Story: "Tools of War"

The Congo is a dangerous place to grow up, especially for girls. Women and young girls are often captured, raped, and forced to live in the Bush with the rebel soldiers. Women are not regarded as daughters, sisters, and mothers. They are kept as sex slaves and servants. They are simply tools of war. Their value is to force the will of the grown men who love them. Women and children are easily subdued, but men can fight. When the rebel soldiers capture a man's children or his wife he will kneel to his knees to save them. Unfortunately, few are ever spared for this act of surrender.

Katina was only twelve when the rebel soldiers murdered her mother and father. Her brother, Sampson, was forced to become a child soldier. The rebels forced him to shoot his parents in the head as he cried in vain. Her older sister, Lakka, and her were captured and forced to live in the Bush at different rebel camps. The rebels brainwashed Sampson so bad that he acts like he no longer recognizes his sisters, maybe he truly doesn't. They are strangers to him and he is a stranger to them. This is how the rebel soldiers maintain their control over those they capture. Sampson shot and held Lakka at gun point when she tried to escape. Katrina has not seen Sampson or Lakka in months. It would change nothing even if she could. She is forced to look after the younger children and to cook for them and the rebel soldiers.

Rebel Soldiers 

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Katina did the best she could, but she had never cooked before. Her mother and sister did all of the cooking before they were captured. One of the elderly women in the camp taught Katina to make several different dishes. The children's favorite was a dish that included mangos. The rebels gathered the mangos one or twice a week, along with other supplies. Katina loved to see that the children all got a bite or two of their favorite dish.
It was the only happiness they had.
One day she ran out of mangos and asked one of the soldiers if he would go get more.
The young boy became angry and started yelling at Katina. His shouting alerted the others and Katina was surrounded by the rebels. The soldiers thrashed the area and the young boy shoved his gun in Katina's face. Then he pulled her by her hair into the Bush. One of the men from Katina's village tried to save her, but he kneeled to the ground as the soldier held a knife to Katina. The soldier cut off Katina's arms and legs. Her hero was forced to watch were he kneeled. Once Katina took her last breath, the man's head was severed from his body. The soldiers rejoiced as they dragged  the two victim's lifeless bodies through the Bush. Katina's soul was free, but she prayed for the day when women.and children would  no longer be tools of war.

Author's Note: 

"Tools of War"is inspired by "The Wicked Husband." In the original story a husband and wife fight over gathering food. The husband drags his wife into the Bush and cuts off her arms and legs. He leaves her for dead, but tells everyone she has gone to visit family. Her body is discovered and the husband is burned alive beneath ear his wife's lifeless body. I wanted to use the story to give some insight as to what women of the Congo have endured as tools of war.

Bibliography:

Congo: "The Wicked Husband" written by

Congo: The Wicked Husband

Story: " Desire Out Of Necessity"

Once upon a time, there lived a hard working man named Ashleigh Alexander, who desperately wanted to find a good woman and get married. He longed to have the kind of relationship his parents' have. His parents feared for their son and warned him that many women would want to marry him for the wrong reasons and may seek to deceive him. Ashleigh was a man of stature and wealth. He worked hard because his parents taught him that a wise businessman will work alongside his employees. Ashleigh stood to inherit a substantial estate beyond his self-made wealth. Ashleigh took his parents warning to heart and listened to the characteristics they thought Ashleigh should look for in a potential wife. Although Ashleigh's parents realized he was looking for a beautiful wife they begged him not to be fooled by attraction. Look for a woman who is independently happy and can support herself. If she does not desire you out of necessity, she will want you to desire.

Ashleigh soon discovered that his parents were right, many women wanted him. Unfortunately few women matched his parents criteria. Ashleigh attempted to court several different women, but those who were happy lacked independence, and those who were independent lacked beauty. Ashleigh was starting to feel like he would never find a wife. He met his parents for dinner to discuss the matter. As they talked a woman named Alex could not help but overhear. She could hear the sadness in Ashleigh's voice as spoke about his desperation to find love. Alex knew what it was like to long to have someone. She had been in love before, but she had never married. Ashleigh noticed that Alex kept glancing at him. When his parents excused themselves for the evening, Ashleigh approached Alex. She invited him to have a seat at her table. They talked until the restaurant closed, it was as if they were old friends catching up.

Beautiful Couple

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Ashleigh let Alex do much of the talking. He was careful not to discuss anything that would allude to his status or wealth. Alex seemed to glow as she spoke about her life. She loved her job and seemed to be a brilliant stock broker. They each discussed their goals for the future and began to think the other held a place in that future. Ashleigh took a long look at Alex and thought this is it. Alex is beautiful, happy, and independent. She does not desire me out of necessity so she will want me out of desire. Before Ashleigh knew it, he was asking for Alex's hand in marriage. Alex was surprised to hear herself saying yes. Ashleigh kissed Alex goodbye as he rushed to tell his parents of their engagement. His parents were suspicious of any women who would agree to marry after only one encounter. Ashleigh assured them that Alex was both happy and independent. They could see that their son was truly in love and they were happy for him.

Ashleigh and Alex spoke every day, but did not see one another until their wedding day. The church was decorated beautifully and Ashleigh could not wait to see his bride walk down the aisle to him. Everyone was in their respective places as the music began to play, but Alex did not enter. People began to chatter among themselves in curiosity. Ashleigh's parents looked at him with a disapproving stare. Ashleigh thought to himself, I know Alex. She would not leave me standing here alone without just cause. He walked outside to get some air and saw Alex at the bottom of the church stairs. She was setting in a wheelchair, something she never mentioned as the sat across from each other the night they met. Alex said I wanted to tell you, but I did not know how. I did not want you to think I needed you. Ashleigh wiped away her tears, picked her up, and carried her to the end of the aisle. It is I who need you, Ashleigh said. (707)   

Author's Notes:

My story is inspired by the "Blind Man." The young maiden was taught what characteristics to look for in a potential husband. A blind man who overheard these characteristics made himself appear a good potential husband. The women, not realizing he was blind, accepted his marriage proposal. Several things occurred that seemed out to the young maiden, but the blind man always offered a plausible reason for his actions. The young maiden's father suspected the man was blind and set out to prove it. The young maiden's father proved the man was blind and ran him off from his home. The blind man came across a man who could not walk. The men agreed to help one another. Along their travels the blind man came across a venomous snake. The venom got in the blind man's eyes and on the other man's legs, they were both cured. The blind man returned to his wife. She was happy to see him. When she realized he could see, she was even happier.

Bibliography:

Laos Folklore by Katherine Neville Fleeson with photographs by W.A. Briggs (1899) 

Laos: "Blind Man" 

Story: "Show Her Favor Once More I Pray"

Once upon a time, there was a maiden whose beauty was beyond compare. Her eyes were as blue as a summer sky with hints of emerald green. Her beauty was pure inside and out. The gods looked upon her with favor. The townsmen adored her and many suitors called upon her, but she refused them all. Some began to think she thought herself to good for any one of them but that was not the case. The young maiden was simply so pure of heart that she could not chose but one, only to hurt the others. Each night before she took to sleep, she prayed to the gods to help her chose.

The next day when the maiden's decision was due the suitors, she stood before them faint of heart. Each of the three suitors were handsome, hardworking, and would be an honorable husband. As her heart raced she became dizzy and fell to the ground. The men gasped and fell to her side to pray the gods would heal her and bless their union, but the gods did not reply. The suitors watched with tearful eyes as she faded from this life.

In their grief the suitors each went their separate ways. The first suitor traveled far from the place where the maiden fell. He tried to keep his mind busy so it would not entertain thoughts of joining his sweet maiden in the afterlife. The second suitor stayed near the maidens memorial and made sure it was allows covered in fresh flowers. The third suitor spent day and night praying to the gods to show the beautiful maiden favor once more. If she cannot yet again walk among men , let her walk among the gods, he prayed.

The Beautiful Maiden Favored By The gods

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On the rise of the seventh sun the second suitor found the beautiful maiden laying among the flowers he had placed on her memorial. He was amazed that she took breathe once more. When the other suitors heard of this miracle they came to honor her and to claim their bride. The first suitor claimed that the gods favored his travels and returned her to him. The second suitor announced that the gods had honored his loyalty to his grief and returned her to him. The third suitor was pleased that the maiden would once again walk among men and he thanked the gods for showing her favor.

The air that was once filled by the suitor's disagreement now stood silence as the goddess of love shined bright before them. The goddess told the first suitor that he mourned the beautiful maiden as a father would mourn his only daughter. She went on to tell the second suitor that he mourned the beautiful maiden the way a son mourns his mother. Then she turned to third suitor and spoke of his selfless prayers to see the maiden restored to life in this world or the next. She told him that he was the only suitor to mourn the beautiful maiden as a wife and therefore the gods would favor their union.

The beautiful maiden was pleased to find someone who would lover her so much that he wished for her life and happiness above his own. They joined hands and walked as husband and wife, and they lived happily ever after.......the end.

Author's Notes: My story was inspired by the Goblins: The Three Lovers, but I changed the story to include the gods, specifically the goddess of love. She would chose the maidens true love. "Goblins: The Three Lovers" is a paradox of a beautiful young women who cannot decide which of three suitors to marry. The young women becomes ill and dies before the three men's eyes. Each one mourns her death differently, but one of the men found a spell that could return her to life. Once the beautiful girl was among the living once again the men argued as to whose wife she should be. The man who found the spell acted as a father, the man who set her bones in the river acted as a son, but the man who slept with her ashes acted as a lover. He would be the young women's husband and she is wife.

Bibliography:
"Goblins: The Three Lovers" translated by Arthur W. Ryder, with illustrations by Perham W. Nahl (1917).
""Goblins: The Three Lovers"

Story: "We Were Always With You"

Once upon a time lived a young couple with two beautiful children. The couple was very happy, but their happiness did not protect them from the reality of their situation. Times were hard for everyone. Most men were out of work due to locus eating their crops. The farmer tried to replant the crops without much success. Hunger seemed to turn to anger as the farmer looked into his wife's eyes as she asked him how they would feed their children. Everything was gone. Their supplies had been depleted. What would he tell his children as he laid them to bed with growling tummies?

Trapped Within The Well

He could not bare to tell his wife and children the truth. The truth was he did not know how they would eat or if they could survive this tragedy. As his wife got the children ready for bed, he slipped out of the house without saying anything. He went into the forest hoping to find something anything that could provide a way. The farmer walked for so long in the dark that he could no longer see his house, but he could feel their hunger as he did his own. He continued through the forest until he came upon a well.


He could hear cries of distress coming from the well. As he looked deep into the well he could see his wife and two children. How did this happened, he asked his wife? I left you at the house just as you were tucking our children into bed. We have always been with you dear husband, she replied. We were with you as you walked through the dark. We were with you when you were hungry. We were with you when you were scared. We have always been here. Pull us out one by one and let us be together.


The farmer was confused, terrified, and ashamed. He had turned his back and walked away from his family. This was a mistake he would not make again. He pulled his children out and then reached for his wife. She appeared to be deeper than the children were. Just when he was about to give up he turned to see her by his side. Fear not my husband I am here with you. I am in deep in this life we have created. The family started their journey back to their house. Some might think that their situation had not changed, but nothing could be further from the truth. Sure the crops were still destroyed and they were still hungry, but they knew they would be okay.


 As the farmer's wife grabbed his hand they found their way back. Back to their home and back to one another. The farmer laid his children down for bed alongside his wife. That night he thanked the heavens for all that he had been given. When he woke in the morning he could smell a fresh country breakfast being cooked on the stove. He could hear his children laughing and playing around a warm fire. He rushed down the stair to see if he was imagining it all, but it was real. The man knew this wonder was created out of the strength of his families love. The man wondered how he deserved to have such a loving family and how he could have been so ungrateful.



Author's Note: This story was inspired by "Panchatantra: The Ungrateful Man." The husband was thought to be lazy and ungrateful by his wife and children who were starving as a result of their poverty. He journeyed into the forest to find a way to take care of his family. He discovered a well with several animals and a man stuck at the bottom of it. The tiger begged the Brahman to pull him out and save his life, but the Brahman feared him. The tiger promised not to harm the Brahman. To receive salvation the Brahman pulled the tiger free. He also pulled out a monkey and a snake; which he was terrified to touch, but he promised not to bite him. The animals warned the Brahman not to pull out the man who had been trapped in the well with them. He represents every sin, they told him. Each animal asked the Brahman to call upon them in the future so that they might repay his kindness. Once the animals had left the Brahman pulled the other man out. He felt they were one of the same kind. Along his journey the Brahman visited each of the animals, receiving supplies and food. The gold given to the man by one animal was sold by the next, but the gold was stolen from the King's son. This made it look like the Brahman had killed the prince rather than the tiger. The Brahman was imprisoned until the snake devised a plan to bite the King's queen in order to set the Brahman free. Only the Brahman's touch could cure the queen. The King called upon his prisoner to cure his wife. The King was pleased and gave the Brahman a thousand villages and appointed him privy counselor. The Brahman sent for his family and lived happily ever after.


Bibliography:
Panchatantra: "The Ungrateful Man" Story source: The Panchatantra of Vishnu Sharma, translated by Arthur W. Ryder (1925).
The Ungrateful Man
Photo Water Well Photo

Story: The Devine Child

                                                     Cupid and the Devine Child

Cupid loved Psyche despite Venus' hatred toward the girl of indescribable beauty. Venus wished to see Psyche live a life of misery or no life at all. She sent Cupid to make her fall in love with a man with no wealth, status, or even health. She could not imagine her only son would betray her, but Cupid was memorized by Psyche's beauty and wished to have her. Cupid devised a plan to marry young Psyche while maintaining his secret from Venus. Cupid married Psyche but only appeared to her in the dark of night. Cupid knew that their families would be the demise of their love if they ever knew the truth about either's identity. He warned his love of their families intentions to tear them apart, but Psyche longed for human interaction and soon met with her jealous sisters. Psyche began to question her safety in a marriage to someone who refused to reveal himself to her. Psyche's sisters devised a plan to unravel Psyche's mysterious husband's identity. The night before Psyche would act out her sister's plain Cupid bestowed a divine child within Psyche's womb. Cupid told Psyche of the child within her and she was pleased, but the news only intensified her intentions to reveal Cupid's identity.

At nightfall Psyche waited for her husband to fall asleep. Once she was certain he was dreaming she uncovered the light from her hidden candle. She was astonished to see Cupid lying next to her, but he soon woke to realize her betrayal. Cupid threatened to leave her for one of her sisters and had her removed from his castle. As she cried to her sisters about the identity of her husband and revealed the words Cupid spoke to her both sister left Psyche in a pool of tears. They climbed to the edge of the cliff and called to Cupid. Each sister fell to her death as Cupid got his revenge on them. Psyche also climbed the cliff and called to Cupid. When she could see him she too jumped from the cliff's edge and grabbed Cupid's rob, but Cupid only embraced her for a moment. In that moment he removed the divine child he had bestowed upon her. Then he cried a single tear as Psyche's body fell until it was no more.

Venus was enraged with Cupid's betrayal. She threatened to adopt a slave boy and give him Cupid's wings, but when she learned of the divine child Venus devised a new plan. Now that Psyche is no more and Cupid is in a state of despair Venus would easily get her revenge. She would bide her time until the divine child could be captured. This time Venus would not send someone to do her dirty work. She would take matters into her own hands. Cupid had his servants watching over the divine child in his time of despair. He kept himself isolated, only looking in on the divine child as he slept. Cupid could see Psyche's features in the divine child, which only brought him pain. Although he kept his distance, he sought to protect all that he had left of his beloved Psyche. Cupid caught word of his mother's intentions for the divine child and so he waited her arrival.

Upon nightfall Cupid entered what was once his bridal suite to watch over the divine child. As he searched the room he could not believe his eyes. His beloved Psyche had found a way back from the deeps of death. Had he gone mad in the midst of his grief? He ran to her with tears in his eyes. He longed to have her once more, but when her hand brushed his check he knew this she devil was  not Psyche. Venus had transformed herself to appear as his beloved, but her cold touch diminished her disguise. In a fit of rage and despair Cupid struck Venus in the heart with his arrow until she took her last breathe. Cupid had avenged his beloved Psyche and protected all that he had left of her, the divine child.


Author's Note: This story is inspired by "Cupid and Psyche" written by Apuleius in "The Golden Ass." The story of Cupid and Psyche is an epic love story that ended in tragedy. In the original story Psyche falls to her death and the child is never mentioned. I thought it would be interesting to give life to the divine child that Cupid bestowed upon Psyche and make him the center of Venus' revenge.


Bibliography:
"Cupid and Psyche" written by Apuleius in "The Golden Ass" Cupid and Psyche

Photo can be located at the following link Cupid with a small child

Story: While Onias Slept

Onias Slept One Hundred Years

     The Rabbi Onias was the youngest rabbi in the city of Jerusalem. Many doubted his path to righteousness, but God showed Onias great favor. As the City of Jerusalem burned Onias would be sent to save her people. His faith would be both challenged and reaffirmed along his unimaginable journey.
     Onias set out with God's words resounding in his heart. He took only what he needed to survive. Onias became very tiered and hungry along his journey, but refused to supplement himself when the people of Jerusalem were starving. After collapsing from hungry Onias fell into a deep sleep. Many a passer by tried to wake him without success. Over time Onias was no longer visible to the naked eye. The vegetation grew up around him providing him protection from the world around him. Eventually, Onias was no longer sought out, but his story became that of a legend. Some people were certain that Onias was captured by the enemy, while others assumed he had continued on his journey to distant lands. Many thought him to be dead, but nothing could be farther from the truth.
     Onias had In fact awoke after only a few moments of rest, although he felt completely refreshed. As he looked around to take in his new surroundings, he realized he was no longer in Jerusalem. He had left behind the war and despair and was in awe of the beauty before him. He could see all of God's creation in it's intended splendor. How could this be, he wondered? I must have hit my head and now I'm imagining this place, he thought out loud. In his excitement Onias ran to tell others of this new land. He wanted the people of Jerusalem to come and celebrate this beautiful land. They will be reminded of the holy land when it was flourishing. They will unit in peace and sing God's praises. But Onias soon became sad. He searched across the land for days, but he never encountered another sole. There were two of every creature, but Onias was the only man. God provided Onias with everything he needed to live comfortably, but Onias was lonely. He spent his days caring for the animals and praying. As Onias prayed all of his dreams took shape before him. He could not understand what could have happened to mankind. Had the war escalated to the desolation of man?
    After Onias had had lived in the beautiful land for almost one hundred years God appeared before him. God spoke to Onias and explained to him that he was not on earth but in the heavens. "You have not died my child your mind is living beyond what mankind is capable of conceiving, while your body rest on earth," God said. Tomorrow when you awake on earth do not be alarmed. The world you knew no longer exists. The holy city of Jerusalem has been healed along with her people. As you have dreamed and prayed for things of this land Jerusalem has become them. Sleep now for tomorrow you will understand all that for all you have sacrificed Jerusalem will have a second chance. (540 words)

Bibliography:
Gertrude Landa.1919."The Sleep of One Hundred Years."
The Sleep of One Hundred Years.
Old Man Sleeping Picture

Author's Note:
The inspiration for this story was ""The Sleep of One Hundred Years" written by Gertrude Landa in 1919. I thought it would be interesting to imagine what Rabbi Onias was experiencing during his one hundred year long sleep. In the original story Onias is on a long journey. He falls asleep and does not wake up for one hundred years. the world around him has changed and he feels that he no longer belongs there. He asks to return to the place where he slept for so long. Once he is returned to the spot he falls asleep never to wake on earth again. The story does not give much explanation as to how the lands changed or how Onias slept so long, which is what made this story so fun to write. I hope you enjoyed it.

Story: "The Girl Who Hoped No One Saw Her"

"The Girl Who Hoped No One Saw Her"
 Sarah was a beautiful little girl with a smile of pure innocence. She grew up in a small house full of siblings and dark secrets. She was the oldest child and therefore very self reliant. Maybe her independence helped to disguise her. As she grew up she experienced tragedy that most children cannot imagine. She never told anyone or even asked why these things happened to her. She always felt she new the answer to that question. As the pain of her silence grew along side her she continued to withdrawal. Each morning she would dress in silence and all in black. She allowed her hair to hang across     her face, covering her eyes to hide her pain. Her only hope was to fade into the chaos. No one seemed to notice that the once beautiful girl had all but disappeared, until one day that is exactly what happened. Sarah left the place some called her home. The mother she thought never cared cried herself to sleep every night with worry. After years of Sarah being gone her mother moved on from the life Sarah knew, but she never lost hope that she would one day see her only daughter. One day Sarah's mother passed a young girl sleeping in the park. It had been ten years since her little girl had ran away. Her own life had changed and she longed to have her daughter back and to give her the life she deserved. The young lady in the park was much older than she remembered her Sarah. Her face was dirty. She looked scared and lonely, but one glance into her eyes told Sarah's mother she had found her beautiful daughter. Sarah no longer needed to hide. She could discard her disguise and be herself.

Author's Note:
My story is inspired by the fable "The Ass In The Lion's Skin." The story tales of an ass who thought he was clever as he covered himself in a lion skin. The lion skin had been discarded by a hunter. The ass placed himself inside the skin in an attempt to fool the members of his town. His disguise might have worked if he had not spoken. Although his disguise made him look like a fierce lion the sound of his voice revealed him as a fool. Many children feel they are unable to be themselves. I used this fable as inspiration to tell of such a child. The story may seem dark in nature but in the end the girl finds herself. -H

Work Cited
"The Ass In The Lion's Skin."The Fables of Aesop.Joseph Jacobs.Web.8/13/2016.
 https://archive.org/stream/fablesaeso00aesouoft#page/128/mode/2up
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