Reading Notes: Jewish Fairy Tales Part A

This week I chose Jewish Fairy Tales and Legends by Gertrude Landa.

From the first story about Noah, I was very interested because it was different from all the versions of the tale I had heard as a child. The mere presence of a unicorn was remarkable and delightful to me. It led me to wanting to possibly do a fantasy style short story.

Reading the Quarrel of Cat and Dog was actually really disheartening. I felt so bad for the dog in the story. I know it was simply a means to explain why dogs and cats are usually at odds, but it didn't give me any ideas as much as make me sad.

However Shepherd-Boy to King really intrigued me. I like the young David wandering into the woods swearing he heard someone calling him. I was even more enthused when he was on top of a unicorn.

It just felt so mystical and fun. Deer are some of my favorite animals so I love that it was a deer that saved him. Because I usually write happy things, I'd love to mix it up and write a story of a boy who gets lost in the woods and needs saving, and a girl saves him and dies for him because she knows he will become king. I really like martyr tropes, so it would still mesh well into my style.

Bibliography: Jewish Fairy Tales and Legends by Gertrude Landa.

Image Information: "Blue Stars Unicorn" by Oliver Bassonville.

Feedback Thoughts and Thoughts About Feedback

As a writer, I should be used to people giving me feedback.

But that's so far from the truth. Unless it is positive, I'm actually really terrible at not internalizing it.

Because of this, I was really excited to read the articles on accepting feedback, especially "Using Harsh Feedback to Fuel Your Career" because that is exactly what I would like to do. While I enjoyed reading his story and learning about the biases, I wasn't too sure about his tips. None of them seemed right for me or like they would actually help.

However, I thought the article "Overcoming Your Fear of Feedback" brought up some interesting points about self-esteem. I liked reading about Dweck's psychological study and then comparing it to my own life. I work part-time in the Honors Writing Center, and I can always give critical feedback when I edit the papers at home, but I try to remain positive in person. It is always one of my missions to try to balance constructive feedback and positive feedback. I also liked how this article brought up growth mindsets, another thing I'm trying to work on.

On the other end of the spectrum, I really liked how "Presence, Not Praise: How To Cultivate a Healthy Relationship with Achievement" brought up growth mindsets in a different way. This article helped me see that part of shifting myself into a better behavioral pattern is changing the way I speak to others.

As for "7 Characteristics of Better Learning Feedback", I liked that it gave me a list that I could reference whenever I edit papers or write a post. Sometimes I mistake other people's goals for what they actually are, so when I try to avoid being transparent, I end up falling short and simply moving them toward another goal instead.

All of these articles made me think more about the feedback I give and receive, whether in class or simply among friends.

Image Information: "Got Feedback?" by Alan Levine

Week Two Storytelling: The Warrior Queen

"These are the finest fighters in your country, my king." The man gestured to the sixteen of us lined up.

The king's sharp eyes studied us.

If this is where I die, so be it. I kept my head high, but eyes bowed.

"I am forming an elite force to assist me in bringing peace." The king approached us. "You are the best warriors from your province. If you're found worthy, you will find a place in my highest guard. Their credentials, Haman."

Haman began with Province One, reading our names, family histories, specializations, and greatest achievements. Six districts were called before me.

"Warrior Seven, Hadassah Benjamin. Orphaned at the age of twelve when her parents were murdered by Koltish fighters. She was raised by her cousin Mordecai. She is proficient with seven different blades and is an all-around strategist. She defended Province Seven from three separate attempts at invasion and lowered its crime rate to below the national average.”

The king appraised me quietly before listening to the last nine introductions.

“Dismiss Six and Fourteen. I’ve been betrayed once by a Peter and once by a man whose eyes I couldn’t trust. Show your faces in the capital city again, and you’ll be banished from the kingdom. Training begins at dawn.”

*

By the week’s end, three women and two men had dropped or been cut from the training program.

“You nine have done well.” The king’s eyes narrowed as we dropped to a knee where we were, sweat coating our skin. “Haman will assemble groups of three. Present your best battle strategy for our next attack by tomorrow at dawn.”

Haman paired me with Ten and Three.

“Seven, you’re supposed to be a master strategist, right?” Ten glanced at me lazily. “Draw up the plans, okay?” He rested his hand just below where my sleeve ended at my elbow. I pulled my arm back quickly.

“See you tomorrow then!” Three saluted with two fingers before ducking under Ten’s arm and heading back to the barracks.

I glanced over the numerous materials and details of the fight to come. I will need Mordecai’s help.

*

After a long night and a hard ride to and from Susa, the sun was just breaking over the horizon as I leaped down from my horse. Rushing toward the throne room, I skidded to a halt in front of the open doors, plans clasped tightly in my right hand. I knelt in front of the door.

I cannot enter without his permission, or I will lose my head for nothing. 

“Enter, Seven.” The king’s voice echoed off the high walls. “Explain yourself.”

“I sought the council of my cousin, my liege. My, our, plans.” I bowed my head, holding the rolled up parchment out to him.

He unfurled the page as I stepped back into line.

“Three and Ten, you are dismissed. If you do not have Seven’s back, you do not have mine.” King Xerxes waved his hand. “We use Seven’s plan,” the king declared, and my heart soared.

“With all respect, my liege, the honor goes to my cousin Mordecai.” I raised my eyes to meet his.

A small smile lit his lips. “Very well.”

*

There were three of us left after a month.

The king gave us new names as he swore us into his service.

I was Esther a whole day before I saved his life.

As the Koltish fighters attacked the Northern border, an arrow struck the king’s horse, throwing him to the ground. I dove to protect him, taking a blow meant to kill. Blood seeped from my left arm as I dispatched his attacker.

Anahi and Lane quickly closed ranks around the king as he got to his feet.

With a grand rallying cry, we pushed back the invaders.

*

“How may I reward you for your service?” King Xerxes looked down from his throne with only gentleness.

“I want only your safety,” I insisted.

“At least take the day off.”

“Yes, my lord.” I bowed before leaving the throne room.

I took my horse from the stables and rode for Susa.

*

“What do you mean?” I asked horrified, staring at my cousin in his mourning clothes, the tattoos on the top half of his right arm on full display.

“The king passed a measure declaring all Ishtamites must flee, or they will be sentenced to death by the end of the month.” His dark eyes were cast to the ground. “You have to do something, Hadassah.”

“Me?” I asked incredulously.

“The king favors you.” Mordecai took my hands, the wrinkles around his eyes suddenly more pronounced. “Save our people, Hadassah.”

*

Cold fear gripped my heart as I stood outside the king’s throne room.

Entering without being summoned will get me killed. But I’ll be dead by the end of the month anyway. 

“…they’re dangerous, my king!” Haman’s anger echoed out to me before I could open the door and announce my presence. “The Ishtamites are plotting with the Koltans to overthrow you. We need to exterminate them!”

I pushed the door open without another hesitation. “My king, I beg for your forgiveness, but I humbly request an audience with you.”

“Esther.” His voice was warm. “You may approach.”

Relief flooded me as I placed myself at his feet. “If you would allow me, I have a request.”

“Up to half my kingdom is yours, Esther.”

“I ask for my life and the lives of my people.”

“Who dares threaten you?” he growled.

“Haman.” The man in the corner of the room froze. I pushed up my sleeve, exposing the tattoos on my right arm. “I am an Ishtamite, my liege. If you wish to kill me for it, I request that you do it now so I won’t see the demise of my people.”

“You threaten the very person who saved my life?” the king roared, and Haman ran toward the door.

But the king was quicker, and Haman was no more.



Author's Note: At exactly 1,000 words, it was really hard for me to keep my story at the word limit because Esther's story was one of my favorites growing up. This particular book of the Bible tells how a woman earns the king's favor and becomes his queen. However, his adviser hates Jews, so he gets the king to sentence them all to death, a decree that Esther stops by revealing her heritage and asking the king for a pardon. I made my version more feminist and empowering by turning Esther into a warrior. If I had had more space, she would have gotten to kill Haman herself.

Image Information: I searched for a long time but couldn't find an image that fit any of my ideas very well. I ended up picking an image of a church that my mom took in a church in Estavayer-le-Lac, Switzerland. It was the closest thing I could find to my imagination of the throne room.

Bibliography: The Bible: "Esther" in the King James Version.

Reading Notes: Bible Women Part B

When I started this unit, I knew exactly what story I was going to shift into my own creation.

With all my heart, I love Esther. Although honestly, when I think about Esther, I usually remember the VeggieTales version.

Esther was a leek in the movie.

She was strong and brave and saved her people and Uncle Mordecai from the Land of Perpetual Tickling/death (whichever version you prefer).

What I want to do with Esther's story is turn her into this badass warrior selected for her skill to become the queen. I haven't decided whether or not I want to keep the time period or shift it to medieval or fantasy. I could even do a more futuristic version which could be fun and work similar to my Tron idea for Rebekah.

One way I could keep it similar to the original story but shift it to something I would like more would be to make the king was looking for the best rebel fighters or something similar instead of beautiful virgins. It would be easy to then make the king less of an all-powerful patriarchal figure and just make him paranoid and brooding to explain away his "death to all those not called to court" rule.

I'd really love it if my Esther just poisons Haman at the banquet dinner for being a monster, but we'll see. If I have extra space, I can do much more damage to him.

While I read the other stories, I was really just excited to get started on cramming as much of my vision of Badass Warrior Queen Esther into 1,000 words.

Bibliography: The Bible in the King James Version.

Image Information: "Leeks" by Liz West.
Despite not being able to use a copyrighted image of the VeggieTales Esther, I did find this lovely picture of leeks which is the vegetable used to represent her.

Reading Notes: Bible Women Part A

Out of the Part A readings, I really liked Rebekah's. Growing up in church, I always colored pictures of Rebekah and Esther. I've seen so many different interpretations of Rebekah, and it would be interesting to think up my own. I read too many romance novels, so I'm especially drawn to tales like these. I didn't like the Hagar and Sarah ones as much because they were child-centric, and I'm not a fan of that.

Rebekah's story would be much easier to spin and cut off before she had kids.
I like the idea of her helping him, but I'd prefer to make it much more feminist and powerful. It would be easy to give it a fantasy or science fiction twist. Just thinking about Rebekah's meeting with Isaac makes me imagine a technology based world similar to Tron.

I'd love to shift their story into an injured traveler and a mysterious fighter who heals him instead of a simple meet up by the well.

I also thought Jephthah's Daughter's story was interesting. I remember being so heartbroken as a kid knowing that she had to die. I'd love to write a modern equivalent martyr situation or change the conditions somehow so that she could live, or live on instead.

Seeing as I like the martyr trope, Samson and Delilah's story also intrigues me. It was, surprisingly, one that I heard a lot as a kid, and I always felt bad for Samson. It would be intriguing to rewrite the story to be mostly the same, but to where I am also sympathetic for Delilah.

Whatever I decide to write, it is interesting to see the individual pieces I picked out that I like.

Bibliography: The Bible in the King James Version.

Image Information: "E3 Tron Lightcycle Reproduction" by Pop Culture Geek.

I Wish I Had A Growth Mindset

Before this, I had never heard of growth mindsets vs. fixed mindsets. But everything she said made sense, and I realized how fixed my mindset is. I can't even remember when I shifted away from learning being fun. I get so caught up in getting As that I forget about everything else.

While I'd really love to change, I don't know if I will be able to. But in a few short months, I will hopefully graduate, and I won't be able to depend on grades to create a false benchmark of success. So my goal for the semester will be slowly trying to ease away from depending so much on my intelligence and grades and instead lean toward being able to admit imperfections and hardships. Somehow over the years, I have become terrible at asking for help. Just this week, a friend of mine had to ask the professor a question for me because I would have rather struggled or learned later than ask myself.

I think the thing Dweck said that resonated with me the most was about the dangers of being praised for intelligence. When I was in fourth grade, my girl scout troop did a Valentine's Day activity where we wrote what we liked about the other girls on little hearts and exchanged them. Every single person in the group wrote "smart" or "intelligent" on mine. It took me a long time to realize how harmful it was to define yourself by such a fickle thing as intelligence.

I hope that I can learn to have a growth mindset because, especially as a writer, I need to be able to handle criticism without it hurting me. I think trying to shift to a more healthy mindset will be an interesting but rewarding task for this semester.

Image information: "Retrain Your Mind" by John Hain.

Week One: Time Strategies of a Procrastination Queen

Most weeks, I really don't know how I get everything done. I am definitely guilty of having more bad habits than good when it comes to doing my work.
I procrastinate a lot. At one point, I think I even wrote nearly 10,000 words (a whole fifth of my longest novel) in one week. After a lot of analyzing, I have broken my reasons for procrastinating into three categories because my best bet for combating my procrastination depends on why I'm avoiding the work in the first place.

1. "I don't feel like it." 
Easily the most common category for procrastinators, this is the one I fall into about twenty-five percent of the time. I'll often pretend I deserve a break and read or watch videos on YouTube before finally getting my act together hours after I started a task.

2. "I'm scared of doing it."
Most of my specific task procrastination falls into this category. Things like sending emails, making phone calls, writing discussion posts, or other similar forms of communication can give me a lot of anxiety. I worry over what to say, how the other person will reply, or simply whether or not I'm doing something properly. While this usually only affects specific tasks, this is my most dangerous kind of procrastination because I will avoid the activity until I garner enough courage or I'll simply not do it at all.

3. "But I should do this first."
My final form of procrastination is delaying or rationalizing the activity away. I'll often decide that while I really should be doing one thing, working on a novel I'm already ahead on is more important. I can rationalize not doing my Japanese homework right away by wanting to "take advantage" of being in the mood to write. I do this around thirty percent of the time with anything from "I should eat" to "I should really have a two hour phone call with my mom in which I read while we enjoy mutual silence."

Fighting the Procrastination Plague
My time management strategies change for whichever category I fall into. For the most part, the easiest way to get myself to do something is a bribe.

If I get all of my work done or doing something I'm afraid of doing, I'll give myself a piece of cookie cake or watch a video I really wanted to watch. Unfortunately so far this semester, I have only ended up in a black hole of constantly watching videos, and I haven't had time to run to Target to buy a cookie cake. But that's honestly my best bet, especially for motivating myself through procrastination types one and two. My other way to fight my fear is to talk to or be with someone else while I do the task I find frightening. I will often talk to my roommates while I send troubling emails or call my mom when I submit work. For my third type of procrastination, I usually concentrate on making a list of what I have to get done and slowly checking it off. Sometimes I can motivate myself and manage, but for the most part, my motivation has to be an external reward like the "How to Beat Procrastination" article suggested. However asking myself two out of the four questions in the "Four Questions to Help You Overcome Procrastination" article would just make me more stressed.

So for me, it really depends on what I'm trying to do. I'm not too worried about this class because the work seems fun to me. I love reading and writing so I will most likely be using the work for this class as procrastination for other classes. If I end up procrastinating for this class though, I will need to make sure I don't run out of cookie cake.

Image Information: "Birthday cake, I mean cookie" by StarsApart.

Potential Reading Options

For this upcoming week, I am looking forward to (hopefully) writing about Biblical Women. Ever since I was little I've heard Biblical stories. My mom once read the entire Bible to my sister and me as our bed time story over the course of a few months. When my grandmother gave me my very first Bible of my own, it had these adorable Precious Moments illustrations on a few of the pages.

But surprisingly, it was the New King James Version. My mom offered to get me an easier starter Bible, but I refused. I still love that Bible.
Besides being familiar with the general writing style, I absolutely love the story of Esther. My mom bought me the VHS tape of the VeggieTales version, and I must have watched it a hundred times. The last time I watched it was just a few months ago when I happened to see it on Netflix.

For weeks 4-5, I'm really excited to read Arabian Nights. I have always wanted to read it for some reason. There was an episode of Leverage, one of my favorite TV shows, where one character discusses Scheherazade and the musical piece related to her story. Ever since then, I've been enraptured with the idea of how amazing of a story-teller she was. Despite being a writing major, I'm not sure I could tell a compelling enough story to postpone my demise.

For weeks 6-7, I am so ready to read Japanese Mythology or Fairy Tales. I have loved Japanese culture since I started reading manga in seventh grade. Some of the fantasy manga I have read even had elements of tanuki or baku. I find Japanese culture so interesting, and I am so excited for the opportunity to read more about it and develop a story based off of it. I have taken an East Asian History class, and I am currently studying the Japanese language so I am somewhat familiar with various elements that would be found in the stories I will read.


Image Information: "Precious Moments Chapel" by Kelly. This is a picture on one of the walls of the Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage, Missouri.

Three Storybook Favorites

After paging through a few Storybooks, here are three I found very interesting.

Fifth Dimension:

This collection of stories written as scripts for a Twilight Zone-like TV show is amazing! They were all very creative and carried a consistent mood and tone. I watched Twilight Zone whenever I could when I was younger, so this was right up my alley. The author/narrator was humorous and made the whole universe she created seem very believable. I like that her introduction was similar to the Twilight Zone intro. While the formatting was very creative and fun, I wished the pictures had been higher up in the stories. Especially for the sorority story, I had already imagined a completely different house by the time I got to the image the writer used. But overall, the execution of this idea was fantastic!

Misfortunes of a Good Witch:

This one was the cutest out of the three I chose. I really like fairy tale retellings that give you a different perspective on a well known story, especially when they show you how an "evil" character is actually good like in Wicked. I liked how this author even added her own modern spin as she infused these old tales with not only the present day, but also her love for Harry Potter. It was refreshing and fun, and I wish there was more to read of poor Anna's story. Each of the short stories flowed well into each other, creating a light, but sound amalgamation of multiple tales.

Not to Touch the Earth:

My favorite thing to read in my free time is young adult fiction, especially dystopian novels. Along with those, I've always been interested in crime (my minor is Criminology), so Jenna's short story collection was nearly perfect for me. I loved the dynamics not only within the gang, but with Fox and Rye. Despite having to keep her pieces short, Jenna's world building was there, and all of my unanswered questions only made me more interested in the story rather than irritated at a lack of information. I'm so curious about every little aspect that brought them to this point and what the final installation will hold. I really want to see the end of Rye's character arc and what happens to Fox because of it.


Image Information: "Post-Apocalyptic City" by Ty'Onah Gallman.

Introduction of an Aspiring Author

Hi! I'm Ellie. I'm a Professional Writing major from the part of Illinois that isn't Chicago. I live close enough to St. Louis to get the city but also close enough to the country to get beautiful state parks.

So far I've written three YA novels. The first one was a dystopian sci-fi adventure, and I actually ended up self-publishing it on Amazon. My second one was a mystery about a girl who could see ghosts. The third one was a mythological fantasy novel about a girl who was half-Djinni and half-Finfolk. Eventually, I want to try to sell my latest two while I write my fourth.

Besides writing, I love to take pictures, read, and learn languages.
Ever since I was little, my mother has always been taking pictures. We have boxes and boxes of printed photos at home that are waiting to be scanned. She even took the cover picture for my first book. I love reusing her old pictures and telling her about all of the different things I've used them for, like this blog. However, I do like taking pictures of my own. My sister loves cloud pictures, so I always take some to send to her.

For books, I read mostly young adult fiction with a few trashy romance novels thrown in for good measure. I have a lot of favorite YA books, but I don't have a favorite YA author. For romance novels though, I love reading Jennifer Crusie.

As for languages, I studied French for all three years of high school (I took some summer school to graduate early). During my final year in Illinois, my family hosted a Swiss exchange student who spoke French. Since then, I moved into the international floor of the dorms and made two wonderful friends that I share an apartment with. Here at OU, I have taken French, Russian, and I am currently taking Japanese classes. I would love to learn even more languages some day and reach a fluency level in a language besides English.

Despite being a vegetarian for seven years now, I'm pretty terrible at it. Turns out I hate most of the foods that are supposed to be good for me, and I'm also terrible at cooking. So my greatest goal in life is to one day have enough money to hire a personal chef. That way maybe my diet won't consist of french fries and cosmic brownies.

Unfortunately, due to my mom's severe allergies, my family doesn't have any furry friends. However, we do have a gecko, two turtles, and several fish. I live vicariously through my neighbors' dog Kimber, whom they let me borrow sometimes.

If you're looking for recommendations for which of my stories to read (or avoid), Week Two is my favorite, and Week Nine is the one I hate the most.

Image Information: All of the images are personal photos. 

The first photo was taken at Garden of the Gods. 

The second and third were both taken in small cities near where I live. 

The final picture is of my neighbor's dog, Kimber. She's a black lab and golden retriever mix.

Week One Story: What Kindness Reaps

He knew his orders. He should throw her in the dungeons and be done with it. Spies get what’s coming to them.
His right hand tightened around her throat.

“Please,” she begged. Dirt and grime encrusted her sun-weathered skin. “All I wanted was some food. I’m sorry.”

The king’s guard laughed, tossing his mane of blond hair. “Do you really think I believe that?”

“Do I look like a spy?” Her soft brown eyes lacked any sharpness. Only fear clouded them. “Please, let me go.”

“Why should I?” He muscled closer, pressing her small frame into the wall. Even if I believe her, nothing good is to come of showing weakness.

“I’ll owe you.” She stared so resolutely into his eyes that he didn’t dare laugh.

“A mongrel like you?” He quirked an eyebrow but stepped back abruptly. “Go. Don’t make me regret it.”

“Thank you.” She bowed her head reverently before scurrying down the hall, disappearing quickly.

Leo stalked briskly back to his post. I never should have let her go. He raked his long thin fingers through his blond hair before straightening his uniform.

Next time I won't be so lenient, he promised himself as he resumed his position guarding the king.

*

It was exactly three days later when his world fell apart.

The neighboring country's army had managed to infiltrate the castle by posing as and buying off members of his own guard company.

"Find and protect the king! Dispose of any intruder you meet!" he shouted at the remaining trusted few. They scattered quickly, rushing off to search the nooks and hidden passages. There's no way the castle will stand until the army arrives.

Where could he be? The guard's brown eyes roved restlessly over the walls as he racked his brain. The library.

His boots clacked loudly as he rushed up a nearby set of stairs. The hallway wound before him as he listened to the faint shouts and cries of his fellow guards and the enemy's soldiers. All will be for naught if the king does not escape.

Leo threw the doors open to the massive room. Besides the books lining every wall, it was empty. Slamming the heavy wooden door behind him, he darted around the middle case and into the back corner of the room. He tossed multicolored spines off of the shelf before his fingers caught the correct one. It refused to budge more than a few inches, but it opened the passage to the hidden room.

Inside sat the king, unharmed, but fear evident in his icy blue eyes. “I heard the alarm bell. What is going on?”

"Your Majesty!" Leo breathed a sigh of relief. "We must escape at once."

There was a clamor in the hallway, and Leo quickly blocked the king's body with his own.

"Leo!" Another man in guard uniform burst through the door. A splash of blood stained the blue tunic a shade of maroon, but the fabric wasn't torn. "Leo, thank God you found him. All of the exits are barricaded with at least ten guards. How are we going to get him out?"

Leo cursed, running through possible solutions in his head. "I guess we'll just have to fight through.” But the king will never make it that way. Fear coursed through him, but he kept it off of his face. “Let's go. You watch the king's back. I'll lead the way."

Peeking his head out into the hall, the air was ominously quiet. Only the men’s sharp worried breathing echoed through it. I can only take two enemies at once while guarding the king. At least fifty men breached the doors.
"Let's go." Leo moved quietly through the hall, listening for any movement besides their own.

Just as they reached a new web of paths, he heard a sharp scuffling noise to his left. Motioning for the king and Peter to stay back, Leo launched around the corner, brandishing his sword.

Around the corner was the small girl he’d pardoned just a few days earlier.

“You again?!” he fumed. “I will not let you off this time!” He tilted his wrist, angling the blade against her neck.

“Wait! I know a way out! It’s not guarded. It’s small, but it’s safe,” she swore, ignoring the metal scraping against her skin. She peeked around Leo, catching the gaze of the king. “Your Majesty, I swear my loyalty to the crown. On my mother's grave, I just want to get you out.”

“How can I be certain you are telling the truth?” Leo glared at her, refusing to back down.

“I just snuck into a sieged castle. I cannot repay you unless you are alive.” Her brown eyes were filled with a surprising amount of strength and courage. “It’s this way. All of the other exits are crawling with enemy soldiers. It is your choice, my liege.” She bowed her head. The shiny silver metal of the sword glinted in the torch light.

“Lead the way.” Leo’s voice was steady but soft as he put his trust in the girl.

*

They emerged from the castle dirty and bedraggled, but alive. Without its king, the castle fell shortly after. But with Leo’s guidance and planning, the full force of the king’s army swooped in and crushed the opposing forces.

Since she saved the king, Mis was commended for her bravery and given a special job at the palace orchestrating escape plans and fortifying the weak points.

Leo grew kinder over time, and Mis never went hungry again.

Author's Note: In the original tale, a lion caught a mouse who begged for its life, promising to return the favor one day. Then when hunters caught the lion, the mouse chewed him out of the net, allowing him to go free. I kept most of the original idea, but simply made them humans and fit the setting to a medieval castle instead. It was so hard to stop myself from going overboard and writing over the word limit.

Bibliography: "The Lion and the Mouse" from The Fables of Aesop by Joesph Jacobs. 
The image is a personal photo from the grounds of Chateau Chillon in Switzerland. 

My Favorite Place and Why I Don't Know Where It Is

This is my favorite place.

It's a beautiful coastal town on the Mediterranean Sea.

But I don't know what it's called.

For three glorious days, I stayed with my family at my exchange student's grandparents' house in the South of France. We all packed into their two cars and set off on the six hour drive. Even when I asked where we were going and pulled up a map, everyone argued about where exactly Anais's grandparents house was.

But the name of the town didn't matter. I was enraptured by the beauty of it all. They had a pool, a massive garden, a terrace, and a patio shaded by trellises lush with grapes.

And no matter how much time I spent in the sun, I never got sunburned.

From their house, it was only a half an hour drive to a beach by the sea.

We roamed through rows of little shops and admired how beautifully everything lit up at night.

I loved it there. The salty sea and gentle sun were perfection incarnate to me.

While we stayed with them, we also journeyed to a castle-like walled-in city. We ate a delicious meal at a restaurant in the plaza and admired the history and beautiful stonework. As we left the small enclosed world, the sun was setting. Even though the sky was dark, there was a massive glowing carousel just outside the walls.

I adore carousels, but I'd never seen one that was two tiers before.

It was magical to me, just like the entire trip.

Even though I've never known where exactly they took us, it's still my favorite place I've ever been. I loved everything about the weather, the culture, and the atmosphere.

I only hope that one day I will learn the name of it just so that I can go back again.


Image Information:

The first four images are all personal photos that my mother took during our stay in 2013.

Because I don't know where I was, the final image is of the double decker carousel in Paris, Carrousel de Paris. Web Source: Wikimedia Commons

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Image Information: "Japanese Palace" by Unsplash.

Humble Beginnings

Hi! I'm Ellie.