Week 6 Storytelling: The Amusement Park

The middle school-aged boys had been at the amusement park all day long. They rode rides, ate corndogs, and had a grand old time. Josh, the older boy, took great care of his little brother Joe. Joe, in return, looked up to Josh a lot. Their family had come here with their neighbors, the Jones family. Josh had his eyes set on the eldest Jones girl. She was a year younger, but she was the cutest thing he’d ever seen. She had blonde hair, blue eyes, tan skin, and a bright, natural smile. Josh was a little dorky, but Tessa Jones liked that about him.

When Josh and Joe went to ride the fastest roller coaster, Tessa opted out and went to get another corn-dog. 

That was more than an hour ago, and now she wasn’t answering her phone.

Josh looked and looked and looked, but he couldn’t seem to find her anywhere. She wasn’t at the concession stand, she wasn’t on any of the rides, and she wasn’t at the pool. Josh was scared to tell Mr. Jones that he had lost his daughter.

Josh sat with Joe and pondered on what their next move should be. As they talked, an older high school boy came and sat at their picnic table. He looked so cool. The older boys looked up at him with admiration. They admired his football jersey, his kindness, and even the tattoo of the vulture with “12.24.09” tattooed underneath it.

“What’s the matter?” the older boy asked. “I could tell that you guys were upset about something.”

“It…It’s nothing,” said Josh, who was interrupted by Joe.

“We can’t find Josh’s one true love!!”

“What does she look like?”

Josh’s eyes glossed over, as if in a dreamlike state, and looked into the distance. “She’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen. She’s extremely cute. Some people say she’s too young for me – but I don’t think one grade is that much.”

The older boy chuckled, and asked, “Does she happen to have blonde hair?”

“…yes,” replied Josh slowly.

“Follow me.”

The two boys followed Josh into the nurse’s office. The older boy opened the door, and there was Tessa sitting on top of one of the tables. She had a splinter, and being ever so chatty, started enjoying the conversation with the nurses.

Josh had never been more relieved.

Image Information: 

Roller Coaster

Source: London PS

Author’s Note:

I took this story from Buck’s Ramayana. I liked the part where the vulture landed and ended up helping Rama and the gang look for Sita, so that’s where the story came from.

Bibliography:

Buck, William. Ramayana:. Berkeley: U of California, 1976. Print.

Week 6: Reading Diary B

Hanuman just returned from Lanka with news of Sita. Rama and the monkeys head towards the ocean and Rama gets mad at it and curses it, which awakens Samudra the water king – the water king that helps build a bridge to Lanka for the allies.

Everyone attempts to convince Ravana to let Sita go in order to prevent the attack. However, it doesn’t work and Ravana thinks all of these people are betraying him by not supporting him. Although Vibhishana did not originally betray Ravana, due to Ravana’s anger he had to seek shelter with Rama. He does not betray his people, but still helps Rama.

While the bridge is being built to Lanka Ravana has spies watching every move of Rama and the allies. The spies are caught (twice) and sent back to Ravana. Ravana nevertheless wants war. He desires to win so badly that he awakes Kumbhakarna (his brother) but he disapproves of Ravana’s intentions. Nevertheless, Kumbhakarna agrees to fight Rama with Ravana. Ravana also recruits Indrajit, who ends up killing Sugriva, Angada, Nala, Rama, and Lakshmana.

Hanuman and Vibhishana survive – Vibhishana heals himself and obtain medicines that revive Rama and the allies. In front of Hanuman, Ravana kills phantom Sita.

Lakshmana and Indrajit fight, and Lakshmana kills Indrajit.

Week 6: Reading Diary A

They meet the vulture Sampati (their encounter is mostly likely what I will do my storybook on this week). Sampati is the big brother Jatayu, the King of the Air. The monkeys are suicidal, but Sampati lifts their spirits when he tells them that Sita is in Lanka. Hanuman is chosen to go.

There are two specific instances to be noted in relationship to Hanuman’s journey to Lanka. It is a 100 league jump. First, the mountain called Mainaka rises up out of the water in order for Hanuman to have a rest. Second, Sinhika the demon swallows Hanuman. However, he escapes by crushing her heart and sneaking out through her ear.

Hanuman arrives at Lanka and changes into a cat. He can’t find Sita, but Vaya, the god of the wind, leads him towards a grove where Ravana and Sita sit in the morning. Sita is in danger and distress. Hanuman finally gets her alone and calls out to her. He tells her of Rama’s plans and Sita entrusts Hanuman with a message for Rama.

One of my favorite parts: Hanuman causing a ruckus in Lanka. He kills the royal bodyguard and tears up lawns and gardens and all sorts of things. His mischief gets the better of him though, when Ravana’s son Indrajit captures Hanuman.