Storytelling Week 14: "Just Kickin' It With Bri!"

Hello ladies and gents! Thanks so much for tuning in to this episode of "Just Kickin' It With Bri! I'm so excited to get this show started because we have some great guests joining us today. Just to give you a sneak peak: How will Princeton find a suitable mate, who is the father of Jennifer's baby, and what's up with the enrollment rate at your local university? Yes, I know that these topics are a tad bit scattered, but on this show... WE COVER IT ALL, HONEY! So sit back and enjoy the ride, 'cause it's bound to get crazy as we get down to the bottom of all of these stories!

First, let's welcome to the stage Princeton!

*audience applauds*

Bri: Hey Princeton! Thanks so much for coming out today! Ya know, when we heard your story, we knew that we had to help you out! So for the audience, could you give us a brief recap of what's been going on, so that they can be aware?

Princeton: Thanks for having me Bri. Yeah, I can tell y'all a little bit about what's been going here recently. So, for the past year, I've been trying to find that perfect person for me and my lifestyle. I started to realize that I was getting older, and it was about that time for me to settle down and start giving my parents some grand babies. They're getting older and they live in such a big house and they  could use some young company to keep them on their toes! Well anyways, throughout my whole life, I've never had an issue finding someone or a lot of "someones" to occupy my time and keep my attention. But I never took any of them seriously because I knew that I wasn't really looking for commitment.

Bri: Ok, so describe to me the type of ladies you're used to having around?

Princeton: Well usually, I'm not gonna lie, usually the girls I have around me really don't have a plan mapped out for their lives, they're just living day by day. They mainly just want to be around me because of who I am, but don't ever take the time to get to know me for me. They know I have money, that my family is damn near royalty, and they see that I'm attractive, but there's so much more than what meets the eye.

Bri: Ahhh, okay I see, I see. So it's mainly gold diggers that flock to you? So what type of woman are you looking for?

Princeton: Well, I'm looking for someone I can build with, have a family with, someone that actually cares about the me on the inside, and not the just materialistic things that I possess on the outside. I want someone that I can treat as my queen. Someone I know is on the same spiritual and mental playing field as I am. I want someone that can help make me better. Someone that I won't have to feel like I'm putting up a front around them, but that I am able to be unapologetically me.

Bri: Wow, that's beautiful. Isn't that beautiful, ladies and gentlemen?! *Audience goes wild* Well I'm pretty sure there are some people in the audience that wouldn't mind getting a shot, after hearing that heart felt piece. Well, I have a possible solution for you. The producers and I were discussing what we could suggest you do, and we thought that maybe you could have like a little group date. During that date, there will be something that is just a little bit off throughout the entire evening. Something that only you and the one lady that really cares about you would recognize. This way, you'll be able to weed out the real from the fake. How does that sound?

Princeton: Oh wow, yeah, that would be great! Doing something like that has never even crossed my mind! I think I'll use that. I'll get my mom to help me figure something out and I'll be sure to let you know how it goes.

Bri: And there you have it folks! We'll be right back after this commercial break to get back to just kickin' it with Bri!

Author's Note: This story was based off of the story of the Princess and the Pea. I choice this story because I feel like it's a classic that would be fun to have a modern spin on it. Here is a recap of what happens in the original story: Basically, the prince wants a princess, but he keeps running into the wanna be princesses, who are probably just gold diggers that want him for his riches. So he goes home sad, back to mama's house, because he can't find the princess of his dreams. Then on a rainy night, the doorbell rings and there she is, a real princess, well at least she says she is. In order to spare her son from any further heart break, the queen sets up a plan to determine if she really is a princess or not. She puts a pea at the bottom of twenty mattresses, knowing that if she was a real princess, she would know that they were there.
That next morning, the queen asked the princess how she slept, and she responded “Oh, very badly!” said she. “I have scarcely closed my eyes all night. Heaven only knows what was in the bed, but I was lying on something hard, so that I am black and blue all over my body. It’s horrible!”
In my story, the prince is on the talk show discussing his woes and then the talk show host gives him  solution to his problem and he leaves the show satisfied with the suggestion he was given. Instead of putting a pea under a mattress, the prince will have a date night and weed out the good from the bad in that manner.

This story is part of the Andersen Fairy Tales unit. Story source: Fairy Tales and Stories by Hans Christian Andersen, translated by H. P. Paull (1872).

The photo was made with the WordSwag App.

Reading Diary Week 14: The Emperor's New Suit

(image from Michael Clarke at Flickr, poster made with cheezburger.)

This was an interesting story to read because I had never read it before. In this story, the Emperor finds out about a suit that can determine if someone is smart, or if they are fit for the position that they hold. The way to determine this is by wearing a suit and those that can see it are smart and fit, those that cannot are stupid and ill-fit for the job. So the emperor decided that he wanted to get a suit made by these two swindlers in order to determine the type of people he was keeping as company. the swindlers asked for money and the finest fabrics to make this exquisite suit. For weeks, they pretended to be crafting the garment, but in reality, they were keeping it for themselves.
The emperor would send some of his most trusted  comrades to check on the progress of the suit. Each of them would see absolutely nothing, but didn't want to say that and look dumb, so they would make it seem like that saw the whole thing. Everyone continued to believe this, even the emperor, even though none of them saw a thing. Finally, the emperor went to the parade in his new "suit" and none one wanted to point out the obvious, until a little kid said that he didn't have any clothes on. It was at that point that everyone started to realize the reality of the situation.

This story is part of the Andersen Fairy Tales unit. Story source: Fairy Tales and Stories by Hans Christian Andersen, translated by H. P. Paull (1872).

Reading Diary Week 14: The Princess and the Pea

(illustration by Dulac)

Today's reading diary is focused on the story of the princess and the pea that is at the bottom of her countless mattresses and bedding. When I saw the picture for the story, I knew exactly which store I was about to read because I remember it from growing up. Besides the known plot of what happened in the story, i can reiterate it for those of you that may not know or remember it. Basically, the prince wants a princess, but he keeps running into the wanna be princesses, who are probably just gold diggers that want him for his riches. So he goes home sad, back to mama's house, because he can't find the princess of his dreams. Then on a rainy night, the doorbell rings and there she is, a real princess, well at least she says she is. In order to spare her son from any further heart break, the queen sets up a plan to determine if she really is a princess or not. She puts a pea at the bottom of twenty mattresses, knowing that if she was a real princess, she would know that they were there.
That next morning, the queen asked the princess how she slept, and she responded “Oh, very badly!” said she. “I have scarcely closed my eyes all night. Heaven only knows what was in the bed, but I was lying on something hard, so that I am black and blue all over my body. It’s horrible!”

And the rest is history, after that. The queen realized that she was a real princess and so did the prince. The prince and princess got married and lived happily ever after. The end.

This story is part of the Andersen Fairy Tales unit. Story source: Fairy Tales and Stories by Hans Christian Andersen, translated by H. P. Paull (1872).

Storytelling Week 12: #KnowTheOneYoureWith The Finale

Dear Diary, I am so excited right now! Bae is finally coming back to town from visiting his family. I haven't gotten to hear all about everything he did while he was out of town, but tomorrow, when I pick him up I know he will catch me up with everything that is going on! I'm glad I had this time to myself to just reflect on things in the past that I really hadn't taken the time to deal with. I finally feel like I can let go of all of this baggage and finally be happy again! I only started acting like this AFTER all of that mess started to happen years ago, after my brother died. This isn't me. This reflection period really showed me that! Hopefully i'll be able to just keep all of this to myself and not have to tell Tae. I know you're supposed to be honest with the people you care about the most, but I just don't want to lose him. We've been together for seven months now and I just feel like that would destroy everything we've built if I just tell him now. Guess we'll see how things go. 

That next afternoon, Brittany went to pick up Tae at the airport and everything seemed to be going just fine! They were so excited to see one another just as they would have been any other time. Brittany was sure that all was well, but Tae spent his time doing more than he expressed to Brittany, while he was away.

During the week Tae spent with his "family," he was actually doing some research of his own. Alicia, the secretary at the office they both worked at, had told him something a few months before she went missing. Tae never thought much about it until things started to add up to what she had told him. Alicia told Tae that a friend of hers from another firm told her that word on the street was that Brittany spent a pretty good amount of time in a psychiatric facility and that she was someone he ought to stay away from. She also told him that people said that Brittany could appear to be the sweetest girl but in reality, something had caused her to become very deceiving and manipulative.

Of course, Tae swept this under the rug, because there was no way that the girl of his dreams was really this manipulative psychopath! And then it dawned on him... "the girl... of my dreams." It literally seemed like from day one, she was perfect and that she knew exactly what to do for him to think that she was perfect. When Alicia went missing and Brittany didn't seem to show any concern at all, all of his suspicions were verified.

That following week, Tae decided that he was going to get to the bottom of all of this on his own. But he wasn't going to mention this to Brittany, of course. One, because she might be legitimately crazy. And two, if she wasn't this crazy psychopath she had been made out to be, he didn't want her to know that he ever entertained the theory.

Tae told Brittany that he was going to visit his folks for a week or so and that he would be back. He contacted a few of his old buddies from college to help him dig up the dirt and figure this all out, because he knew it was important for him to know the one he was with. Once he started digging, he made some terrifying discoveries. After uncovering that Brittany was more than likely responsible for the disappearance of multiple people, spent time in the psychiatric ward, and more than likely devised the entire plan for them to get together, he knew that this was going to be their end. Although, he did feel horrible about what happened to her brother, the crazy counselor that tried to brainwash her, and everything else that occurred in her past.

Tae decided that he wasn't going to turn her into the police, but did realize that he was going to have to break up with her as soon as he returned home.

The next day, after he got home, Tae decided that he wanted to go ahead and make the break up official. He decided to take Brittany to a public location (just in case her crazy come out play) and have this discussion with her.

If someone was sitting across the street, looking into the coffee shop where they went to talk, you would think that Brittany was told that her puppy had died. It was clear that they were both heartbroken, because they both truly cared for one another. Tae ended up calling a Lyft to take Brittany home and he drove separately. As each of them walked out, a few tears rolled down their cheeks.

And there you have it, folks. The love story of Brittany and Deontae came to an end just as Brittany was really starting to make changes within herself. As unfortunate of an ending this was, Tae finally knows the one that he was with.



Author's Note: This story was loosely based off of the battle between Beowulf and Grendel. In that battle, Grendel snuck in like a thief in the night (literally) into the town that Beowulf was staying in. Grendel casted a spell that made each of the men fall into an extremely deep sleep. Beowulf, being the extraordinary man that he is, was able to wake up, only to find Grendel devouring one of Beowulf's comrades. Grendel and Beowulf ended up having a fight with one another and Beowulf ended up coming out in the end, victoriously. The story of Brittany and Tae is an ongoing story that you can read here on my blog. This is finally their conclusion, just as the fight with Beowulf was the final conclusion for Grendel. If you're interested in learning about how this love connection all began,  read the very first story, entitled  #KnowTheOneYoureWith: The Introduction PART I, and go from there!
This story is part of the Beowulf unit. Story source: The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs with illustrations by Henry Pitz (1933).

Photo of coffee mug came from here. 

Reading Diary: Dante's Inferno Week 13

Dante's Inferno.. I've heard a lot about this throughout the years but never knew much about it, so it's interesting to read about it now. In the first part of the readings, Dante is just now telling about his experience thus far, during the time that he first spent in the inferno. He's going through hell, no pun intended. I found it interesting that he was able to find someone that will be able to help him through to the next level. 

''It is best, as I think and understand, for you to follow me, and I will be your guide and lead you from here through an eternal space where you will hear the desperate shouts, will see the ancient spirits in pain, so that each one cries out for a second death, and then you will see others at peace in the flames, because they hope to come, whenever it may be, among the blessed. Then if you desire to climb to them, there will be a spirit, fitter than I am to guide you, and I will leave you with her when we part, since the Lord, who rules above, does not wish me to enter his city because I was rebellious to his law. He is lord everywhere, but there he rules, and there is his city and his high throne: O, happy is he, whom he chooses to go there!''
This quote from Virgil shows that he is willing to help Dante out, but that he won't be able to help him when it's time for him to navigate after he gets out of hell because he isn't welcome in Heaven. Or maybe he's stuck in Limbo.


Click here to see where the picture above came from. If you want to know where to find Dante's Inferno, click here.


This story is part of the Dante's Inferno unit. Story source: Dante's Divine Comedy, translated by Tony Kline (2002).

Reading Diary, week 12

Beowulf and Grendel... What a battle that was! Grendel, coming into the town, literally like a thief in the night, could have really cause a lot of damage. This was his original plan before he realized that the was going to meet his match that night. I'm sure he was confident that he was going to be victorious because he felt as though he had taken all of the right steps to do as he pleased. Beowulf's strength allowed for him to break through the spell that was casted upon him and everyone else in the town. For the time that he was sleep, Grendel had the opportunity to devour and devastate the young man. But, Beowulf wasn't going to allow that to happen too much more. Grendel and Beowulf fought. Beowulf whooped his butt and now the rest is history. The fog and the giant were gone.

(Grendel before he got his butt kicked)

This story is part of the Beowulf unit. Story source: The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs with illustrations by Henry Pitz (1933).

Learning Challenges: Empathy is Important Week 11

Often times, we... well let me speak for myself...
Often times, I don't stop to think about what the reason may be behind why someone acts the way they act or do the things they do. There is always a reason behind something, always a trigger, even if it seems as if that's not the case. I've noticed the older I've gotten + the people I've encountered = equate to an expansion of my empathy towards people. I can see instances that I thought "Nothing could possibly be going on with them. Their life is perfect," only to find out that their parents were getting a divorce, or a family member was sick. Regardless of what that additional variable was to the equation, the experience served as a reminder of how important it is to really give people the benefit of the doubt and strive to be understanding. With the same breath I can use to assume the reason they're acting as they are, I could have used that same breath to breathe encouragement into their situation.
The most important part of living life is to actually grow and learn from the lessons we learn, and grow from the experiences we have. Knowing the difference and what role I play,  is what I pray for.

(Photo Found HERE)

Week 11 Reading Diary: Aesop's Fables: Fables about People

Fables, fables, and even more fables all about people... There are a lot to read from but I would definitely have to say the one that stuck out the most to me, as well as the one that I mainly recognized was that of story of the boy that cried wolf. In the story entitled, "The Wolf and the Shepherd's Boy. In the story, the majority of people know exactly how it goes down, with different variations. A boy continuously literally cried out that a wolf was near by and ready to attack him. Each time he did this, someone would come to his rescue, only realizing that there was nothing wrong and that he either just wanted the attention or that he wanted something the person had. One day, there really was a wolf ready to attack him and he cried wolf, yet again. This time no one came to his rescue and he and his flock became prey for the wolf. 

I really enjoy this story because it really serves as a life reminder to not continuously lie to people because in the time that you really do need them, they will not come for they think that another lie is being told. I understand that in some cases, a few lies may be told, but let's not make a habit, folks! Thanks for reading. 

(Photo of Aesop's Fables)

 

These fables are part of the Aesop's Fables (English) unit. Story source: Fables and Satires by Sir Brooke Boothby (1809).

Week 11 Reading Diary: Mr. Beowulf

This is a pretty interesting section thus far. Beowulf is seeming to be a force to be reckoned with. He is unappreciated by his counterparts just because he doesn't excel in different actives that they do. Little do they truly realize that his is great in his own right. Some of the pieces that stuck out to me in particular in this story are shown below. Each of these excerpts show his evolution from a young boy to the stage his is at now.

-"As a small boy, Beowulf had shown such strength of body that Hygelac had early named him one of his thanes. So his mother and father gave him up, and young Beowulf went to live with his uncle to learn the arts of war and the handling of ships."

-"As the years slipped by and he grew to manhood, he became more and more sullen in his strength, and his companions dubbed him "The Silent." His movements were clumsy. He tripped over his sword. He broke whatever he touched. The other youths laughed at him for his awkwardness, but in secret they envied the immense spread of his shoulders and the terrible swiftness of his stride when he hunted in the forests."

-"At the feet of the royal couple sat Beowulf, at a table especially prepared for the king's earls. These were the most favored and beloved of all the warriors of Geatsland. But many were the murmurs of jealousy and discontent among the lords when they beheld young Beowulf in such a place of honor."

--From these excerpts, it is clear to see that Beowulf had a gift, that he grew into over time. With that gift, also came jealousy.

 (Picture of Beowulf)

This story is part of the Beowulf unit. Story source: The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs with illustrations by Henry Pitz (1933).

Learning Challenge Week 11: Operation HAPPY!(:

Just think, if we could bottle up our "happy" how much better would each day be? How much better would the world be? That's a great question! I just read about a challenge that involved writing down at least on thing that makes your happy each day of the year. When the year ends, open up the jar and read 365 happy messages to yourself, from yourself, to encourage yourself. I really love happiness and love and all good things associated with it so I definitely think that I will be giving this a try soon. What a great idea!! 

(Picture of the happiness jar)

Week 10 Storytelling: #KnowTheOneYoureWith: Lesson One

(image of distressed woman)

You are forbidden to ever see him again, Brittany LaChelle and that is final! Do you understand me, young lady?! Brittany's dad, Earl howled at his then 20 year old daughter.

Brittany was so livid inside, after all that had happened with her brother passing away the year before, and her having to deal with that crazy psychiatrist that only wanted to brainwash her and take all of the family's money.  Brittany couldn't believe that her dad wanted to take away her one true piece of new found happiness.

Brittany had been with Brandon for 6 months now and was really starting to feel true happiness inside. And after all that she had been through, she was so grateful that Brandon had come along. At first, everything was fine when she first started to bring Brandon around the family, but then about a month ago, things started to change, and Brittany wanted to know why.

Daddy, why do hate Brandon so much!? What has he done? All you used to say is that you wanted was for me to be happy and to see your baby girl's smile again. Now that I'm starting to actually smile again, you just want to snatch that away again? WHY!?

Okay, first off you need to watch your tone. Don't forget who's house you're in and who you're talking to. Don't start acting like you done lost your mind. Earl sternly replied back. That boy is no good for you, and you probably are not going to understand that. But I was once that boy and I know how their minds operate. You gotta remember that I've been there and done that. I am looking out for you! You know I love you more than anything and I would never say or do anything if I didn't think that it was in your best interest. 

Brittany stormed off to cool down right after saying, "I don't understand why you would want to do this to me, but I'm about to go cool off before I disrespect you anymore."

Later that night when Brittany came back home, she overheard her parents talking in their room, right as her mom said, "Earl, why don't you just tell her the real reason? She deserves to know and has been through too much for secrets to be kept from her." 

"Brenda, I'd rather her be mad at me for a while instead of knowing that the boy she has fallen in love with is planning to marry some other girl without even telling her. She would never be able to trust anyone again if she found that out that way. If he can't be man enough to tell her the real reason he's going on this "vacation" next week, then she doesn't need him in her life. Period."

"Ok, honey, I understand that, I just don't want any irreversible damage to happen to y'all's relationship because of this."

"I know, baby, but it's gonna work out. I just love her too much to see her go through any more heartbreak."

And just like that, Brittany made sense of it all. She was devastated that Brandon would do that to her after all that they have shared with one another, and how he knew that she relied on him to help her get through these tough times. Then she became even more heartbroken when she thought about how she was yelling at her father earlier that day, and he was trying to do nothing but protect his little girl. Once again, Brittany was reminded that you never really "KnowTheOneYoureWith like you may think.


Author's note: This story is about a Native American story that really stuck out to me entitled, "Old Man Above the Grizzlies." In this story the Old Man (the father) has a daughter, with whom he lives with in a teepee high above the areas that the grizzlies live on. One day, the wind caught her by her hair and pulled her out of the teepee and blew her all the way down to where the grizzlies lived.
The interesting catch about this whole set up is that the grizzlies actually walk and talk just as humans do! So, when the mama and papa bear saw that this girl had fallen down to the home, the took her in and took care of her. She need up falling in love with their son and got married and had kids.
The mama bear decided to go up to the Old Man's house and tell him that his daughter was alive and well (Which I'm kind of surprised that he didn't go looking for his daughter when she first got sucked out of the house). So, the Old Man rushed down to the grizzly land and became livid when he saw that his daughter had reproduced with a grizzly. So to punish them all, he decided to curse them to no longer speak and to walk on all fours with their heads down. He took his daughter back up to his place where they lived from their on out. Probably wasn't happily ever after cause I'm sure she was pissed.
I decided to switch up the plot but keep the same orginal plot of an angry father protecting and rescuing his daughter from something that he thought wasn't a good situation for her. These characters are from and based upon a series of stories I have previously been working that all include the hashtag #KnowTheOneYoureWith in my portfolio.