Storytelling: Week 14: Dragon Castle Club

My name is Annabelle and I am a princess. I know you think its all glitz and glam, but I am the youngest of my twelve sisters, so I have to do whatever they tell me. I am the quietest out of the group. I really like to read and I spend a lot of time on the spinning wheel. My sisters love to dance, but I am not the partying type, also daddy doesn't let us leave the castle at night.
The past couple of weeks my sisters have been sneaking out (and dragging me along) to go to this new Dragon Castle Club. Its super exclusive and in an underground castle. We meet up with the the twelve princes from the other kingdoms and they row us across the lake to get to it. I think daddy is on to us because each night we dance so much we get holes in our slippers so we need a new pair every single day.
Our father set out an announcement to everyone that says whoever finds out where we go they will get to marry one of us. I really don't want to get caught and married to some troll or something gross like that. I asked my sisters if we could stop going dancing, but they all started yelling at me.
Overtime some strange man came to the castle we assume they are trying to catch us, so before bed we make them a special tea that knocks them out cold until morning. My sisters are crazy, but they are also super cleaver. There have been like four princes that have come to stay with us and each time they sleep though the whole night and can't hear us sneaking out.
Lately there has been this soldier who seems pretty sure of himself, but he has no idea. We gave him the tea and made sure he was out before we put our dresses on and left the castle, but something strange happened. I was walking down the stairs and I felt something tug on my dress. I was sure it was a hand or someone grabbing me because thats what it felt like, but my sisters dismissed it as me catching my dress on the railing.
We started walking into the forest and i heard a strange sound I had never heard before, like a snapping twig, but it came from behind us. I thought it was a bear or wolf, but once again my sisters dismissed it as me being paranoid. I am just always so nervous.
When we got to the boats the princes were waiting for us. The prince my sisters set me up with is attractive, but not very bright. He probably hasn't opened a book in his life. He is a pretty good dancer though. When we got on the boat he said it seemed heavier and harder to row, and I know that I two deserts last night, but I didn't think it was that noticeable. I didn't want him to think I was fat so I just said I think the wind is stronger than normal, and his simple mind agreed with me.
We danced all night and then came home to that sleeping soldier still in his room, snoring louder than ever. I thought it would keep me up, but I was so tired I fell right to sleep.

Twelve Dancing Princesses 

The next day we all woke up and went downstairs for breakfast, but something was off because the soldier was still there! He actually stayed for three more nights.
On the third morning when we went downstairs the soldier was standing right by daddy, and daddy looked so mad. The soldier on the other hand looked super giddy. At that moment I knew we had been caught and my heart sank to my stomach.
Daddy didn't say anything to us he just looked at the soldier and said "Pick one," like we were sheep at the market. I was so mad, but then again we had been disobedient. Luckily he didn't pick me, he picked my oldest sister, who didn't really seem to mind marrying a stranger.
The rest of us got grounded for a whole month. I honestly didn't mind because I finally got to catch up on my reading and my sleep.

Authors Notes: This story comes from the Brothers Grimm's story "The Twelve Dancing Princesses." This story follows the same theme as the other one, but I wanted to tell it in the youngest sisters perspective. In the Grimm's version the youngest one is questioning everything around her when they sneak out. All of the noises she hears is the soldier. He was able to get a hold of an invisible cloak and follow the sisters to the place where they dance, which is an underground castle, so I thought it would funny to name is Dragon Castle Club.

Storytelling: Week 13: Dear Abby

This is a entry from the column "Dear Abby" in the Crane Daily Newspaper. 

Dear Abby, 

My name is Ashenputtel and I am having some family problems. First off my name isn't even Ashenputtel, that's just what my step-family calls me because they make me do all the maids work in the house so I am always dirty and am covered in ashes. But lets reside for a littlest and start from the very beginning, the best times of my life. 

I was born into the most wonderful family with a loving mother and father. We lived in a beautiful big house and my father loved to spoil me and my mother with presents, even though we told him that his love and protection was enough. I always asked for books, so me and mother could read them together. My mother taught me everything and I loved her so much, but she got sick. She was very sick and near to death and I remember the last words she spoke to me, "Be pious and good, and God will always take care of you and I will look down upon you from heaven and be with you." 

After a while my father married another woman, who had two awful daughters. Like I said before they make me do all the maids work, and they don't treat me like I was a human. They even make me sleep on the floor. 

My father often went to the market and he liked to bring gifts back to all of us. When he asked what we wanted my step-sisters always asked for jewelry, but all I wanted was a seed. I wanted the seed so I could plant a tree next to my mothers grave. In no time there was a beautiful big tree that I would often sit under and read, like me and my mother used to do together. 

Ashenputtel by The Brothers Grimm

One day I thought all my bad luck would change, when we got invitations to go to the princes ball. I thought I was finally going to have a fun night, but my step mother mad me do outrageous and somewhat impossible chores before I could go. With the help of some friends I was able to finish all the chores, but my step-mother told me I still couldn't go. She told me I wouldn't be allowed to get in because I didn't have nice enough clothing and she ripped up the dress I worked months on making. 

I ran crying to my mothers grave and sat under the tree, when suddenly it seemed like dust or pollen or something falling from the tree. Next thing I knew I was in the most extravagant dress and slippers of silk and silver. 

You wouldn't believe it, but when I arrived the prince came directly up to me and we started dancing. He stayed with me all night and asked to come see where I lived, but I was able to get away before he could follow me. I also made it home before my entire family. 

I was able to go to the ball the next two night and every night the prince danced with me and it was amazing, but I couldn't let him know who I really was or he wouldn't want to marry me. The third day  I lost my silver slipper. I think he made the stairs sticky so he would be able to find me from my shoe. He was going around the whole town having girls try on this slipper to see if it fits them. When my step-sisters and stop-mom heard this they immediately locked me in a closet, because I think they had suspicions I was the mystery girl from the ball. I am writing from the closet right now and hopefully will get out soon. 

The prince and all his servants just arrived to our house and I can hear my sisters squealing and screaming. They all just came into this room and I heard my step-mother tell her daughters to cut off her toes to fir into the shoe. It didn't seem like there was any hesitation, because I heard a little scream of pain and then they all went down stairs. I have no idea what to do right now. I am going to give this to my animal friends to give to you. Please write back as soon as you can with advice. 

Thank you Abby. 

Authors Notes: The story Ashenputtel from the Brothers Grimm, is the story that Cinderella came from, which I am sure you all figured out. There are some differences than Disney's version. The tree that was planted by her mothers grave is like Cinderella's fairy god mother. There were 3 days of this festival and the prince did make the stairs sticky so she would lose her shoe. Of course Disney wouldn't put in that her step sister cut off their toes and heel to be able to fit into the shoe, because it is a little dark, but pretty interesting. 

At the end of the story she gets out of the closet and the prince finds her and the shoe fits perfectly. **gasp** They get married and live happily ever after. 

Storytelling: Week 12: Had A Great Fall

Alice and Humpty Dumpty sat on the edge of the wall and talked all afternoon. They talked about what Alice was going to do when she became queen and how she wasn't going to act like the Red or White Queen. Humpty was very fond of the royal family so he didn't like Alice talking so poorly about them.
"The royal family has taken care of me and my kind every since the beginning of Wonderland. They understand that us egg folk are very fragile and have always promised to send ALL the kings horses and ALL the kings men if we ever do crack or break," said Humpty.

"I understand they try to help, but what if you fall and break and ALL the kings horses and ALL the kings men are unable to put you back together again?" said Alice, knowing about the nursery rhyme.

Humpty was very angry when Alice said this, he stood up, on the very thin wall and was now about eye level with her. He gave her a mean look and started yelling,
"THAT IS PREPOSTEROUS! Do not ever doubt the kings horses and men, there is no doubt they will be able to put me back together again!"

"Please sit down, Humpty. You are losing your balance and I don't want to find out today if they can or not," said Alice.

"WELL I DO!" shouted Humpty as he jumped off the wall, right onto his head. He shattered, but was still alive. He told Alice to call for the kings horses and men, but before she could even open her mouth she saw a stampede of people coming towards them. They gathered up all of Humpty Dumpty's parts and and put them in a wheel barrow. They hurried back to the castle and Alice followed.

Illustration by Prawny Vintage 

When she got there ALL the kings men were in one room with Humpty's parts all played out on a table. They were all just looking at him like it was the hardest puzzle they have ever seen. Alice saw the confused looks on their faces so she tried to figure out how to put him back together in her head. She figured it out, but waited to see if the kings men could also. She sat and she waited for hour and hours, but nobody moved a muscle. Finally one of the men said in defeat "Even though we have ALL the kings horses and ALL the kings men, I think we are unable to put him back together again."
Alice prompts pushed all the men aside and in minutes fixed Humpty and he was so happy. He hugged Alice and told he was sorry about doubting her.

Storytelling Week 11: The Day I Grew... and Shrank.

I had a very curious day the other day, but it started out like any other. I woke up and started getting ready for the day. I went into the kitchen to get some breakfast and I saw that my roommate made some muffins. They were banana blueberry, which are my favorite. There was a little sign next to them that said "eat me," which I thought was a cute, silly way for me to know that my roommate made them for everyone. I took a huge bite and suddenly started shrinking. It felt like i was falling so I closed my eyes, but when I opened them I was standing next to my muffin on the counter about five inches tall.
I obviously started freaking out, looking around in disbelief. I then fell into the sink down the drain, knowing that the blades from the garbage disposal were gunna catch my fall and that would be the end of me, but they didn't. I just kept falling down and down. The fall seemed like it lasted ten minutes, then suddenly, thump, I hit the ground.
I looked around and I was on campus, in the flower beds of the north oval. I looked at my watch and saw that it was almost time for my first class of the day. I had many tardies in this class, so the logical thing to do was to try and get there on time, even if I was five inches tall so I started my LONG walk to class.
Everything was so different and scary. People didn't even notice me on the ground. I almost got stepped on hundreds of times, but that wasn't the scariest part. One of the campus's squirrels came right up to me and stood on his back legs, making him almost triple my height. He looked at me and tilted his head to one side like he was trying to figure out what I was. I was so scared and yelled out "Don't eat me, please," and to my surprise he responded "Ew, gross. Why would I want to eat you?"
I looked at him so shocked and he asked me what I was doing and why I was so small. I told him that I honestly don't know why I was so small, and I was just trying to get to class. He said "There is a fountain on the other side of campus that will make you grow back to normal size, would you like me to take you there before class?" I looked at him in disbelief, but at this point I was willing to try anything, so I hopped on him like he was horse and held on to his fur really tight.

Talking Squirrel 

He started running and all I could think about was what a funny sight this would be if someone were just to look down for a few seconds. When we got to the fountain, I had to think for a second if I really wanted to grow back to normal size. First, because squirrel travel was so much fun and second because five inch people didn't have to take tests, or go to work, or have too much responsibility. Then I almost got sat on, so I thought it would be best to go back to being human size.
I jumped into the fountain and started taking a few gulps, trying not to think about how gross it was. Nothing happened, so I took a few more sips and I started growing.
I was two foot, then five foot, then seven foot, then ten foot, and I didn't stop growing. Up and up I went until I was the size of the clocktower. It as so embarrassing and everyone was looking at me. I couldn't blame them though, I would stare if there was a giant on my campus too. I tried to run away, but I couldn't get around all the buildings and I tripped. I started to fall, and like the first one it seemed like i was falling forever. I could see all people I was about to crush, so I closed my eyes and BOOM. I hit the ground and it was cushiony. I opened my eyes and I was in my bed, regular size. I must have just been a crazy dream.
I got up and started getting ready for the day (again), and went into the kitchen. On the counter I saw banana blueberry muffins, so I immediately turned around went back into my bedroom and shut the door.

Authors Notes: I got the idea for this story from Alice In Wonderland. Throughout the whole story she is shrinking and growing, which causes a lot of problems. I thought about what if that happened to people everyday? What if it happened to me? I honestly wouldn't even think about going to class, but hopefully I would find a squirrel pal to help me through my adventures. It does turn out to be a dream, which was great because I honestly don't know how I would cope with the embarrassment of being 30 feet tall.

Storytelling: Week 10: The Mountains

There once was a little girl and little boy who always tried to take a short-cut out of work, or would ignore their work completely. After a while their parents knew they weren't completing their chores, so they made the little boy and girl plow the land and plant all of the seeds for the upcoming spring harvest.
The parents sent the children into town to buy seeds and told them to stop for anything else. On their way they came across an old lady who told them that she was selling seeds a lot cheaper than the market was, but what they didn't know was that this women was magical. She said to the children, "These seeds are a lot better than the ones you will get at the market, they make things grow very fast, so you won't need to buy as many seeds at the market. You do need to plant them with other seeds though. If you plant pumpkin seeds with them, your pumpkins will grow to full size with in a day."
The children bought the magical seeds, and went to the market and bought very few of the other seeds their parents told them to buy. The next day the children dragged their feet while plowing the field, and they took so long that they barely had any sunlight to plant the seeds. They started to place the seeds into the ground and placed all the magical seeds into the ground, but didn't have time to put the vegetable seeds into the ground, so they decided to do it the next day.
They went inside and told their parents they finished all the work. They went to sleep, but something strange happened the land over night. It started to raise! since there weren't any vegetable seeds in the ground with the magical seeds the ground grew fast.
The children woke up the next morning and looked outside and the rows they planted the seeds were now hills. They ran outside to see the ground growing right before their eyes. The hills they saw before were now large hills. they went inside to get their parents and when they came out there was a full mountain range next to their house. They couldn't believe their eyes.

Mountains

Authors Notes: I wrote this story based off the American Indian Tale called "The Little Boy and The Girl In The Clouds." This story is being told by one of the older natives, Iagoo, who tells the story about how the mountains were made. In this story a little boy and girl fall asleep on a rock that grows while the children were asleep and the rock grows into a tall mountain. The kids get stuck up there and all the animals couldn't reach them, only the small little worm. 

Storytelling: Week 9: Drama in Okanagon Tribe

A lot went on in the Okanagon Tribe like building, hunting and fighting, but one thing that most people were interested in was the juicy gossip that happened around the camp. One girl you knew always knew what was happening and had to gossip about it was Dara. She would always gossip when her and her friends were at work basket weaving. The latest buzz around the camp was that the chief off the tribe wanted his beautiful daughters to get married.

Gossiping at Work 

Dara came to work and of course started talking before they even sat down, she said "Did y'all hear that the chief is trying to marry off his daughters? I mean it is about time. Those girls are almost 15."
One of her co-workers said "We heard, but those girls reject every suitable man who is willing to deal with them."
"I know, I know, but this time he is holding a competition and whoever wins gets to marry them."
"What is the competition?"
"It is a shooting completion, which is great because my nephew, Coyote, is the best shooter in the tribe and I just know that he will win. They have four days to prepare and they have to shoot and eagle and bring it back to the chief."
The rest of the work day the basket weavers all talked about the competition and how they are going to prepare their sons and nephews.
The a few days later, there was a lot of talk about this new mat lodge and everyone was wondering what is was, but they knew Dara would be sure to tell them.
"Oh my Sulia. Did you guys see that disgusting mat lodge near camp? How could it have just appeared and look so old?" said Dara.
A co-worker asked "Did you look inside to see who moved in?"
"You guys will not believe this. It is the oldest woman I have ever seen and this dirty dirty boy. You can tell they haven't jumped in the river in a long time, if you know what I mean. I'm not even sure this boy can even see, he has sores all over his eyes and he just lays in bed. If he came here to enter the contest there is no way he is winning, I don't think he could even afford to make a bow and arrow. Coyote has been practicing for the past three days and is sure to win."
Later that night the shooting competition was held and Coyote lost and the dirty boy in the mat lodge won, Dara was not happy.
"He cheated. I know he did. He didn't even move from his bed, supposedly, and that's impossible. Even the chief thanks so that's why he's holding another competition to catch a fisher bird tonight and everyone knows fisher birds only live in the mountains that dirty boy can't even walk," said Dara.
Once again Coyote lost the competition and the dirty boy won by putting two traps on either side of the house. The daughters were on their way to the dirty boys house to marry him, but the older sister refused and married another boy. The younger sister went to the house and was very sad because she knew she had to take care of her sick husband.
"At least one of the chiefs daughters has a brain and didn't go to the dirty boys house. Who cares if he won the competition, he is so gross and can not provide for her," Dara started out.
But one of her co-workers interrupted her, "Haven't you seen the dirty boy Dara? He transformed into he true form as the chief of the stars! He is handsome and powerful and I even heard that he gave the chiefs daughter gold stars to wear in her hair. She is very lucky she followed through with the chiefs orders."
Upset, Dara stormed out to go see that her co worker was correct and she couldn't believe her eyes

Authors Notes: This story comes from the Native American Hero story "Dirty Boy." I didn't change up too much of the story, but told it in a new perspective. Theres always that one person who is always gossiping, so I thought it would be fun to write this story like it would have been talked about as it was going on.

Storytelling Week 7: Turtle Talk

Long ago I was just a little turtle, swimming very far out where most boats don't go, just like I did all the time. One day there was a boat out there and a boy came right up next to me and scooped me up and put me in his boat with all of these fish. When I worked up enough courage to ask the boy to spare my life, because I was so little and there was no benefit in keeping me. He was very kind and let me go without hesitation.

After this I went to the house of the sea god and told his daughter, Otohmi, about my encounter with the boy. She told me that she really wanted to meet him and thank him for his kind act, but I told her that he lived on the land. She seemed very sad and it broke my heart. 

Many years later I saw the boat again, but it was storing out and the waves were huge. Soon enough the boys boat was swallowed by the biggest wave I had ever seen. The boy struggled to get to the surface and I swam right to him. I reminded him that I was the turtle that he set free years ago. I told him I could save him, but we had to make a stop before heading back to the shore. I knew the princess would be very happy with me. 

Uraschimataro on the back of the Turtle

We traveled all the way down to the house of the sea god and his daughter. On this journey he told me his name was Uraschimataro and he was very fond of fishing, and came from a family of fishermen and fisherwomen. He seemed to care for his parents very much. 

When we reach the princess she instantly fell in love with Uraschimataro and begged him to stay. She told him if he stayed he would be able to stay young and keep his beauty forever. He was very hesitant, but he agreed. 

Over the years they grew very fond of each other, that it seemed like no time at all to them. Since I was the princess's first maid she was able to keep me the same age as she did Uraschimataro. 

One day Uraschimataro seemed very sad and I could see his sadness grow more and more with each day. Otohmi noticed this also and asked him what was the matter. He said that he missed his parents, and I could tell it broke her heart. She told me before that she was scared if he left her then he would never return. I told her that he loved her very much and he would obviously come back. 

Otohmi told him why she was worried and he chuckled a little and told her he will always come back. Because she had kept him young so many years, he needed to be able to keep this appearance whenever he was on land, but since the princess wasn't going to be around him she had to put the magic in a box for him to take to the land. She didn't tell him what was in the box though, she wanted to test his trust, so all she told him was to not open the box. 

I delivered the boy to the shore. I reminded him not to open the box and he quickly agreed, but I could tell he was too excited to see his parents. When he got off my back he ran to the town and I waited for him. I waited for many hours. He didn't return and I was very worried. 

The only person who came to the shore the rest of the day was a very old man, but I didn't let him see me. I didn't want to tell the princess that Uraschimataro do not come back, so I wanted several more days. It came time I had to tell Otahmi the horrible news and she was heart broken. She did not believe he would do that to her so in the middle of the night she snuck up onto shore, but that is a story for another time. 

Authors Notes: This story comes from the Japanese Fairy Tales: Uraschimataro and The Turtle. In the story the boy was a fisherman and saved the turtle who returned the favor saving him when his boat got swallowed by a wave. It is all about the same, but in the original story it talks about what happens when Uraschimataro gets to the land. Since I was writing in the turtles perspective, whenever knew what happened so I couldn't add it in this storytelling. 

When he reached the land he ran to his parents house, but as he was running through the town he noticed everything was a little different. When he went to his parents house and knocked a woman answered who had never heard of his parents. He went to the graveyard to find his parents gravestones that had the date on them, that was a little after the date he left to go to the house of the sea god. He found out that 300 years had passed while he was underwater. He thought that everything was some sort of spell and the box held the counter spell, so he opened it. When he opened the box he immediately aged and he went back to the shore. The turtle didn't come back for him and he died on the beach. 

Storytelling: Week 5: The Days Of Our Lives in Georgia

Narrator: Last week on The Days Of Our Lives in Georgia..... The kings counsellor, Stefan, wanted to test the loyalty and love of his wife, Daniella, and King Aaron so he killed one of the kings goats and served it to his wife for dinner. After the King realized he was missing a goat he sent out a reward of gold for any man who finds the thief and marriage for any woman who finds him.

King Aaron: Oh hello Daniella! How are you and Stefan? Where is he?

Daniella: That is actually what I wanted to talk to you about... King Aaron, Stefan is the one who stole your goat. He fed it to me last night and confessed to me that it belonged to you after our meal.

King Aaron: What? Stefan? That is very troubling news.  Now I have to execute him. That is not something I want to do because he is the best counsellor I have ever had.

Daniella: ...but we are still getting married? Right?

King Aaron: Um yes, that was the reward. I am still in shock about Stefan. I can not do the execution I will need another man in my court to do the execution. *yells* HAROLD!

Harold: Yes King Aaron?

King Aaron: I need you to execute my counsellor Stefan for the crime of stealing from the King.

Narrator: Little did the king know, Stefan and Harold were very good friends. Stefan told Harold about his plan to test the loyalty of the king and his wife. Harold let him leave the city and executed a criminal in his place. Many months had passed and the kingdom was starting to fall apart.

The Sad King

King Aaron: This place is a disaster. I have no idea what I am doing. I wish Stefan was still my counsellor.

Daniella: who?

King Aaron: STEFAN! Your ex husband and the best counsellor this kingdom had. We need someone like him to come.

Narrator: Harold overheard this news and went to tell Stefan the exciting news.

Stefan: The king said what? He wants me back?

Harold: Yes, if you go back and explain everything the king might take you back as his counsellor.

Narrator: Stefan ran back to the kingdom to see the the king overwhelmed with excitement and didn't even ask for an explanation.

King Aaron: I am so excited you are back and your work is worth way more than any goat.

Stefan: I did not actually cook the goat, I hid him in the kitchen and cooked one of mine instead, I was testing the loyalty of my wife, which is obviously something she lacked.

King Aaron: I know, she is not a great wife and I know she's been spending the kingdoms wealth for her own pleasures. I do not want her alive anymore...

Narrator: Tune in next week to see the plans unravel as the king and Stefan work together to end Daniella.


Authors Notes: This Soap Opera script story is based off the Georgian story "The Kings Counsellor."  I chose this story because it has a lot of drama in it with betrayal, execution and regrets. In the original story the wife does betray the counsellor and the king orders him to be executed and then regrets it. In this one I made the counsellors wife a little more heartless than the original story because she doesn't play huge part, but I assume she was not a great person. I chose the picture of the sad king because he seemed to be the one who was very upset about the execution, especially since he was the one who has him to be executed.

Storytelling: Week 4 Courtcase of Ka Likai

This is the court case Ka Likai vs. Husband #2. She is charging her husband with first degree murder and child abuse.

Ka Likai's Lawyer: Could you tell us a little bit about your marriage with your second husband?

Ka Likai: Of course. He knew I was previously married and I had a daughter when we met and got married, but through out our marriage he seemed very jealous of her. I was obviously obsessed with my daughter. I loved her with all of my heart and would do anything for her, she was the light of my life. She was very young so I had to pay attention to her and care for her.
When we got married he had a very stable job and was happy to go to work everyday and provide for our family, just like he agreed to do when we got married. After a while he refused to work and sent me out everyday to work. I had some suspicion that when I was away at work he treated my daughter very poorly. I would sometimes find bruises and cuts on her that were not there when I left for work in the morning. When I asked him about it he would say she was just playing a little too rough. He said he would never hurt her and I trusted him.

Ka Likai's Lawyer: So what happened on the day of the incident?

Ka Likai: I had to go on a long journey for work, because I was the only one providing for the family. I didn't want to leave my daughter for so long, but I trusted that my husband would take care of her. When I returned from my trip my husband seemed to be in a very good mood, which made me happy he had a change in heart, he even made me dinner. I asked where my daughter was and he said that she had gone out to play. I sat down to eat dinner and when I finished I was preparing to battle and pan to chew. When I went to retrieve the basket I saw a hand in it, the hand of my daughter.... I'm sorry its hard for me to talk about.

KaLikai's Lawyer: It's okay. Take time to collect yourself. What happened after you found the hand in the basket?

Ka Likai: I asked for an explanation and he admitted to killing her and... and... he even... he cooked her. He cooked her and fed her to me.

Jury: **Gasps and cries**

Ka Likai's Lawyer: I am so sorry Ka Likai. Can I get her husband up to the stand please?
                               How do you plead?

Husband #2: Guilty, and I do not regret anything I did.

Ka Likai's Lawyer: Please explain yourself.

Husband #2: That little girl and Ka Likai got what they deserved. She only married me so I would support her precious little daughter and she could spend all day at home with her and do nothing. She got away with it for a while. I went to work and gave her money that she would just spend on her daughter. I got fed up with it and decided not to work for her anymore.

Ka Likai's Lawyer: So you planned the murder and the supper? You knew exactly the horrible things you were doing when you did them?

Husband #2: Yes. And I would do it again if I had the chance.

Ka Likai's Lawyer: That's all I needed to know. You can step down now.


Authors Notes: I honestly chose the stories of Khasi because it kind of sounds like my name (Cassie), but I chose this specific story because it was a very shocking story where a lot happened in a small amount of words. It was very memorable due to the shock factor.
In the story of Ka Likai her second husband became very jealous of Ka Likai's daughter, enough to kill her and serve her flesh to Ka Likai. This story was very shocking and scary and defiantly could be portrayed as a court case. In the story you don't really get to know the husband, but it is pretty clear he is an evil crazy man. That is why in the court case I made him plead guilty, because he didn't seem to have any sympathy for his actions.
Ka Likai is the name of a waterfall in India that is very peaceful with subtle sounds of moans and cries. This story ended with Ka Likai throwing herself off the edge of the waterfall to her death. This story is told to warn windowed mothers before remarrying.


Waterfall of Ka Likai

Storytelling Week 2: Creation from a Rabbit's View

My Story this week was about Adam and Eve and the creation of humans, so instead of writing letters home, I will be writing in a diary as the first rabbit ever.

Day 1:
This is a whole new world, literally. I was nothing yesterday and now I'm this creature with long ears and big feet. There is one guy here I know,  God. He created me and a bunch of other things like me, but were all a little different and some are a lot different. I think I'm going to like it here.

Day 2:
When I woke up this morning I saw God making miracles. He created this thing, we call him Adam and he is amazing. He speaks in this language I've never heard any of the other animals use, but I like it. Also today, Adam named us. All of us, it was crazy. He calls me Rabbit.
Even though all of us are Adams friends, he seems lonely. I think God knows and he's just waiting for him to go to sleep. Im going to stay up to see what miracles he's going to do.

Okay, its really late right now and Adam just fell asleep, and just like I said, God is doing something! This is weird but its beautiful, He's making another Adam. But it looks a little different, but defiantly still an Adam. I think I will talk to the new Adam tomorrow, but I'm tired so I'm going to bed.

Day 3:
Her name is Eve and she's a woman. She is very nice, but I think she messed up today. This is a long story so ill tell you from the beginning.
I was hopping up to her when suddenly this serpent slithering very quickly, Im not sure where I am on the food chain yet, so i just stopped and stayed still. He wasn't going for me though, he went right up to Eve. He started talking to her in the Adam language. She seemed confused, and he kept talking to her. I was hiding behind this tree. They call it the Tree of Good and Evil, it has some very delicious looking fruit on it. Suddenly the serpent leads Eve right to this tree and has her touch it. She looks scared, like she doesn't want to touch the tree for some reason. She closed her eyes and put her hand on the tree, but nothing happened. She looked very relieved. Then the serpent reaches up and takes a piece of fruit from the tree and gives it to Eve. She has it in her hand, but the serpent uses his tail to push the fruit to her mouth. She bites it, then she eats the whole thing. After she rushes to get Adam and she leads him to the tree and grabs another piece of fruit from the tree. He pushes her hand away, but she talks really loud like she's excited about something. Adam then eats the fruit, then looks scared. after a while they both look down at their bodies and seem even more scared, they run and hide.

Adam and Eve with Animals 

I hear God's voice and I get very excited. Adam and Eve are no where to be found, but I follow God. He finds them and God looks upset. He talks to them and they look very sad. The serpent is punished just like Adam and Eve were. I wish I could hear what they were saying but everyone wasn't happy. Adam and Even went to bed and I think I am too. Hopefully things will be better tomorrow.

Authors Notes:
In the Book of Genesis in the Bible, the story went a lot like this but in a different perspective. Adam was made from dust by God and then God made Eve out of Adams ribs. Eve gets persuaded by a serpent (the devil) to eat the forbidden fruit. She does then convinces Adam to as well and they feel scared and ashamed and they hide from God.
In some of the other stories I read, Adam was as tall as the heavens, so when he ate the fruit he shrunk down to about six feet tall, so it was obvious when he was hiding from God. In another story there was another women named Lilith, who ran away from Adam, which I thought was very interesting. Most of the stories followed the story told in the Bible, but were a tad different.

Week 1 Storytelling : Old Cole King

OLD King Cole
Was a merry old soul,
And a merry old soul was he;
He called for his pipe,
And he called for his bowl,
[32]And he called for his fiddlers three.

~~~

In the far away land of Sprucelle lived a very happy king named Cole. He ruled for many many years with the belief that music was the way to happiness. Although he did not have many servants, he always had the Sprucelle's best fiddlers with him through out his day. These fiddlers were three brothers that have lived in the town all their lives and adored the king, and the king adored them and their fiddling. 

The king had a daily routine he stuck with most days and that was what he liked and kept him merry. Old King Cole would wake up every morning and call for his pipe and a bowl to start his day. After this he would enjoy a grand breakfast with all this castle workmen and would request the three fiddler brothers to play the unusual, up beat tune that the king listened to every morning. The king would tell the fiddlers that the song would wake him up and put him in a good mood to start the day.

 Fiddlers Three 

Every fiddler, he had a fiddle,

And a very fine fiddle had he;
Twee tweedle dee, tweedle dee, went the fiddlers.
Oh, there's none so rare,
As can compare
With King Cole and his fiddlers three!

~~~

This song was so rare and unique that Old King Cole believed all the people in the town of Sprucelle should hear the wonderful sounds. So one day when the king was nearing his death he decided to have a celebration where the three fiddler brothers would put on a show for the towns people and the king. As a gift the jolly king had given the fiddlers beautiful hand crafted fiddles made of the finest wood in the land. After every fine fiddler received the fiddles they played the beautiful song, "twee tweedle dee, tweedle dee." The towns people cheered and the king was so happy. On that day Old King Cole declared the song the new anthem of Sprucelle.

Medieval Celebration 

Author's Notes: There are many theories about who King Cole is and if he was a real historical figure or possibly just a character in a children's nursery rhyme. There was a Welsh King Coel Hen, but the original story was written in England in 1708. At this time tobacco was a big part of the culture,w which explains why a nursery rhyme mentions the pipe and bowl. In other versions of this poem it explains the celebration they are talking about is "the lady's birthday." This explains the musicians and songs that were played. 

In this story I made King Cole a nice king, who appreciated his workers, because I wanted him to be a likable character and he is described in the nursery as "merry." I also like to think of the song as so rare that the King wanted to share it with all of his kingdom. Before such a big performance I thought that the fiddlers deserved gifts of new fiddles to show the kings appreciation.