Week 10 Story: Black Bear and Squirrel

You can find the updated story in my portfolio.

In a mountain far away lived a very friendly black bear named Sobig. He was very friendly and was always willing to help the other animals that lived in the same area. Throughout the years, He had mastered the skill of balance due to there being a tight rope that connected two mountain cliffs. The rope was usually used by humans, but every so often Sobig liked to cross over to the other mountain cliff. He found it easier to cross on all fours than trying to cross standing up on his two hind legs.

One day, he was getting ready to cross over to the other mountain when he ran into a squirrel named Scrat. Scrat needed some help getting over to the other side and getting Sobig to help him was his only chance of making it across. Scrat was very clumsy and there was no way he would make it over on his own.

"Hi Sobig," said Scrat.

"Hey Scrat, what are you up to today?" asked Sobig.

With a big grin on his face, Scrat said, "I need some help getting across to the other mountain cliff and I have heard that you seem to do it pretty easily."

"I have indeed mastered crossing to the other cliff. I would love to help you, why don't you sit on my head between my ears? replied Sobig.

Scrat replied, "I am afraid If I do that then I will fall off."

"Well then you can sit on my back if it works better," said Sobig.

"That brings us back to the same thing though, I am afraid that I will fall," replied Scrat. 

"How would you like me to get you across then?" asked Sobig.

"Let me hop inside you and you can carry me across in that way," said Scrat. 

"Sure, sounds like a great idea!" said Sobig.

So, the two of them went on their way and started to head across on the tight rope to the other mountain cliff. While in Sobig's body, Scrat was slowly gnawing away at Sobig's carotid, which is one of the biggest blood vessels in the body. When they made it to the other cliff, Sobig collapsed because of how much blood he had lost. Scrat climbed out and began to look around. 

"I need to find a sharp, jagged rock to butcher Sobig," Scrat said to himself. 

As Coyote was walking by, he heard Scrat talking to himself and wanted to be a part of his plan.

"Hey Scrat, let's make a deal. Once we find a good rock to butcher Sobig with, the person who can jump over him without falling should be the one to butcher him," said Coyote. 

Scrat agreed, but as sly as he is, he had a plan in mind. Coyote went first and did not quite clear the body of Sobig without tripping and falling. Scrat is significantly smaller than Coyote so it is nearly impossible for him to fully clear Sobig. So, he jumped over his head since it is not as big as the rest of his body. 

Scrat started to butcher Sobig and gave Coyote his internal organs to go wash in the stream. When he got back, Scrat noticed some of the organs were missing and he checked his mouth only to find remnants of food in there. He was about to kill Coyote when he saw that, but Coyote was quicker and killed him with a flint that he had found. He left all of the food sitting next to Scrat's dead body as well as a tick and went to go get his children. 

Scrat got up, and when he did the tick flew to Coyote and informed him that Scrat was not dead. So, Coyote went back to the site, killed him again and went back on his way. Once again, the tick flew to Coyote and told him that Scrat had once again got up. So, Coyote went back one last time to assure that Coyote was dead. When Scrat got up and saw that the tick was about to go get Coyote, he killed the tick. 

With Coyote being gone, Scrat got all the food and climbed up a nearby tree. It was late when Coyote got back everything was gone and Scrat was nowhere to be found. Scrat finally called to Coyote from the top of the tree and told them that they could lay down at the foot of the tree and he would throw them some food. Once they had all fallen asleep, Scrat grabbed the biggest, heaviest tree limb that he could find and threw it down at Coyote and his kids. It killed all of them and Coyote took them to the edge of the mountain cliff and threw them down into the canyon. 

Authors Note: In the original story, Buffalo helped Porcupine cross the stream by letting him crawl inside him. Porcupine gnawed at one of his main blood vessels and when Buffalo got to the end of the stream he instantly fell over. Coyote and Porcupine found flint and the one that could jump over the buffalo without falling would be the one to butcher Buffalo. Porcupine fell when he tried to jump over the body and Coyote just jumped over his tail. Since Coyote got to butcher Buffalo, he sent Porcupine to the stream to wash off his organs and noticed that Porcupine had eaten some, so he instantly killed him. Coyote's feces, that he left at the site, told Coyote when Porcupine had got up. After two times of this happening Porcupine threw dirt in the feces mouth so that they could not alert Coyote. So, Porcupine climbed up in a tree and when Coyote came back with his kids, he killed them all. 

In my story, I kept the same plot for the most part but changed it in some instances. I also changed the animals in the original story to different ones in mine. The lesson that is taught from this story is that sometimes the one that is known to be kind and helpful is taken advantage of by sly ones. 

Bibliography: Coyote and Porcupine from Jicarilla Apache Texts edited by Pliny Earle Goddard


Image Source: Mountain cliffs at Yosemite National Park with a tight rope between them from    
                        Wikimedia Commons 

Week 7 Story: Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit on OU's campus

You can find the updated story in my portfolio.

Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit attend the same university and have the same major, but have a small rivalry. They would often find themselves studying in the Bizzell Library especially during finals week.

Bizzell Memorial Library;

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Brer Bear and Brer Fox were heading to the Bizzell Library to study for their chemistry final. On their way to the library, Brer Bear was giving Brer Fox a hard time because he wasn't friends with Brer Rabbit and they shared mostly all of the same classes. 

When they got to the library, Brer Bear broke away from Brer Fox and went to study with some other friends. Brer Fox continued down to the collaborative learning center where he saw Brer Rabbit. Brer Rabbit told him that he was full of fleas so it was best for Brer Fox to sit away from him. They talked a little bit but kept a fair distance. 

Brer Rabbit, a freshman in college, was living in the dorms. He asked Brer Fox if he would like to go eat dinner at the caf the next night. Brer fox accepted and they agreed to meet each other in front of the caf. 

That next night, Brer Rabbit saw Brer Fox coming so he started heading into the caf. He waited and waited but never saw Brer Fox come in. When Brer Rabbit walked out to go look for him, he saw his tail poking out of the red telephone booth that is located in front of the caf. Now knowing that Brer Fox was trying to hide from him, Brer Rabbit went back in and enjoyed his dinner. 

The next day, they saw each other in the Bizzell Library and Brer Fox apologized. He invited Brer Rabbit over for dinner at his dorm room in Waler Tower. Brer Rabbit agreed to meet him for dinner.

When Brer Rabbit arrived at Brer Fox's dorm room that night, he heard a painful moan coming from his dorm room. When he walked in, Brer Fox appeared to be really sick and was sitting on his bed wrapped up in a blanket. Brer Rabbit looked around and did not see any food prepared for their dinner and the only thing Brer Fox had was some chicken for them to cook. 

Picture of the dorms at OU;

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Brer Rabbit asked, "Do you have any calamus root to season that chicken?"

"No, I do not have any of that," replied Brer Fox. 

So Brer Rabbit took off into the Walker-Adams Mall to look for some calamus root and kept an eye on the doors to see if Brer Fox would come out. A few minutes later, Brer Fox came out of the building looking for Brer Rabbit. He finally spotted him and started heading closer.

Brer Rabbit yelled, "I am going to leave this calamus root on this swing set for you to come and get."

With that, Brer Rabbit ran home and decided to call it a night. Brer Fox was always looking for a way to trick Brer Rabbit. but he outsmarts him each time.

Bibliography: Brer Rabbit: The Calamus Root from Uncle Remus: His Songs and Sayings by Joel Chandler Harris (1881)

Author's Note: In the original story Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox are trying to catch each other. At first, they talk but they keep a good distance between them as Brer Rabbit claims that he has fleas. Brer Bear was giving Brer Fox a hard time because he wasn't friends with Brer Rabbit. They made plans to have dinner together and when Brer Fox got there he just hid on the side of the house and Brer Rabbit saw his tail so he knew he was there. The next day when they saw each other, Brer Fox apologized and invited Brer Rabbit over for dinner at his place. When Brer Rabbit showed up Brer Fox was all wrapped up in a blanket as if he was sick and had nothing cooked for dinner. So Brer Rabbit leaves to go find Calamus Root and shortly after he sees Brer Fox go out after him trying to corner him, but he wasn't successful. Brer Fox never caught him and he is not going to. With my story, I followed the same storyline, but just changed the setting of the story. I thought it would be cool to make this story take place on OU's campus since that is the university that I attend. 

Week 5 Story: Ramo's Pond

In a jungle far far away, there is a dolphin named Ramo, who was king of the pond that he lived in. One day a year, many animals came from all over the jungle to bathe in King Ramo's pond.

Ramo's pond in the jungle;

Source: Pxhere

On that day, a lion named Royal showed up to bathe in the pond. While he was there, a beautiful cheetah showed up to bathe as well. She was beautiful and lit up as bright as the moon. She stole the lion's heart and was left breathless. Not knowing what to do, Royal asked the dolphin, "what do you know about that stunning cheetah and where did she come from?"

Ramo replied, "Her name is Diamond and she lives with her father very deep in the jungle."

When Royal went back home, he did not eat, he was lovesick. His parents asked him what was wrong and he just sat there. Eventually, he told them that he had seen a beautiful cheetah named Diamond that stole his heart while he was bathing in King Ramo's pond. His dad's face lit up and he said, "I know her father, I can ask her father to let you have her hand in marriage." After hearing this news, He eagerly ate his dinner and the next day they set off to find them in the jungle.

They traveled a far distance until alas they came across the area of the jungle where Diamond and her dad Larry live. Royal's dad explained how his son had seen her at Ramo's pond and it was love at first sight. He asked Larry if Royal could have Diamond's hand in marriage and he agreed.

A few months later, Larry officially handed over his daughter and she married Royal. Happily married, he took his wife and they went to live together at his parent's area of the jungle.

One day, Diamond's brother came to visit and was welcomed with open arms by his sister. He informed them that Larry had sent him to invite them to a festival that was taking part where his parents lived.

The next morning, they set off to travel across the jungle to where Diamond's family lived and on the way, they stopped at Ramo's pond. Royal went to speak to the King and as he was worshipping him he had an idea. He thought to himself, what better way to worship him than to sacrifice my own life. So he found a very sharp boulder, took it to his neck and sliced his head off.

His brother-in-law went looking for him because he was worried about what was taking him so long. When he saw what Royal had done, he was mad, upset and in grief so he did the same exact thing and sliced his head off.

Diamond walked in and instantly fell to the floor crying when she saw what had happened. She started to scream and yell while pounding the ground and crying. She yelled to Ramo, "Why should I even live, what is my life good for now?" She was about to kill herself and started praying to the King.

The king answered her prayers and said, "My dear Diamond, do not do something that you will later regret. If you put their heads back on them then they shall come back to life." So Diamond listened to the King and did as she was told, but made a mistake. She put her brother's head on Royal's body and Royal's head on her brother's body.

They both awoke and were happy listening to each other's adventures. They worshipped the King one more time and went on their way. Diamond was troubled and had no idea what to do.

The Girl, Her Husband and Her Brother translated by Arthur W. Ryder

Author's note: In the original story, White, who was a laundryman, came to bathe at a lake called Bath of Gauri. While he was there he met a beautiful woman named Lovely. White's dad asked Lovely's dad if his son could have her hand in marriage and Lovely's dad agreed. They got married, and when her brother came to visit them and invite them to a festival back at Lovely's parent's house they set off on a journey. They stopped at the temple of Gauri to worship the Goddess and both While and his brother-in-law beheaded themselves with a sword to show some sacrifice. Lovely was distraught and the Goddess told her that if she put their heads back on they would come back to life. However, Lovely accidentally switched their heads and was confused about what to do. I put a twist on it and used animals instead of people.

Week 3 story: The World of Dogs

God wanted to create the perfect world for dogs. He set out to make everything perfect. God wanted the dogs to be the rulers of the earth. So he set out to create the perfect world filled with toys, treats, and water for them to drink and play all the time. It took six days of nonstop work and creation to finish this beautiful dog world. On the seventh day when God had finished everything, he decided it was time to take a break, relax and make that day sacred. He created the first dog from dust and named him Mylo. That dog was the first living soul in this doggy world. He was going to be the ultimate leader, the dog that they would eventually all look up to. The Lord needed a place for Mylo to live, so he created the dog park of Eden and that is where Mylo was to live. The dog park had everything the dogs would need, such as treats growing from trees, food raining from the sky and water in the river than ran across it. There were many trees and in the very center of the park, there was a huge tree that stood out named the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Mylo was to care for the dog park and that would be his home. God said to Mylo, "You may eat treats from any tree in the garden, but you shall never touch or eat the treats from the tree of knowledge of good and evil or you shall die." He also said, "You should not be lonely so I will bring others unto you." Once God said that he started creating creatures out of dust and bringing them to Mylo so that he could name them. Whatever name Mylo gave them was the name that would stick forever. Then he put Mylo in a deep sleep in which God took one of his ribs and created another dog named Skye. They both happily coexisted in the garden of Eden.

Picture of two dogs coexisting and playing with a toy;

Source: Pxfuel

Author's Note: This story was derived from a story in the bible called The Creation. This is the story where God created the world and on the seventh day rested and sanctified the seventh day. This day is now known as Sundays and that is why we go to church on Sundays. He created and Adam and put him in the Garden of Eden where he was to care for it, and he could eat from any tree as long as it was not the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He created animals and brought them all upon Adam so that he could name them and any name that he gave them was kept. God then put Adam to sleep and took his rib to create Eve. They were naked and not ashamed. I kept the same story plot but instead of humans, I used dogs. the names of the two dogs in this story are the name of my two dogs.
Bibliography: The Creation, King James Version Chapters 1 and 2. Source: Sacred Texts Archive

Week 2 story: A lion and his villager

Note: This has been added to my portfolio. https://sites.google.com/view/hiddenmorals/a-lion-and-his-villager

There was once a lion and a villager. The lion was locked in the cage and the villager was in charge of feeding it every morning. 

One morning the lion said to the villager, "Please let me out of this cage as I am tired of being locked up and I want to be free." 

"I'm afraid if I do that you will harm me or my fellow villagers," replied the villager.

The lion sighs and says, "I promise if you let me out of this cage, I will be nothing but good to you."

The villager thought it through and replied, "I am giving you one chance, or I will find a way to lock you up again."

Lion being fed in a cage;

Source: Pixabay

So, the villager lets the lion out and they go about their day, but the villager was extremely worried that something would happen. He started asking others what they thought about the decision that he made.

He stopped to ask a tree and the tree replied, "I always give people shade and even though I get nothing in return except for people breaking off my branches it makes me feel good because I can help others."

The villager listened to what he had to say and said, "Thank you, I had not looked at it from that perspective" and went on his way.

The villager then kept walking and when he got to the road, he stopped to ask the road what his opinion on the matter was. The road replied, "I am always supporting people and all people do is trample all over me, but I know that they need me, so it feels good to be able to help." Once again, the villager listened and the went on his way. 

On his way back home, he came across another villager and asked him what he thought of the situation.

 The villager replied, "I do not feel like it is safe for everyone, but if you think it was the right decision then trust your gut." 

The villager said, "Thank you, I believe he deserved to be free" and went on his way again. 

When he got back to the cage, the lion was roaming around near it and was very happy to be free.

The lion thanked the villager and told him that he would help him out anytime he ever needed it.

The villager continued on with his daily routine, still giving the lion food every morning. The lion had not done any harm to anyone and just enjoyed his day roaming and being out of his cage. A few weeks later the villager got into some trouble and called for the lion's help. As soon as the lion heard he jumped up and went to the villager. He helped him get out of trouble and to this day they remain best friends. The lion kept his work to never harm anyone and be nothing but good to the villager. The villager realized he made the right decision and they lived happily ever after. 

Author's Note: My story was based on the "Tricksters: Tiger, Brahman, and Jackal." I kept most things the same except that I used a lion instead of a tiger and the plot was a bit different. Instead of the Brahman, the Jackal and the Tiger tricking each other, in my story the villager and the lion ended up being good friends. I also wrote the story to have a different moral than the original one. The original story's lesson was that you can do things to help others out, but never get anything in return and that you really can't trust anyone. My story had a different lesson which was that you should help people because it feels good and right to you and not to expect anything in return. 

Bibliography: Tricksters: Tiger, Brahman, and Jackal from Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs