Week 7 Storytelling: Fortune and Ill Luck

Happy couple by freestocks

ONCE upon a time, there was a woman who suffered a lifetime of unfortunate events. She was known to be clumsy and disorganized, but as she was growing up she noticed that she wasn’t just a klutz. She was an unlucky person in general.

Somehow she grew up with a completely opposite friend; he seemed to radiate of luck wherever he goes. She was at least lucky enough to have him in her life. The girl was raised in the bad part of the city, while the guy came from a moderately wealthy family. Somehow they attended the same middle and high schools, and that was how they became best friends. They balanced their misfortunes and fortunes out.

Later in life, they fell in love and got married. The only thing they had going for them was happiness and love. The groom’s side of the family greatly disapproved of the girl and threatened that if he were to marry her then he would be cut off from the family. So he left and they got eloped. He never thought to look back because he deeply believed this girl was worth the world.

The man had numerous friends with connections around the nation. One special person offered his vacation home for the couple to live, and this is how they started their new lives together. The unlucky women somehow lost all her belongings in the process of moving, but that did not discourage them.

The man wanted to prove that they can survive through his luck. A few days after they settled in, he decided to go to the closest grocery store and buy a lottery ticket.

Lottery ticket by jackmac34

Later that night, they tuned in to watch the announcement of the winning numbers. They couldn’t believe their eyes; the husband’s ticket matched 5 out of 6 numbers. Overall, he won about $100,000.

The next morning, he went to go claim his prize. On the way home, he stopped by the bank to deposit most of the winnings and kept a quarter of it in cash. Once the husband got back, he handed the wad of cash to his beautiful wife. She was baffled. In all her years of living, this was the most money she has ever had.

He told her to keep it safe and sound while he went to go job hunting for the afternoon. They decided that with the wife’s unfortunate luck, she should get more acquainted with the new home and area before attempting to work as well.

As she was outside watering the garden, the wife heard a commotion coming from inside. Someone had broken in. She hurriedly ran back to see what happened when a big man hit the back of her head with a stick. Instantaneously, she fell to the ground and was knocked unconscious. In the meantime, the robber found took all their valuables and money.

The husband came home two hours later with a bottle of wine to celebrate. Instead of a celebration, he found his wife on the stone cold ground. He carefully lifted her head up and noticed she wasn’t breathing. Sadly, the impact of fall gradually killed her.

Her lifetime of unfortunate events has come to an end.


Author’s Note: I decided to play with the lucky and unlucky aspect of the story. One big thing that changed was the fact that the husband was wealthy instead of the wife. Ultimately the original story had different scenes and locations, but the ending still ended with death of the wife.

Bibliography: The Chinese Fairy Book by r. Wilhelm

Week 6 Storytelling: The Princess and Turtle

Island by Mwanner

There was once a beautiful princess who lived alone on an island. She was the only human there and made friends with all the native animals. Her best friend was a turtle. He didn’t say much, but she knew he could understand her words.

Far into the distance the princess could see thousands of people having fun along the shore. She had special senses that tingle when certain people entered the water. She thought it was the world’s way of telling her it was true love.

A few sailors have sailed by her island, and a few have even rested there. They never stay though. Not long enough anyways.

You see, the princess had another special power; she never aged. She could also give others that opportunity as well. Often the guests take up the offer, but eventually they miss home and would try to go back. The princess has learned that nothing good lasts forever.

One morning, her turtle friend ended up far away from home. He was caught in a nets that were thrown into a boat. A fisherman was utterly surprised to see such a creature in those nets because this has never happened before. The turtle was terrified for his life. He trembled and begged as the fisherman picked him up. The fisherman simply released all the netting and gently put him down in the sand. Graciously, he gave the turtle a nudge to set him free into the water, and off the turtle went.

The turtle arrived back home and told the princess all about his encounter. Immediately, the princess was infatuated. She was desperate for the attention of any man, for it had been decades since anyone had stopped by her island. She needed to devise a plan to meet this kind fisherman. She needed to find herself a keeper.

She observed from afar all the days he set ashore to go fishing. There is this feeling that won’t go away. He was the one.

It was a stormy night out and this was the perfect opportunity to reel the fisherman in. His boat coincidentally hit a rock and broke right beneath him. When out of nowhere the turtle came towards him to save his life. “I am the turtle whose life you once saved. I will now pay my debt and show my gratitude.”

With that, the fisherman latched onto the turtle, and they headed back to the princess’ island.

Here the princess tended to the wounds he received during the storm and took care of him as he passed out. The next morning the young fisherman was surprised to see how much better he felt. He looked up and was captured by the beauty the princess possessed.

She noticed he was awake and swiftly walked back to him. They chatted for a few hours… which turned into a few days. When finally the princess gave him the proposition of staying young forever. The idea sounded too good to be true, but he accepted her invitation.

It’s amazing how time flies on an island isolated with just two people living there. Years passed and the fisherman never even noticed.

But.

One day, the fisherman told the princess he missed home and wanted to go back. Like the rest of the men that end up on this island, they never last.

She let him go back to a place he calls home, but really it is no longer his home. He doesn't realize that it’s been hundreds of years stuck on that island with her.

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Author’s Note: I wanted to do it from the princess’ point of view instead of the fisherman’s. To tie in the original version and mine a little bit more, I incorporated a quote from the turtle.

Bibliography: Japanese Fairy Tales by Andrew Lang

Storytelling: Twenty-Two

Homeless man by Matthew Woitunski

There once was a man who went to the gas station every single evening to buy one pack of cigarettes. As soon as he got off his 9 to 5 job, he would head straight there. All cashiers and workers knew him as a regular.

On a hot summer day, a homeless man set his resting area right outside the doors of this gas station. From that day forward he made that place his official place to be. The workers would give him water and let him inside if he ever needed due to blistering weather or any other essential needs. The hobo was friendly and never caused any trouble; he just liked to tell stories and entertain people. All he asked in return was their attention.

The regular customer was surprised to see this guy sleeping outside by the door. It was a blistering day, so the man went in and bought a drink and chips in addition to his usual pack of cigs to give to the hobo. As he sets down the food, the homeless man awakens and begins thanking him for his generosity. In return he felt he absolutely had to tell the customer a story.

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There was a girl named Coral who had three suitors chasing after her. Her complexion was fair, her hair silky, and her personality was lovely. She was quite a catch. The suitors were head over heels in love with Coral; when one day she fell ill.

She suffered through a severe fever and unexpectedly passed away. The suitors were devastated.

They could not bear to believe she was really gone forever.

Suitor One slept against a tree next to her grave. He never got up not even to get food or do anything, so random people who walked by would come back with meals for him to eat. Suitor One was the one most hurt by her lost.

Suitor Two took bits of her bones to a river near the cemetery. He believed the river had special magic to bring her back to life.

Suitor Three went on a journey across the world. During his travels he ran into people who could cast spells to bring Coral back. He memorized the spell as quickly as possible. Suitor Three truly believed this would work, so he immediately made his way back to the cemetery to find Suitor One and Suitor Two.

He gathered them and casted the spell and took a flake of her bones and sprinkled river water onto it. In a blink of an eye, Coral swiftly appeared. She was back and breathing.

Was it the spell, the undying love, or the river water which brought her back?

Which suitor would she choose not that she’s alive again? A man who slept by her side the whole way through, someone who was slowly releasing bits and pieces of her, or someone who traveled to find a magical spell to bring her back.

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For twenty-two days in a row the regular sat by the homeless man to hear at least one story before leaving. This became their routine until one day the homeless man just disappeared without any notice. Now the regular replays all the stories in his head and this one questions him the most.



Author’s notes: I wanted to base this off of the story, The Three Lovers. Instead of a goblin in a cemetery I decided a homeless man was more relatable. The story itself was very similar to the original except this ends in more of a mystery.

Bibliography: Twenty-Two Goblins by Arthur Ryder

Week 4 Story: Leave

Freedom from pexel.

AFTER countless days staying awake thinking about this moment it was finally Arthur’s chance to escape. The clock struck twelve and he was now 18-years-old. He was officially old enough to count as a man. 

Arthur thought, “I will find a better place to live. A place where I will find joy, find my peace, and endure whatever that comes my way. I will be all alone. That is okay. I will survive. The hour has come; I am on the road to deliverance.”

He swiftly packed his bags in the middle of the night taking only the essential items needed to survive. Arthur’s closest friend was his German Shepard, Ka. Taking a few minutes to debate if he should take Ka along or leave him as he depart…

Ka was strong and supple. At the same time he was also gentle, but only with Arthur. He was a noble friend and was there for Arthur through all his good times and bad. They were best companions. Arthur could not bare to desert him; Ka’s strength kept him motivated.

They snuck downstairs and through the kitchen. Arthur grabbed removed some of his belongings to make room for food and dog essentials for Ka. Slowly they made way past his parent’s master bedroom and through the hallway. Delicately Arthur slowly turned one of notches to the front door.

Suddenly, there was a loud noise.

They did not know where it came from, but Arthur knew if they did not get out now then they will never have the courage to again. It was time.

In quick motions Arthur was able to rapidly get all the door notches unlocked. Arthur and Ka took their first step outdoors and never looked back. This is what freedom feels like.

The night was foggy and an eerie aura lurked around. The moon was alive, but the world around him was lost in a haze. This didn’t seem real.

Arthur and Ka made it to a bus station and went to the furthest city possible. They needed to get some rest before their day full of adventures tomorrow. The sun will rise and his parents will wake up and start an investigation to find Arthur and Ka.

All his life Arthur was expected to live a certain way. He had to become a doctor or engineer or else he would be considered the disappointment of his family. Arthur was forced to attend an all boys Catholic school, and frankly he was not even fond of this forced religious path.

Arthur was thankful to live in a prestigious neighborhood and never went to bed hungry… but somewhere along the way… this was not the life he wanted to live. Arthur knew he was different from the others.

He wanted freedom. Arthur wanted to be his own person and not be molded into the person his family expected him to be. He wanted a life outside of this and the only way out Arthur could think of was to escape.

His parents were never able to locate him and Ka. They hitchhiked through countless towns and made it past the border. In that moment Arthur thought, “until I shall have seen the end of life and death, I shall never return home.”

Author’s Note: Based off of the story of Siddhartha leaving home. This is a more modern approach. Siddhartha was changed to Arthur. The horse, Kanthaka, changed to a dog named Ka. The story seemed a little all over the place, but I based that set up on the original way it was told. The idea and setting is different, yet still holds the idea of escaping for a better life.

Bibliography: Life of Buddha by Andre Ferdinand Herold

Week 3 Storytelling: Kelly and Classmates

Scotland High School by Craig Wallace

Once upon a time, there was an all-girls school deep within Scotland. The ages varied from big and small, and a few hundred came here to get their education. They were all highly intelligent and frankly they all knew it too.

Except one special little girl named Kelly. She was the shy and timid type that never spoke up in class unless she absolutely had to. Kelly did not have many friends for the reason that she never got the courage to speak up and talk to people, and many students thought she was that one odd child in the class. Little did they know, she was the wisest of them all and was actually quite humble about it. The other students on the other hand… possessed immense egos.

The anatomy professor, Stephanie, obviously favored Kelly, and her classmates did not understand why. She was always called on and got every single answers correct. Professor Stephanie even promised to provide a scholarship when she graduated. Her classmates were enraged and secretly envied her. Professor Stephanie barely liked fellow teachers much less her students. After school, Kelly would stay and talk with her privately for what seemed like eternity.

Kelly told Professor Stephanie about how she felt so alone in a school full of people. No one understood her and no one would notice if she disappeared one day. No one cared.

When lunch time came around Kelly would curl up in the library to read because she liked her peace and quiet. She didn’t have anyone to talk to and eat with anyways.

Some days a few girls would come in just to taunt her. They would pester Kelly about her appearance or persistently ask why she was so weird just to see if she would lose her temper, but she always remained calm. That composure aggravated them even more. She was unbreakable.

One day, the same group of girls devised a plan to embarrass her.

Every day the school assigns someone new to monitor the cafeteria. This is one of the rare times Kelly would come out of the library.

The girls got information of what date she would be on duty next and hoped to mortify her. The straightforward plan was put into action.

The moment Kelly walked into the room she knew something was off. She felt stares all throughout; Kelly kept her head down until she heard someone call out her name… When all of a sudden someone stuck out their feet and tripped her mid step. She plunged forward into a tray full of mash potato and gravy.

Kelly pulled herself up, wiped her eyes, and bee lined towards the restroom. She lost the composure she has been holding down and cried and cried until her eyes were dry.

When she came out of the stall there was a girl standing there holding up a tissue. It was the new transfer student. This kind stranger patiently waited for Kelly to collect herself. She did not say much, but her presence was comforting enough. As they walked out of the restroom together, Kelly introduced herself; this was the start of a sincere friendship.

Friendship by AdinaVoicu

Author’s Note: I liked how the story of Saint Kentigern and the Robin addressed the issue of bullying. I put my own twist on the story by changing the scenario. The main character, Kentigern, is now a girl named Kelly, Saint Servan is Stephanie, and I added a new unnamed stranger. Saint Kentigern never really made a friend besides Saint Servan and even with that it was a mentor and mentee relationship. I wanted the person being bullied to find a friend.

Bibliography: Saint Kentigern and the Robin by Abbie Farwell Brown

Week 2 Storytelling: Echo

Abandoned dog by Alexas_Fotos

One late night, Echo escaped her backyard to wander the small town. She is known to be very curious and vocal when things are astray; however, she left without making a peep. After walking for a few hours through ominous back roads Echo discovered she got caught up in the moment and somehow ended up far away from home. As she tried to retrace her steps, Echo did not notice the midnight blue truck coming right at her.

BOOM.

The reckless driver didn’t even care to stop and check if she was okay.

The next morning a local in the next town over noticed wounded Echo on her way to work. Echo’s dog tag only said her name with no address or phone number to contact, so the stranger graciously swooped Echo up and dropped her off at the nearest animal shelter. Echo suffered severe injuries to her hind legs and rear end. One of her legs were not functional anymore because of the collision, so the doctors at the shelter opted to amputate it.

What was once bright and radiant golden, her whole body now appears gloomy and burnt orange. Echo was no longer the cheerful and friendly dog she once was. No smiles or excited barks. No more curiosity.

Days pass and Echo was slowly but surely recovering. She hobbled everywhere and her cuts are now just scabs. Her mood lifted ever so slightly, but she was still stuck in a sad rut. Soon enough Echo was put up for adoption because her owners never came to claim her. Maybe they did not recognize her or maybe they did not care enough to search for her; that is still a mystery.

A countless amount of people came and searched for a perfect puppy to take home, but no one seemed to care for the old mutts, much less a disabled one. All Echo wanted was a little attention. She would purposely sit against the cage in the most viewable area, but no one notices her. She let out a faint whimper every time someone walked right by her cage. Echo’s lost hope and now lay hidden in the back.

One time, a 6 year-old boy came up to her cage and screamed, “Is anyone here?” Echo barked excitedly in response and clumsily ran up to the boy. He sat down right in front of Echo’s cell. He started telling her a story about a time he had a dog just like her and how she died of old age. The little boy got up and asked the workers if he could play with her, and immediately they opened up the cage for him. This was the happiest Echo has been in months. Finally the affection she has been patiently waiting for.

The little boy’s mom came up to him and asked if he has found any dog that he liked. He frantically tried to convince his mother that he wanted Echo, but she profoundly was hesitant. She did not want him to have a dog so old and disabled. The boy lost the fight and they left empty handed… and Echo remained.

Though Echo did not understand what was being said, she knew she was rejected. She got her hopes up to just be left alone again.

A few weeks go by and one day an elderly man came in and stood by Echo’s cage. Echo vaguely looked up for a second then put her head back down. She didn’t think he was interested in her.

“Why do you hide from me?” he asked.

Echo looked up again realizing he was speaking to her. She walked over cautiously and let him pet her head. He mumbled some words to a worker nearby, and they slowly took her out of the cage. The man put a leash on Echo, and she thought she was just going for a walk. Little did Echo know, she was moving to her forever home.

Bibliography: Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Echo sees Narcissus by Tony Kline

Author’s Note: I decided to play with the characteristics that the original Echo had, but change her into a dog. Echo is disabled, lonely, yearned for attention/affection, and got rejected. This is a more modern take and incorporates a completely different location. I put in a few quotes such as “Is anyone here?” to resemble the original version. Most importantly, instead of Echo rotting away I wanted her to have a happier ending.

Week 1 Story: I Doubt My Fire is Out

(Venice)

I doubt, I doubt, my fire is out;

My little wife isn’t at home;

I’ll saddle my dog, and I’ll bridle my cat,

And I’ll go fetch my little wife home.

~ ~ ~

After years of endless fighting and bickering, I realized I could not live this way any longer. My husband will not listen to my words or even look me in my eyes, so I decided it was time to start a brand new chapter in my life. I packed my bags and left without a single word of goodbye.

We never got to travel or see the world like we planned. He was always tied down to his job. It was lonely coming home from work and no one being there to greet me for hours. My husband used to make empty promises saying we will someday be able to go here and there, but after so many years he stopped mentioning those hopes and dreams. They meant nothing to him anymore. The first of many signs our relationship was withering away.

It was time for my fresh start. It was always my dream to explore Europe. It was supposed to be our dream… but my husband probably does not mind I did not go with him. He barely came home to see me anyways, and the only time we saw each other we fought like no other. The smallest things will turn into a fight we never expected. How does that happen if you love someone? Shouldn’t we get along?

Two weeks passed and not a single phone call from my husband. I guess our fire really is out. No sparks are left to even fight for me to come back. Deep down I was hoping he would come after me.

The following week I started noticing small gifts and trinkets next to me when I woke up. There were no notes or signs of anyone that left those for me, but I kept every single item.

One night, I was roaming the streets of Venice, and I felt as though someone was following me. I turned back, and much to my surprise it was my husband. I doubt, I doubt, our fire is out.


Author’s Note: This story is based on the nursery rhyme “I Doubt, I Doubt, My Fire is Out” quoted above. I added my own twist on the story by expanding it into the woman’s point of view instead of the original husband’s. It shows a different perspective. I enjoy watching romance movies, and those typically include a struggling scene that ends with a happy ending.

Bibliography: The Nursery Rhyme Book, edited by Andrew Lang.