Walk On The Ocean Week 12 Storytelling

And Lo! For the lord, our God, had heard of the death of the one beloved by him, John the Baptist, whom hath baptized our lord while he hath been just a babe in swaddling cloths. Our God wished to be alone to pray and meditate on his miracle. And Lo, our Lord and Savior bid farewell to his disciples as they set off across the Sea to Galilee.

And Lo, behold the Sphinx observed the Lord, Our God, as he traversed the sand. Jesus hath no attempt made to conceal his footprints that appeared in the sand. The Sphinx delighted in remembrance of the tricks he hath wrought before.

The Spinx watching Jesus

Courtesy of Flickr

But he of jealous intent doth behold our Lord Jesus as he turned toward his friends who sailed off in the distance. For then, the lord realized he had left his miracle watch in the boat with them and must go to it. Without this divine instrument our God would not know when the next miracle hath been scheduled. Thus the Lord sayeth a quick prayer and stepped onto the water.


And Lo, it doth hold his weight! The Lord walketh on water without sinking into it! A jealous knot grew in the belly of the sphinx as he determined he must know how Jesus achieves this trick. Thus the great Sphinx lifted his wings and flew out in front of our lord.

Jesus walking on water

Couretesy Pixabay

And Jesus wept. For he thought he had been done with this foul creature.

“Why doest thou fly in my way?”

The Sphinx smiled thus plainly. “I would know the nature of your ability to walk on water.”

“Get the behind me, Satan,” cried Jesus impatiently, “I am on God’s errand!”

“Dear Savior, thou credit me too much. Satan I be-eth not. Too much work. I am simply a lowly Sphinx who wishes to walk on water as well.”

“Thou art an evil of temptation. I should smite the now and be done with ye,” grumbled Jesus.

“Oh now, good Savior, that wouldn’t be saving anything,” grinned the Sphinx

“It would be saving me from having to talketh with thou,” retorted Jesus.

“I simply wish to know, how thouest come to not sink in the waves.”

“Thou may ask how one breathes, how one thinks, or how one sleeps. The answer lies in the question.”

The Sphinx then was tickled at this reversal. “Now, Jesus, my lord, becometh the riddler.”

Jesus thus then waved the creature a dismissive wave. “Be gone creature.”

And Lo, the Sphinx did turneth to see the ship far out to Sea. “Thy ship is getting further away, best to tell me how you are performing this miracle thus leaving thou to thy journey.”

And Lo! Jesus was exasperated with this creature. “Fine, I walketh on stepping stones. Behold, there, just under the waves. I simply see them and walk.”

And Lo! The sphinx gazed upon the water and saw the dark outlines under the waves and knew the source of the miracle.

“Ha! I see how thou performest a miracle without magic!”

“Now let me be, thou mangy quarter feline, I must get my miracle watch!”

“Farewell, good Jesus, I shall also walk on water.”

And with that, the great beast of man, lion, and feathered bird alighted on the water but found no solid footing. The dark place hath been simply a fish under the waves. The beast thus tumbled in.

And Lo! The beast did not know how to swim. Hence our Lord, Jesus, watched the simple being flounder in the water with the smallest smile of satisfaction.

“Thou hast tricked me, thy quick witted Savior! There be-eth no stepping stones here.”

“No, beast of temptation and spite! I walketh on water because I am the Son of God and the Servant of Humanity. I walketh on water because I be-eth divine. Thou be-eth not divine and thy poisoned soul will pull you under the waves!”

And the Truth was spoken as the beast floundered in the sea his body hath sunken under the waves and he sputtered out a cry for help.

“Great savior, please forgive my foolish ways. Please help me in my time of need and let me feathers once more touch the sky.”

And our Lord God reflected on these words and a pained expression greweth on his face. Our lord contemplated on what the price of being good was.

“Please doeth not forsaken me, my Lord!” And with that the great Sphinx’s head did not appear above water again.

Jesus heping hand

Courtesy of Youtube

And our Lord Jesus, taking pity on the soul of his tempter, reached out a hand and pulled the great beast from the waves. He thrusteth him skyward and the great Sphinx quickly shooketh the water from his feathers and alighted into the sun.

"Great lord of humanity, I thank thee for your grace.”

“Remember my charity to thee and provide that charity to others. Cease thou immoral jokes and praise the works of the righteous.”

“So shall I do my Savior, till my last breath.” With that the great beast flew off shining his feathers in the sun.

And the lord god, looked back at the boat that had been caught in a storm, and saw then the fact that the fool, Peter, had attempted to walk on water to bring the miracle watch back and was sinking himself. Jesus sighed and began to run to help his poor simple profit.

Walk on the Ocean

Toad the wet Sprocket

Courtesy of Youtube

Authors Note:  This story was inspired by the parable The Crow That Thought He Knew.  It is about a crow who is learning the art of fishing from a master crow fisher.  However he began to think he knew better than the master and tried to fish himself and ended up dying in the water.  

I thought that the previous story was fun and decided to continue it with this story.  The previous story employed the same two character and is on this blog at The Lost Versus.  I wanted to continue this story because it brought a laugh to a couple people and it was fun to write.  

The Crow That Thought He Knew from Eastern Stories and Legends by Marie L. Shedlock

News at Ten: Week 11 Storytelling

Begin News Transcript

Bert:

Tonight we bring you a story that will warm your heart and your soul.  And who do we have to thank? Why our illustrious and wise king of course.  Here's Tamera O'Keefe with the latest.

Tamara:

Thanks Bert.  I standing here at the royal palace where the reunion of a lifetime is about to commence.  Here at the animal sanctuary which is provided by King Bramha-datta lives a beautiful elephant named Bubbles.  She is the pride of the king's elephant guard. 

Judas:

I didn't know what I had done.  All of the sudden she wouldn't eat.  She wouldn't sleep.

Tamara:

You see, Bubbles, had made a friend.  A friend that she would go to the ends of the world for.

Judas:

The peasant came and offered me some cash for the Bella.  How was I supposed to know it would affect Bubbles so badly.

King Bramha-datta:

I was livid I tell you.  Livid.  It was obvious to anyone who cared to look that Bubbles and Bella were inseparable friends.  It was ridiculous that elephant keeper sold him.  

Tamara:

That's right folks.  You heard it here first.  The kings favorite elephant had befriended man's best friend!  And when Bella was no longer around Bubbles grew listless.

King Bramha-datta:

I was really worried about Bubbles.  She was losing weight rapidly.  I was afraid she was going to die.  I launched a search party for Bella as soon as I heard she had been sold.

Peasant:

I can tell ya.  That King guy we have.  Sure is generous.

(clinking of gold coins heard in a bag)

Best thing I ever did buying that dog off of Judas.  

(sounds of Peasant being robbed of his 

gold coins is heard in the background)

Tamara:

One man's good fortune was another's pain.

Bubbles:

She was my only friend in the whole world.  At first she just ate whatever was left over.  You know that I dropped.

Bella:

I liked to call myself her apron.  She was always such a messy eater.

Bubbles:

But Bella grew on me you know?  And what do you do when that is taken away.  I mean I lost my family when I was young to ivory poachers.  They came and killed everyone.  That's when King Brahma-datta took pitty on me and took me in.  But finally having someone to call family and then...she was just gone.

King Brahma-datta:

That's why I fired him.  I should have had him whipped.  It's inexcusable that he separated those two.  Besides everyone on this land is mine, not his.  He sold what was mine.

Judas:

Yeah I got canned.  It wasn't nice either.  I had to clean out all the manure from all of the stables first. It was sick work  

(Pause)

But I'm glad they are back together.  I deserved it.  

Tamara:

Now we are about to see the two reunited after such a scary ordeal for the first time.  King Brahma-datta has made sure that no one would interfere with their reunion.  We are truly blessed to have such a wise king.  We now go to Draupadi for the play by play reunion:

Bella and Bubbles play fetch

Courtesy of Youtube

Authors Note: This story is based off of the story of "Faithful Friends" from Eastern Stories and Legends by Marie L. Shedlock.  In it an elephants best friend is sold to a peasant.  When the king finds this out he asks the Buddha what he should do.  The Buddha says to announce there will be a fine for any person found keeping the dog.  When the person who bought the animal heard this he released the dog and it rushed back to the elephant.

In my version I took it from the perspective of a news transcript of coverage of the reuniting.  I used real footage from a news crew about an elephant and a dog being best friends.  In my story the King pays a finders fee to the peasant but the peasant ends up losing it to thieves for comic relief.  

A Woman Scorned: Storytelling: Week 9

The door crashed open and Parvati stormed into the kitchen, daggers flying out of her eyes. “You! How could you!”

Shiva with Ganga spouting from Topknot

Courtesy of YouTube

Shiva quickly grabbed a bowl from the table and dumped the contents on the floor. He thrust the bowl on top of his head upside down. “Whatever do you mean, my love?” Water began to pour from the rim of the bowl all around his face obscuring the view of his wild Goddess.

“Don’t give me that! You know what you did. I mean sure, you're supposed to observe, but this?!”

Realizing the absurdity, and frankly the danger, of not having a clear visual of the raging Goddess, Shiva maneuvered the bowl so that his face was not covered. Soon his elbow was on the table holding the bowl tilted halfway back on his head . A waterfall sprayed down on the floor of the kitchen. “I’m sure I don’t know what you are talking about, dear. Would you be so kind as to make breakfast? I’m so hungry. Keeping my eyes open all the time is a real pain.” Shiva wipes his face and fakes a large yawn as water cascades behind him.

“Oh! So we are going to play it like that are we?” Parvati looked at him incredulously. “Really.” Shiva looked as uncomfortable as a baptist in any place called Tito’s Titti Twister Town. Parvati walks over to the stove and slams a pan onto the metal surface. Shiva winces. “So, my husband, why, may I ask, are you flooding my floor? Is this a new thing?”

Shiva shrugged absently, “Yes, something new that just started flowing today. It gives life to all others.” Shiva pointed down the river that escaped his head to the people rejoicing in the water downstream. Parvati looks down, sees the revelers, frowns and slams a box on the counter.

“So my kitchen has to be flooded for others to live. You realize the mess you are making!”

“I can go into the living room if you like.” Shiva begins to rise out of his chair.

Parvati rushes up behind him and pushes firmly down on his shoulders until his rear lands with a thump. “Oh no husband, please stay…” Parvati’s sickly sweet voice froze Shiva in his seat. Her fingers were leaving indentations in his shoulders. “And how long is this new life giving gift going to last?”

“Well, you see, that’s hard to say. If it doesn’t stay everything will die.”

“Oh just stop!” Parvati rips the bowl out of Shiva’s hands and Ganga’s stream spews forth. Parvati slams the bowl down on the floor where it shatters in a thousand little shards. “How dare you bring another woman home!”

Shiva stands slowly but firmly, “Woman! Get ahold of yourself--” The dismay that registered on Shiva’s face lasted a full second before Parvati had picked him up and crashed him against the floor. With the majesty of the Goddess that she was she placed one foot, and then the other firmly on his chest.

“Don’t you dare take that tone with me, you cheater!”

Shiva’s breath came shallowly due to the pressure that was being exerted on his chest. “Wife, please. I’m sorry!”

Parvati (Called Kali in this Incarnation) dancing on Shiva

Courtesy of Wikipedia

Parvati’s rage melted slightly. She stepped off of Shiva’s chest slowly, the wildness in her eyes receded slightly. “Why did you bring her home?”

Shiva rubbed the spot where she had so recently danced on his body. He sat up slowly, water spouting out of his topknot. Parvati happened to be in the line of fire and Ganga soaked her through. The surprise of it shocked her through to the core. Quivering lips gave way to trembling eyes. A flood of tears began to pour from the Goddess’s eyes. She sank down into the kitchen chair and put her hands over her eyes to hide the torrent.

Shiva came up behind her slowly, carefully, “Wife...  Please...  Know my only love is for you.”

“Then, then why...Why is she here?”

“If I hadn’t trapped her she would have destroyed the world. I had to net her in my hair as to save all of creation.”

Parvati slowed the display of her grief. She looked up slowly with hopeful eyes. “Oh, she was going to destroy everything?”

“Yes dear, everything we had built together. I couldn’t allow that. I care too much for what we have done.” Shiva wraps his arms around Parvati tightly. She melts into his embrace.

“But I can’t stand it husband. She is able to be closer to you than I. I am your wife. I am the observed. Yet she gets to be next to your head at all times?”

Shiva leaned his forehead in till it was touching hers. There eyes were a breath apart. He was careful not to point Ganga at her again. “I understand your concern, my love. How about this, what if we merge ourselves? You will be my right half and I will be the left half. That way no one can be closer to me than you.”

Parvati’s eyes alighted with the proposition. “Oh, really? You would do that for me?”

Shiva smiled and squeezed her hand, “For you my love, I would destroy anything!”

“You are not just saying that?” Parvati said hopefully.

“Have I ever lied to you?”

Parvati looked puzzled as she contemplated this. “Well, I only remember since you last opened your eyes...”

“Have I lied to you today, then?”

Parvati smiled. “No my husband. You haven’t!”

Shiva wrapped her in his arms and Parvati returned the embrace. A white light outlined them as the two melded into one being. Soon Parvati was the right side and Shiva was the left. “There, now we are closer than anyone will ever be.

Shiva and Parvati Combined

Courtesy of Wikipedia

Parvati beamed happiness, “You are the most giving husband! I love you!”

Shiva smiled, thankful he had averted any real danger, and in truth, he would at least never get stepped on again. “I love you to my faithful wife.”



Author's Note: This story was created from the story about how Parvati was angry when she learned that Ganga was in Shiva’s hair and was closer to Shiva then she was. She felt like she should be the one closer to her husband and would not abide having one between them. Thus in order to rectify the problem Shiva suggests that they merge together so that no one could be closer to him than she was. Thus was born the God and Goddess being one representation. 

 I put in a couple little Easter eggs such as the part where Parvati steps up on Shiva’s chest. This is originally when she danced on him to keep his eyes open to observe. I also mention the job of Shiva as observer and Parvati as the one to be observed. Also the fact that Shiva is the Destroyer, I had him state he would destroy anything for his wife, and thus that was an endearance to her. I put in the part where every time Shiva opens his eyes everything starts again, I thought that was a funny part that even the Goddess won’t remember the previous incarnation of the world.

7 Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art : Shiva's Secret    

Epified Videos   

Devdutt Pattanaik

Wedding Dash: Storytelling Week 7

Wedding Dash

The wedding alter

Courtesy of Wikimedia

Doves fly into the sky setting the serenity of the evening setting sun. The sun paints the backdrop of gold around the white wreaths of the alter. Several people in the wedding party let out an audible ahhh at the beauty. Arjuna and Subhadra stand facing each other. They looked like the only couple who could love so deeply. The priest stood behind them with a smile. Several people in the wedding party dabbed at tears that flowed from wet eyes.

“These two have been in love for many days here in Krishna’s kingdom. They began their relationship under his approval and it has bloomed. Their love is not only for each other but has touched all of our lives. Therefore I ask, does anyone have any reason why this couple should not be married?”

The two lovebirds stared in each other's eyes.

Love at Sunset

Courtesy of Pixabay

Suddenly there was a throat cleared at the back of the party. A woman, who too much resembled a human sized serpent, rose from her chair slowly.

“I do.”

Arjuna’s head swivels sharply at the sound of the voice. His face falls like the kings of Babylon.

The woman slowly flowed flowed forward down the aisles toward the site of matrimony. “I am Uloopi of the Naga people. This man,” she raises a bony finger pointed at the groom, “has already been married. To ME!”

Uloopi, Serpent Woman

Courtesy of Pixabay

A gasp elicits out of the crowd. Arjuna’s face grows crimson with rage. “Sit down woman. I only married you because of your threat!”

Subhadra looks shocked at this new revelation. “Arjuna, you are married?”

Arjuna turns to her placatingly, “Sweetheart, she said she would entrap me for all time if I did not. My heart never belonged to her.”

“But our son, Iravan!” cried Uloopi, “Surely he means something to you!” A small boy looks longingly up at Arjuna, pleading in his eyes.

“He is a lovely boy, but he understands that one must follow his heart. Now sit down!” Uloopi stands stock still in shock. The boy buries his face in Uloopi’s dress. Arjuna turns to the priest and smiles his widest smile. “Please continue.”

“Wait! I object!”

Arjuna sighs exasperatedly he looks out over the crowd and sees Draupadi rise in the crowd. “Woman! What are you doing here. Surely you aren’t done with your 3 years with my brothers!”

Relief of Draupadi

Courtesy of Flickr

“How dare you! I married you first.”

“And I get one year out of five for marital bliss? That isn’t fair! Go back to Bhima and lay with him!” Draupadi is shocked silent and wraps her arms around the shaking Uloopi. Arjuna turns to the officiant once again. He smiles as wide as possible, teeth gritting. “Please, let’s get this wrapped up...!”

“Wait. How do I know you will be faithful to me if you have already had two wives?” Subhadra is studying his face. “How will I know I won’t also be abandoned?”

Arjuna’s words drip like honey nectar, “Sweetheart, I only have eyes for you. Yes I have a past, doesn’t any man of worth? But that is over. I only want to be with you.”

Subhadra melts at his tone, she reaches down and rubs her expanding belly. “That’s good to know, because we have an addition coming!” She beams.

The crowd sighs happily.

Arjuna looks left and right like a wild animal caged in a fence. He begins backing up swiftly from the alter. He almost trips but catches himself as he goes. “Wow. You know what? Look at the time. I just remembered I have this thing I have to--” With that Arjuna turns and dashes from the proceedings.

Groom fleeing the scene

Courtesy of Flickr

Subhadra turns scarlet red and yells at the audience, “Get him!” The crowd in a roar of fury rushes after the unfaithful lover.

Epified: Mahabharata videos Part A and B 2016

Author's Note: I watched the Epified videos with this section of class.  In them they go into more detail about Arjuna's history with weddings.  What became clear to me is the many times that Arjuna wed someone, had a baby with them, and then just went on his marry way leaving the women to fend for the children.  This may be the product of the culture, and I can see how these type of chauvinistic tales could be embedded in the culture.  One simply has to look at the rape culture that exists in India today to see that.  So I began to think what would happen if Arjuna was confronted on his wedding day by all of the women he had previously married.  Thus came this story.  I actually see it more of a farce than anything so it was fun to write.

The Lost Verses : Week 6 Storytelling

And lo, Jesus was filled with the Spirit. He thus traveled to Galilee and shared the joy the Spirit.

Upon reaching the gates of Galilee, Jesus came upon the creature.

For it had two wings, the body of a lion and the head of man. It was the Sphinx of lore. The creature sat perched over the fountain of water. Thus the creature spake: “I am called “Purushamriga” and I welcome thee to Galilee.”

The Sphinx of Ancient India

Courtesy of YouTube

Jesus bowed his head in greeting, “Greetings great Purushamriga, for 40 days and 40 nights I have traveled the great desert. Please allow me to drink from your waters.”

The great beast licked at his paws and bowed his head to be lower than that of Jesus, “Great son of God, thou are most exalted. The water in this fountain will on sate the thirst of the truly divine. Those that are not will perish at the slightest sip.

“Great Purushamriga, I beseech thee, in the name of Lord God Almighty, to let this poor servant of the Lord slate his thirst.”

“Most Divine one, I would gladly let thou relieve thy stress once thou hast proven thou hast not been corrupted by the fiend most foul.”

Relief depicting a Purushamriga

Courtesy of Wikipedia

“Great Beast, I do enquire of thee, what fresh hell is this?”

The beast arose from his perch and walked around the front of the fountain standing in front of Jesus. “Thy God has requested that thy faith be proven and thy soul be found free of sin. The proof of this will be in the response to the riddles The Lord on High hath requested be asked.”

“Oh great purushamriga, if it please you, may we get on with it? My trial begins to feel like I am Sita forever striving to please Rama. Time doth tick by and my throat remains parched.”

The Purushamriga nods in affirmation. “As you wish, great shepherd of the people of Zion. As with Odysseus I shall begin: Who is the friend of the exile? Who is the friend of the householder? Who is the friend of him that ails? Who is the friend of one about to die?”

And thus Jesus smiled and stated “The friend of the exile in a distant land is his companion. The friend of the householder is the wife. The friend of him that ails is the physician: The friend of him about to die is charity.”

The great beast was pleased. “Though thy travels, thou hath built much knowledge. Thy question that is the number of two: What is the best of all laudable things? What is the most valuable of all his possessions? What is the best of all gains? What is the best of all kinds of happiness?

And thus Jesus was perplexed. He proclaimed to the beast that smelled of old cat litter: “Great being of the ancient world, thou art mistaken. Thy first riddle hath contained 4 questions, this thou hath just asked 4 additional questions making the total of thy questions 8.”

And thus the great sphinx ruffled his feathers in agitation. “Thou should not be an ass. Thou shouldth answer the questions God has commanded me to ask of thou.”

Jesus being exasperated by Sphinx

Courtesy of Pixabay

And lo Jesus retorted, “Of course, oh great one. I would just remind thou humbly that thy math is a little amiss. The answer thou doth search for is thus: The best of all laudable things is skill. The best of all possessions is knowledge. The best of all gains is health. Contentment is the best of all kinds of happiness.”

To which the great being clapped his paws together in delight. “Thy hath answered the riddles correctly.”

And lo Jesus approached the fountain of sparkling water. He licked his dry, cracked lips, eyes alight in the possibility of quenching a month long thirst. And thus our Lord Jesus reached his hand out to scoop the precious liquid to his mouth.

And Lo the beast did block his attempt. Jesus looked at the creature in disappointment. The great Sphinx shook his mammoth head slowly. “Thou still must answer one additional question.”

Jesus, perturbed by the hindrance did speak. “Thou try my patience, great beast. Perhaps you wish to be like the fishes and loaves, and be multiplied for the masses to feed on.”

The Sphinx doth look at his nails haughtily. “Violence breeds violence, oh preacher to his flocks.”

“Ask your question.”

“So we are doing away with the niceties are we?”

“I’m thirsty and done with your games. I want to drink so ask. “

“I do so like the old tongue though.”

And thus Jesus sighed heavily. “Please, oh great one, I beggeth thee to ask thy last question to which I can prove me purity like Sita jumping in the fire. “ And Jesus said underneath his breath, “Before I build a fire to put you on a spit roast.”

Sita proving purity through self immolation

Courtesy of Wikimedia

And thus the Sphinx rose up to his full height, his great tail swishing wildly. “Son of God, thou last question is thus: What is that which, if renounced, maketh one agreeable? What is that which, if renounced, leadeth to no regret? What is that which, if renounced, maketh one wealthy? And what is that which, if renounced, maketh one happy?

And Jesus wept with boredom and thirst. “Why doth thou torture me with stupid riddles? Thy answer is thus: Pride, if renounced, maketh one agreeable. Wrath, if renounced, leadeth to no regret. Desire, if renounced, maketh one wealthy. Avarice, if renounced, maketh one happy.”

And lo the purushamriga gestured deeply to Jesus. “One on high, thou may drink from this fountain!” The great beast moved to the side to allow Jesus by.

And lo, Jesus saw, a donkey drinking from the fountain. Jesus looked at the Sphinx incredulously. “And you let beast of burden drink but not the Son of God?

Horse at the drinking fountain

Courtesy of Wikimedia

And thus a smile formed on the purushamriga’s face. “Gotcha.” And the great beast flew off. Jesus attacked the fountain drinking next to the bewildered donkey.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:  Okay so you probably all think I'm a heretic for this story but I really enjoyed writing it and think it is hilarious.  

First off this was inspired "Hundred Questions" in The Mahabharata written by R.K.Narayan.  This story is about the god of justice, Yama, testing his sonYudhistira's character to ensure he had reached a satisfactory level of divinty.  The way he did this was to appear as a Crane in the middle of a sapphire colored water pond that immediately made anyone unbearably thirsty.  The Crane told each of the brothers that they would die if they drank before answering some riddles.  All of them drank and died except for Yudhistira who answered all the riddles and due to his quality of character won his brothers back from death.

On first reading this I was struck how similar this story was to the Sphinx in the Odyssey. Right down to the riddle there were similarities in the stories.  Then I began to reach the Sphinx and found that they were also in Southern India and were one of the forms that Shiva chose and an incarnation in the world.  In fact they were found all over multiple ancient worlds.

This got me to thinking about the situation, the testing of faith.  Which of course led me to the temptation of Christ.  I looked through the King James version of the bible and decided to draw the parallells that are so prevalent in all mythology.  Thus with this story (as irreverent as it is) incorporates aspects of Greek mythology, Egyptian mythology, Christianity and Indian mythology.  

The riddles that were shown here are from the actual story The Mahabharata. They were found on the sacred text website. 

Narayan, R. K. "Hundred Questions" The Mahabharata. 2013
"Luke Chapter 4" The King James Bible.  1973
Sphinxes of India
Temptation of Christ

A Light Snack: Week 5 Storytelling

Once upon a time, a lithe little boy in the standard summer garb named Jamie walked along the shore of a marsh lazily watching the majestic birds flying in formation overhead. He contemplated the beauty of nature that lay in the expanse before him. A picnic basket swung absently at his side.

A great tabby cat followed close to Jamie, entangling herself in Jamie’s legs every so often. Jamie simply did a dance around her fat torso without dropping a thought on it. Young kittens frolicked all around as the group moved down the shoreline of the murky waters.

“Are you sure we should be down here?” Asked the tabby cat without moving her mouth.

“How could we picnic anywhere else?” asked Jamie with his mind.

The great tabby fussed at a couple of kittens that were lagging behind. “Keep up, keep up, kids!”

Jamie found a suitable area and laid out a blanket. The kittens all trampled on and rolled around attacking each other.

“You have your hands full, Mama.”

“You have no idea.” The great tabby sprawled herself out on the blanket and the hungry kittens jumped over to find their afternoon milk. “Isn’t this near where the great beast has been hunting?”

“So what if it is, if he comes we will beat him off!”

“One should not take risk so trivially, young man.”

Jamie picks up a stick and starts thrusting it and pivoting with it. “He won’t stand a chance against us, Mama.”

“You are so young. Not much more than one of my kittens.”

This caused Jamie to stop, insulted at the comparison. “I am much bigger than your kittens, Mama!” Mama gave him a sideways glance and started licking her paws clean.

“Are you going to get the food out?”

“Sure,” Jamie said making a final thrust with his make believe sword.

“Yay. Your enemies are vanquished," Mama thought sarcastically.  "Hooray. The crowd goes wild.”

Jamie looks down at Mama with a look of derision. Mama simply makes her eyes small and her grin wide and a small purr to come through her closed lips. Jamie sighed. He could never stay mad at her when she looked so cute. He sat down on the blanket and pulled out some tuna and set it in a dish next to mama. She rubbed her head against his hand and then began to dig in. Jamie pulled out a sandwich from the case and took a great bite.

Suddenly a huge crocodile leaped out of the water toward the group. Jamie jumped up from the blanket and backed away. Mama leaped out of the way herself. The kittens looked confused and were slow from their bellies being full.

Cat takes on an alligator

Courtesy of YouTube

“Kids, get back!” growled Mama in fright. The crocodile lumbered up to the kittens, his gaping maw brandished with dagger teeth.

“What a nice morsel!” Mr. Crocodile thought as he came up upon the abandoned sandwich and tuna. His jaws clamped down on them and swallowed them whole. His mouth was open again in a minute. The kittens mewed in fright. Mama jumped up and batted Mr. Crocodile on the nose.

“Go back to where you came from foul being!”

“How am I fowl? I am hungry and just saw a nice snack on the side of the bank!” Mr. Crocodile’s indignant thoughts flowed over the group. “How can I be denied a meal when you all are so full?”

“You have taken all you will. Now be gone with you.”

“But there are such delicious delicacies that lie just over there.” Mr. Crocodiles thin grin spread across his whole mouth as he gestured to the kittens who were paralyzed in fright.

“You may not eat those!” Mama swatted at Mr. Crocodile again her claws scratching at the armor of scales which covered him. Mr. Crocodile laughed at her feeble attempts.

“Mama, get away from him!” Jamie cried desperately. “Kittens, come to me!”

“Yes, let me eat. I am so hungry.” The giant beast opened his mouth, the razors of his teeth inching closer to the kittens.

“Mr. Crocodile, you forget yourself!” Mama dashed to his side and swiped at his soft underbelly. His armor did not protect him there! “You have come up to our world. You do not have your power and speed here!”

Mr. Crocodile shrank from the attack and brandished his teeth at Mama who hissed back at him. “How bout I just eat you then?” Mr. Crocodile's teeth swiped at Mama, who dodged the attack. Her claws met their mark again on his soft underside of his jaw. Another thin line of blood appeared where her claw had met its mark.

“Mr. Crocodile, here on land you are slow and cumbersome. Here I will pick you apart piece by piece.” She swiped at his underside again and once again found her mark. Mr. Crocodile was in pain from the multiple attacks. “Go back to your home where you may rule. Find your food there!” Mr. Crocodile eyed the scrumptious kittens once again. Mama ferociously slashed at his nose undeterred by the rows of death in front of her. “Go.”

Mr. Crocodile, sensing the truth in her words slipped back into the murky waters and disappeared under it’s surface. “As you wish Mama, but if you come to swim, I will be waiting.”

“We will never swim again!” Mama cried.

Jamie rushed up and grabbed Mama and hugged her closely. “You silly cat! You could have been eaten.”

Mama purred as her kittens jumped around them happily. “Never underestimate the power of confidence, courage and cunning. With those even the smallest person can defeat the biggest foe.”

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This story was inspired by the story of Bhima destroying the Rakshasa in The Mahabrarata. The version that I read was the one written by R.K. Narayan. The story talks about how Bhima and his brothers came to a town dressed as beggars. They were taken into a house who told them that the town had been terrorized by a demon Rakshasa who demanded to be fed every day.  He would also eat the person who brought the food. Bhima took food to the Rakshasa, ate it in front of him and then killed him. I started thinking about how even the smallest person could overcome an obstacle when given the right motivation. I actually loved this as a moral so decided to change the story to make it more the reason for the story.

The Rakshasa

Courtesy of Wikipedia

Then I remembered the video of the cat fighting off a crocodile that went viral on YouTube. In it the crocodile was simply trying to eat chicken the tour guide had left out. A cat came up and beat the crocodile back into the water away from his food.

I paired the two stories in my mind almost immediately when I read the book. I thought about how nature was funny and wanted to highlight why a cat would win against such a formidable foe. Thinking about a crocodile, on land they become quite slow. They can not do their barrel roll attack either or drown their victim. Thus they are not as dangerous as when they are in the water. Thinking on that I could see Mama being able to outmaneuver and thus use her cunning to inflict damage on the crocodile. I did not want the story to end in death, so I simply changed that to the moral is it is.

I wrote it in the style of a children’s story so that it could be added to the book Na Paisti Na Cumhachta, a children’s book I’m writing about children with extraordinary powers. It will be a companion piece to the TV show #PookasPassages. This will be a production of #GoldenCloudStories.

Also now you know why cats hate water!

The Mahabharata.  R. K. Narayan. 1978

The Battle Of Knob Hill - Storytelling Week 3

The sun blazed overhead warming the summer afternoon. The grass was lush and green on the hillside where a cozy cottage was nestled quietly. A brown split rail fence encircled the small hermitage with a small barn off to the side. Arnie, a young boy of stout nature, felt the natural textures of the soft grass graze between his toes as he walked up to and leaned against the split rail fence, gazing over the sparse landscape of houses tucked away on a gentle giant of a mountain. His mind raced back in time.

A Split Rail Fence much like the one that might be on Arnie's Farm

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Small Mountain Town like the one in the story

Courtesy of Pixabay

You see, he once had a friend, long ago that he thought would last forever. They had made bonds that were unbreakable! They had claimed Knob Hill as their kingdom. But one day that friend was sent off to live with other relatives. That friend, Petra, was gone for many, many weeks. Arnie had thought that Petra was never coming back. Their farm just didn’t produce as much as it once did. Arnie had tried to goad the clouds to form and rain more on their land. But the wind didn’t want to cooperate. The water was stubborn. So Petra was sent away.

Arnie kept their kingdom alive. All of the kids would come to Knob Hill to play, but all would have to hear the tale of how Petra and Arnie had been there first. How they had claimed it. How they were friends for always.

A hill like Knob Hill

Courtesy of Wikipedia Western Ghats

One day, a couple weeks ago, Petra showed up out of the blue. Arnie had not been there, but the other kids were. They lied about Arnie telling Petra that he had said bad things about her. That he had called her a liar and a cheat. Petra came to believe the other children, how could so many be wrong? When Arnie heard that she was back, he had rushed down the small cobblestone road to the mound they had so often played on. He scurried up Knob Hill to hug her and welcome her back. But Petra, believing the other kids, had pushed him down the hill. He tumbled all the way down the long slope till he reached the bottom. Petra had come up to him and said, “Go away, Arnie. Nobody wants you here. Don’t even leave your house or I’ll pummel you again.”

Scared and hurt Arnie had rushed back to his house and hadn’t left since.

Arnie looked to the sky and saw his friend, the great Bird, circling overhead. “Mr. Bird, how are you this fine day?”

A Osprey in flight like Mr. Bird

Courtesy of Flickr

Mr. Bird circled down and landed lightly on one of the posts. He picked and fluffed his feathers in a most self centered way. “I am good. But why is a young man like you staying inside the fence. Young men like you need to be running and playing.”

Arnie leaned away from the fence letting the sun drench is face. “I don’t want to get in a fight with Petra. She said I can’t leave the house.”

“Petra, the girl you were such good friends with?”

“Yes. The children lied about me and now she won’t let me play in on the hill.”

“It is not right for her to have banished you from the hill. You had cared for it so.”

“Without help, I’m afraid I will never get to go back to the hill.”

Mr. Bird spread his wings wide and large studying his grandeur. You see, Mr. Bird, loved the way he looked! “Tell you what, I help you take back your hill.”

“I can’t fight a girl. Especially Petra. I like her.”

“Just engage her. If she does not accept your story, then I will help you.”

Arnie smiled wide. He needed no more assurances. Arnie rushed down the cobbled road, past the old merchant's store. He rounded the bend of the road and rushed up the hill. He looked up over his shoulder to see that the great bird was flying high.

Not paying attention to where he was running he ran directly into none other than Petra herself. The force of the impact sent Petra falling face first in front of her. A slap of mud was heard as she landed. Arnie shrank back, appalled at what he did.

“Petra, please, listen, it wasn’t me. I didn’t--”

But Petra was hearing none of it. Her face that was visible under the caked mud had turned a crimson color of rage. Her fists were balled up into furious revenge. “I told you to stay off this hill!” Petra loosened a punch at Arnie. Arnie attempted to dodge it, but it landed squarely on his cheek. He flew backward in a flash of pain landing on his back. He whirled around seeing Petra towering over him.

“Please, Petra, you're my friend! My friend forever. I would never say a bad thing about you, you must know that!”

“Now I’m going to beat you to an inch of your life Arnie Brooke!”

Petra raised her fists again in anger.

“Mr. Bird, please help!” Arnie balled himself up as tight as he could to keep from getting too badly damaged by the onslaught.

Mr. Bird let a kaw echo over the vale. And a doo doo escape from his bowls. Petra looked up just at that moment to see the source of the great cry and the bird poo splashed right in her eyes. Petra was mortified. She stumbled backward and fell to her rear. Arnie couldn’t control it. A laugh rang from his mouth at the absurdity of it all. Soon all the kids on the hill were releasing a raucous course of mirth. Petra wiped the bird poo from her eyes with her dress, her face melting from shock to horror and back again. She turned and ran down the hill to escape the humiliation. Petra never came back to the hill and Arnie began a rule of benevolence for all in his kingdom.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story is loosely based on the story of Vali and Sugreeva. In the story, Vali through an entrance to another world to fight a great beast. He is gone for many years and eventually assumed dead. Sugreeva rules in his stead as regent. On suggestions of his advisers, he boards up the only portal between worlds for fearing that the beast would come back through instead of Vali. Vali eventually returns and sees the barrier and believes that Sugreeva, his brother, has tried to overtake his throne. Vali becomes enraged and bursts through the barriers. He violently banishes Sugreeva from the land. Rama comes to find Sugreeva and decides to help him. Sugreeva goes to fight Vali and before Vali kills him, Rama shoots his arrow at him ending his life.

I thought it would be interesting to take this and make it more into a children’s story. In this incarnation of the story the part of Vali was turned into a little girl, Petra, and the part of Sugreeva was Arnie. To keep with the magical aspect of Rama, I made his character Mr. Bird, as Arnie is using his mind speak (telepathy) to speak with him. I made the parallel of the brotherly love to of love between a girl and a guy. 

This will probably be one that will show up in Na Paisti Na Cumhacha, the children's book I am writing as a companion to the TV show Pooka's Passages that we have in development. The book is used by the key character Charity Patch to read to children of the group home. This book is based on more of celtic centered story lines. I will use this and other stories that I build with the story book to highlight the Indigo children that is the central theme of the Pooka’s Passages. These children are not magical. They just use more of their brain than other humans do and thus have extrasensory powers.

The meanings of the names:
Arnie (English: Eagle Power)
Petra (Greek: Rock)

Narayan, R. K. "Sugeeva's Story". The Ramayana. Penguin Books, New York, NY. 1972.  Overview of Narayan Ramayana