Week 10 Story: The Ball Game of the Birds and the Animals

The Ball Game of the Birds and the Animals 

One day the Bear and the Terrapin were talking about the story there grandparents used to tell them. How the animals had lost to the birds in a ball game. The Bear and Terrapin still could not believe it was true. Thus, they decided to put together a new game between the birds and the animals. The game this time would be a full-length game of American Football.

The animals gathered their team which included the Bear, Terrapin, Deer, Hog, Golden Retriever, and others. Once again, just like the grandparents before them they said no to the small animals. The Bear would play quarterback and captain the team. They were confident they would win the game.

The birds would be quarterbacked by the Eagle. Football was difficult for the birds to play because they had no hands. However, they had strong beaks and were able to catch in that way. Once again, the smaller animals came to the birds and asked to play with them. The birds accepted them whole-heartedly and helped design protective suits of armor so that they would be protected from the larger animals.

The game was a defensive battle. After 3 quarters the game was tied 10 - 10. The Bear had thrown a touchdown pass to Golden Retriever, and Deer kicked a field goal for the animals. On the other side, Eagle through threw a touchdown pass to Flying Squirrel, and Rooster kicked a field goal.

The game was winding down and the animals had the ball. Bear dropped back to pass and threw it deep towards Deer. But out of nowhere swooped Martin who intercepted the pass and returned it for a touchdown. This sealed the game for the birds (and small animals). They had done it again! The animals went home in despair and would tell their kids and grandkids the story of their defeat for many centuries. Maybe next time...

*Author's Note: This story is based off of a Cherokee Myth. In this myth, the animals and birds play a ball game. In this game, one of the teams just has to get a ball between two posts. The animals never even touch the ball as it never gets to the ground and the birds win. I thought this was kind of boring, so I decided to make it a game of football. The results remained the same and the Martin was the hero of both stories. The original also involves the small animals being kicked off the animal team and joining the birds. My ending helps set it up for yet another rematch.

Bibliography. "The Ball Game of the Birds and the Animals" from Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney (1900). Web Source.

(Bear and Eagle: Image by Janrye from Pixabay)

Week 10, Reading Notes B: The Ball Game of the Birds and the Animals

The Ball Game of the Birds and the Animals

I really like this story! I love sports and this was a story about a game and animals/birds. I loved the imagery the story displayed by talking about the bear as the captain for the animals and the eagle as the captain for the birds. But the best part about the story was the fact that the little animals like the Flying Squirrel got kicked off the animal team for being "so small."

This gave these small animals more incentive to join the birds team and win the game. In fact, the Flying Squirrel was one of the heroes (besides the Martin.) In the end, the birds team wins and the animals who had been quite boastful lost. The Martin for his effort was rewarded with a gourd.

If I were to rewrite this story, I would maybe put a more modern-day twist on it. Have the animals and the birds play a game of basketball or American football. I think this could be a fun story to write!

Bibliography. "The Ball Game of the Birds and the Animals" from Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney (1900). Web Source. 

(House Martin: Image by Sue Rickhuss from Pixabay)

Week 10, Reading Notes A - The Journey to the Sunrise

The Journey to the Sunrise 

This week I am reading stories from the Cherokee Myths Unit.

This story is very brief and that is part of the reason I like it. Seven young, Cherokee men pack up to go on a search for the where the sun rises (towards the east, of course!). Along the way they met many different tribes and interacted with these different cultures.

Once they reached the place where the sky touched the ground - they realized that there was a door like structure in this area. From what I understand it was big pendulum type thing with a large rock swinging back in forth - I found this random and fascinating. They tried to go through it, but the first man who did was crushed by the rock. So, the other six were too scared to try. Thus, they headed back home, but when they were home they were old men. I appreciated this ending of them being "old men", because it really gives the whole story a very dramatic effect in only two words.

If I were to rewrite this story I think I would make the characters different types of animals and maybe one of them would get through the pendulum thingy.

Bibliography. "The Journey to the Sunrise" from Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney (1900). Web Source.

(Sunrise: Image by Yinan Chen from Pixabay)

Week 9 Story: The Teen Who Thought Himself Wiser Than His Mother

The Teen Who Thought Himself Wiser Than His Mother

There once was a young teenage boy who had just recently received his driver's license. The boy had spent many years where his mother had to chauffeur him around. But now he was free! He thought now that he was free he could get wherever he wanted to go much quicker. He would drive faster, take shortcuts, and roll through stop signs. Thinking about the extra ten minutes of sleep he would get made him happy.

However, before the first day he was driving himself to school his mother said, "Now son, just because you can drive does not mean you can do whatever you want. Abide by the laws of the road, they are there for a reason. Be mindful of others - remember they have families too."

"I will mother!" said the son, although he thought differently.

So that morning the teenage boy got into his car and sped off. He was getting close to school when he came upon a slow car. He tried to change lanes and then bang! He had smashed into a car that was in his blindspot. He span out of control. The man in the other car was an older, wise man.

He got out of his car and said, "Son, this morning you have made a mistake. I forgive you. I was once young and restless like you. Now go home to your mother and listen to what she has to say."

The police came and the insurance information was exchanged. Then the young boy went home to his mother.

She said, "Son, why did you not listen to my advice?"

"Mother, I wanted to prove that I could do anything."

His mother replied, "Sometimes we must be patient and respectful of others. I trust that you will learn from this mistake."

From that point on the young teenage boy listened to his mother (at least most of the time).

*Author's Note: This story is based off the "Lion Who Thought Himself Wiser Than His Mother". In that story, the mother tells the young lion to be weary of man (especially those with pinching weapons.) However, the young lion thought he would be fine - he was not. He ended up getting beat to near death by the man and his dogs. However, the man spared him so he could, "...be taught by his mother." In my story, I related it to a mother and her teenage boy. I struggled to come up with something similar. But I decided that teenagers can often be reckless drivers, thus that is what the mother was teaching this boy. Also, I added the dialogue after the boy misbehaved which is different than the original. 

Bibliography. "Lion Who Thought Himself Wiser Than His Mother" from South African Folktales by James Honey (1910). Web Source.

(Two Car Wreck: Photo from Flickr)