Storytelling Week 12: A Transformation

There once was a little boy named Sam who always felt different. He felt as if something about himself was not right. Like his body and his mind were not one. Since a very young age Sam would tell his parents he wishes he was a girl. For the longest time his parents did not take his request seriously, until one day when Sam brought up hormone injections. His parents were surprised that he even knew what that was. After that his parents knew that Sam truly despised being a boy and was miserable. That is when they agreed to put Sam on hormone injections and start his process of transforming into a girl. 

After several years of hormone replacement therapy, medication, and surgeries Sam became Sarah. At the age of 20 Sarah had fully transformed and now felt one with herself. Sarah decided she wanted a fresh start so she transferred from OSU to OU starting her Junior year. She was excited but nervous. She did not know if she was going to tell people about her journey or just keep it a secret. Regardless, Sarah was destined for great things.

The semester was going by fairly quickly when Sarah met Brad. Brad was a junior Business major. Brad had met Sarah at an event on campus, and they really hit it off. Sarah and Brad started spending more and more time together. They went to the movies in Mechium together every Friday night, did homework together at The Bizz, and texted each other every minute they were apart. Sarah really started to fall for Brad, but she was afraid he would not accept her if he knew the truth about her. Brad also started to really fall for Sarah. Brad was not the type of person to let his guard down, but he did for Sarah. However, their strong relationship got rocky when the truth came out.

Sarah finally decided to tell Brad, he deserved to know the truth about her. It was the night of their 5-month anniversary. They were going out for dinner, dancing, and then lay out to watch the moon. The night was winding to an end and while Sarah and Brad laid there admiring the moon and the stars, Sarah turned to Brad and whispered, “I am not who you think I am." Brad immediately looked at her. She had tears in her eyes and he felt her heart beating as loud as a drum. He tried to comfort her but she continued. She told him everything from since when she was a little boy to all the surgeries she went through. Brad was shocked.

Sarah and Brad both Heartbroken

(Source: Pixabay)

He had let his guard down for her, and he felt that she had lied to him. In the moment, Brad thought that he could not possibly be with someone who was born as a male. Brad had felt that he had just gotten shot with a million arrows to his heart. He was broken and just left Sarah there. For the next few weeks they did not speak or make any contact. Then one night Brad texted Sarah and asked her if he could see her. Sarah agreed. 

When they met up, Brad explained that he might have over reacted but he just had never even met anyone who was transgender and did not know what to do in the situation. For the rest of the night Brad made an effort to get to know Sarah and understand her journey. Sarah was open and vulnerable. That night set the tone for the next few years of their life.

The summer after their graduation, Brad and Sarah got married and lived happily ever after. 

Happily Ever After

(Source: Pixabay)

Authors Note:

In the original story, there was a man named Shikhandin who was born female. He was destined to be bring Bishma to his death. Bishma would not fight a woman so he lowered his guard when he met Shikhandin on the battle field. When Bishma did not expect it the Pandava Brothers shot him full of arrows. I took this bit of the story and created my own. I made Shikhandin Sam who turned into Sarah. And I made Bishma into Brad. I incorporated the arrows by figuratively showing that Brad got shot with arrows. I made it into a love story but also a story about learning and understanding and accepting people for who they are. Bishma in the real story would not accept Shikhandin as a man. In my story, I made sure Brad would come to understand Sarah. I gave it happy ending because I hate sad endings. 

Bibliography:

This story is based on Wilson. Indian Books. The Five Tall Sons of Pandu. Reading Guide Part A & B. 

Reading Notes: Wilson. The Five Tall Sons of Pandu Part B

I chose to focus on a different aspect of this story. I chose to focus on how Bishma would not fight  Shikhandin, because he was born a woman and transformed into a man. This actually shows a lot about Bishma's personality. First that Bishma refuses to hit a woman, but also that Bishma is not willing to accept the new identity of Shikhandin. I think for my story I could actually talk about someone who is Transgender and the struggles they go through of not being accepted as there new gender. I could incorporate someone who would be Bishma who does not accept the transgender person, but in the end learns to understand the LGBTQ community and starts to understand things. I am excited for this story because it will be a good lesson to learn for others. I would also try to incorporate the bed of arrows some how, because I love that scene in the actual story.

Bishma and the Bed of Arrows

(Source: iereadingguides)

Bibliography:

 Wilson. The Five Tall Sons of Pandu. Reading Guide Part B.

Reading Notes: Wilson. The Five Tall Sons of Pandu Part A

I really enjoyed reading about the Pandava Brothers. There story is one of my favorites to focus on. While reading through the reading guide, I was thinking of a different way to tell this story. I did not want to write about the Pandava brothers again, but instead tell it in a different way. Maybe change the plot? I decided I wanted to focus on one aspect of the story. I chose to stick with the Exile and End of Exile part of the story. I have noticed a trend in these stories. Someone always gets exiled for one reason or another. I was thinking for my story I would have five brothers maybe get kicked out of the house at a young age. This would be related to exile. I also like that the end of their exile ends happy. They are ready to reclaim their kingdom, instead of being in exile the whole time. I am thinking that maybe later in the story claiming their kingdom could be either becoming completely independent from everyone and becoming successful. Or, it could be going back home to their parents and being reunited. I am leaning on the independent one more, but this could switch. I also want to add an antagonist in this, and I am thinking that I would make the antagonist either just like the forces of the earth, or have the brothers parents play a big role in the antagonist. I am excited to see where this story goes.

The Pandava Brothers

(Source: OU Blog)

Bibliography:

Wilson. The Five Tall Sons of Pandu. Reading Guide Part A.