Reading Diary A: Hans Christian Andersen

The Princess and the Pea
A Prince needed a Princess. The Princess couldn't be just any princess she had to be a true Princess. He scoured the land in search of her until he gave up and returned home sad. When the Prince had lost all hope, a huge storm hit the castle. During the storm there was a knock on the castle door. The knock came from a real Princess. The poor girl was completely soaked from head to toe.

The Queen did not like the thought of the Princess being there. The Queen went to the bedroom and stuck a pea under the mattress. She put twenty more mattresses on top of that one. The Princess had slept terribly. She woke up covered in bruises from sleeping on something so hard.

It was that moment, that everyone knew she was a real Princess. Only Princesses would be sensitive enough to feel something so small though so many mattresses. The Prince married the Princess. They put the pea on display in a museum.



Peas in a pod. Source.

Extra Reading: Russian Folktales

Two Dead Corpses

A soldier was able to go home on leave. He went home to pray to the holy spirits and in remembrance of his parents. It was dark on his way home as he walked past a graveyard. Suddenly someone was running behind him scream that "he can't escape." The person running was actually a corpse. The soldier jump and saw a church. He made his way to the church for help.

The church was empty except for the corpse in the middle of it. The soldier decided to hide in the corner and wait. As he sat there, the first corpse ran into the church. The second woke up when the first one entered. The first one told the second that he was going to eat the solider that he had chased into the church. The two corpses argued about who would get to eat him. They fought until the sun came up. When the light had shone in the church the two corpses fell to the ground dead. The soldier praised God that he was able to escape with his life.

A small church I imagined for this story. Source

Reading Diary B: Italian Popular Tales

Sir Fiorante, Magician



Opium plants. Source.

A man has 3 daughters and he works as a woodman. Each day the daughters would take turns taking their father bread into the woods. One day when they were in the woods, a large snake came out. He told their father that he wanted to marry one of his daughters. If none of them accepted his offer, the snake would kill the man.

When the daughters were told of this declaration, they refused the offer. However the 3rd daughter didn't want to see her father die. She decided that she would accept the offer to save him. She found the snake to be handsome and thought snakes were nice. The snake showed up and carried the daughter on his tale to a beautiful meadow. The snake caused a great palace to appear. He himself turned into a handsome man.

The man's name was Sir Fiorante. The daughter was not allowed to tell anyone who he was because she would lose him. There would only be one way to get him back. She would have to wear a pair of iron shoes, a staff, a hat, and would have to fill 7 bottles with her tears. Later she went home to visit her sister. Her sister was sneaky and tricked the 3rd daughter into telling her the husband's name. When the maiden returned home her husband was gone!

She knew she had to get her husband back. She put the shoes and walked everywhere crying. She filled one bottle up after another. Once she had one bottle filled, she met an old woman. The old woman gave her a walnut. The walnut was to be open in the time of need. After the fourth bottle had been filled, she met a different old lady that gave her a hazelnut to crack in a time of need. Finally after the 7th bottle was filled, she was given an almond to open if she was in need.

Finally the maiden reached the castle again. When she arrived she saw that Sir Fiorante had a new wife. The maiden cracked open the walnut, to reveal a beautiful dress. The new wife was in love with the dress and asked to wear it. The maiden agreed if the wife would allow her to sleep with Sir Fiorante. Of course she agreed. Before the night the 2nd wife slipped some opium into Sir Fiorante. The maiden told him she was his true wife. He didn't respond because he was on opium.

The next day the same thing occurred but the dress that came out of the hazelnut was twice as pretty as the first. The maiden went to bed with the husband but not before the 2nd wife snuck in opium. He never responded to her declaration. The 3rd night the servant asked Sir Fiorante if he hears the cries at night. He said he did not. On that night he didn't take the opium before bed. He pretended to take the opium and pretended to be asleep. When he heard his first wife's cry he was torn and had to hold her.

The next morning the two took off to live together in happiness in a different castle leaving the old one to the 2nd wife.

Reading Diary A: Russian Folktales

A Dead Mother

A loving husband and wife lived in a village. The couple had peace and happiness. Everyone wanted what they had. The neighbors were envious. People would be happy to see this happy couple. The wife gave birth to a baby boy. The wife died not long after the birth leaving the husband mourning his wife and to care for their baby alone.

The now widower decided to hire a woman to help take care of the baby. The baby cried all day and night. There was no way to ease the baby's crying. He wouldn't eat at all. But they found relief from the crying for most of the night when the baby would sleep so silently. It was as if the baby was not there it was so quiet. This phenomenon baffled the old woman. She decided to stay awake during the night to see why the baby would sleep so soundly.

When midnight struck the door to the baby's nursery open and someone went to his bed. The baby instantly stopped crying. It was as if someone had picked up the baby up. This same thing happened every night until the old woman told the father of it after 3 days. The father gathered all the kinsfolk to talk about the situation. They agreed that they would all take turns to spy on what was happening.

At night they went to sleep and set a trap with a light in it. At midnight the door opened, the baby stopped crying, and they flashed the light on the cradle. They saw the baby's dead mother leaning over the side of the crib and allowing the baby to suckle on her breast. When the light was shone on her she disappeared out of the room. Everyone was in struck by horror. When they checked on the baby they found him dead.

A ghost woman. Source

Portfolio Index

The Magic Diamond
This is a story about a princess that is granted magical powers but with the power come responsibilities and consequences.

Picked on then Picked Up

This is an uplifting story about a kid who takes a stand against bullies and finds himself.

Who To Love
If, you love a good love story of a girl who falls for the bad boy then this story is for you. Follow
Alyssa as she longs for the bad boy.

Extra Reading Diary: Aesop's Fables

Aesop's Fables book cover. Source

Fables About People

The Wolf and the Shepherd's Boy

• A boy cried wolf when there was no wolf repeatedly
• The town people became upset with his lies
• A wolf appeared and he cried wolf.
• No one came to his rescue
• The wolf ate  him

The Man and the Goose

• A goose could lay golden eggs
• A man was greedy and wanted more
• He killed the goose for what he thought he would find inside of him
• It was just a normal goose on the inside
• Now he has no more golden eggs

The Housewife and her Hen

• A housewife owned a hen
• The hen would lay fine eggs one in the morning and one a night
• The hen became fat from over eating and not moving
• Then hen died

Esop at Play

• Esop is an Athenian
• He is playing with his friends
• A man begins to laugh at them
• The man had no explanation for his laughing.
• The man is just relaxing
• The man is harmless, just enjoying time

The Man and his Mistresses

• The mistresses wanted the love they could get from their man
• One was older
• 2 were engaged at the same time
• One understood art
• Another seemed very young
• One was blossoming and beautiful
• Each wanted the man differently
• Eventually the man went bald from what they each wanted

The Dog and the Quaker

• Quakers are not allowed to hit animals
• A dog had stolen a Quakers bread and cheese
• He did not hit the dog but called out to him
• He used rocks and bricks to break the dogs bones.

Storytelling Week 11: Stealing for Love

A shot gun I picture when I wrote this story. Source.

POW POW POW is the sound I hear as the bullets are discharged from the store owner's gun. This wasn't the first time a gun has been pulled on me but it is the first time to actually be shot at. Normally the gun is just brought out to scare me. I was too relaxed tonight, I need to do better next time.

When your hungry you do what you have to do for food especially when your mother is a drug addict and my little brother is crying because he is hungry. I'd move heaven and Earth for my little brother Ryland.  I try to keep him out of the house away from her but when I have to go get food, I leave him at home so he doesn't get in the way.

I know what you're thinking, "why don't I get a job?" Well I have one, but it doesn't pay enough to get food all the time. Ryland was hungry so I ran to a convenient store grabbed a few things but not before the store owner saw me steal the food and start to shoot.

I can hear my mom screaming at Ryland outside of the house. He's too young to be putting up with her bull crap so I take off running inside to diffuse this situation. Apparently she thought he was doing his homework too slowly, which is funny considering she is a drop out that didn't bother finishing because she was already addicted to drugs. After I send her away and feed Ryland, I help him with his homework and get him ready for bed. You're probably wondering where our father is? Yeah well get in line because I want to know the answer as well. Mom won't tell us who he is.

The next day, I walk into the kitchen to be stopped by several police officers sitting at the table. Crap, I think they are here to bust me for stealing. I'm taken by surprise when they say they here because they want to investigate for child neglect. I don't want them to arrest mom. While sometimes I think she is Satan reincarnated, she is the reason my brother and I get to stay together. I lie my ass off to the police about what happens in our house hold. I can take care of Ryland until he is older.

Once the police seem satisfied with what they have heard, they leave and I go hunt Ryland down to feed him. At dinner he tells me everyone is laughing at how old his shoes are. I mentally put it on the list of things he needs.

I went to the grocery store with what little money that I had on Friday. On my walk to the store I saw a beautiful pair of shoes I know Ryland would love. I'm 25 dollars too short to buy them. So I go to what I know I have to do if I want him to have them.

I went into the shoe store, found Ryland's size, hid them close to the door, and set off to make a distraction. I "tripped" over my own feet, hit a shelf, and knocked the whole thing down sending shoes flying. As the store owner checks on me, then the other costumers, I make my way for the door, grab the shoes and take off running. I hid the shoes before I went to the grocery store.

On my way home, I grab the shoes, groceries in hand, and take the long way that doesn't go near the shoe store. The light in Ryland's eye when he sees his new shoes is the reason I will steal if I have too. His happiness means the world to me.

Author's Note: I had to take sometime to think how I could use the story The Story of The Summoner. In that story the summoner decides to steal money from who ever he can. On his journey, he meets a man. After questioning the man of his identity, the summoner finds out that he is really the devil. The two agree that they will steal everything they can from whoever. I knew after reading this story I had two elements to work with. Stealing and the Devil. I used stealing as the main element in my story. I bet you noticed that my character didn't have a name. I noticed that about half way through and decided to leave it that way. I wanted him to have motivation for his stealing rather than out of greed. You might have noticed I referred to his mom as Satan. I tried to have him have his own devil in his life. I liked writing this story. Stories like these make me want to keep writing and make t story more elaborate. I just somewhat let it flow rather than planning it out. Let me know what you think!\

Bibliography: The Chaucer Story Book by Eva March Tappan (1908).

Reading Diary B: The Canterbury Tales

The Story of the Summoner (cont.)

The summoner was now full of curiosity. He wanted to ask so many questions but was not able to. The fiend made it very clear that he did not want to spend time on a conversation if he was the topic. The two decided that they should stick together taking all that they can. If one gets more than the other then they will share their items they have stolen.
They come to a cart of hay, 3 horses, and the carter. They are deeply stuck in the mud. The carter, curses at the horses. He says he wishes the fiend to take them with cart out of frustration. The summoner gets excited and tells the fiend to go and take it. The fiend knows that the man is not being serious. Before they know it, the carter has the cart out and is going on about his day.
The summoner had an original goal of stealing from an old woman who lived on the edge of town. As they came near the woman's home, the summoner explained to the fiend that the woman is very stingy with her money but he would trick her out of her money. The summoner calls to the woman, she is old and sick. The summoner's trick looks like it is beginning to fail. The woman cursed the summoner to the fiend. The fiend asked her if she was sure that she wanted the fiend to take the man. The fiend took the summoner back to tell hell with him and that was the end of his tale.

Pence. Source

Reading Diary A week 12: Canterbury Tales

The Story of the Summoner

The Canterbury Tales. Source.

A summoner was looking to make money.  On his way he ran into a yeoman with new bow and arrows. The summoner was too ashamed to tell the yeoman of his title so he lied and told him he was a bailiff. It turns out that the stranger was a bailiff as well. The two men vowed to be friends for life. The summoner asked how the bailiff received money from his boss. The new man explained that sometimes he had to trick it out of his boss or take it.
The men discuss how both will do whatever it takes to make money. They will steal whatever they have to form who ever. The new man informs the summoner that his true identity. He is creature of hell. He has no true form but can take whatever form that he pleases. He can be anything form he wants people to see.

Famous Last Words: Week 11

What a week it was. I've started to get both reading diaries, the extra reading, and storytelling done no later than Wednesday. Football season was what I expected it to be. Busy. I also started making the reading diaries so hard on myself. I like to choose one story I will be interested in and telling about that one rather than doing every story. That was taking me so long.
I've gotten better at my storytelling. I am starting to see what is being asked of me and what is looked for. Some weeks it still takes me a while to figure out what to do with storytelling but I am usually happy with the end result.
My best writing didn't happen this week. I think one of my best writings happened a couple weeks ago. I wrote a story about adoption. I am not sure why I really liked that story, but some stories stand out more than others.
I have enjoyed reading other people's storybooks. I don't really like reading over my own readings. I can't really say why, I just don't. I also don't like to eat the desserts that I bake. I see a pattern starting to form...that can be dangerous.
My other classes are fine. I have a ten page paper coming up that I am not looking forward to doing. I absolutely hate the topic. I also can't seem to make that teacher happy no matter what I write, so I am procrastinating that as much as possible. Work is also going well. Football season has 3 more games left and it's about to get real. I can't wait to see what is to come for the team! I think I'm going to start a countdown until Thanksgiving because, in all honesty, that is what is truly important.
Until another week!

My boyfriend, me, and my best friend at work. Personal photo

Week 11 Storytelling: Sweet Revenge



A laptop. Source.

I didn't expect his new girlfriend to get transferred to a new school but that's what happens when you betray me. Alexandria Reynolds is my name and my daddy is a CEO of a very important company. I guess you can say I have his determination and work ethic. I also got his don't mess around attitude.

The day started as it always does. I brushed my hair one hundred times. I moisturized my face, then I put on my make up. By the time I was done, I always wanted to ask who the most beautiful was, but I knew it was me. Daddy says so too. Breakfast smelled amazing like it always does thanks to my housekeep/used to be nanny Gloria. She has taken care of me since I was born because my mother thought spending all her time at the country club with her tennis instructor was better than taking care of me. She spends so much time with Cliff the tennis teacher that she should be able to beat the Williams sisters at freaking Wimbledon. But no matter, I have daddy and Gloria to take care of and love me.

At school that day, a weird feeling loomed in the air. I brushed it off and walked to my locker to find my stunningly handsome boyfriend, Alec. Yeah I know, Alex and Alec. We get asked about it all the time. Alec is the ideal athlete and the sweetest boyfriend, but my goodness he is dumb as a rock. I like to think it makes him ever cuter. I didn't notice anything odd about him so I went about my day like I usually do.

*Buzzzzz* my phone vibrates in my purse. A very graphic picture of Alec and a girl that is not me doing explicit things pops up. I'm filled with sadness but that quickly turns into blind rage. It only took 5 seconds to realize the girl in the picture is the new girl Sienna. I had a bad feeling about her. I thought I made it VERY clear to her that he is mine. I see now that I was not and will be to ensure that he was mine. Of course I am going to embarrass Alec the way he did me but much worse. That won't be as far as I go either. She knew better and I am going to make sure that she doesn't get away with this.

"ALEX," I  hear Alec yell from across the lunch room.
"Hi babe!" I say. This game is going to be too much, I think to myself. I listen to Alec ramble on about how that isn't him in the picture and blah blah blah. At this point I don't care. I already saw him making eyes at Sienna. He really is dumb. It's truly astounding how dumb he is. I had to finish my day in rage without showing it.

The next I started my revenge plan. I got to school early to sneak into the principal's office. I need Sienna's locker number and I needed to swipe his laptop to plant it. I laugh internally at the thought of getting rid of Sienna. You're probably wondering why I want to get at her and not Alec. Well because I know it will bother him more than just out right embarrassing him. I'll probably do that too, but this girl knew better. One problem at a time.

36-05-27 on locked 455. The laptop has been planted. I didn't think it was going to be so easy to get into the principal's office so I had plenty of time to leave and go get donuts. Next time, the principal Cooks should lock his office.

I'm sitting in my first class when principal Cooks announces over the loud speaker that something has been stolen from his office. "What a shame," I say looking in shock. My next step is leaving a private note in the office of suspicious people who would've stolen the laptop. The list included some stoners, a couple known kleptomaniacs, Sienna, and a few others that wouldn't do it but it makes the list seem legit. The principal searched every person on the list lockers. What do you know? The laptop was in Sienna's locker. Shocker.

Sienna moved here because her dad is wealthy but nothing like my daddy. Her dad needed to keep his name out of the news so the principal dealt with the situation quietly but everyone in the school knew it was her locker that it was found in. Sienna was fully withdrawn from my school and transferring to another by lunch. Now to deal with the boy who thinks that I am dumber than he is.

I posted the pic on Twitter with a descriptive text about Alec's infidelity. I also tagged him on twitter  in some photos that will for sure have him hiding for a while. It was suspected that I got Sienna transferred. That is fine, maybe people will think twice about screwing me over.

Author's Note: This week I read the Celtic Fairy tale of  Gold-Tree and Silver-Tree. At first, I was suspicious of this story just by the title. After a few lines I realized it was the Celtic version of Snow White that is so popularly known today. I enjoyed reading it, I looked for similarities in this to compare it the modern story. I also looked for ideas that I could use in my story. I took the idea of the mother in the fairy tale betraying her daughter and made it my overall theme. Betrayal is always a fun topic to work with and to make people want to read. I incorporated a part of the original story that typically sparks recognition in readers. In the beginning, the part of her looking the mirror wanting to ask who is the most beautiful. I have noticed that my stories are getting longer. This one in particular. I just wrote until I felt like I couldn't write anymore. I like to allow my mind to run occasionally. I might have to go back and make this story shorter but I like having Alex's thoughts in the story to make it flow.

Bibliography:  Celtic Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs with illustrations by John D. Batten (1892).

Extra Reading Diary week 11: English Fairy Tales

Fairy Ointment

Dame Goody was a nurse. She would help the sick and babies. A noise had woken her up at midnight. The noise was caused by a man who had a strange look. The man was ugly with squinty eyes. Nurse Goody didn't trust the man but when he asked her to come tend to his child because his wife was sick, she had to go. The man rode a large all black horse with bright eyes could run at a very fast pace.
When they arrived at the couples cottage, the nurse found a baby boy next to a sick woman. The nurse took the baby from her. When the mom gave the baby away, she told the nurse to be sure to rub his eyes with the ointment once he opens them. They baby had the same eyes as his father. Curious as to what the ointment does, the nurse rubbed it on one of her eyes.
The ointment suddenly changed her vision. The cottage was furnished with fancy things, the woman was dressed in luxury, the baby was even more beautiful, and the other children in the house had pointy ears and hairy hands. They were very mischievous. The nurse knew what had happened. She was in a house of pixies. She took care of the baby until the mother was healthy again. The man returned her home and paid her a large sum of money.
With her money she set off to the market. At the market, she saw the large black horse taking things from each stall and no one noticed! Before she knew it, she was startled to see the ugly man looking at her. The man asked if she could see him, which she could. He knew that she had used the ointment on her own eye. To punish her for putting the ointment on her own eye, the man struck her in the eye. She was blind in that eye until the day she died.

A tube of ointment. Source.

Reading Diary B: Celtic Fairy Tales

Beth Gellert

King John gave his son-in-law, Prince Llewellyn his prized grey hound Gellert. Gellet was a sweet dog but had the hunting instincts like a lion. One day, Prince Llewellyn went on  a hunt. Before he left he gathered all his dogs but Gellert was no where to be found. On his return back to the castle, he is greeted by Gellert. He is taken by surprise when he sees Gellert because he is dripping blood from his muzzle and teeth. Suddenly, Prince Llewellyn was struck with a terrible thought. He races to his baby's room to find his it covered with blood and there is disorder everywhere. His son is nowhere to be found.
The Prince overcome with rage stabs Gellert with his sword because he believes Gellert has killed his child. A small baby cry is heard from under the cradle. The baby is unharmed laying next to what was a grey. Gellert had killed the wolf to protect the baby. Upset because of his quick actions, the Prince buries Gellert within the castle walls but within sight of everyone who passes.
To this day this spot is known as Beth Gellert or the Grave of Gellert.

A Greyhound. Source.

Reading Diary A: Celtic Fairy Tales

Gold- Tree and Silver- Tree

A king had a wife by the name of Silver-Tree and a daughter named Gold-Tree. The two women set off and came to a river with a trout in it. The queen asked the trout if she was the prettiest on the land. This is similar to the story of snow white that is so commonly known today. The trout declared that, her daughter was more beautiful that she was. This made the queen angry. In her rage, she decided to eat the heart and liver of her daughter. Silver-Tree thought this act would make her happy. At the same time the queen wanted her justice, a prince asked to marry the princess. The king allowed it and they moved away. To make his queen happy, the king sent his men to retrieve the heart and liver of a goat.
A year later, thinking she had ate her daughters heart and liver, the queen returned to the trout. She asked again if she was the most beautiful and the trout told her, and the answer was still no. The queen became angry to find out that her daughter, who she thought was dead, is still alive. The queen demanded that she go see her daughter at once.
The prince was away hunting when the king and queen arrived. The princess knew her mother would try to kill her. The servants locked Gold-Tree into her room so her mother could not get her. Silver-Tree tricked Gold-Tree and poisoned her. Gold-Tree fell to the floor dead. When the prince found his dead wife, he preserved her body and kept it locked in a room in the castle. The prince remarried another woman. One day he forgot to take the key and his new wife took it. She unlocked the room the find Gold-Tree who she thought was the most beautiful woman she has ever seen. The new wife took the poison stab out of Gold-Tree's finger and she woke up.
When the prince came back from hunting his new wife told him the Gold-Tree was alive. The prince decided to keep both of the women as his wives. After Gold-Tree woke up, the queen went to the trout a year later and asked the trout if she was the most beautiful. The trout responded no, that Gold-Tree was. Silver-Tree went back to Gold-Tree's home. She tried to poison her with a drink but the new wife tricked Silver-Tree into putting it into her mouth. Silver-Tree died.
The prince and his two wives lived happily ever after.


A trout. Source