus. I introduced myself as Henry, they climbed into my hand, and we became friends. 

That day we talked about dreams, aspirations, friends, and about life in general. They listened to what was on my heart and cared for what I was saying. They were fun too! We played soccer with a red bead and with me using only my finger. We played and talked until we all heard my parents walking down the hall. My miniature friends told me to be well and said that they would return when needed. They also told me to keep them as a secret, or the magic would be gone and they wouldn't be able to return. I watched them crawl back into the hole in the wall and disappear. My parents came in and noticed my strange behavior, but just tucked me into bed. 

Little People

I didn't see my friends again for another couple of weeks. They came into my room one night after I had had a not very good day. I found out my so-called friend Timmy didn't invite me to his birthday party even though everyone else was invited. I picked them all up and placed them on my bed. They listened to me and helped me feel better. Rufus, the dog, curled up on my finger while I talked and comforted me.

"It will all turn around. Try to find true friends to confide in other than us," said Jeb.

They left later that night and life got a little bit better. 

Over the next couple of years I only saw my miniature friends when I was in trouble or in a bad place emotionally. They were my safety net and wanted to see me go down the right path in life. I missed them greatly when they were away, but I knew that they were always watching over me. As I got older and older, I saw them less and less. They helped me through elementary school with finding new friends, through middle school during my parent's divorce, and even through high school with puberty and peer pressure. 

Right before l left for college and moved away from my childhood house for good, they came and visited me for one last time. We all sat on my bed surrounded by boxes and they told me that they would always be there for me wherever I am in life.

"Try to use your head and follow your heart and to never forget who you are," said Janice.

"Why can't I ever see you again?" I asked

"It was time for you to move on so we could help the next kid that needs their own set of extra friends," they all said together.

I said goodbye to Jeb, James, Janice, and July and pet Pete, Pat, and Rufus for the last time. They disappeared into the hole in the wall and I finally understood that it was time to start the rest of my life. I am forty years old now with a family of my own and continue to appreciate all that my little friends did for me. They kept me on the right track and made me the man I am today. I hope that everyone has that support group for them as these friends were to me. 

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Author's Note: This week I decided to read the Chinese Fairy Tales Unit. This story in particular is called The Little Hunting Dog. In the original story, it is about a scholar who wanted to live away from all other people. He went to go live in a Buddhist temple by himself. One night he woke up to noises of two little knights riding on two horses, a hawk, and a hunting dog. They were all the sizes of insects and walked into the temple. The scholar pretended to be asleep while they walked around. They later disappeared but accidentally left behind the hunting dog. The scholar picked up the dog and they became friends. They snuggled in bed together and enjoyed each other's presence. In the morning the scholar accidentally rolled over in the bed and killed his little dog. This is how the story ends. I really liked the sense of using little people in my story, kind of like the movie, Honey I Shrunk The Kids. I wanted to do more with the story so I made the little people and the human friends. I made them more into a support group that helped the boy, Henry, through life. The stories are not very similar by their story lines, but I liked the idea of the people involved. 

Bibliography: The Little Hunting Dog. The Chinese Fairy Book. By R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens. 1921

Week 6 Storytelling: West African Folktales

It was a normal day for Karen on the morning of June 12, 2015. She woke up, took the dogs out for a walk, and was getting her day started. As the day progressed on, the weather became worse and worse. The wind was blowing and the sky was starting to turn different colors. She had seen this before since living in Oklahoma; a tornado was possible. Karen stayed by the television and listened to updates from the weather newscasts. As the weather became worse, she got ready for the worst. At around four in the afternoon, a tornado had formed south of where she lived. With southern winds, the tornado made its way further north and straight for Karen's town. With the sound of the wind blowing, the tornado siren blaring, and the dogs barking, Karen and her dogs made way to their bunker. What came next was a lot of banging, scratching, and crashing outside of her bunker down that continued to rattle. Moments later when everything was silent and still, Karen opened her door with much struggle. She opened her door to see ruin. Her house was no where to be found, except for pieces scattered throughout her street. 

Tornado (wikipedia)

Instead of breaking down, she immediately ran from house to house to check on neighbors and friends. For hours she relentlessly made sure that everyone else was okay before she even worried about herself. She was accompanied by local volunteers to help pick up the trash and give warmth to those who lost their homes. One of the volunteers, Jack, noticed her generosity and wanted to make sure she was taken care of as well. Jack, not being able to do much, called his buddy, Ron, who owned a department store to fetch Karen some blankets for the night. When Ron came to visit Karen, he himself realized that she deserved more. Ron called his wife's friend, Lorena, who owned a restaurant nearby, and asked if she could make a good care package for Karen. After hearing of Karen's generosity and making a care package, Lorena called up her friend, Harold, who worked at the news station to see if he could help out in any way. Harold, being impressed by Karen, convinced the news team to cover a story of Karen and her selfless deeds for the community during this tragedy. The news team did a cover story on Karen and put it live on the television. 

After Karen's story being aired, for days more and more people came to care for Karen and her work. The video of Karen's story became one of the most played videos of the week, which grabbed more attention. Karen was trending on Facebook and Twitter and made it far enough to the studios. One day, Sofia, who works on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, saw Karen's story and knew that Ellen would want to help. Ellen watched the video and immediately asked to bring Karen to the show. Three days later, Karen was on live television telling her story yet again, but to Ellen and the rest of the nation. Ellen was so moved by Karen's generosity and love for helping others, that she gave her $20,000 to help start up a new home. Since, Ellen knew that Karen would probably use the money to help her community, she also gave the gift of another $30,000 to the community and the people who helped clean it up. 

Ellen (wikimedia)

Karen did not mean for any of this to happen. She did what she knew was right and hoped that people would benefit from her help. It took one person to notice her generosity to get her to this point in life. The world is incredibly connected and word travels fast. Good things happen to good people, and the world likes to see it happen. 

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Author's Note: This week I decided to read the West African Folktales Unit. One of the stories in this unit is called How Mushrooms First Grew. This is the story that I decided to base my story after. In the original story, it was about these two brothers who are trying to make a living but are having very bad luck. A bird noticed their bad luck and wanted to help but ended up with bad luck itself. The silk tree felt bad for the bird and an elephant feeling bad for the silk tree. It continues with a hunter feeling bad for the elephant then a tree stump feeling bad for the hunter. Finally the white ants feel bad for the tree stump but are wise and grow mushrooms for everyone to feed from. It is a waterfall story that leads to good. In my story I wanted a main character who went through a tragedy and made it positive. I wanted to have people notice her positivity and eventually become an event where they can give back to her. I love the Ellen show because she tends to notice the people who don't mean to be noticed. She brings awareness to people of individuals who sacrifice their own time to do something for someone else more in need than themselves. 

Bibliography: How Mushrooms First Grew. West African Folktales. By William H. Barker and Cecilia Sinclair. 1917.

Week 5 Storytelling: Who Would You Choose?

"You look beautiful!" I said to my good friend, Hannah, on the day of her wedding. Here I, Emma, was again at another friend's wedding with no prospect in sight. I always have to bring Tony, my longtime best friend, to all of these weddings because I can never find someone to bring myself since I am hopelessly single. It's the same thing every time; I do the motions of being in the wedding like being in the bridal party, meet up with him afterwards since he can't be a part of that, and then get drunk together at the reception to forget how we are both ridiculously single. For those of you wondering, no, this is not the point of the story where you all go,"Oh, it's because y'all are meant for each other!" This is definitely not the case, I promise. 

Wedding (wikimedia)

In the tradition of drinking and dancing too much at weddings, I run into this good-looking man named Samuel. Supposedly, he is one of the groom's friends from college and we dance and talk for quite a while at the reception. We talk over the next couple of days, get along pretty well, and he's going to take me out to dinner sometime next week, which I'm actually pretty nervous about! 

To make life even more hilarious, I was antique shopping today looking for a set of shelves for my bedroom when I bumped into this very attractive man that was looking for a new desk for his apartment. I learned his name was Greg and he helped me look for shelves while I helped him look for a desk. We went to lunch afterwards and talked for hours. It was an instant connection and I would very much like to see him again as well. 

Antique Shopping (wikipedia)

How is it that a week ago I had no prospects and today I have two? I'm just going to see where each relationship goes over the next week or so. For months, I was talking to both Samuel and Greg, meeting up with them for dinners, and becoming more and more confused about who I wanted to keep around. 

During this time is also when I realized that I was becoming more tired and losing my appetite. In the beginning I thought it was because I was stressing out too much and worrying about who I was going to choose, but Tony actually made me go to the doctor and I'm thankful that he did. It turns out I have leukemia. When I got back I immediately told both Samuel and Greg of one, my condition, and two, of each other. 

What I really don't deserve is for both of them to continue to care for me and want to fight to be with me. They both had fallen for me and wanted to be with me forever. They are both fantastic, wonderful, and the most amazing men in the world and how could they both want me? So here I am, stuck in this hospital for months trying to get better. 

Hospital Bed (flickr)

Samuel will drop by the hospital to visit me pretty often. He is the best and has made it his responsibility and his goal to spread awareness of my disease. He started an organization to raise money for leukemia. He spends all of his time and efforts being charitable and reaching out to people all over the city. I am so thankful to have someone that cares so much for me that he is doing everything he can to save others like me. I really do love him!

Greg also visits me quite often, but he is also a busy businessman. I asked my doctor about the medical bills today to see when they were due. He looked at me with a smile and said to me that they were already taken care of and I didn't need to worry about it. Turns out that Greg has been paying my medical bills this entire time! I am truly so thankful for him and can't imagine my life without him. I love him and all that he has done for me!

My best friend from the beginning, Tony, actually, has been the one to stay by my side throughout this whole sickness. He was the one who sent me to the doctor, sat with me in my appointment, and really hasn't left my side ever since. He leaves when he needs to but comes back as soon as possible. We often fall asleep watching movies together every night and I now realize how much he means to me. He makes me laugh and feel better when the doctor comes in with bad news, he lets me cry on his shoulder, and he is the one that understands the pain I have been going through all this time. As I look at him now sleeping in the chair next to my hospital bed, I realize that I have loved him this entire time without knowing it. I think he has realized it too because normally he would go do his own thing by now. Sometimes the hardest times in life make you think about if you have a future, what you will do with it. 

So, if the doctor comes in and tells me that I am cured and I have the rest of my life to live, who do I spend it with? Do I spend it with my long time best friend who I have been with through thick and thin? Do I spend it with the gentleman who loves me enough to change his life and spend it raising awareness about my disease? Or do I spend it with the man who took responsibility for me out of love and has made it his goal to make sure that I have a life full of life without debt? 

Who would you choose?

Crossroads (flickr)

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Author's Note: This story is inspired by the riddle of The Three Lovers in the Twenty-Two Goblins Unit. In the original story, a goblin riddles a king with a story about a beautiful girl that is being pursued by three suitors. The girl ends up dying and being cremated. The first suitor lives on her ashes and becomes a beggar just to be with her ashes. The second suitor takes her bones and dips them into the sacred Ganges River. The third suitor becomes a monk and wanders until he finds a spell book that would bring her back to life. He returns and brings the girl back to life in her full beauty. The goblin then asks the king who the girl should pick as her husband. The king, being a wise man, tells him that the first suitor who stayed with her ashes should be the one to have her for he acted as a husband would, when the other two acted as if a father or a brother would. The king guesses right and the rest of the unit continues. In my story, I decided to make it more modern with a confusing love story. Tony represents the first suitor, Samuel represents the second suitor, and Greg represents the third suitor. In the end, though, I decided to leave it as an open question for you to answer yourself, who you would choose. I also chose to write it in a way where we are in Emma's mind as the couple of months paths so we can see her own heart change in the process.

Bibliography: The Three Lovers. Twenty-Two Goblins. By Arthur W. Ryder. 1917.

Week 4 Storytelling: Jataka Tales

In early July, Harriet moved to Fredericksburg, TX to start a new life. She had been living in Dallas for the majority of her life and needed a change. She was in an abuse relationship with this guy named Russell and she finally got away. Starting a new life in a new town seemed like the best route for her and she saw hope in the distance. 

Fredericksburg, TX (wikipedia)

Harriet moved into this quaint, yellow house just a few blocks off from town. She settled in and after a few weeks of being by herself she thought she'd probably like to get to know the town. After walking along the streets she stopped into a convenient store to buy some necessities. The convenient storeowner, Jan, struck up a conversation with Harriet and thus started a new friendship. Jan was an older lady who still had all the energy in the world for new friends. 

Jan recommended to Harriet that she introduce herself to her neighbors and hit the town that night to meet some of the other locals. Harriet did just that and met both of her neighbors when she went home. To the right lived a man and his wife of 20 years who had a dog named Chip and a cat named Rex. On the other side was a widow who had a son off at college. It was nice for Harriet to have people that she could come to if she needed anything. 

That night, Harriet went out to the local bar in town and met a few of the locals. They were all nice and welcoming but it would still take a while for her to warm up to them. On the way out she ran into the police officer that was stationed on the corner for the night. They struck up a conversation since he knew she wasn't from around there and by the end he ensured her that if she ever needed help he would gladly assist. 

Weeks went on and the relationships she had formed with these few locals grew deeper and deeper. She opened up about her past and as to why she had moved away. She felt safe there in Fredericksburg and saw a future there.

One day when working the convenient store, Jan saw a man walk through the door and came straight up to her counter. He had a picture of Harriet and asked if she had seen her before. Jan, knowing Harriet's past figured this was the abuse ex-boyfriend and steered him in the wrong direction saying she had never seen her before. When Russell left discouraged, Jan called Harriet and warned her. For other locals in the community that did not know of her past, Russell was led directions to where Harriet lived. Harriet had already been able to let her neighbors know of the situation and was happy to hear that they would help keep her safe. 

Harriet sat in her neighbor's house petting Chip when she saw Russell walk up to her house next door. She sat and watched him become frustrated and upset. He started shouting and becoming very distressed. He broke down the front door in full rage and she saw him searching through the house. At this point in time she called her friend that was a police officer and waited until he arrived. The police officer showed up moments later and caught Russell in Harriet's house. Since Russell was trespassing on private property he was taken away. 

Harriet's House (flickr)

Harriet learned that day that friends were very important to have and she knew that she was safe with their help. In the end, Russell stayed in jail after many accusations against him were presented. Harriet was now safe and continued to live her life in Fredericksburg with her newfound loyal friends.

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Author's Note: This story is based on the Jataka Tale of The Hawks and Their Friends. In this tale, hunters are wanting to eat the hawk's babies and the hawk gets help from his friends the Kingfisher, the Turtle, and the Lion. I made Jan the Kingfisher, her neighbors the Turtle, and the police officer the Lion. They all help her stay safe from danger just like the animals helped the hawks in their time of need.

Bibliography: The Hawks and Their Friends. More Jataka Tales. By Ellen Babbitt. 1922

Week 3 Storytelling: Small Gesture, Big Impact

"Well, hello there, Felix! Welcome to the show! Have a seat on this old couch and it's nice to meet you!" said Jimmy Kimmel.

"It's nice to be here, Jimmy. Thanks for having me!" said Felix. 

"So tell me, Felix, how have you been since your role in your first major Hollywood film? A romantic drama film filled with friendship, deceit, and love," asked Jimmy. 

"It has been such a whirlwind actually! I didn't expect this movie to become so popular as it did and it was just a blessing being able to work with so many amazing actors that have influenced me over time," responded Felix.

"Well, you did a great job and I bet that your life has changed a bit since it came out, huh?" asked Jimmy. 

"Oh, most definitely! I can't say that I've ever been chased by paparazzi and been recognized in so many places before the movie came out," said Felix. 

"You better get used to it then, because I'm sure all the girls are just waiting for you to show your face and chase you down the street!" said Jimmy. 

"Ha ha, yeah, I was never the better looking one in high school, so it's a weird feeling for sure! They can be pretty crazy too; I never thought that I'd have to hide out in public like I have to sometimes do now," said Felix. 

"Ha! Are you telling me that you have had to hide from fangirls just on the street?" asked Jimmy.

"Oh yeah! I will never forget this one time I was just walking down the street minding my own business when I heard a couple of girls gossip with each other while passing me saying, 'Girls, that's totally him, I'm serious, my future husband,'" said Felix.

"Oh no! How did you get away from that?" asked Jimmy.

"Well, I started walking a little faster once when I heard them talking, which was good because it gave me a head start, and then I just started weaving through the crowds and trying to throw them off my track. Finally, as they were about to get closer, I turned off really fast into some store where I ran into this little girl who was there with her mother. Turns out her mom owned the store, so that's why she was there but she was the cutest little thing with a yellow dress with the frilly white socks and a red bow in her hair. She laughed at me when I was panting and asked me what I was doing. When I told her that some girls were following me, she led me to the back of the store and sat me down on the ground. She then put some boxes around me behind the counter and then sat on top of them to cover up my face. Sure enough those crazy girls came into the store in a tizzy and were searching every corner. The little girl just smiled at them and waited till they left to get down from the box to let me out. Ha ha, the mom came out from the back and was concerned as to who I was and why I was behind the counter," explained Felix.

"Yeah, she was probably thinking you were about to rob the place," joked Jimmy. 

"After leaving the counter and apologizing for using her place as a hideout, she then realized who I was and then I gave them my autograph and took a picture with them as thanks for their help. I waited around and talked to the girl and her mom for a tiny bit longer until I felt like the coast was clear and then went on my way. Oh man, I'd just like to say thanks again for that little girl. I don't think I would've been able to escape alone!" said Felix.

"I don't know, you might have to get used to it, Felix, if you're going to be in any more chick flick movies! You'll have to find a better escape route for all those crazy teenagers wanting to marry you!" said Jimmy.

"I know, right? I need to come up with a plan because I don't think I'll be as lucky to find that little angel again to save me. Seriously, of all the people that could have helped, it was a child who saw my struggle and helped me," remarked Felix.

"Well, I hope you make it out alive again because we'll want you back on the show soon!" said Jimmy.

"I'd love to come back and thanks for having me!" said Felix.

Jimmy Kimmel (flickr)

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Author's Note: I used The Ballad of Saint Felix to write this story. In the original story, it was about Saint Felix who was being chased by the soldiers who were going to kill him for being a Christian. He barely got away from the soldiers and hid in a little crevasse where a little spider formed a strong web around the opening so the soldiers would not find him. He stayed there till it was safe to leave and had the help of a woman who kept him hidden in a well until it was officially safe for him to come back into the public. In my story I chose a child instead of a spider and her mom instead of the other woman who helped him hide. Sometimes I find that reading a story about people instead of animals is easier to connect with and apply to our lives. I also decided to tell this story in a way of an interview. This way there was some comedic relief throughout the whole story. I chose The Jimmy Kimmel Show because he is really good listening to a story and making it better without really even trying. This story shows how we forget how important a child or a spider is in this world and that they can have a huge impact on a person. This impact can even save a person's life. 

Bibliography: The Ballad of Saint Felix. The Book of Saints and Friendly Beasts. By Abbie Farwell Brown in 1900.

Week 2 Storytelling: Homer's Odyssey

Alyssa has an independent, wandering soul. When she was little she would wander about the park, in the grocery store, and throughout the neighborhood. When she became older her wandering led her farther and farther away from home and she became more dependent upon herself to do everything herself. Once she was old enough and had finally realized how far she had wandered from home, she was half the world away. Alyssa was tired of being away from home and tired of constantly being on the move and decided that she would go home. This is where her journey home begins.

Alyssa decided to tell the people that she had wandered with that she was officially going to go home. They all told her that she shouldn't leave and forced her to stay. After a couple of days of not being able to start her journey, she decided that she was just going to make their lives a living hell by staying there. After a couple of more days, Alyssa's friends finally kicked her out and pushed her on her way out of annoyance. She was officially on her way.

Alyssa was proud of herself that she was able to escape the grasp of the people that kept her from her journey, however, she was not aware of all the struggle and effort it was going to take to finally reach home. She would have to drop her pride and actually use the help of others in order to get home. We must also remember that she continues to have a wandering soul, which will prolong her journey.

One day when traveling, Alyssa ran into a man named Casey. Casey, like herself, has the same sense of adventure and fear of staying still. After talking to him and listening to him speak of his next adventures she falls into his plans and prolongs her journey. Alyssa gets caught back in the safety of running away and having someone to share it with. Months go by and she finds herself even farther than she was before. When Alyssa realized how long she has wasted from traveling and not returning home, she built up enough courage and left Casey, her beloved wandering partner. And again, she is out of her comfort zone and continues her journey home. 

At this point in life Alyssa really does need help in returning home. As she is trying to plan out her journey in a coffee shop, the owner of the shop asks about her life, where she has been, and where she is headed. Terry, the coffee shop owner, listens to her story and since the place was pretty small so does everyone else. He tells her of his travels and his journey home as well and warns her that it will take lots of courage and determination to officially arrive home. She will need a fixed and steady determination to ignore all temptations and achieve what she wants in life. Women sitting at the table nearby speak of different transportation systems for Alyssa to use and tips for her upcoming journey. One of the women named Amy told her that she should surprise her family instead of letting them know of her return, that way they are overcome with happiness. Alyssa talked to everyone in the coffee shop and then gained enough courage and information to continue start on her way. 

With warning from her new found friends in the coffee shop she looked straight ahead at her goal: home. This helped for when she would find other wandering souls and they would invite her to join them. Alyssa would say no thank you, as much as she wanted to say yes, and continue on her way. The ultimate challenge, however, was yet to come. One day when traveling rather close to home, she ran into an old friend. This old friend, Skyler, is not any old friend though. Skyler is the one that as a child would egg her on when wanting to wander farther and farther. She would always dare Alyssa to walk one block farther or persuade her to find out what was on the other side of anything. When speaking to Skyler and telling her of her plans to return home, Skyler stopped and tried to convince her that going home was useless and a waste of time. Alyssa thought back to her friends in the coffee shop and knew that Skyler was the ultimate challenge. This was the top of the mountain for her; all of these obstacles have led her and prepared her to finally say no to Skyler and change her life officially. Alyssa stormed past Skyler and went on to return home. 

Wanderer (picture from Pixabay)

Author's Note: For this story I used Homer's Odyssey as a reference. First of all I chose names that helped me reference back to the characters in The Odyssey. I start the story with Alyssa being stopped by other wandering friends and coming up with a plan to escape them, just like how Ulysses had to come up with a plan to escape Polyphemus, the cyclopes. Next on Alyssa's journey is running into Casey who distracts her from her journey home. This is in reference to Circe and Ulysses keeping camp there with her for over a year. After leaving Casey, Alyssa talks to many people who give her tips and information about life. This is in reference to Ulysses speaking to all of the ghosts in hell. Alyssa's Terry is Ulysses's Terisesias in the fact that they are both like guidance counselors for them. Other wandering souls along the trip for Alyssa are like the Sirens for Ulysses. Lastly, Skyler is Alyssa's ultimate challenge in deciding to officially return home. For Ulysses, Scylla (the monster) is his ultimate last challenge he has to conquer in order to return home to Ithaca. 

Bibliography: Homer's Odyssey. Translated by Tony Kline. Translated version published 2004. 

Week 1 Storytelling: I'll Sing You a Song

I'll Sing you a Song 

“I'll sing you a song,

Though not very long,

Yet I think it as pretty as any.

Put your hand in your purse,

You'll never be worse,

And give the poor singer a penny.”

(Excerpt From: “The Nursery Rhyme Book.” iBooks.)

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Ralph grew up in the outskirts of town under the roof of his very loving family of his parents and two other siblings. Father was a farmer who worked every day of his life and mother was a stay at home mom that would do anything for her children. She would even sing them a song when they all went to bed at night. For some reason, when Ralph grew up and grew older, he wished for a more exciting life than the one he had, unlike his other siblings. For years he dreamed about leaving the country, finding a new home, and never coming back. He talked about living life on his own and finding his own way of life. He wanted to leave the typical small town atmosphere and lifestyle like his family. 

When he was of age he left home against his parent's wishes and started his journey. 

Hometown (wikipedia)

For years his journey was exciting and full of life. He traveled near and far, met interesting people, and thought he was headed somewhere great. He found a life in a busy city surrounded by people who had never known his home. He lived in this fast paced life for years and years constantly pushing his body and mind to the limit. He ignored contact with his family and continued to live life on his own. 

As years went by, friends had left, happiness was hard to come by, and family had felt like a ghost. He never had a constant companion or support group that cared for him in all parts of his life. He searched for happiness with money and thought the more he had the more he would enjoy life. At the peak of his loneliness he lost it all. He lost his friends, his fancy lifestyle, and his enjoyment of life in general. After losing everything he thought about how different his life would be if he had not been so selfish and had a true home with the people he didn't know he loved. 

City Life (Wikipedia)

At this point in life Ralph decided to go on one last life-changing journey. After working hard and long shifts to save money he would return to where he was living and sit on the front stairs. He would sit there and think about his choices in life and how he can better them now as an older man. Ralph would also sing, for it was comforting to hear the songs from his mother back in his childhood. 

Citizens would walk by as he sat there singing and wishing for a way back. Ralph would start with: "I'll sing you a song, though not very long, yet I think it is pretty as any." For he was desperate for a life of happiness and a yearning for true friendship and love in his life and would continue with: "Put your hand in your purse, you'll never be worse, and give the poor singer a penny." He was poor in the fact that he lacked love and compassion from others. Some out of pity gave him money and helped him on his way, but he continued on. 

The Singer (Flickr)

Although Ralph was older and his health was failing, he sat there every night. He sang his songs and hoped for a better life. In the end Ralph didn't make it home, for he never had enough to make the long travel. 

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I'll Sing you a Song 

“I'll sing you a song,

Though not very long,

Yet I think it as pretty as any.

Put your hand in your purse,

You'll never be worse,

And give the poor singer a penny.”

A man searching for a more exciting life finds that what makes life exciting are the people in it. He then attempts to change his path and go back to where he stated from. 

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Authors Note: When I read this nursery rhyme I immediately thought about the biblical story of the Prodigal Son. In that story, the son leaves home, loses all of his savings, then returns home to find his father still forgiving of him. In my story I also had a boy who wanted to leave home and finds himself wanting to return home as an older man, realizing everything he has missed out on. However, with this story he never makes it home. He comes to self-realization and self-improvement. I love stories of people finding true happiness and love in their lives and with Ralph it was through song and searching for a way home. 

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Bibliography: This nursery rhyme can be found on page 57 in Our Country's Readers edited by M. Halley and Leonard Lemmon.