Storytelling: Loyal and True

"DAD!" 

Levi heard his son call from upstairs. He raced up the stairs to find out what was scaring his little boy. 

"What's wrong? Why are you yelling?" He asked his little man. 

"Something is in my room." The child told his father, "Please get it out."

Levi began searching the room looking for anything that might have scared his child but he could not find anything in the room. 

The next morning Levi was up early to go hunting. He called his two dogs, Gellie and Hobbes, so that they could get on the road. 

"Gellie! Let's go." He called for the dog. Hobbes was already in the truck and Levi was anxious to get on the road. 

He stomped inside to find his dog, "Gellie!" He yelled when he saw his dog lying by his son's bed, "It's time to go. Get up!"

Gellie just laid there and growled a little. No matter what Levi did or said he couldn't get Gellie to leave his son's bedside. 

"Fine, just stay here. You weird dog."

Normally Gellie was his favorite. He was already for the hunt and raring to go. He loved being outdoors and was his best hound. Levi couldn't believe he didn't want to go this morning, and he never growled, "What is wrong with that dog?" Levi thought to himself. 

After a long day of hunting Levi came home to a terrifying scene. 

"Why is the door unlocked?" Levi thought to himself as he pushed it open to reveal a devastating picture. 

His entire house had been turned upside down. Pictures were broken on the floor, knickknacks were either missing or broken, furniture had been overturned and many pieces were missing legs or now had rips in them. 

Levi raced up the stairs to check on his wife and son. 

When he reached the landing he noticed something on the floor, "Was that blood?" Levi asked himself in terror. 

He raced into his son's room to find his wife tied to the rocking chair. 

"Levi!" She exclaimed, "Oh God, it was horrible. The came in so quickly and I couldn't stop them." 

"Where is Ryan? Why is there blood everywhere?"

"Gellie!" she panted, "Gellie saved him. The men were trying to take him and he fought them off." 

"Dad?" Ryan cried as he opened the closet door, where he was hiding. "Dad, Gellie is really hurt. He fought them and the hit him a lot." 

Levi checked over his wife and child for injuries and finally exhaled. He ran around the house looking for his god dog. 

How could the dog have known? Such good instincts. His hound had always had good instincts. 

Levi finally found Gellie out in the backyard badly beaten and bloodied. 

"Come on, boy, let's get you to the hospital." Levi tried to console the dog. 

While Levi carried the hound to the car he worried, Gellie was in bad shape. How would he ever deal with losing this precious dog. He had saved his wife and child, he owed this dog everything. 

When they reached the animal hospital he carried Gellie inside, "Please, please save my dog. He rescued my family today, and I just don't know what I would do without him."

The family sat in the waiting room anxiously while the vet checked over the dog. 

"He is going to need a lot of stitches and even more love and care, but after some recovery Gellie will be good as new." The vet told Levi and the family. 

"Thank you, thank you." Levi said, "That dog will get the best care any dog has ever received."

The family took Gellie home and began to pick up the pieces of their lives. Gellie continued to recover and eventually returned to the wonderful hunting hound he was before the break in. Levi was always grateful to the wonderful dog and never questioned his instincts again. 

Hunting Hound

Author's Note:

I wrote this story based of the Celtic Tales by Joseph Jacobs in particular I wrote it about Beth Gellert. In this story a king goes hunting and cannot find his favorite hunting hound. When he returns he find blood leading up to his baby son's crib and cannot find the sun. He immediately assumes the dog has killed his baby and stabs the dog with his spear. He then discovers the child hidden and a wolf caracas beside him. The hound had stayed behind to protect the child. When he realizes this it is too late for the dog and he dies. I really hated that the dog died in this story for protecting the child, so I wanted to change it and make a much happier ending.  

Story Telling: Sisters

Author's Note:

This story is very loosely based on the English Tales-English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs, published in 1890, and the story about the sisters, Binnorie. I really enjoyed the tale of the scorned sister and exacting revenge because the pretty one stole her man. While the younger sister did nothing but be pretty, I just find sister jealousy interesting. 

The Beautiful Sister

"O yonder sits my father, the king,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

And yonder sits my mother, the queen;

By the bonny milldams o' Binnorie.

And yonder stands my brother Hugh,

Binnorie, O Binnone;

And by him my William, false and true;

By the bonny milldams o' Binnorie.

And there sits my sister who drowned me

By the bonny milldams o' Binnorie."

"Bonnie! Bonnie where are you?" Allie yelled up the stairs at her sister. "You will never guess what happened to me today!"

Bonnie came rushing down the stairs, "What?" she asked, her cheeks were flushed and she looked as pretty as ever. 

Bonnie and Allie had always been close. They were best friends as well as sisters. While Allie was lovely, her younger sister Bonnie was the angelic one. She had pretty, soft blonde hair; big blue eyes, and rosy cheeks. 

"I met the perfect boy in class in today. His name is William and he's just so amazing." Allie gushed to her sister. "We have a date Friday night. I cannot wait for you to meet him."

"Oh! Tell me more!" Bonnie exclaimed, "What does he look like?"

"Well, he has pretty green eyes...." their voices trailed off as they went upstairs to their room for more girl talk. 

.....

Friday night finally arrived and William knocked on the door of the big brownstone house. 

"I'm here to pick up Allie" he said when Bonnie opened the door.

"Come in, come in! She will be down shortly." Bonnie said excitedly. "Tell me more about yourself as we wait for her."

As William and Bonnie talked Allie finished getting ready and made her way down the stairs. She smiled to herself when she saw them engrossed in conversation on the couch. She loved that her sister and boyfriend were hitting it off. It was so important to her. 

William and Allie had a wonderful date and soon became inseparable. The best part for Allie was that he also loved inviting her sister along on their adventures. 

Soon you couldn't find them without each other. The three were always hanging out and Allie could not have been more happy until one day, four months later William wanted to talk. 

"Allie, I need to tell you something." William began, "you know I like you, and I think you're great; but I have fallen in love with Bonnie." he stammered. 

"You WHAT?!" Allie asked in disbelief. 

"I have fallen in love with Bonnie." he said, while staring at the floor. 

"Does she know?" Allie asked. 

"I haven't said anything to her yet." he responded. 

"Leave." Allie demanded. "Do not contact either one of us ever again."

"I have to tell her, Allie, I love her." he pleaded. 

"I said leave and never contact us again." she said.

William finally left and Allie ran up the stairs, flung herself on the bed and began to cry. 

This is where Bonnie found her later that day.  "What's wrong?" Bonnie asked, "I thought we were going to the movies with William tonight. You better get ready." 

"We broke up." Allie told her, "He likes someone else." 

"Who?!" Bonnie exclaimed. "How could he do this to us?"

"Us? How could he do this to me, you mean." Allie stated as she narrowed her eyes at her sister.

"Right, how could he do this to you?" Bonnie corrected herself. 

"I don't know, I..." Allie cut off as Bonnie's phone began to ring. "Answer it." 

"Umm, no, we are talking" Bonnie stammered, "I'll call them back."

"Answer it."

"Allie, please, I don't know why he's calling me." Bonnie begged. 

"He loves you. He told me. That's why we broke up." 

"Allie, I'm so sorry. I had no idea."

"Just leave me alone. I hate you. I hate you both. You've always been prettier and you practically threw yourself at him. You came on all our dates." She yelled in anger at her sister. "JUST GET OUT OF MY ROOM. I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU EVER AGAIN."

"Allie, please don't do this. You're my best friend and my sister. I would never do this to you on purpose. Please." Bonnie pleaded. 

"Get. Out." 

Bonnie turned and left the room, form that moment forward their relationship was never the same. Allie moved out of the brownstone for college and Bonnie graduated high school a year later and moved to New York to pursue her dreams. Sadly, the sisters were never close again, Allie could never forget losing William. She thought he was the one, and her sister stole that from her. 

Storytelling: A Boy Has No Father

Author's Note:

I wanted to write this story of a little boy who has an absent father to represent Hiawatha from, "The Song of Hiawatha", an epic poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that was published in 1855. While I didn't want to recount the adventures of Hiawatha word for word, I did want to capture his spirit in my story of a little boy who lives with his grandmother because his Father doesn't want to care for him and his mother has passed away. 

"By the shores of Gitche Gumee,By the shining Big-Sea-Water,

Stood the wigwam of Nokomis,

Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis.

Dark behind it rose the forest,

Rose the black and gloomy pine-trees,

Rose the firs with cones upon them;

Bright before it beat the water,

Beat the clear and sunny water,

Beat the shining Big-Sea-Water."

The Song of Hiawatha

"Okay, little one, time to sleep. We can finish the rest of the story tomorrow." Naomi said to her grandson. 

"But, Granny, this story is my favorite. Can't we read just a little more?" Henry whined at his grandmother. 

"Hiawatha can wait, your sleep cannot, my little man." she smiled at him. 

Henry settle further down into the bed, "Do you think I am like Hiawatha?" 

"Full of adventure and hard to keep track of? Absolutely, my little Indian. Now sleep." Naomi said. 

Little Henry had lived with his grandmother for as long as he could remember. His mother had died of a broken heart when he was just a baby and his "father" has never had much use for the boy. So it was, Naomi took the child in and attempted to raise him as much joy and adventure she possibly could. At the age of ten now, Henry was so hard to keep track of around the town. Perhaps she had raised him with too much adventure? Is that possible for a little boy?

Henry woke ready to face the day. 

"GRANNY!" he screamed down the stairs, "I am going off to the pond." 

"Wait, wait, have you eaten?" Naomi called to him, "I'm making pancakes."

"I'll just shove them in my pocket! I have to go! The fish are waiting." Henry said as he stuffed his breakfast into his fishing backpack. 

Henry set off through the trees to get to his favorite fishing spot. Along the way he stopped to climb several trees. As he scurried up the branches, he often would stop and pretend to be shooting arrows at the ground below. He was hunting, just like Hiawatha. 

"Some day" Henry thought to himself, "I'm going to grow up and become a great man just like Hiawatha." He leapt from the tree and took off running. He was the fastest boy in town, all the boys were jealous because he could run faster, climb higher, and catch more fish than any of them. 

Henry had no fear and would often do things, like jump from the highest branches, that terrified his grandmother. He also had no fear when it came to his opinions and expressing them. 

It is because of this, that after he had been fishing and caught his dinner, he walked westward to town so that he could get an ice cream float from the diner. 

"I have the fastest son in the county." He over heard a man say, "He catches the most fish and can out climb any boy in town." 

"What's his name?" the diner owner asked, "Cause the only kid I know around here like that is Henry." 

"HENRY! That's his name. That's my boy." the strange man replied. 

Henry overheard this conversation and it greatly angered him. He knew his father had abandoned him and left him with his grandmother as a baby. Everyone around town talked about it and how sorry they felt for old Naomi. 

"Excuse me" Henry said to the man, "I don't know who you think you are, but my name is Henry and you have no right to be bragging about me." 

"Henry!" the man cried, "I'm you father, aren't you excited to see me?" 

"I have no father. I will thank you not to talk about me like you know me." Henry scowled at the man. 

Henry grabbed his ice cream float and took off to his home. 

By the time he arrived his grandmother had already heard of his encounter at the diner and she could not be more proud of him. 

"Hello, Henry, how many did you catch for dinner today?" she asked him.

"Ten, I thought we could have some with breakfast tomorrow too." He smiled at her. 

"I do hope you left some for everyone else!" She laughed. "Go wash up, it will be ready when you get back down stairs."

They sat down to dinner and Naomi listened to all his big adventures from the day. She worried so much about this little boy, but he clearly could manage to take care of himself. He really was something special. 

She smiled as she thought of his bright future. The beautiful wife he would have and they fun he would have raising a boy of his own. 

"Granny, can we read now?" Henry begged, "Can we please read Hiawatha?"

"Of course, little one" Naimo said, 

"And thus sailed my HiawathaDown the rushing Taquamenaw,

Sailed through all its bends and windings,

Sailed through all its deeps and shallows,

While his friend, the strong man, Kwasind,

Swam the deeps, the shallows waded."

Henry fell asleep that night and dreamed of becoming a brave, big man who had many adventures. He dreamed of sailing on the great rivers and hunting the bison. He dreamed of climbing the tallest mountain. He dreamed of being just like Hiawatha. 

 

Remington Hiawatha

Storytelling: The Roaming Bison

Author's Note:

Apache stories from Jicarilla Apache of New Mexico, collected and translated by P. E. Goddard. I took my inspiration from my story from the use of animals and adventure in the Apache stories. I really liked the use of the coyote and the bison but also enjoyed the tricks and bravery of 

Naiyenesgani. I just wanted my story to combine my favorites parts of these tales. I hope you enjoy! 

Brison the Bison

"Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam"

"BRISON, SHUT UP!" Connor the coyote yelled. "We have been traveling for days and I am sick of hearing you sing that stupid song. You're a BISON, not a buffalo. It doesn't matter that you're roaming. The song isn't about you." 

"You're just jealous there isn't a song about you roaming the country." Brison responded. "Besides, we have been wondering around with these magical arrows and I'm just getting a little bored."

Brison and Connor had been wondering the country for weeks now because Brison had a gift. He was magic. He could "see" people and need and would make something that would help them through whatever troubles they were having. This time is was a tribe in the wasteland fighting a big chief. Brison was convinced they needed these magic arrows he had made out the ancient oak and his fur to defeat the big chief. So, off he and his best friend went to find the Keanow tribe. 

While Connor thought Brison's antics were a little crazy at times, things always worked out the way he saw them in his vision. 

There was that time Brison insisted he had to travel North to where it was cold to save a tribe form freezing in the winter. Connor always traveled with his friend partly because he worried but also because he loved seeing the amazing things his friend could accomplish. When they traveled north and reached the tribe Brison handed them part of his fur and it immediately began to multiply as it was passed from person to person. The tribe had been unable to hunt for food and fur because the winter had come very early that year. Connor was in awe of his wonderful friend and he loved their travels together. 

Along their way to wasteland they friends became bored and would often play pranks on one another. Connor would often hide in various places and jump out to scare Brison when he was supposed to be hunting for their dinner. One time, Brison used his gift to make rocks look like meat and Connor tried to a big bite and was sadly disappointed when it wasn't the juicy steak he hoped he was having for dinner. 

Finally, they arrived in the wasteland and found the Keanow tribe. They were a poor beaten down people because the bad chief. It was time for them to rise up and fight for their freedom so the bad chief could not take their food any longer. 

"People, my name is Brison and I have traveled with my friend Connor to help you fight the bad chief." Brison began, "I have made these arrows from the old tree and my magical fur. Whenever they are used, they will fly true and strike down your enemies. Please use them wisely as they will only work once and then they will be gone." 

A boy named Naga came forward, he was the best hunter in the tribe, "I will take the arrows. I know where to find the bad chief." 

Naga, Brison, and Connor set off to find the bad chief in the wasteland. Once he was found the cave where the bad chief and his men where staying, Brison told Naga, "If you can sneak up to the mouth of the cave and fire the arrow it will find the chief."

Naga began to climb down into to the mouth of the cave when he reach the cave floor just at the opening he let the arrow fly. 

The people of the Keanow tribe rejoiced and threw a great feast. Brison and Connor were happy to have helped another tribe. They could not wait for their next adventure. 

Story: The Trials of Press

Press leapt out of bed the minute his alarm went off. Today was the day, he could feel it. He was finally going to talk to Hannah and ask her out. "Hannah" he sighed, as he tried to get his hair to fall into place. 

She was the prettiest girl in school and the most popular. Press had had a crush on her since sixth grade and now that he was a senior it was time to talk to her. 

"This is it, I'm going to ask her out today." Press said to his best friend Emma as they walked to school. 

"Do you really think that is a good idea? She hasn't acknowledged you in six years." Emma tried to talk me out of my plan.  

Before first period I saw her, she looked so beautiful in her cheer uniform. "Um, excuse me, Hannah?" I stumbled over my words, "Would you want to go out with me sometime?"

"You're asking me out? You? What was your name again?" Hannah asked.

"Umm, it's um, Press, we have been going to school together since sixth grade." I replied.

"Oh, right, you're that guy who is always hanging around that bookworm girl. What was her name again?" 

"Emma? She's just a friend." I said.

"Hmm right, I'm pretty sure she likes you, but if you really want to go out with me, I need some things from you." Hannah stated. "First, I really hate french, and I have a paper due tomorrow. Write it for me."

"Yes, okay, anything. I'll bring it to you before first period tomorrow." I told her. 

 Later that afternoon I was having lunch with Emma as usual and writing Hannah's French paper. 

"You know if she really liked you, she wouldn't make you write her paper. She would have just said yes." Emma told me. 

"She just really hates French, it's okay. I'll write it and then she will say yes" I told her. 

......

I met Hannah before first period the next day and gave her the paper. "So, does this mean we can go out?" I asked.

"Well, I have to babysit my little brother tomorrow night and I really want to go to Ty's party. Maybe you could do that for me so I could go out?" Hannah blinked her big green eyes at me.

"Oh sure, I can watch your little brother." I told her. 

"Thank you! It really means a lot to me. Ty is the most popular guy in school and how would it look if I weren't at his party?" 

......

"I can't believe you are going to this!" Emma screamed at me on our walk home from school, "Can't you see she is just using you? There are plenty of girls who would love to go out with you just because you're you?" 

"It's okay, Emma, she needs to be at that party. It would look really bad if she weren't there." I tried to appease her. 

"Fine, but when you're done doing her chores and realize she doesn't really like you, I may just not be here to pick up the pieces." Emma called as she turned to go home. 

"She doesn't know what she is talking about." I thought to myself. 

......

The weekend was finally over and I just knew Hannah was going to say yes today. Watching her brother had been awful. He was a pretty terrible little kid, but I had done it and she couldn't say no now. 

"Hey Hannah, how's it going?" I approached her. "Would you like to go to the football game with me this Friday?" 

"Oh shoot, I would but I promised my Dad I would wash my car. Maybe if someone washed it for me I would be free this Friday." Hannah pouted at me. 

"I could wash it tonight. Emma and I were supposed to go to a book reading, but I can reschedule." I beamed at her. 

"Oh would you? Thank you!" Hannah smiled. 

At lunch I told Emma I would have to reschedule going to the book reading with her. 

"I can't believe you," Emma scowled at me, "She is using you. She isn't going to go out with you." 

"You don't know that Ems." I tried to calm her down.

"I do know that and I'm not going to watch another second. Don't come crying to me when she still won't go out with you." Emma ran off.

......

I was exhausted as I approached Hannah the next morning. I had spent hours cleaning her car and making sure everything was perfect and then I had to stay up all night to complete my own homework. 

"Hey Hannah, so we on for Friday?" I asked her.

"Oh Press, I'm sorry, Ty asked me out for Friday this morning. You understand, right? He's the most popular guy in school." Hannah smiled at me, "Maybe we can go out next week. In fact, I have another French paper due next Tuesday, maybe you could come over and write it for me? We could hangout then."

"Yeah, no, I can't believe I thought you actually liked me. You're just using me." I said. I turned to go find Ems. I owed her a huge apology. 

"Ems, hey Ems", I yelled when I saw her across the hall. 

She looked up at me, smirked, and turned to Zach and smiled up at him. Then I noticed they were holding hands. 

What had I done? Emma had warned me she wouldn't be here when I figured out that Hannah was using me and I didn't believe her. Now she was gone. I didn't even know she liked Zach, I thought she just liked me. How could I have been so stupid? 

Trials Of Yamato by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Author's Note:

This story was inspired by the Trials of Yamato in Japanese Mythology, story source:Romance of Old Japan, Part I: Mythology and Legend by E. W. Champney and F. Champney (1917). In the story Yamato is married to a beautiful princess, but he is fickle and leaves her to find a siren. The siren then puts him through a series of trials before he can be with her. Once he completes them all his lovely wife is dead and he can no longer be with her. I opted to put this story in a more modern setting and have Press lose his best friend instead of the wife dying. 

Story: Reign, A New America

Author's Note: 

My story loosely ties aspects of Persian Tales translated from the Kermani and Bakhtiari dialects of the Persian language by David Lorimer and his wife Emily Lorimer into a new story of my own. I took elements from the story of "The Archer", the "Fayiz and the Peri Wife", and "The Story of the Baker and the Grateful Fish". The Persian Tales are full of whimsy and betrayal and my story is meant to reflect these two themes while being able to stand completely on it's own. 

                                                                         Apocalypse
 

"Please, you can't do this. I don't know where my husband is, I told you, he left us years ago." I screamed at the men pointing an exacter at my little girl. 

The truth was, I knew exactly where my husband was but I could not tell these men. They would kill him. After the war people like my husband become a "danger" to society. It wasn't that he was he was crazy or a killer, it was because he was different. The black sheep of the people, so to speak. To some people he was basically a God. He was special, he could think and see things differently than anyone else. It made him dangerous to the new government. They did not care for independent thinkers and had taken great strides to rid the collective of free thought. 

It began at an early age in Reign, the name of the new America, the government regulated the school and taught only the approved material. They used the exacter, a painful device that did not allow anyone to tell lies, and they injected the people with a serum that didn't allow us to feel things the way we should. Love, hurt, joy, and sorrow; they all felt different if you felt them at all. For my husband, it did not work. He experienced everything exactly the way a human should, and as such, he was dangerous. He was able to see the government for the horrible people they are and he was out to stop them. There was a group of others out there who were the same as him and I had to protect them. They were the only way were ever getting out of this hellish place. 

"I will ask you one more time, where is your husband?" The soldier asked as he held my daughter by her arm. "If you don't tell us this time, your little girl will after we exact it out of her."

"You can't, it could kill her." The exacter was a powerful weapon that could be potentially fatal to anyone. My girl had already been subjected to it four times in her little life. What the soldiers did not realize was, she had no idea where her daddy was so they would never be able to gain that truth from her. What they also didn't realize was, I had learned to resist it. While it was still painful, I had learned to keep my truths to myself. My husband stole one once and taught me so that if this day ever came I would be prepared. 

"Just remember, Kora, keep your mind closed and resist the pain. They will be unable to see your thoughts. You cannot tell them who or where I am, ever. If you do, it will be the end of our family and my life." my husband told me as we trained. We knew this day would come. What we didn't know is that they would bring my girl with them. She had been in school for two years, I had been unable to see her except on vey special days. I knew my husband was trying to lead a rebellion, but ever since he had taught me to free my thoughts and my emotions, I had longed for my child. 

"This is your last warning. Where is your husband?"

"I'll tell you. Please just don't hurt my child again." I couldn't resist any longer. Perhaps if it were just me, but not if they were going to kill her. I loved her, I wasn't supposed to but they knew, they knew I had learned to regain my emotions and they were using her against me.

"Please forgive me my love." I thought, "in order to save our child, I must betray you." and then I started talking. 

When I was finished telling them who my husband was and were he could be found they threw my child in front of me and left to find him. I quickly reached for my telephone, an old device that was once used to communicate with each another. Thankfully, this older technology still worked. I anxiously dialed his number and waited while the phone rang. After what seemed like an eternity, I finally heard his voice from the other side say "Hello?" I lost no time warning him "They are coming! They had Rose and I couldn't let them hurt her! You need to run!" 

"I am not going to run, it's time, I am ready to fight. I understand why you had to betray me. I will lead this army and we will rescue the collective." 

Five years later....

Reign would never go back to the way it used to be. My husband had defeated the government with the army of specials he had found. We were slowly returning to a people who had never been subjected to the serum or the exacter. Without the government to annually administer them our emotions had returned. We are able to work and think for ourselves. My husband and I gained land and the ability to grow our food and do as we please with our daughter by our side. 

Story: The Long Road Home

I had always been different but it had never bothered me. I saw things in a way no one else could see them. Once when I was four I decided to jump off my parent's roof and land on the trampoline. I broke my arm. It didn't hurt much and it didn't stop me from doing crazy things. "He just doesn't have a concept of fear", my Mom would say to people. I think it really bothered her that I was different.

Two weeks ago I decided I was going to move. I had been in the same place too long and craved an adventure. My family was not thrilled but since I was now twenty-three they really couldn't stop me. So, I booked my flight. I used the money I had saved up over the years doing odd technical jobs. I was different, but I was really skilled with computers and that made me quite a bit of money. Where was I going? Turkey. I wanted to go somewhere off the beaten path. Where maybe people would not notice that I was a strange.

I stepped off the plane in Turkey and immediately knew this was where I belonged. I felt the most overwhelming sense of being home. I gathered my luggage and made my way to a taxi so that I might be transported to a hotel where I would stay until I found a job and new place to live. It was in that moment I saw the most gorgeous girl I had ever seen. I went over to speak with her (one of the many benefits of feeling no fear, no hesitation in doing something completely stupid), "Hello, my name is Ryan and I would like to take you on a date tomorrow".

"Ryan, it is nice to meet you, but I must decline. You see my father is very strict and would not allow me to go on a date with a stranger." she replied.
"Perhaps if he got to know me?" Ryan countered.
"You may find him in Calliegh, at the chapel. There you may ask him."

The Chapel

So it was here that I began my journey. Calliegh was on the other side of the country and it would take a long while to arrive there as I had to drive. I went to rent a car and started on my way.

My travels across the country took me to many strange places. My car broke down on the side of the road and I encountered a man who claimed to be a wizard and attempted to help me. He wasn't much help, but at least he was funny.

I stopped at an old inn that was run by an old woman and her lovely daughter. They provided with great traveling snacks in exchange for doing a little handy work on their computers. They were in desperate need of an upgrade and I helped as best I could. The daughter was waiting anxiously for a man to come along and help make their lives better. I hoped it would happen for them.

At one point in my journey I rescued a crow from a terrible man who wanted to clip his wings. I showed up just in time to save him and gave the man a sound beating in the process.

Finally, after forty days of travel and delays I arrived in Calliegh. I searched for the chapel and upon finding entered and sat in the back row wondering what I should do now.

I was then approached by a man about fifty years of age with wise eyes, "My daughter told you were coming. I didn't believe her. But then, I do not have the 'sight' like my wife. She claimed you were only a little delayed but assured her she could still see you on your path to her."

"I am Ryan, and I have traveled very far to ask if I may take your daughter on a date. I do hope you will do me the honors of blessing me with her."

"Yes, yes, I believe you have earned it. My wife says your journey was long and hard with many bumps on the way. Yet you stayed true to heart and made your way to her. Go to her with my blessing."

I turned around and she was standing at the door. I walked to her, "I am Tirzah and I would be honored to go out with you. I cannot believe how far you have come just for me."

And so it was they began their relationship and after forty years together they are still so very happy.

Author's Note:

I wanted to write a comprehensive story that incorporated many different aspects of Turkish Fairy Tales from Ignacz Kunos. I chose the story of the boy searching for fear but being unable to find it because he was scared of nothing. I also used different character's from each story: the wizard, the crow, and the seer. I didn't use the specifics of each character but wanted them to have a showing. While forty days may seem like a long time to cross a country in a car, this was a significant number in all of the fairytales and I wanted to make sure I gave a nod to that fact. Also, every story ended with a "Happily Ever After", and a man getting a beautiful wife so I chose that as well. 

Story: Love You Most

"Mom? MOOOOOOOOOOOM! I had the nightmare again!" Arie cried.

Elaine rushed into her precious girl's room, "Honey, you're here, in your bed. You're completely safe. Daddy and I are not going to let anyone take you away." For years her child had horrible dreams of being kidnapped and then ransomed or sold for money. It was the strangest thing, she had never experienced anything but love in her whole little life. 

"Mom, can you stay with me? Just until I fall back asleep." Arie pleaded with her mother. "Please, tell me the story. You know, the one of you and daddy."

Elaine shakes her head. Her daughter has always had a dreaming spirit and she romanticizes everything, especially the story of her parents marriage. Such a dreamy eyed girl, Elaine couldn't deny her anything.

"You must lay down and close your eyes, then I will tell you." She says.

Arie lies back with a blissful smile on her face anxiously waiting for her mother to begin.

.....

Elaine was out running errands and not paying attention to what was happening around her. She had her nose in her book and ran she ran smack into the most gorgeous blue eyes she had ever seen. 

"Oh my gods, I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying attention and I just..." Elaine stuttered. 

"That's quite alright. You are welcome to run into me anytime." The pair of blue eyes responded. 

Elaine blushed deeply and looked down at her feet. It was then she noticed, "Ugh, I spilled your coffee all over you. I am such a klutz".

"You can you make it up to me by having another cup with me? My name is Ian, and you are?" 

"Elaine, and I would love to go get coffee with you but I'm afraid I must rush. I have a music lesson at two and it's already one-thirty." Elaine replied "Here take my number. Perhaps we could try again?" 

Ian was struck. He had never seen a woman so lovely and he could hardly wait to give her a call. Actually, he couldn't wait. He picked up is phone as he watched her walk away,.
"Hello?"

"Would you like to get coffee with me tomorrow morning?" He asked 

Elaine giggled, "I would love to, ten at the Brew? See you there"

Coffee Date

 From that moment on they were inseparable. They did everything together and became annoyingly adorable. They began planning a future and wondering how many children they would have. However, there was one thing that bothered Elaine, Ian had never introduced her to his family. 

She began to wonder if something was wrong with her, "Ian, why have I not met your family? Is it me? Will they not like me?"

Ian shook his head. How could he tell his beautiful, perfect girl that his mother was a tyrant who believed no one would ever be good enough for him? 

After much debate and some tears, Ian finally caved and took Elaine to meet his mother and her two sisters. 

And It. Was. Terrible. 

Minerva, Ian's mother, was insufferable. She hated Elaine and would say terrible things about her, to her face and behind her back. "Honey, I would love for you to wear my wedding dress in the upcoming wedding, but I'm afraid it won't fit." 

"You know my Ian prefers his women blonde. You might want to consider a dye job. That stringy brown is really not that attractive."

The aunts felt terrible for Elaine, but could not step in. Minerva was a terrible person but a great sister and they owed her their loyalty. They simply said nothing and watched the poor girl suffer in silence. 

Elaine tried for weeks to bring Ian's mother around. She would run her errands, call for her opinion on the wedding, and check on her daily to make sure she didn't need anything. Nothing worked and Elaine felt very down. 

Finally, the wedding was here! Elaine could not hide her excitement but she was also very apprehensive. She was going to spend her life with a mother-in-law who hated her. 

The night of the wedding she called Ian in tears,
 "I can't, we can't do this. Your mother is never going to come around, and I just can't deal with it anymore." 

Ian immediately got in the car and drove to Elaine. She opened the door in surprise, "What are you..."

"Elaine" he said, "You are my life, my future, and my everything. I never want to spend another day without you. You're my family now and it does not matter what my mother says. I love you most, nothing will change that." 

Elaine fell into his arms in tears and even though it was bad luck, they stayed up all night laughing, talking, and holding each other. The dawn crept in and Ian left to get ready for the big day. 

It was perfect. Everything Elaine had ever dreamed, except for one problem. "You're wearing white? Are you sure that is wise?" Minerva would not leave her alone.

Once it was time go for the honeymoon and they were saying their goodbye, "You can still back out, you haven't filed the license" Minerva told her son. 

"MINERVA ENOUGH" Minerva jumped at the sound of her Dad's voice. "These wonderful young people have decided to spend their life together and from what I can see they are a delightful match. You'll not say another word about Elaine or this marriage. Understood?"

Minerva quivered, "Yes, yes father" for there was no one she feared on this earth except for her father. 

The young newly weds flew off into the sunset and started a beautiful little family and welcomed a baby girl two years later who they named Arabella, Arie for short. It was a dream come true. 

"Arie? Arriieee" Elaine quietly called. 

Then she smiled as she slipped out of the room. Perhaps Arie was right, she really did live a lovely, dreamy life.

Author's Note: 

This story is loosely based on the love story of Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche by Terry Kline. In the story a young girl is kidnapped for ransom and an old woman attempts to calm her by telling her love story of Cupid and Psyche. Psyche is the most beautiful woman and Venus, Cupid's mom, is jealous that she is taking away from her. She wants Cupid to curse her, but instead they fall in love. Venus becomes very angry when she finds out and forced Psyche to perform impossible tasks. Finally in the end, Jupiter blesses their union and Venus is forced to accept what has happened. I wanted to play on the tyrant mother aspect while still using the fairy tale ending. 

Story: A New Family Champion

"Achilles, get your butt down here, it's time to leave and we cannot be late again this year."  Thetis yells up the staircase at her son.

It was that time of year again, the time for the dreaded family reunion. Achilles was grudgingly getting ready to join his extended family for a lunch and then games after. His mother, Thetis, was urging him to hurry or they would be late, "And you know how your grandfather Zeus hates late comers."

He knew, he just didn't care. The only highlight of this stupid day would be getting to see his Patroclus. Patroclus, his younger cousin, was actually the one person he really cared about in his life, other than his mother.

After his mother and Patroclus, Achilles cared about spears and horses. He loved learning new tricks with his spear and practicing throwing them into the large target they had in the yard. He was incredibly good. In fact, no one could beat him except perhaps his cousin Hector.

Time to go

After arriving at the reunion the necessary rounds were made to say hello to all the relatives.

Thetis and Zeus seemed very upset about the newest addition to the family, Helen. Her arrival and marriage to Hector's brother, Paris, had caused quit the family scandal. Achilles really did not care, he just thought of Paris as a stupid, weak boy and he could not understand how he managed to attract such a pretty woman.

It took only a moment for Achilles to spot Patroclus and then he took off running to hug his cousin and go practice spear throwing for the competition later that day.

"How have you been", he asked Patroclus.
"I suppose okay. I've really practicing my throws. I think I can finally take Hector." he replied.
"Don't be stupid, Pat. We both know I'm the only one in the family who could possibly beat him. You really shouldn't try just yet. Maybe next year, when you're a little older."

Patroclus slinked off angry that Achilles did not believe in him. "I wish he would have a little more faith in me" he thought. "I have been working so hard to improve on my accuracy. He might even be surprised."

Finally, lunch was over and it was time for the games to begin.

As usual Uncle Priam was in prime condition, drunk and bragging about his amazing boys: "Paris has managed to capture the prettiest wife in the country and Hector can never be beat when it comes to spear play."
His sister Thetis just roles her eyes as his daughter in law, Andromache (wife of Hector), tries to calm their new born baby.

Achilles just seethed quietly after listening to his uncle. He would prove him wrong, this was the year he was finally going to beat Hector and show his grandfather and uncle that he was the best in the family.

The spear competition began, Patroclus, much to Achilles dismay, insisted on trying to win this year. He knew that Hector and Paris would crush his spirits once they beat him. They could be very cruel to the boy, calling him terrible names and breaking his spears in half when he lost.

As expected, Patroclus lost to Hector in the first round and rushed off to be on his own while Paris laughed and called after him about what a little baby he was and how he would never be able to defeat Hector.

A seething Achilles took the stage. There were three rounds, Achilles would have to fight Hector with his spear until someone drew blood, then they would throw it at the targets twice. Whoever won two out of three would be the family champion that year in the Trojan Games. The greatest honor given to young men of their time.

The fight was intense, Hector had the advantage several times, but finally it was Achilles who drew first blood in the shoulder.

Now to throw the spears, Hector won  he first toss. "Dammit, he's accurate. It's like he never wavers or gets frustrated." Achilles thought to himself, "I just have to stay calm and breathe through the throw. No big deal. I do this everyday."

He drew back and the released, dead center. Achilles had finally beat his older cousin. It had only taken him five years. For the first time in eight years, there would be a new family champion and his name was Achilles!

                                                         The New Champion: Achilles

Paris was beside himself, he had reaped many benefits of his brother being champion, he even tried to rush Achilles with own spear. Grandfather called out, "ENOUGH, the competition was fair and I am proud to present our new champion, my grandson, Achilles."

Priam quickly gathered his boys and their wives and stormed out of the arena, he had never dreamed his sister's bastard boy would be able to take the crown from his own son. Better breeding, Hector should never have lost.

Achilles went off to find Patroclus and proclaim the great news, "I have finally done it, and now that I champion, they will not pick on you every again. Come out now, they are gone and we must celebrate."

And so it was a new family tradition began, one of the champion Achilles for he could never be beaten.

Author's Note:

This story was loosely based on the The Iliad Retold by Alfred J. Church. This retelling of the famous Epic poem was an incredible read and really brought the many family ties that are incorporated into the story of Achilles and the defeat of the Trojans. Which is what inspired me to write a story of a family reunion. The real story of the Iliad is two nations pitted against each other because Paris of Troy has stolen away the "Face that launched a thousand ships", Helen. The countries fight for many years and Priam, king of Troy, strongly believes in his son Hector to save them. In the end Achilles, champion of Greece, kills him after becoming angry over the death of his beloved cousin, Patroclus. It was these themes that I decided to incorporate into a story of my own. 

Story: The Lonely Unicorn Finds the Perfect Friend

The lion and the unicorn 

Were fighting for the crown 

The lion beat the unicorn 

All around the town. 

Some gave them white bread, 

And some gave them brown; 

Some gave them plum cake 

and sent them out of town 

In the kingdom of Fiery Briar there lived a lonely unicorn, Gemma. Gemma had always longed to have a friend, but because she was last of unicorn in Fiery Briar the other animals treated her as a queen instead of a friend. Many of the other animals were scared of her, because of her horn and her queenly state.  

The Last Unicorn

All Gemma truly wanted was someone to talk to and enjoy eating delicious food as friends. So it was that she decided she would go on a journey to a far away land in the hopes of finding a friend.  

Some gave them white bread, 

And some gave them brown; 

Some gave them plum cake 

and sent them out of town 

Gemma began her travels and journeyed to the country of Peonia where she met a lovely bird who was singing in a tree. 

 She said to the bird, "Would you like to be my friend and try delicious foods with me?"  

The bird looked at Gemma and thought, "This is a very funny looking horse and I'm afraid she will impale me with that silly thing on her head. I do not wish to be her friend." So he responded to Gemma abruptly, "NO, I cannot be your friend, for I have too many friends of my own. There is no time for you."  

Gemma slowly walked away, trying not to cry. She traveled far and wide in search a great friend, but try as she might, no one wanted to be friends with her. They all found her too beautiful or too scary because of the horn on her head. No one could understand that being a queen and the last of her kind was lonely and she needed someone to talk with.  

The Sad Lion

Finally, the wonderful, lonely unicorn traveled to the desert land of Rory. It was here she said to herself, "If I cannot friend in this waste land, then I shall never have a friend. This land seems like the saddest place in the world." 

She did not know just how right she was, for in the land of Rory there lived a lonely king lion. Everyone was afraid of KB, the kingly lion, because he was big and ferocious with large claws. No one understood that he simply wanted to be loved.  

While on his daily walk of the desert KB found Gemma wandering the wasteland crying. He asked her, "Girl, why are you crying? One who is so beautiful should not be so sad." 

Gemma looked up at the lion in amazement, no one had ever asked her what was wrong or called her beautiful. They were all too scared to talk with her.  

She said the lion, " I am sad because I am lonely. I have traveled very far in search of a friend to talk with and enjoy meals together."  

KB looked at her and said, "I want to be your friend. Let us live in the kingdom together and talk, laugh, and eat."  

For the first time in many years, Gemma smiled. She smiled down at KB, the lion, because to her he was not scary, he was magnificent, and she desperately wanted to be his friend.  

As so it was, from that point forward Gemma and KB were inseparable. They spent the rest their days walking their kingdoms, talking and trying new kinds of delicious foods.  

The lion and the unicorn 

Were fighting for the crown 

The lion beat the unicorn 

All around the town. 

Some gave them white bread, 

And some gave them brown; 

Some gave them plum cake 

and sent them out of town 

Very Best of Friends

Authors Note: The original rhyme is a simple story of a lion and unicorn who were fighting for a crown and then after eating appeared to be tossed out the town they were fighting to control. I chose to portray the two magnificent creatures as searching for friends and finding each other instead of fighting for a crown. The value of friendship is something very important. This story reminds me of the Greek mythology story Damon and Pythias. Pythias is released by Dionysius to take care of some affairs, on the promise that he will return and face execution because if he did not Damon would be killed instead. When Pythias returns Dionysius is amazed at the bond of friendship and lets them both go free. 

Bibliography: This story is based on the nursery rhyme "The Lion and the Unicorn" in The Nursery Rhyme Book, edited by Andrew Lang.