Storytelling, Know The One You're with: Blind to the Fact PART II Week 7

Brittany rolled over in the bed while stretching her arms out and yawning, expecting to feel Deontae's well chiseled chest... when she felt an empty spot instead. She hurriedly opened her eyes to see if where he was at.

(Woman sleeping)

"Tae! Babe, where are you?!"

She pulled the sheet off of her body and hopped out of the bed and mumbled, "Where is he at? Did he leave me? Why isn't he in the bed?!"

"TAE!" she screamed out, as she walked out of the room.

"What, bae, what you yelling for?" Tae said, as he continued to scramble eggs in the kitchen.

Realizing that Tae was still in the house and hadn't left her, Brittany quickly calmed town and walked towards Deontae to give him a hug saying, "Oh, I was just trying to figure out where you went. You know how I feel about waking up without you. I hate that feeling."

(Man and woman hugging)

"I know you do, babe, I just wanted to cook you some breakfast and didn't want to wake you because you were sleeping so peacefully," Deontae said.

The two got dressed and headed to work. During the car ride, Brittany realized that she had forgotten to take one of her pills that she was trying so desperately to hide from Deontae, in order to keep her secret just that... a secret. 

Once the two got to the office, she noticed that the secretary, Alicia, was being a little too friendly to her man, Deontae.

Brittany thought to herself, "What does Alicia think she's doing? She knows that Deontae is off limits. Period. I'll take care of that. This will be the last time she'll disrespect me."

The next day, Alicia didn't show up for work. Some people tried to call her, but no answer. No one worried too much, though, because their boss received an email from "Alicia" saying that she needed to take some personal time and that she would be staying with her family in D.C. for a while.

Little did they know, Brittany had taken care of Alicia in her own way that previous night.

"I wonder what happened to Alicia? That's so weird." Deontae mentioned to Brittany as they ate dinner.

"I'm not sure, honey. You should let me try your pasta, though." Brittany relied, completely ignoring the statement or showing any true concern.

Six months into the relationship and Deontae still didn't know about Brittany's time spent in the Paulview Psychiatric Facility, nor that she was the cause of  Alicia's disappearance.

I guess it would have been good for Deontae to #KnowTheOneHesWith before he got himself in too deep.


Author's Note: This story is the second half of the story previously posted. In Nigerian story entitled, The Pretty Girl Who Killed the King, by Elphinstone Dayrell (1910).  In the original story, the "pretty girl" was actually a witch that was paid to kill the king of a neighboring town that was tormenting the people of another village. This king was making each day for the other villagers absolute hell. So, one day, the other villagers decided that they were going to put an end to their torture and have the king taken care of. The villagers decided to pay a witch to shape shift into an attractive young woman, seduce the king, marry him, and then behead him in his sleep. She managed to do this and slip away completely undetected. No one in that village suspected it was her because she was so beautiful and the last person to commit such a heinous crime. It was from that very last part that I coined this story's hashtag, #KnowWhoYoureWith. 

This second half of the story is a continuation of Part I of the first story that I wrote. I haven't quite decided how many parts will be added to this story. It is really just a matter of what feels right for Brittany and Deontae's hectic lives. Thanks for reading!

Story Source: Folk Stories From Southern Nigeria by Elphinstone Dayrell (1910).

Storytelling, Know The One You're With: The Introduction PART I Week 7

Know Who You're With: The Introduction

(professional woman outside)

"I'm going to marry him. I don't care what anyone says," Brittany said as she roughly brushed her hair while looking in her vanity mirror.

"I DESERVE TO BE HAPPY! I didn't ask for this life, and I refuse to not get this man to marry me. Deontae is so fine, and I'm going to make him mine. Period."

That next day at work, Brittany made sure that she wore the skirt that hugged her curves the best, made sure sure that her curls were on point, and that she wore her new ColourPop lipstick, called Subduction. 

Brittany got in the car and was on her way to get her man. While listening to her favorite Jazmine Sullivan song, she looked in her rearview mirror and said to herself, "Go get your man, girl."

After giving herself a pep talk, she parked, got out of her car, grabbed her purse and business bag and walked in to work.

"Hey Alicia, what's on the agenda today?" Brittany asked the office secretary as she put sugar into her cup of fresh black coffee.

"Well, it looks like you and Deontae have a presentation today at 11, followed by a luncheon and then a few off site calls."

Brittany felt her plan being put into motion and tried to contain her mischievous excitement.

"Hey Deontae, you ready for this presentation today? I hear all of the big shots will be there."

"What's going on, Brittany! Yes, I'm ready. We're more than prepared to rock their world!"

"You don't even know the half," Brittany thought to herself.

"Well, let's go do it!"

Brittany and Deontae headed to the lecture hall, gave their presentation and impressed everyone that was in attendance.

"Wow, you did a great job up there, Brittany!" Deontae said as they walked down the hall to the luncheon.

"Thanks, love! So did you! Hey, you want to just skip the luncheon and get a head start on these off site calls?"

"Yeah, that sounds like a plan.  Let me just go get the keys and we can head out!"

The two headed out to the offsite office visits and engaged in small talk unrelated to the office.

Fast Forward to 6:00pm after the offsite office visits

"Well, I think we accomplished what we needed to there today, don't you think?" Deontae asked Brittany while walking back to the car. 

"Yeah! We did awesome! I'm really glad I got to do this with you today!" said Brittany as she softly caressed his arm. 

"You want to go get a bite to eat, De? I'm starving after all this hard work today! I know a nice little spot off of Peachtree that has the best soul food."

Suddenly intrigued by the offer, Deontae responded saying, "Soul food?! Say no more, tell me which way to go."

Brittany felt her plan starting to go into full effect. Right when the two crossed the threshold into the restaurant, Brittany turned her professional side off and the subtle seductive side on. 

(Couple at Dinner) 

"So, De, why haven't we hung out like this more often? We're clearly enjoy each other's company, yes?"

Deontae took a sip of his Whiskey Sour and responded, "You know, I've been thinking the same thing. I actually was going to invite you to dinner last month, but you just disappeared on me."

Brittany replied, "Yeah, I just had to take care of a few things for a bit. But I'm back now, better than ever... Better. Than. Ever." 

As the evening grew, Deontae and Brittany's conversation got deeper and more engaging with each sip, bite, and laugh they shared. 

That following month, Brittany and Deontae were an item and everyone at the office knew it. 

But there was one piece of the story Brittany failed to mention. The time that Brittany spent away from the office, she was actually in Paulview Psychiatric Facility for displaying psychotic tendencies... #KnowWhoYoureWith

Stay tuned for part II

Story Source: Folk Stories From Southern Nigeria by Elphinstone Dayrell (1910).

Author's Note: This particular story written below currently has two parts, and it is based upon the Nigerian story entitled, The Pretty Girl Who Killed the King, by Elphinstone Dayrell (1910). After reading the story, of course, I took it all in, in it's entirety, but the very last sentence stuck out to me. That last sentence shaped the direction I wanted to take in both the story below, as well as the one written as part two. I wanted to break this story into two parts because I really wanted to paint a picture and to set up the background of the story and the two main characters, Brittany and Deontae, in order for the reader to be on the same wave length as me. The inspirational sentence for this story is "Never marry a stranger, no matter how pretty she may be." These words can actually be words to live by each day, whether it be marriage, relationships, and even friendships. This sentence, or more so quote, can be interpreted however you see fit for any situation! 

In the original story, the "pretty girl" was actually a witch that was paid to kill the king of a neighboring town that was tormenting the people of another village. This king was making each day for the other villagers absolute hell. So, one day, the other villagers decided that they were going to put an end to their torture and have the king taken care of. The villagers decided to pay a witch to shape shift into an attractive young woman, seduce the king, marry him, and then behead him in his sleep. She managed to do this and slip away completely undetected. No one in that village suspected it was her because she was so beautiful and the last person to commit such a heinous crime. It was from that very last part that I coined this story's hashtag, #KnowWhoYoureWith. My story isn't identical to the original story.