Week 14 Story: Emmett's New Clothes

Emmett was surfing the internet at work again, as he so frequently did. Because he was the owner of his company, New Clothes, he never worried about getting caught or criticized for his lazy behavior. Emmett simply hired smarter and more driven people to handle business functions for him, while he chose how to spend the profits. Emmett considered it an excellent set-up.

Each year, New Clothes hosted a fashion and lifestyle fair in their offices. They invited several up-and-coming designers to promote their creations to Emmett, in the hopes that they would be sold as a part of New Clothes' newest fashion line. New creative talent registered each year, so Emmett and his staff thought nothing of the group named Swindler and Swindler, but were eager to see what they would bring to the fair.

The Swindler and Swindler Logo

As the fair began the next week, Emmett was quickly swept into the flurry of beautiful fabrics, luxury accessories, and skilled young salesmen. However, there was one group at this year's fair that greatly surprised the New Clothes team. Swindler and Swindler were not designers at all - they were bartenders. The brother and sister team wore matching suits, and sold a still, clear liquid that they promised tasted like the nicest champagne, but only if its drinker was smart, savvy, and destined to be successful.

Emmett, who was always seeking to prove himself in the fashion industry, downed his first glass in one gulp. He tasted nothing. Refusing to acknowledge this to anyone around him, Emmett began raving about how delicious the beverage was; he had never tasted anything like it. He immediately ordered fifty cases for the whole office, and in his excitement, missed the sly glances exchanged by the Swindler and Swindler siblings.


Author's Note: This story was inspired by Han Christian Andersen's The Emperor's New Suit. In the fairy tale, a proud and vain emperor spends extravagant amounts of money on a new suit that is supposedly invisible to anyone who is stupid or unworthy of their position. No one in the kingdom can see the suit, because it does not exist, but they go on pretending, because no on wishes to be known as stupid. I worked to give this story a more modern twist by making the emperor a naive businessman, who is still obsessed with clothing.

Week 12 Story: The Young Beowulf

For the third time this week, Beowulf found himself grinding his teeth in the effort to hold back tears.   Along with the men in his sparring group, he had been engaged in faux combat in the practice fields for the past several hours. When the instructor directed them to pack up their things, Beowulf had offered to help with the larger equipment. He had just lifted a wooden shield when in snapped apart in his hands, leading to intense ridicule from his peers.

No one bothered to care that he had lost his father as a young boy. It did not matter that his mother had sent him away to become a warrior, never asking what Beowulf wanted. Despite his being ten years younger than most of the men in his sparring group, they never held back when it was time to deliver him a good tongue-lashing. However, Beowulf would not allow them to see his weaknesses. He knew that he was stronger than them all, and had been chosen by the wise King Hygelac for good reason. He just had to prove that he was worthy, and maybe then, he would finally be praised and loved. In that moment, he vowed to himself, as he had many times before, that he would one day fulfill his destiny as a great warrior, no matter who he must slay to do it.
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The first opportunity to prove himself came only a few days later. After another sparring practice ended in splintered wooden swords and an irritated instructor, the older men began to bear down on Beowulf once again. A particularly prideful and surly man, Breca, decided to put Beowulf in his place, and challenged the child to a swimming race.

Beowulf swam for five days, conquering the stormy seas.

Beowulf knew that this was the chance for which he had waited. He was terrified of the icy waters of the sea, and the monsters that called its depths home. Still, he was more afraid of the fallout if he refused. He answered Breca's call to race, and readied himself to prove his true strength to all who had doubted him.
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Beowulf had hoped that his victory against Breca would finally turn the tides of hatred towards him, but he was wrong. Even five years after that victory, when Beowulf had become a man, the people of Geatsland resented him, because he held his uncle's favor. The most recent dinner in the drinking-hall  had been especially difficult to withstand. He had to sit by and watch as the Geats openly debated his worth. How could Beowulf prove that he deserved his seat at the foot of the king? 

Yet, that was also the evening that everything changed. 

Beowulf's chance had finally come when the Wanderer stood and sang of the great beast Grendel. Without hesitation, Beowulf stood to proclaim that he would slay the beast. Despite his fear and doubts, he knew his resolve was worth it when he caught sight of the pride and love in the face of the queen, his aunt Hygd. 

Now, on the boat to Denmark, beowulf was still nervous, but was ready for the moment he had prayed for all this years. He would bring home the head of Grendel, and in doing so, would bring peace and love into his own life. 

Author's Note: "The Young Beowulf" is a take on our reading of the same name, from Strafford Riggs' The Story of Beowulf. In that portion of the epic, Beowulf is angered by the extent to which the other Geats doubt him, and is desperate for the opportunity to prove himself in battle. I chose to explore those emotions, asking what motived Beowulf to fight as hard as he did, volunteering for such a dangerous mission. 

Week 7 Story: Brer Rabbit Catches the Big One

Brer Rabbit HATED working, especially when Brer Fox was presented. He knew that the fields had to be tended if he and his family were to have food, but Brer Rabbit was tired, and just wanted to take a nap instead. Brer Fox would not stop talking, and Brer Rabbit just had to get away. If he was careful, he knew he could sneak away from the crop without Brer Bear and the others noticing. So, Brer Rabbit bided his time, and when a moment of distraction came, he bounded off into the forest.
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An idyllic well, but is it good for naps?

Brer Rabbit had not been gone long when he came upon a clearing in the forest with a small well in the middle. Admiring the well bucket, Mr. Rabbit thought it might be an excellent and cozy place for a snooze. Surely Brer Fox could not find him there. He hopped right in, and to his dismay, was lowered directly into the water below. Suddenly trapped, Brer Rabbit started to PANIC.
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Brer Fox was ASTONISHED. He had snuck away behind the Rabbit, determined that this would the best opportunity since the Tar Baby to embarrass Brer Rabbit. Leave it to that vermin to weasel his way out of work, and probably only to go fishing. But without warning, Brer Rabbit had disappeared from the Fox's sight.

At that time, Brer Fox heard a SPLASH. He peaked his head over the edge of the well, only to find Brer Rabbit sitting in the bucket at the bottom. Immediately, Brer Fox began to wonder what Brer Rabbit could possible be up to at the bottom of a well. Could he be hiding treasure of some sort? Or was this another trick intended to make a monkey of Brer Fox?
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"Hello, Mr. Fox!" called Brer Rabbit. "Fancy meeting you here!"

"Brer Rabbit," retorted the Fox, "what are you hiding down there? Gold and riches?!"

"Of course not, silly Fox. I've skipped out on work to go fishing."

How stupid did the Rabbit think Brer Fox was? Of course he knew there weren't fish at the bottom of a drinking well. But, he decided to play Brer Rabbit's game, if only to learn where it led.

"I'm sure the fishing in the well is EXCEPTIONAL," said Brer Fox, heavily laying on the sarcasm.

"It sure is. I've found catfish bigger than me, and am working on a catch large enough for lunch for our crew as they finish today's job. Why don't you come down and help, Brer Fox? You'd be the hero of the day, discovering a new fishing hole and feeding everyone from it."

That foolish Rabbit must find the Fox so gullible. But still, the Brer Fox could not resist the opportunity to show up Brer Rabbit. He would go down into the well and find out what the Rabbit was truly doing.

"Okay, Brer Rabbit, how do I get down?"

"Climb into the bucket, Brer Fox," said the Rabbit, innocently.
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As Brer Fox fell into the well, Brer Rabbit was drawn UP, UP, UP. As he passed the Fox, he laughed, knowing he had succeeded in his trickery and captured a very big fish indeed.

"Goodbye, Brer Fox! Don't get too wet!"

Author's Note: "Brer Rabbit Catches the Big One" is a retelling of Old Mr. Rabbit, He's a Good Fisherman. The original story proceeds in much the same way, with Brer Rabbit skipping work to take a nap, and landing himself at the bottom of a well. In this version, however, I worked to make his rivalry with Brer Fox more apparent. I also rewrote the ending. This time, Brer Rabbit leaves Brer Fox trapped, instead of sending humans to retrieve him. Ultimately, I think my ending better depicts the relationship between the Fox and the Rabbit.

Week 6 Story: Miemun and Khojisteh

The prince wanted nothing more than to have a son. He prayed day and night for a strong and beautiful boy who would carry on his lineage. After what seemed to be years of prayer, the Creator acquiesced, and created for the prince a son who was shining as the sun, bright and kind. The boy's father, the prince, knew that it was not fitting for such a beautiful creature to be alone. So, he immediately began seeking a wife for his child, whom he called Miemun.
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Khojisteh seemed to be the perfect match for Miemun. She was beautiful in her own right, the moon to his sun. Shortly after the prince introduced Khojisteh to his son, they became inseparable. They shared a deep love for their families, storytelling, and learning more about the world around them. They were married in only weeks.

A Happy Day for Khojisteh and Miemun

Khojisteh was deeply infatuated with her husband. She could not fathom that he had been born of the Creator Himself, and that such a kind and beautiful man was her's to love. The longer their relationship lasted, the harder Khojisteh fell for Miemun, and the more she began to doubt herself. Khojisteh genuinely believed that she was not worthy of such a wonderful husband. Thus, she became clingy and desperate, striving to earn the love of her husband.
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Miemun was ecstatic when his father suggested Khojisteh for his wife. He had noticed the woman long ago, and had loved and lusted after her since. From the day they met, Miemun knew that they would marry, and hated waiting the prerequisite weeks to court Khojisteh. However, the waiting period was worth it, as he learned of Khojisteh's passions and fears. 

Despite Miemun's deep feelings for his wife, he was nevertheless frustrated by her at times. She had no confidence in his love, and overcompensated with neediness and self-pity. Miemun suspected that Khojisteh had a tendency to self-destructed, and worried what that may mean for the success of their marriage. He began to devise a plan. 

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Miemun would go away for an extended business trip, hoping to put a healthy amount of distance between himself and his wife, praying that his absence from her would make his heart grow fonder. Before leaving, he purchased a parrot to keep her company as he was away. Little did he know, the parrot would keep his wife from the company of others...

Author's Note: "Miemun and Khojisteh" is inspired by Tales of a Parrot, an ancient Mideastern legend in which a parrot prevents his mistress from committing adultery by distracting her with stories. As I read the legends, I found it odd that Khojisteh would cheat despite her alleged love for Miemun, and thought that more context was needed to make that jump. 

Week 5 Story: The Pen of Life

At his father's request, E.B. was cleaning out the barn. He typically resented such a chore, and had rather stay inside reading or writing than be outside getting dirty. Today, however, the barn was cool and peaceful, and E.B. found he didn't mind sifting through old junk. So far, he had come across broken furniture, collections of knick-knacks, and a whole pile of rotten wood. Next, he planned to clean out his great-grandfather's ancient writing desk.

E.B.'s dusty, old barn

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E.B. rolled back the top of the desk, and was astounded by what he found there. Lying amongst torn paper and dried pots of ink was the most beautiful pen he had ever seen. It was iridescent, shimmering gold and silver despite the dim light of the dusty barn. The pen was encrusted with rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, yet somehow did not appear gaudy. Despite its being made of precious metals and stones, E.B. knew that when he picked it up, the pen would be light in his hand, and easy to maneuver.

E.B.'s fingers trembled as he reached for the instrument, but as soon as he made contact, the pen seemed to come alive, warming in his palm. E.B. grabbed a piece of paper, and gently touched the pen's tip to the paper's edge. He was not surprised to find that the pen naturally held the darkest, richest ink imaginable. E.B. began to write.
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Without thinking of what he was doing, E.B found himself forming his great-grandfather's name in beautiful script: Allan. Suddenly, Allan's image appeared next to E.B. in the barn. Startled, E.B almost dropped the beautiful pen.

"Peace, E.B.," said Allan. "You have discovered your birthright. This pen is imbued with tremendous history and power. It descends from a great pen of lost times, a pen which wrote the future and the past. While the pen in your hand does not have the same power, it holds great potential. Anything you choose to write in its ink will vividly become life, as sure as I am standing in front in front of you now."

E.B. spluttered, unable to form words in his shock.

"Worry not," said Allan. "The desk contains hidden manuscripts and instructions for the pen's use. You will learn to use it carefully and thoughtfully. You will write, and write well."

As the ink of his name dried, Allan's image faded away. E.B. immediately tore from the barn and into the house; he knew the first story he must write.



Author's Note: "The Pen of Life" is a rethinking of the Moslem legend of the pen of Allah, with which he wrote the future and the past on the Tablet of Destiny. I began to imagine the power such a pen might hold today, and the beginning of E.B.'s story is the result.

Week 3 Story: The Astrologer's Revenge

The Astrologer woke up in a cold sweat. For the fourth time this week, he'd dreamt of that terrible night.
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It had started out wonderfully. The Astrologer was doing his favorite thing, admiring the stars, and imagining the future they may hold. One constellation seemed to promise him a deep and passionate love, while another predicted that the next months would hold pleasant surprises.

Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night

As he scanned the sky from east to west, he noticed a troubling grouping of stars. They seemed to be telling him that the end was coming, but were not specific as to what end.

Suddenly, his feet fell through the ground. His mouth and nose filled with dirty water, and he sputtered as he struggled to catch his breath.

Sometimes, The Astrologer woke up after this point of the nightmare. On worse nights, it went on. He could handle having fallen, but the rescue was so much worse. The nearby villagers kindly pulled him from the sinkhole, but then began to berate his dreaming. They criticized his precious stars, claiming that they were millions of miles away, and unconcerned with The Astrologer. The villagers insisted that he should turn from the stars, and give his attention to the immediate.
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He'd dreamt of that night so many times, and now, he was ready the break the cycle. Despite the early hour, The Astrologer got out of bed and sought the stars.

He furiously studied the constellation he'd noticed that fateful night. He refused to believe that the end the stars had promised much be the end of his dreaming. He considered the relation of the constellation to the village, and collected information on the lives of the villagers.

Three sleepless days later, he believed he had cracked the stars' code. An end was coming, and it did not bode well for the villagers...
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The stars seemed to warn of an upcoming storm. It would be fearsome, full of powerful lightning and roaring thunder, and would take place directly over the village. Based on his reading of the stars, The Astrologer knew the village would not survive.

Even after all that had happened in the past weeks, his decision was easy. The Astrologer raced to the village square, warning everyone he saw that a storm was brewing, and it was time to evacuate. Many scoffed at his claims, while others broke into panic. Eventually, a town meeting was called.

The Astrologer maintained his claims, asserting that the village would shortly be destroyed by a great storm. Some seemed to believe him, but unfortunately, his rescuers were in power, and testified against The Astrologer's sanity. Ultimately, he was declared unreliable, and his warnings were ignored.

He left the village hurt and dismayed, but he knew he had tried his hardest to save them. That night, the stars, seeing The Astrologer's disappointment, sent a storm which leveled the village, without harming the villagers. The next morning, a search party found The Astrologer taking shelter in the hole he had once despised. The immediately brought him home, where he was given a place of honor and leadership as the village rebuilt beneath a starry sky.


Author's Note: "The Astrologer's Revenge" is a sequel to Aesop's The Astrologer, from the book The Aesop for Children. In the original fable, the Astrologer falls into a hole while admiring the stars, and is criticized for caring more about the distant future than the immediate present. After reading, I began to wonder how the Astrologer must have felt, and questioned if the stars would ever align for him.

Week 2 Story: After the Hunt

The Fox was frustrated. 

After a week of hunting alongside the Lion, he had eaten only the scraps of their kills.

Worse could be said for the Wolf and the Jackal, who were content to submit to the Lion's idea of sharing, even if it meant they went hungry.

In his bitterness, the Fox began to plan. He wondered how to use the Lion's selfishness to his advantage. "How," he thought, "can I quarter a carcass so that we all get enough to eat? How can I satisfy the Lion's hunger, and feed my own revenge?"

As the Fox sat at his favorite watering hole, ruminating on his intentions, he was suddenly overtaken by a giant shadow. He looked up, directly into the eyes of his salvation.

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This was certain to be their hardest hunt yet, but the Fox had manipulated his peers masterfully - everyone knew their role.

The Jackal would back the poor beast into a corner, where the Wolf, waiting quietly, would snarl and incite fear. Meanwhile, the Fox would weave between the beast's clumsy legs, causing him to stumble. Finally, the Lion would perform his typical heroics, completing the kill.

His plan had gone off perfectly. When it was time to quarter the slain elephant, the Fox knew he had won. He allowed the Lion to complete the usual speech, assigning himself a quarter for his bravery, another for his strength, the third for his wisdom, and the fourth for his pride.

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That night, the Lion ate and ate while the Fox looked on. By his last bite of the first quarter, the Lion's roars had become weak groans. Halfway through the second quarter, the Lion's jaw ached with the strain. However, the Lion made it all the way through the third quarter before his stomach burst, ending the Lion's life with a loud belch.

The Fox, pleased with himself, split the remaining quarter into thirds, happily sharing with the Wolf and the Jackal. Yet, while they merrily ate their fill, a watching elephant became frustrated. 

Author's Note: "After the Hunt" serves as a sequel to Aesop's The Lion's Share. As I thought about the debauchery displayed by the Lion, I began to imagine what the Fox must think, and what he might do when he's hungry. 

Image Information: "A Sly Fox," and "A Watchful Elephant"