Famous Last Words: Surviving April

As April approaches, I am a little nervous. There is so much to do in such little time. I really wanted to finish this class at the end of April instead of dead week because that will allow me more opportunities to study for my other courses. However, with the limited time that I have, it is hard for to get ahead. I think I am just going to try to dedicate this weekend to getting a bit ahead in this course. So far I think I have been doing a pretty good job. I like the stories I have come up with, some of them really surprise me on how good they end up becoming, not to sound conceited or anything. Other I know I can use a little work on. I think what helps me is picking a few specific details to focus on when I am reading a story, and writing it in my notes. That way I can look back at those notes and make a story from what I have written down and the details I chose to focus on. Other than this class, school is stressful, especially since I am taking so many hours to graduate! I am excited because there is basically like a month left of school before I do graduate and that is nerve wrecking but very exciting. It is said that I did not get to take senior pics or anything, but I just do not have time at this moment. I am going to graduate school here in the fall, so I think that is when I will have my big break! I hope to just balance school and work and everything as I have been doing. I know it will be hard to do in April, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

(Source: StaticFlickr)

Week 10 Storytelling: A Love To Confess

Once a upon time there were two families who lived next to each other. The Randolph's had a little girl name Ellie Grace Randolph. The Pierce's had a little boy named Damien Joshua Pierce. Ellie and Damien were five years old when they first met. As the years past, their friendship got stronger. However, it was not until Freshmen year of high school when they both realized that what they felt for each other was a more than just love for their friendship.

It was first semester of Freshmen year and Ellie and Damien were hanging out with some friends on a Friday night. Usually their friend group would just watch movies, play board games, or go out for some desert. However, this night things were a little different. While they were just sitting around waiting for their pizza to get there, one of their friends suggested a new game. She said that it would be fun to try spin the bottle. She was met with weird stares and an awkward silence. After a few minutes of convincing, the group finally agreed. I mean what could go wrong right? 

As they game began, everyone agreed that they would not let this affect their friendships whatsoever. The night was going fine and everyone was having fun, until the bottle was pointing to Ellie. As Ellie looked at who was on the other side, she saw the sweet face she loved and admired, Damien. The room went quiet, and everyone waited impatiently for their kiss. Ellie was nervous but calmed herself down thinking, "he is my best friend, this is just a friendly kiss, this does not mean anything." As they leaned in they both felt a feeling overcome their body. The kiss was truly magical. In that moment, they were alone, they were each other's, and they felt love. When the kiss ended, the game continued and the night went on like normal. However, it was not normal. Not for Ellie and Damien at least.

The next few weeks Damien found himself writing love letters to Ellie. He never gave them to her, but he wrote them every night. Ellie caught herself getting lost in daydreams about Damien. She would doodle his name on her papers, notebook, and anything she could get her hands on. However, she never told him either. Damien caught himself getting jealous when he would see Ellie hugging another guy. Ellie would try not to care when she saw Damien chatting up other girls in class. They both felt so much for each other, but were scared that the other did not feel the same. They did not want to risk losing one another over some crush they had on each other.

Weeks, months, and even years went by and they did not confess their love for each other. Throughout high school they dated other people, but were both jealous of one another. They acted the same regardless of how much they felt, and before they knew it, graduation had come. Ellie was going to stay in their hometown and go to a college nearby. However, Damien had gotten accepted to a school out of state, and was planning on going there. Ellie had decided that on graduation night she was going to tell him how she felt. However, when time came, she looked at Damien’s sweet face. She admired it and did not want him to change his mind about leaving because of her, so she kept quiet. Damien had also planned to confess his love to Ellie, but he could not get himself to do so, in fear of rejection.

The summer quickly passed, and Damien left for college. They both got busy with other people, school, and commitments in their life. They talked on the phone every now and then, but things were different now. They both wish that they would of said something to the other, but it was too late…or was it?

Damien came home for Christmas and his whole family was so happy to see him. Ellie was patiently awaiting his arrival for several months now. It was Christmas dinner at the Pierce’s and Ellie and her family got ready to head over. When they got to the Pierces’ home they were greeted at the door by Damien. Ellie was the last one to see him. For several moments, they just stood there getting lost into each other’s eyes, until they were interrupted by loud laughter and chant. “Kiss, Kiss, Kiss.” Said everyone. Damien and Ellie looked up and saw the mistletoe. Once again, the moment had come for them to share something magical. As their lips met, they felt they were alone, each other’s, and loved. Everyone continued on the night like normal, but it was not normal for them two.

After dinner, Ellie and Damien for a walk. As they talked about their lives and caught one another up on everything, they seemed to grow quiet. Standing there in the middle of the street, on a cold winter night, hugging each other close for warmth, and as they the little snowflakes fell around them, they shared another kiss. Then at the same time, the confessed their love for each other, and muttered the words, “I love you.”

That is the moment they know that they could not leave each other’s side again. Damien did not go back to college out of state after that winter. He stated in town with his beautiful girlfriend Ellie and attended college with her. A few years past and they got Married their senior year of college. It was truly a love to confess.

Ellie and Damien. Happily Ever After

(Source: MaxPixel)

Bibliography:

This story is based on More Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt. Reading Part A & B.

Author's Note:

This story is based on the tale The Elephant and the Dog. In the tale the Elephant and the Dog became best friends. They did everything together. They slept together, ate together, and played together. One day a farmer spotted the dog and asked the Elephant keeper if he could buy the dog off of him. The Elephant keep sold the dog to the farmer. When the dog left, the Elephant would not eat, bathe, or do anything for that matter. When the chief came to inspect what is wrong with the Elephant, they realized that Elephant was lonely and sad cause his friend the Dog had left. The king ordered the dog to be returned. When the dog returned they were inseparable from that day on. I decided to take this story into human form, and have two best friends fall for each other, but not confess their love. Until one day one of the best friends leaves and when he returns from college they confess their love and they are inseparable from that day forward.

Reading Notes: More Jataka Tales Part B

The first story I chose to read is called "Beauty and Brownie." It was actually pretty depressing. The two deer had to lead their herd to safety and one did while the other did not. By the end of the story Beauty's herd came back all in one piece, while Brownie had only a few deer left in his herd. From this story what I got was listening skills. Brownie did not listen well to his father therefore faced severe consequences. I can write a story in which there are two competitors on a team. One does listen to his coach while the other does not. In the end, it is the one who does listen that takes the win.

The next story I chose to read is called "The Elephant and the Dog." This story was a lot better than the last, in the sense of that it had a happy ending. The Elephant and the Dog became best friends, but once the dog was taken away the Elephant did not want to eat or do anything without his friend. Finally the dog came back and they were inseparable. For this story I was thinking of having two people grow up together as best friends but never confess their love for one another. Finally, one would leave for college, and the other would be depressed. Then one day when the other came back they would finally confess their love, and be inseparable. I think a cute romantic story would fit the plot line of this really well.

The Elephant and His Friend The Dog 

(Source: Main Lesson)

Bibliography: More Jakta Tales By Ellen C. Babbitt. Reading Part B.

Reading Notes: More Jataka Tales Part A

From these tales I chose to read "The Three Fishes." This was such a cute story. Each fish had their own name, and the Very-Thoughtful fish is the one who found a clever way to let the fishermen let his brothers go. Then they went back and lived happily every after. I like stories with happy endings. I think for my story instead of fish I will use humans. It would be three brothers, each with their own personality. They would get in some sort of trouble and the wise brother would get them out.

The Fishermen and the Three Fish

(Source: MainLesson)

The other story I chose to focus on is called "The Cunning Wolf." The man tried to play a trick on the Wolf by pretending he was dead, but the Wolf was too smart for his tricks and caught on. In the end, it was the Wolf who outsmarted the man. For my story idea I am thinking of doing the same thing but again in human form. Someone could play a trick on a child thinking the child is dumb and naive but in the end the child will end up playing the trick on the person. It would be very interesting to see how this story plays out.

Bibliography: More Jataka Tales by  Ellen C. Babitt. Reading Part A