All rights reserved; this copy is given to you.
For information on copies please contact:
Growing Together Counseling and Education
801 224 3001 http://www.GrowingTogetherCounseling.com
The Visadors – Keys to Understanding Ourselves?
Lynda Jacobs
The huge sprawling Nevada sky turned gray as the growing thunderhead clouds moved quickly together blocking out the bright, warm, sun. Far away, thunder rumbled -- a little louder with each flash of lightning. Ricky and Tracy sat on Grandma’s porch swing.
“One . . .two! Boy, that one was close!” Ricky shuddered, scooting a little closer to Grandma.
Thunder exploded at the very second the lightning flashed, and all the lights on the street went out.
Knowing they were safe with Grandma, both children remained relaxed. There was an exciting feeling that came with the thunderstorm. Enjoying this pleasant closeness to Grandma, neither Traci nor Ricky made a move to go inside.
“Grandma did you have electricity when you were a little girl?”
“Oh, yes, we had everything electric that we could imagine when we were here at home. But sometimes during vacations, our family drove to the mountains. We enjoyed staying in a tent and working on our cabin that we go now to in the forest. We didn’t have electricity there until after the cabin was built. Those were some of the best times I remember. There was no T.V. or video games, so we read. Sometimes we played Monopoly, Risk, or card games. But sometimes my daddy, your great-grandfather, would just tell us stories about the Vizadors.
“Visitors? People that came to see you?”
“Well, more than that. The Vizadors were very special. When we drove through the clouds on the tops of the mountains or walked into a rainbow, or looked out on the mist on a green meadow in the Springtime – or just before sunset, when the world took on that shaded look, not quite dark but still not light – those were the times we began to think we could see the Vizadors. Through the years we all added our own experiences to those Daddy told us around the fireside, and later in the cabin in the forest.
“What were the Vizadors like?”
“Where did they come from?”
“Did you see them a lot?”
“What did they do?”
“Where did they live?” The two children peppered Grandma with a barrage of questions.
-2-
“Well,” paused Grandma, “This would be a good night to introduce you to the Vizadors. A night like this is perfect because we are feeling pleasantly warm and safe, protected from the storm outside. We can listen to the wind and the thunder as it booms and bangs and rumbles, knowing it will soon pass and leave the air clean and cool. The change in the temperature and the feeling in the air bring back the memories of the stories. Yes, this is a perfect time.”
Ricky and Traci snuggled closer on each side of their grandmother and began to listen very quietly to what she would tell them.
“When the clouds and mist are touching the earth, the way you see them now, there is a change in the air, and if you look closely, things look very different from the way they do in daylight. It is then, if you are very quiet and listen very closely that you might begin to see the Vizadors. You can see them in the aura of light, the halo, that peeks around a tree as the sunbeams stream on past. Or you might catch a glimpse in the slashing rays of light that stream from behind the vanishing rain clouds high on the horizon.
“Sometimes you might see a movement or hear a sound. Then you might begin to feel a pleasant special feeling. That is when you can be sure that the Vizadors are nearby.
“They seem to come from another place, perhaps high in the mountains, in a hidden village. They look very much like you and me. They act and speak in much the same way. But they have many powers and abilities that would amaze you.”
Grandma hugged Traci and Ricky lovingly as she began to tell of her first experience with the Vizadors.
“The first time I learned about the Vizadors, I was just about your age. I was watching the clouds float by. I began to think about the pictures I could see in the clouds, amazed at the way they were changing shapes so quickly. Then I saw the full moon in the sky. Suddenly it seemed as if the clouds were standing still, and the moon was hurrying across the sky. I thought I was seeing the earth turn under the blue patches of sky. I felt a little dizzy; light headed. I thought I was beginning to float up to be a part of the clouds.
“Right then I began to hear the most pleasant sound I have ever heard. It was a soft comfortable sound that fell upon my ears giving me a feeling of church bells, or the sound of birds or a soft rainfall. Zhaaah -- the sound came softly. I wasn’t at all sure I was hearing it. Zhaaah -- it came again. Never loudly nor in an unpleasant way. The first Vizador I ever met came in that way. Each time I heard the sound after that I knew I could choose to have a new experience learning things that would help me all of my life.
-3-
CHAPTER II
“I walked out toward the mist, searching for the source of that wonderful sound. Just a few feet in front of me, gradually appeared three Vizadors. They were sitting on the ground in a circle playing a game like marbles, in a large circle drawn in the dirt, several brightly colored marbles lay scattered around.
“Jashon, what are you holding?” Verimin asked as he picked up a shimmering silver marble.
“I hold happiness.” The light from the orb shimmered and grew as Jashon held it up for the others to see. “I want to carry this happiness with me all of my life.” He pushed the sphere deep into the pocket of his overalls. The light from the sphere was hidden from the fabric, but still glowed through the pocket for a moment. Then it began to fade and darken. The three Vizadors were silent.
I watched for what seemed to be several minutes.
“Jashon, what has happened to your happiness?” Knychol whispered, breaking the silence.
“I don’t know, Knychol. I wanted to keep it forever, but when I put it in my pocket, it dimmed and vanished. It’s not even there anymore.”
“What are you holding, Kynchol?”
Verimin turned toward Jashon.
“I hold anger.” Kynchol nearly shouted, startling all of us. “I am going to stuff it in my pocket to make it go away. She pushed the brightly glowing orb deeply into her pocket to hide. Rather than dimming, it began to grow larger and brighter.
“It’s getting hot!” Kynchol yelped, and grabbed it out of her pocket. She tossed it into the forest rocks where it still continued glowing and growing.
They both looked at Verimin. “Why didn’t it just go away?”
Verimin looked back, her legs extended forward, her arms braced her from behind, waiting. “You tell me,” she said.
I sat down very still on a nearby rock to listen, puzzled by what I had seen, anxious to hear what they would discover.
Jashon felt the place in his pocket where the marble had been. He held his hand over that empty spot as if waiting for it to reappear. “I think happiness must be shared and passed around for hit to be genuine. When we find real happiness that will last and bring us real joy, it is because we are sharing our life with others. I think that this is why my happiness just faded away. I tried to hide it and keep it to myself. Let me find another happiness orb and I will treat it differently.”
Knychol looked as puzzled as I felt. “I don’t understand, then, why the anger grew larger and brighter when I tried to hide it. I thought hiding it would make it disappear. How is it different?”
-4-
Verimin seemed in no hurry to explain. I continued to sit and wait, wondering what Knychol might have done differently.
Knychol pondered silently, “You know, if I had held the anger out to examine it, I might have begun to understand what was causing it, or even what kind of anger it was. But because I don’t even know where it came from, I didn’t know how to deal with it.
Knychol began searching through the rocks to find the marble he had thrown away. He returned to the circle with the still glowing orb. As he placed it carefully on a nearby stump, it began to project his actions earlier in the day. Kynchol curiously watched himself from the stump. The projected Kynchol played a running game with many other Vizadors. He made a poor choice, running the wrong way. His thoughts were projected in slow motion. He thought the choice he made was stupid. He looked around, feeling embarrassed.
When the others continued to play, Kynchol thought they were mad at him. He began to think about himself:
“I don’t think I’m a good player.”
“I should have made a different choice on that play.”
“The others must think I’m really stupid.”
“They probably don’t want me on their team.”
“Well, if they don’t want me on their team, I must not be worth much.”
“I’m stupid and not worth much.”
“They don’t want me around, so I’ll just go away.”
“I don’t have any place to go because I am so stupid.”
“I don’t have any friends.”
The more thoughts he had, the more angry he became. He watched the friends playing and thought they didn’t even care that he felt so badly. He tried to hide his anger, but he became more clumsy in his play. That made him even more angry. Finally, he began shouting and shoving everyone who got in his way. When anyone tried to stop him, he became more angry.
Kynchol was sitting on a rock, shaking his head in disbelief. Then he said aloud, “Did all that anger come from just making a mistake?”
Verimin answered, “No, all that anger came from the thoughts you had following the mistake. Had you watched others play, you might have seen them making mistakes, but each one had different thoughts. Some thought, “I need to practice that.” Others thought, “Well, it’s just a game for fun, and I’m having fun.” Some of the others might have had many different thoughts. It was your thoughts, not what happened, that made you angry,” Verimin explained.
“So why wouldn’t the anger just go away when I tried to hide it from others?”
“You continued thinking the thoughts that kept you angry.”
-5-
“Where could I have changed my thoughts?”
They projected the few seconds again for Kynchol to analyze. “There,” he pointed, and the projection paused near the end.
“I could have told everyone how angry I was for thinking I was so stupid, and made them stop bugging me.”
“Can you really change how others think and act, Kynchol?”
“Oh, O.K. I would be better off trying to change how I think. Let me watch again.”
They watch. “There! Right at the start, when I felt embarrassed. Feeling embarrassed turned into feeling angry because I thought everyone was upset with me.”
Jashon pointed out, “Maybe even the embarrassed feeling was because of what you were thinking. Did you think you had to be perfect when you played with us?”
“Yeah, I guess I did feel embarrassed because I made a bad choice. That made two bad choices. First, I ran the wrong way, then I thought in a way that upset myself.”
Verimin nodded wisely as the mist thickened and the three Vizadors began to fade away.
* * *
Grandma said that at this point she began to shout, “No! Don’t go away!” She told the children she remembered running, waving her arms frantically and shouting at the top of her lungs, “I need to understand more! I want to learn more things!”
“But they were suddenly gone! I stood up from the rock, rubbed the toe of my shoe across the outline of the circle and bent to pick up a shiny silver marble. I held it tightly in my hand as I looked up the mountain and into the sky. I walked slowly back to the cabin, wondering about what I had seen and heard.”
Sunday, March 15, 2009
THE WIZARD
All rights reserved; this copy is given to you.
For information on copies please contact:
Growing Together Counseling and Education
801 224 3001 http://www.GrowingTogetherCounseling.com
THE WIZARD
Narrator: Once long ago in a far away land stood a castle. In the castle lived four very wise men, who the village people that lived nearby imagined were wizards.
The wizards, as the village people called them, lived alone in the castle, and seldom went into the village.
One specially beautiful spring time, the Mayor of the village called the town council together and said:
Mayor:
The long winter is over, the days are beginning to get longer and warmer and it time to rejoice and feel happy. But something is wrong in our village. There is no happiness. There is a bad feeling and I don't know what is causing it.
Council l. People from other villages don't like to come here anymore, they can feel that bad feeling tool
CB: is it a sickness? is our town dying? What could be the cause.
Councilman 3: maybe the wizards in the castle can help us. They are very wise and some say they can work magic.
Councilman. Yes. Let's fax a letter to the castle right away and ask for their help.
Narrator 2; Dear Wise men in the castle. We have heard that you are wizards and can work magic. Our village seems to be dying. There is a bad feeling here, and we need your help.
The first wise man appeared at the next council meeting.s
Wizard 1: When I received your fax asking for help with your people I decided I would try to help you. But if you want my help, you must all do exactly as I say. I will go out into the town and walk among the people and try to look into their eyes to see what the problem is that causes this bad feeling. I will learn what I can from what I feel as I walk among the people..
Narrator:3: When he returned after walking through the town for a few hours he told the council:
Wizard 1 You must call all the towns people together in a meeting and I will tell them what I have found out that might be the problem, and I will give them a tool that will help them.
Narrator 3: the word spread quickly that a wizard had come to the village and would give them a magic tool to help them. s
The auditorium was nearly full when the wise man stood up to talk the people told each other:
Villager: Sit very quietly and listen to the words of the wizard.
Villager 2: I wonder what he will say to us. What magic tool can he give us?
Wizard .1: IS have walked among your people and tried to look into your eyes, but I discovered that your people don't seem to be able to look up and look at faces. You must look at one another as you walk in the village. You must look into the eyes of the other villagers.
Narrator:3 The People started talking to each other and in the noise and confusion that followed as the people walked out and looked at each other for the first time that spring, the wise man left the stage, and some said he had vanished in a cloud of smoke.
Narrator 4: a few days went by and the feeling of the town got better. The people knew they had to look up and look at each other as they passed, because they had promised to do as the wise man told them.
Villager: We all feel so much better with this one magic tool the wizard has given us. I wonder how it would be to feel even better. Would it be selfish and greedy to ask the wizards to give us another magic tool to help our people feel better?
Council Man: We can ask for what we want. If we tell the wizards that is what we want and need, they might send another tool.
Narrator: Again a fax was sent and the second wise man appeared before the council.
Wise 2: I am happy that you have asked honestly for what you want. It is not selfish or greedy to ask for help, to ask for things that will make you feel good. I will help you, but you must promise to do as I tell you. I will walk among the people and learn what I can from what I see.
After a few hours the second wizard returned to report to the council and another meeting of all the people was announced. This time the auditorium was fuller than before because more people had seen the announcements posted around the town.
The wise man stood before the people and they began to get very quiet and get ready to listen closely to what they could learn from the things that he would say.
Wizard 2: I have walked among your people. I see that you are all looking up and looking at faces and into eyes as you pass each other. But what i felt as I walked among you was a certain sadness. When you look at other people, you must smile at them as you pass. If you will smile at each other, you will begin to feel much happier.
Narrator: the people began to look at one another and smile right away, and the wise man left the platform in the confusion. Many said again that they had seen him disappear in a cloud of smoke and spoke of the second magic tool he had given them/. They could feel the difference right away as they looked at each other and smiled.
The feeling in the town was so much better that people from other towns were starting to visit again. They could see that the people were happier and they could feel the change in the town.
A few days passed and one of the villagers said to a council man:
Villager: We feel so much better with our two magic tools. Would it be selfish and greedy to ask the wizards to send us yet another magic tool.
Council: I wonder How it would be to feel even better than we are feeling. I wonder how much better we can feel?
The mayor once again faxed an apologetic request to the castle for help. The wizard appeared before the people, The auditorium was completely full and the crown began to be silent and still as the third wizard held up his hands.
Wizard;3 : We are happy for you that your town is feeling better and we are glad to share yet another wool with you. Once again you must promise to do exactly as tell you and y u will begin to feel even more comfortable and relaxed, and the good feelings will spread among you.
I have walked among you and listened to the sounds of the village and I will tell you what you must do. You must say hello or hi to one another as you pass by. If you will give a greeting of hello or hi as you pass, other villagers will hear of the great feeling here and will want to be with you.
The noise that followed that speech was much louder than ever before as town
people turned to each other, looked into faces and into eyes, smiled and said hello. The wizard left during all that .
Villager:; Joe said he actually saw the man disappear in a cloud of blue smoke. He must be a wizard. All that the three men have given us has worked magic in our town. The three tools have brought us so much happiness and good feelings, do we have the courage to ask for more?
Once again the castle was faxed a request for help. Once again a wise man came to walk among the people and learn from all his 5 senses all he could learn about the problem, which was really not a problem any more, but a wonderful change and excitement in the air as the people walked among each other.
The seats were filled and people stood in the isles and in the doorways to hear what the wise man would tell them. THye listened quietly to learn what they could about the magic tools he would bring.
sd
Wizard: You have done as the first three men have told you and you have felt a great difference. Everyone can see the differences in your faces and the way you walk. There is a change in the sound of the village and I can hear a joyful sound. You have asked for another tool, and you need not apologize for asking. It is good to ask for what you want and need to feel happy and to take care of yourselves.
I know you will do as I tell you as you have already followed the directions for the first three tools. Now you need to learn the names of the people you see. Learn the names of all the people in the village. Learn to call each other by names each time you speak to one another. When you look up, look into your neighbors eyes, smile and say hi, you must say their name, and this will bring you great contentment and a friendly feeling of having loving caring neighbors and friends. All the world will hear of the happiness in this village, and all who can will come to learn from you and learn from what you have done.
The villagers all shouted:
All thank you for the magic tools, dear wizards.
Wizard: I am not a wizard, just a man who knows that I can choose to feel happy. What i have given you is not magic, but tools anyone who wants to feel happy can use. When many people use these tools, wonderful things can happen.
end.
For information on copies please contact:
Growing Together Counseling and Education
801 224 3001 http://www.GrowingTogetherCounseling.com
THE WIZARD
Narrator: Once long ago in a far away land stood a castle. In the castle lived four very wise men, who the village people that lived nearby imagined were wizards.
The wizards, as the village people called them, lived alone in the castle, and seldom went into the village.
One specially beautiful spring time, the Mayor of the village called the town council together and said:
Mayor:
The long winter is over, the days are beginning to get longer and warmer and it time to rejoice and feel happy. But something is wrong in our village. There is no happiness. There is a bad feeling and I don't know what is causing it.
Council l. People from other villages don't like to come here anymore, they can feel that bad feeling tool
CB: is it a sickness? is our town dying? What could be the cause.
Councilman 3: maybe the wizards in the castle can help us. They are very wise and some say they can work magic.
Councilman. Yes. Let's fax a letter to the castle right away and ask for their help.
Narrator 2; Dear Wise men in the castle. We have heard that you are wizards and can work magic. Our village seems to be dying. There is a bad feeling here, and we need your help.
The first wise man appeared at the next council meeting.s
Wizard 1: When I received your fax asking for help with your people I decided I would try to help you. But if you want my help, you must all do exactly as I say. I will go out into the town and walk among the people and try to look into their eyes to see what the problem is that causes this bad feeling. I will learn what I can from what I feel as I walk among the people..
Narrator:3: When he returned after walking through the town for a few hours he told the council:
Wizard 1 You must call all the towns people together in a meeting and I will tell them what I have found out that might be the problem, and I will give them a tool that will help them.
Narrator 3: the word spread quickly that a wizard had come to the village and would give them a magic tool to help them. s
The auditorium was nearly full when the wise man stood up to talk the people told each other:
Villager: Sit very quietly and listen to the words of the wizard.
Villager 2: I wonder what he will say to us. What magic tool can he give us?
Wizard .1: IS have walked among your people and tried to look into your eyes, but I discovered that your people don't seem to be able to look up and look at faces. You must look at one another as you walk in the village. You must look into the eyes of the other villagers.
Narrator:3 The People started talking to each other and in the noise and confusion that followed as the people walked out and looked at each other for the first time that spring, the wise man left the stage, and some said he had vanished in a cloud of smoke.
Narrator 4: a few days went by and the feeling of the town got better. The people knew they had to look up and look at each other as they passed, because they had promised to do as the wise man told them.
Villager: We all feel so much better with this one magic tool the wizard has given us. I wonder how it would be to feel even better. Would it be selfish and greedy to ask the wizards to give us another magic tool to help our people feel better?
Council Man: We can ask for what we want. If we tell the wizards that is what we want and need, they might send another tool.
Narrator: Again a fax was sent and the second wise man appeared before the council.
Wise 2: I am happy that you have asked honestly for what you want. It is not selfish or greedy to ask for help, to ask for things that will make you feel good. I will help you, but you must promise to do as I tell you. I will walk among the people and learn what I can from what I see.
After a few hours the second wizard returned to report to the council and another meeting of all the people was announced. This time the auditorium was fuller than before because more people had seen the announcements posted around the town.
The wise man stood before the people and they began to get very quiet and get ready to listen closely to what they could learn from the things that he would say.
Wizard 2: I have walked among your people. I see that you are all looking up and looking at faces and into eyes as you pass each other. But what i felt as I walked among you was a certain sadness. When you look at other people, you must smile at them as you pass. If you will smile at each other, you will begin to feel much happier.
Narrator: the people began to look at one another and smile right away, and the wise man left the platform in the confusion. Many said again that they had seen him disappear in a cloud of smoke and spoke of the second magic tool he had given them/. They could feel the difference right away as they looked at each other and smiled.
The feeling in the town was so much better that people from other towns were starting to visit again. They could see that the people were happier and they could feel the change in the town.
A few days passed and one of the villagers said to a council man:
Villager: We feel so much better with our two magic tools. Would it be selfish and greedy to ask the wizards to send us yet another magic tool.
Council: I wonder How it would be to feel even better than we are feeling. I wonder how much better we can feel?
The mayor once again faxed an apologetic request to the castle for help. The wizard appeared before the people, The auditorium was completely full and the crown began to be silent and still as the third wizard held up his hands.
Wizard;3 : We are happy for you that your town is feeling better and we are glad to share yet another wool with you. Once again you must promise to do exactly as tell you and y u will begin to feel even more comfortable and relaxed, and the good feelings will spread among you.
I have walked among you and listened to the sounds of the village and I will tell you what you must do. You must say hello or hi to one another as you pass by. If you will give a greeting of hello or hi as you pass, other villagers will hear of the great feeling here and will want to be with you.
The noise that followed that speech was much louder than ever before as town
people turned to each other, looked into faces and into eyes, smiled and said hello. The wizard left during all that .
Villager:; Joe said he actually saw the man disappear in a cloud of blue smoke. He must be a wizard. All that the three men have given us has worked magic in our town. The three tools have brought us so much happiness and good feelings, do we have the courage to ask for more?
Once again the castle was faxed a request for help. Once again a wise man came to walk among the people and learn from all his 5 senses all he could learn about the problem, which was really not a problem any more, but a wonderful change and excitement in the air as the people walked among each other.
The seats were filled and people stood in the isles and in the doorways to hear what the wise man would tell them. THye listened quietly to learn what they could about the magic tools he would bring.
sd
Wizard: You have done as the first three men have told you and you have felt a great difference. Everyone can see the differences in your faces and the way you walk. There is a change in the sound of the village and I can hear a joyful sound. You have asked for another tool, and you need not apologize for asking. It is good to ask for what you want and need to feel happy and to take care of yourselves.
I know you will do as I tell you as you have already followed the directions for the first three tools. Now you need to learn the names of the people you see. Learn the names of all the people in the village. Learn to call each other by names each time you speak to one another. When you look up, look into your neighbors eyes, smile and say hi, you must say their name, and this will bring you great contentment and a friendly feeling of having loving caring neighbors and friends. All the world will hear of the happiness in this village, and all who can will come to learn from you and learn from what you have done.
The villagers all shouted:
All thank you for the magic tools, dear wizards.
Wizard: I am not a wizard, just a man who knows that I can choose to feel happy. What i have given you is not magic, but tools anyone who wants to feel happy can use. When many people use these tools, wonderful things can happen.
end.
A long time ago in Archordain
All rights reserved; this copy is given to you.
For information on copies please contact:
Growing Together Counseling and Education
801 224 3001 http://www.GrowingTogetherCounseling.com
THE DRAGON
"A long time ago in Archordain," said the storyteller in a far off voice. "There was a town called Bosuchus. It was usually peaceful and calm in Bosuchus, but not today for an important event was happening today. King Tricason was coming here today and everyone was getting ready for his arrival.
Everyone helped; some made banners, some helped prepare the banquet. Everyone was busy and soon it was done. The banquet was cooked and on a large table. All the streamers and banners were up. A few people just went back to their homes and the others stayed there tidying up little odds and ends such as straightening the spoons and forks, for this was the King of Archordain and they wanted everything to be perfect.
In no time at all they heard the royal trumpets sounding and a voice saying, "His majesty King Tricason has come." Then the royal procession began. First came King Tricason himself. He had a black mustache and black hair about to the middle of his ears. Then came the nobles then the servants.
Everyone watching the procession knelt to King Tricason as he walked to the banquet table. When he was there he took his seat at the head of the table; the nobles sat at the side of the table close to him; they then began to eat with their beloved king close to them.
Soon Tricason look up at the people of Bosuchus and said, "Tomorrow I would like to see all the towns people gathered together at the town square. I have an important message to give all of them.
CHAPTER THREE
The next day as King Tricason had requested all the townspeople had gathered in the town square. There was a pulpit at the head of the crowd which he had stepped on to. The king cleared his throat and started to speak in a solemn voice.
"My people, a great evil has come over our peaceful country. An evil so great that it grieves my heart just to think of it." Then he paused for a moment and then started once more. "A dragon has come into Archordain and I have come here to recruit my loyal subjects. Together we may be able to slay this foul beast."
"The recruits will receive 60 trats a month. This dragon has already destroyed 15 towns and villages much like yours." And here Tricason ended his speech. And the next day a sort of stall was erected for the people that wanted to join this army. There was a great turnout they got almost half the men of Bosuchus and even some of the women who were satisfied with the job of cooks and nurses..
CHAPTER FOUR
The small army went out at once. Everyone said goodbye to their families sadly and left. They were led by General Ladcam for the king and his nobles had gone off to recruit people from other towns.
When they set up camp for the night Ladcam filled them in on all the information he had on the dragon. "He has his lair on Mount Ruculus. The plan is to go into his lair when he is asleep and grab some of his scales that have dropped off onto the ground and then get out of there. Then they would use those scales as shields against the dragon fire." For it was well known in Archordain from the stories and legends, that the only thing that could protect someone from a dragon's fire is that same dragon's scales. There were a few more instructions about how they were going to get there and other such things and then they all went to sleep.
But before General Ladcam retired to his tent he was stopped by a young man in his thirties. "General Ladcam may I see you privately?" he requested.
"Surely, you may." the General replied, and he showed the young man to his tent. Inside the tent they each sat down by a small table and the young man started talking. "I do not wish to keep you up longer than is needed, so I will be brief. Just before I left Bosuchus to join this army my grandfather gave me this" as he was talking he pulled out of his pocket two small glass containers much like food coloring bottles with an oozy looking fluid in them. "My grandfather said that these would help us in our quest against the dragon." The young man said that his grandfather would say no more, and then left the surprised general holding the two small containers in his hands.
In the morning after everyone had eaten breakfast and everything had been put up, the army started on their way. It was pretty easy going to begin the day when it was afternoon they stopped to rest the horses and have lunch.
CHAPTER FIVE
Day after day the small army walked on. Every now and then, someone would join them. After about a week of walking they could see the tip of Mount Ruculus. That night they all reviewed their plans with Ladcam, and then went to sleep. When they woke up that morning they hurried to put everything up and start going for they were trying to get to the main camp where many other small armies were encamped together.
The townspeople almost walked halfway through the main camp without noticing that they were in it. The tents were very cleverly hidden by camouflage. General Ladcam noticed it a good deal before they were there, but he wanted the townspeople to find it on their own. The camp was about at the middle of Mount Ruculus. All the people of Bosuchus pitched their tents in the same area and then just loafed around for a while.
All the Generals were called to a meeting in the middle of camp in which Tricason himself would instruct them on what exactly to do. While the generals were gone, the townspeople mingled with each other
Everyone was either talking or resting in their tents when there was a great noise such as would happen if we put gas on a fire. Then everyone saw it, (all the people who had been in their tents came out because of the noise) a great huge burst of flame almost half an acre wide. There was a small group of trees standing, and moments later there was nothing but the black smoking ground.
The people of Bosuchus, all the generals, and the people of the other towns all knew that dragons breathe fire yet they had never seen it happen before. They did not know how terrible it actually was. Many of the people that had only minutes ago been so cheerful and almost eager to meet this dragon now felt just the opposite.
CHAPTER SIX
In the days that followed everyone tried to forget that horrible blast of fire that came from the cave. More and more armies came to the camp and soon Tricason announced that it was time to gather the scales from the dragon’s lair. Ladcam volunteered his army to gather the scales first
The Bosuchus army was divided into ten groups of ten each. The first group to go in was the one with the young man who gave the glass containers to Ladcam
What happened to them can be best described in their own words so here is how one member of the team called Motley told the story. "So there we were about to go right into a dragon's lair and pick up a bunch of scales. I wrote out my will, hoping that it wouldn't need to be used in a long time. I got ready for the expedition, said goodbye to everyone else, and we were off. On the way up to the dragon’s lair we talked about the stories that would be told about us."
"When we got there we decided that the best thing to do would be for all ten of us to run in and pick up as many as we could, making as little noise as we could so we would not wake up the dragon. It took us all a minute to muster up the courage to go, but soon we were about to get moving. We counted to three and ran in. I found a good pile of scales and started picking them up. When my hands were full I ran out. The others came out soon and had a great many of scales as well.
"We made two more runs and ended with quite a large pile of scales which we put in the cart and pulled down the mountain into camp. Later when we had a contest to see which team gathered the most my team came in fourth."
And that's basically the story for all the teams. There was one group of townspeople from a town named Nabatnam whose general foolishly told them all to go in at the same time. They made too much noise and woke the dragon up he fried almost all of them, except the ones that dived into a pile of dragon scales. When they were all counted it turned out that Bosuchus gathered the most.
Tricason ordered all the scales made into shields, yet no one seemed to know how, when someone accidentally dropped one into a fire and saw it melt into a thick hard substance. This gave the blacksmiths an idea. The blacksmiths approached the king and asked him to order some bellows from the nearby town of Triclat and he did so. When the bellows came the blacksmiths set to work hammering the substance into huge shields.
Before anyone seemed to know what was happening, everything was completed. The shields were all made, the spears, bows and arrows that had been ordered had come, and the king had recruited all the towns that he had been able too. IT WAS TIME FOR THE ATTACK!!!
CHAPTER SEVEN
The generals all agreed to go up in full force and go as close as they dared with the best bowmen in the front. And then open fire. Tricason selected the ten bravest men to go find out where the most vulnerable part of the dragon was. They came back and said it was the eyes and the mouth After they had all rested, they went up to the dragon’s lair, as planned, in full force with the best bowmen in front. They all got as close to the dragon as they dared to, and the bowmen fired. The dragon awoke in a furious frenzy. It started breathing fire everywhere and swishing its tail. That's when Ladcam remembered the glass bottles that the young man had given to him. He pulled the first one out while holding his shield up against a furious blast of dragon’s breath. The general held the bottle and threw it with all his might and muscle. The tiny container spun around in the air and hit the dragon when its mouth was open, yet just before any fire came out.
The dragon seemed to stop and hold stock still for a moment, and then it seemed like it was choking on the fluid. The beast had its mouth open yet no fire was coming out. The beast became even more furious it started hitting people with its tail. It even tried to eat one of the men, but the man threw his spear almost right by the dragons eye.
Then Ladcam threw the other bottle at the dragon . It hit with a loud crash and the dragon fell in a heap with a roar. Everyone ran up to it and started jabbing it with their spears until they were sure it was dead Then they rose a great shout of victory and started pulling the spears and arrows out with great joy.
CHAPTER EIGHT
epilouge
That night there was a great feast and a celebration. In the morning most of the people started packing their belongings and their payment and headed for home. The young man’s grandfather was questioned and would not say anything. He just acted like he had never given his grandson anything like the two bottles. They remain a mystery even today.
The dragon killed almost 120 of the 2000 people that had attacked it. Most people guessed it would have killed more people had it not been killed itself. The townspeople went back to their separate villages and towns. They were all allowed to keep their shields as mementos of their battle
"And that is the end of the story,” said the storyteller and the silence that had prevailed through the whole story was broken and everybody gradually left except the two boys, Motaff and Nudat. They went up and started talking with the storyteller.
"That sure was a neat story!" said Motaff in an exited voice.
"Yeah, where did you learn it from?" asked Nudat.
"I learned it from my grandfather when I was very young." said the storyteller.
"Where did he learn it from?" asked both the boys together
"I never asked him," said the old man
One day the two boys were looking through an old genealogy book when they noticed a branch of the storyteller’s ancestors. They looked at it a while. Then Nudat quickly pointed at one certain point and almost shouted "look Motaff look!". There in a certain spot was the name CAFNAT LADCAM, general in the army of King Tricason. So the boys found out the truth.
THE END
For information on copies please contact:
Growing Together Counseling and Education
801 224 3001 http://www.GrowingTogetherCounseling.com
THE DRAGON
"A long time ago in Archordain," said the storyteller in a far off voice. "There was a town called Bosuchus. It was usually peaceful and calm in Bosuchus, but not today for an important event was happening today. King Tricason was coming here today and everyone was getting ready for his arrival.
Everyone helped; some made banners, some helped prepare the banquet. Everyone was busy and soon it was done. The banquet was cooked and on a large table. All the streamers and banners were up. A few people just went back to their homes and the others stayed there tidying up little odds and ends such as straightening the spoons and forks, for this was the King of Archordain and they wanted everything to be perfect.
In no time at all they heard the royal trumpets sounding and a voice saying, "His majesty King Tricason has come." Then the royal procession began. First came King Tricason himself. He had a black mustache and black hair about to the middle of his ears. Then came the nobles then the servants.
Everyone watching the procession knelt to King Tricason as he walked to the banquet table. When he was there he took his seat at the head of the table; the nobles sat at the side of the table close to him; they then began to eat with their beloved king close to them.
Soon Tricason look up at the people of Bosuchus and said, "Tomorrow I would like to see all the towns people gathered together at the town square. I have an important message to give all of them.
CHAPTER THREE
The next day as King Tricason had requested all the townspeople had gathered in the town square. There was a pulpit at the head of the crowd which he had stepped on to. The king cleared his throat and started to speak in a solemn voice.
"My people, a great evil has come over our peaceful country. An evil so great that it grieves my heart just to think of it." Then he paused for a moment and then started once more. "A dragon has come into Archordain and I have come here to recruit my loyal subjects. Together we may be able to slay this foul beast."
"The recruits will receive 60 trats a month. This dragon has already destroyed 15 towns and villages much like yours." And here Tricason ended his speech. And the next day a sort of stall was erected for the people that wanted to join this army. There was a great turnout they got almost half the men of Bosuchus and even some of the women who were satisfied with the job of cooks and nurses..
CHAPTER FOUR
The small army went out at once. Everyone said goodbye to their families sadly and left. They were led by General Ladcam for the king and his nobles had gone off to recruit people from other towns.
When they set up camp for the night Ladcam filled them in on all the information he had on the dragon. "He has his lair on Mount Ruculus. The plan is to go into his lair when he is asleep and grab some of his scales that have dropped off onto the ground and then get out of there. Then they would use those scales as shields against the dragon fire." For it was well known in Archordain from the stories and legends, that the only thing that could protect someone from a dragon's fire is that same dragon's scales. There were a few more instructions about how they were going to get there and other such things and then they all went to sleep.
But before General Ladcam retired to his tent he was stopped by a young man in his thirties. "General Ladcam may I see you privately?" he requested.
"Surely, you may." the General replied, and he showed the young man to his tent. Inside the tent they each sat down by a small table and the young man started talking. "I do not wish to keep you up longer than is needed, so I will be brief. Just before I left Bosuchus to join this army my grandfather gave me this" as he was talking he pulled out of his pocket two small glass containers much like food coloring bottles with an oozy looking fluid in them. "My grandfather said that these would help us in our quest against the dragon." The young man said that his grandfather would say no more, and then left the surprised general holding the two small containers in his hands.
In the morning after everyone had eaten breakfast and everything had been put up, the army started on their way. It was pretty easy going to begin the day when it was afternoon they stopped to rest the horses and have lunch.
CHAPTER FIVE
Day after day the small army walked on. Every now and then, someone would join them. After about a week of walking they could see the tip of Mount Ruculus. That night they all reviewed their plans with Ladcam, and then went to sleep. When they woke up that morning they hurried to put everything up and start going for they were trying to get to the main camp where many other small armies were encamped together.
The townspeople almost walked halfway through the main camp without noticing that they were in it. The tents were very cleverly hidden by camouflage. General Ladcam noticed it a good deal before they were there, but he wanted the townspeople to find it on their own. The camp was about at the middle of Mount Ruculus. All the people of Bosuchus pitched their tents in the same area and then just loafed around for a while.
All the Generals were called to a meeting in the middle of camp in which Tricason himself would instruct them on what exactly to do. While the generals were gone, the townspeople mingled with each other
Everyone was either talking or resting in their tents when there was a great noise such as would happen if we put gas on a fire. Then everyone saw it, (all the people who had been in their tents came out because of the noise) a great huge burst of flame almost half an acre wide. There was a small group of trees standing, and moments later there was nothing but the black smoking ground.
The people of Bosuchus, all the generals, and the people of the other towns all knew that dragons breathe fire yet they had never seen it happen before. They did not know how terrible it actually was. Many of the people that had only minutes ago been so cheerful and almost eager to meet this dragon now felt just the opposite.
CHAPTER SIX
In the days that followed everyone tried to forget that horrible blast of fire that came from the cave. More and more armies came to the camp and soon Tricason announced that it was time to gather the scales from the dragon’s lair. Ladcam volunteered his army to gather the scales first
The Bosuchus army was divided into ten groups of ten each. The first group to go in was the one with the young man who gave the glass containers to Ladcam
What happened to them can be best described in their own words so here is how one member of the team called Motley told the story. "So there we were about to go right into a dragon's lair and pick up a bunch of scales. I wrote out my will, hoping that it wouldn't need to be used in a long time. I got ready for the expedition, said goodbye to everyone else, and we were off. On the way up to the dragon’s lair we talked about the stories that would be told about us."
"When we got there we decided that the best thing to do would be for all ten of us to run in and pick up as many as we could, making as little noise as we could so we would not wake up the dragon. It took us all a minute to muster up the courage to go, but soon we were about to get moving. We counted to three and ran in. I found a good pile of scales and started picking them up. When my hands were full I ran out. The others came out soon and had a great many of scales as well.
"We made two more runs and ended with quite a large pile of scales which we put in the cart and pulled down the mountain into camp. Later when we had a contest to see which team gathered the most my team came in fourth."
And that's basically the story for all the teams. There was one group of townspeople from a town named Nabatnam whose general foolishly told them all to go in at the same time. They made too much noise and woke the dragon up he fried almost all of them, except the ones that dived into a pile of dragon scales. When they were all counted it turned out that Bosuchus gathered the most.
Tricason ordered all the scales made into shields, yet no one seemed to know how, when someone accidentally dropped one into a fire and saw it melt into a thick hard substance. This gave the blacksmiths an idea. The blacksmiths approached the king and asked him to order some bellows from the nearby town of Triclat and he did so. When the bellows came the blacksmiths set to work hammering the substance into huge shields.
Before anyone seemed to know what was happening, everything was completed. The shields were all made, the spears, bows and arrows that had been ordered had come, and the king had recruited all the towns that he had been able too. IT WAS TIME FOR THE ATTACK!!!
CHAPTER SEVEN
The generals all agreed to go up in full force and go as close as they dared with the best bowmen in the front. And then open fire. Tricason selected the ten bravest men to go find out where the most vulnerable part of the dragon was. They came back and said it was the eyes and the mouth After they had all rested, they went up to the dragon’s lair, as planned, in full force with the best bowmen in front. They all got as close to the dragon as they dared to, and the bowmen fired. The dragon awoke in a furious frenzy. It started breathing fire everywhere and swishing its tail. That's when Ladcam remembered the glass bottles that the young man had given to him. He pulled the first one out while holding his shield up against a furious blast of dragon’s breath. The general held the bottle and threw it with all his might and muscle. The tiny container spun around in the air and hit the dragon when its mouth was open, yet just before any fire came out.
The dragon seemed to stop and hold stock still for a moment, and then it seemed like it was choking on the fluid. The beast had its mouth open yet no fire was coming out. The beast became even more furious it started hitting people with its tail. It even tried to eat one of the men, but the man threw his spear almost right by the dragons eye.
Then Ladcam threw the other bottle at the dragon . It hit with a loud crash and the dragon fell in a heap with a roar. Everyone ran up to it and started jabbing it with their spears until they were sure it was dead Then they rose a great shout of victory and started pulling the spears and arrows out with great joy.
CHAPTER EIGHT
epilouge
That night there was a great feast and a celebration. In the morning most of the people started packing their belongings and their payment and headed for home. The young man’s grandfather was questioned and would not say anything. He just acted like he had never given his grandson anything like the two bottles. They remain a mystery even today.
The dragon killed almost 120 of the 2000 people that had attacked it. Most people guessed it would have killed more people had it not been killed itself. The townspeople went back to their separate villages and towns. They were all allowed to keep their shields as mementos of their battle
"And that is the end of the story,” said the storyteller and the silence that had prevailed through the whole story was broken and everybody gradually left except the two boys, Motaff and Nudat. They went up and started talking with the storyteller.
"That sure was a neat story!" said Motaff in an exited voice.
"Yeah, where did you learn it from?" asked Nudat.
"I learned it from my grandfather when I was very young." said the storyteller.
"Where did he learn it from?" asked both the boys together
"I never asked him," said the old man
One day the two boys were looking through an old genealogy book when they noticed a branch of the storyteller’s ancestors. They looked at it a while. Then Nudat quickly pointed at one certain point and almost shouted "look Motaff look!". There in a certain spot was the name CAFNAT LADCAM, general in the army of King Tricason. So the boys found out the truth.
THE END
THE REST OF THE TALE
All rights reserved; this copy is given to you. For information on copies please contact:
Growing Together Counseling and Education
801 224 3001 http://www.GrowingTogetherCounseling.com
And the princess rode off to the castle with the prince. They were married and lived at the castle happily. They strolled through the garden blossoms and danced among the wild flowers; they marveled at the sunsets and ran to meet the rainbows in the sky. They laughed at the court jester and sang with the ladies and knights of the court. They sat around the fire at night dreaming of what they would do to make the world a better and more beautiful, kinder and more gentle place when they became queen and king of the land.
The princess was in the garden one beautiful day when a tiny lady in a sparkling dress appeared to her. "Princess," she said, and her voice was like little bells jingling lightly, "You may have the wish of your heart. You must not take this lightly, for as with every wish there is a price to pay; I cannot tell you the price, but I will tell you that it will be well worth the reward. The princess asked for a day to think it over.
She did not mention it to the prince for he was very busy. The next day the princess was in her garden tending the flowers when the tiny lady appeared. "Have you decided on your wish young princess?”
"My wish is to have 7 healthy beautiful children who love each other and make the world a happier more gentle place." For, you see, the princess knew that seven has been a magical, special number since the creation of the world.
"Your wish shall be granted; please remember as you pay the price that it will be well worth it in the end."
The tiny woman went away. The princess did not see her again for a long time, but she thought of her many times during the rest of her life.
Then one day the king and queen died and the young prince was not appointed to the king. Instead, one of his cousins was made king and banished the young prince and his bride into the wilderness without a penny of their own. They wandered in the wilderness for many months, looking for a place to live where there would be a job for the prince and a cottage for the young princess, for you see, by then she was ready to have a baby.
The prince was an industrious and talented young man so he was able to get a job working in a small town where he made enough money to buy food for himself and his wife. Soon the baby was born and as the baby grew, it ate more and more food, and by
that time there was a second baby. The young prince, older now, had to take an extra job in the town, while the princess had to stay at home, taking care of the two babies, and that was not easy, because she was going to have a third baby soon.
The prince and princess did not look as young and beautiful as they had looked riding off to the castle on that white horse, but they were still in love, they thought. They did not see each
other often and when they did the things they had to talk about were nothing to do with sunsets and rainbows, but they talked about the problems the children were having and the lack of money and clothes, and the small cottage was not big enough for the growing family.
The prince would say, "You want me to work 24 hours a day and night times too? When all you want to do is dance and raise flowers."
And the princess would stamp her foot and tell him if he hadn't messed up at the castle they would still be there and be king and Queen, so she claimed all their problems were really his fault.
They spent so much of their time arguing about who was at fault, they could not solve any of their real problems. Arguing just made them worse. While they argued the children would close up their ears with pillows so they couldn't hear or run outside into the woods. It didn't really matter what they did, they could still hear the words in their heads because they had heard them so often since before they were born.
Two more children had been born, so now there were five. Some of the children thought the fighting and arguing must be their fault, and they felt very badly about it. They began to fight and argue and strike each other in anger. It grieved the
princess; this was not her wish. She was paying the price, but where were the 7 wonderful children who would be gentle and kind and make the world a better place to live?
One day after the prince had gone off to his first job early in the morning the princess gathered her children around her and said that they were going on an adventure. She told them to get their clothes that they could carry and their favorite toy, and climb into the cart. Off they all went, excited to be on an adventure. Night time came and still they traveled on. The children slept in the cart as much as the bumpy cold ride would allow them to. Finally the princess stopped at an empty cabin and built a fire. She put the children to bed. They stayed in the cabin, fishing for food and running and
playing in the chilly winter air, feeling like all would be well now. They danced among the wild flowers and marveled at the sunsets and ran towards the rainbows.
But the children missed the prince and his joking laughter and his rough housing that he did with them on the rare evenings he spent at home. Soon they were crying for him every day.
The princess loved her 5 children so very much that it hurt her so see them sad and lonely for their father, so she sent a message with a hunter to tell the prince where they were, and that if he would come join them they could be happy there in the
woods, leaving all their anger behind. The prince was happy to get the message and managed his affairs so he was soon able to join them at the cabin in the forest.
For weeks they danced together among the wild flowers and walked among the garden blossoms, they marveled at the sunsets and ran towards the rainbows, and soon, another baby was
born. The family grew restless and lonesome for their friends and the farm they had at their small cottage. They had all forgotten the anger and fighting and did not remember how bad they all felt there.
The princess was so happy in the forest, she did not want to return to the farm, but she loved her children and the prince so very much that she said she would go with them back to the cottage if they had all learned from the experience to be more loving and thoughtful to each other.
Once again the princess, now older and not so elegant and beautiful, packed the cart and carried her family through the forest back to the farm and the cottage.
There she walked with the children in the garden, and she watched as they danced among the wild flowers. She gladly listened to them tell her of the sunsets they saw and gaily watched them run toward the rainbows
A short time later the seventh child was born and the princess became very ill. She rejoiced in the birth of their beautiful baby girl, but feared that she would
not live to see the child grow up.
So each day the princess tried very hard to tell each of her children to be strong and happy. She told the stories that helped them to learn that they had many choices in their lives that they could choose to be gentle and happy and kind in spite of the things that might happen to them. When she thought they had learned these lessons well enough
to live them and teach them to the two smallest children, she went away. She wanted to take the children with her when she went away this time, but she knew she could not.
She did not have any money and she was so very weak and ill. She thought
she was dying, so she left her children with the prince, for him to care for and pay for and make a home for and she went away to rest, so that at times when she had the strength she could see the children and play with them and tell them how much she loved them. She wanted to get well and strong so she could walk with her children among the gardens, and dance with them in the wild flowers. She longed to marvel with them once more at the sunsets and run with them toward the rainbows, and to teach them once more to be kind and gentle.
The prince married again and the stepmother was very good and kind to the children. She took good care of the children when the princess could not be with them, and the princess was grateful that her children had two mothers to teach them kindness and love.
Through the years that followed she wrote letters when she was away and took the children on adventures and picnics when they were together. She walked with them in the sunsets, and marveled at the rainbows. She told them stories of the castle and the king and queen and the little cottage. Stories about the cabin in the forest. She tried to help them forget the loud unkind words spoken so long ago when they were so very small, and the bad feelings they had from them.
The baby girl did not remember the arguments or the forest for she had not yet been born. She did not remember that the princess had ever lived in their little cottage with them, but she loved to go on the adventures with the princess. She was a beautiful child, and happy and gentle and she loved to walk among the garden blossoms, and dance among the wild flowers. She marveled at the sunset and ran to meet the rainbows.
The princess watched her children grow up to be kind, loving and gentle people. making the world a kinder, more gentle place to live. The tiny lady came once again to the princess and said, "You have paid a high price."
The princess said, "But I have had my wish come true, and it has been well worth the price, and more." The children were grown, with children of their own when the princess died. The children knew she had gone to where the sunsets are, to rest forever among the rainbows, but she would be with them in the gardens to dance among the wild flowers, as they taught their own children to be gentle and loving. She had left with them this last request:
Decorate my grave not
with brackish plastic flowers
Mocking nature’s reality.
Rather, garnish your days
with acts of kindness
One to another, and
Scatter handsfull of wild flowers or
Garden blossoms upon me to
Remind you that
Loving acts and feelings
Must be repeated daily so that
Love can be eternal.
Growing Together Counseling and Education
801 224 3001 http://www.GrowingTogetherCounseling.com
And the princess rode off to the castle with the prince. They were married and lived at the castle happily. They strolled through the garden blossoms and danced among the wild flowers; they marveled at the sunsets and ran to meet the rainbows in the sky. They laughed at the court jester and sang with the ladies and knights of the court. They sat around the fire at night dreaming of what they would do to make the world a better and more beautiful, kinder and more gentle place when they became queen and king of the land.
The princess was in the garden one beautiful day when a tiny lady in a sparkling dress appeared to her. "Princess," she said, and her voice was like little bells jingling lightly, "You may have the wish of your heart. You must not take this lightly, for as with every wish there is a price to pay; I cannot tell you the price, but I will tell you that it will be well worth the reward. The princess asked for a day to think it over.
She did not mention it to the prince for he was very busy. The next day the princess was in her garden tending the flowers when the tiny lady appeared. "Have you decided on your wish young princess?”
"My wish is to have 7 healthy beautiful children who love each other and make the world a happier more gentle place." For, you see, the princess knew that seven has been a magical, special number since the creation of the world.
"Your wish shall be granted; please remember as you pay the price that it will be well worth it in the end."
The tiny woman went away. The princess did not see her again for a long time, but she thought of her many times during the rest of her life.
Then one day the king and queen died and the young prince was not appointed to the king. Instead, one of his cousins was made king and banished the young prince and his bride into the wilderness without a penny of their own. They wandered in the wilderness for many months, looking for a place to live where there would be a job for the prince and a cottage for the young princess, for you see, by then she was ready to have a baby.
The prince was an industrious and talented young man so he was able to get a job working in a small town where he made enough money to buy food for himself and his wife. Soon the baby was born and as the baby grew, it ate more and more food, and by
that time there was a second baby. The young prince, older now, had to take an extra job in the town, while the princess had to stay at home, taking care of the two babies, and that was not easy, because she was going to have a third baby soon.
The prince and princess did not look as young and beautiful as they had looked riding off to the castle on that white horse, but they were still in love, they thought. They did not see each
other often and when they did the things they had to talk about were nothing to do with sunsets and rainbows, but they talked about the problems the children were having and the lack of money and clothes, and the small cottage was not big enough for the growing family.
The prince would say, "You want me to work 24 hours a day and night times too? When all you want to do is dance and raise flowers."
And the princess would stamp her foot and tell him if he hadn't messed up at the castle they would still be there and be king and Queen, so she claimed all their problems were really his fault.
They spent so much of their time arguing about who was at fault, they could not solve any of their real problems. Arguing just made them worse. While they argued the children would close up their ears with pillows so they couldn't hear or run outside into the woods. It didn't really matter what they did, they could still hear the words in their heads because they had heard them so often since before they were born.
Two more children had been born, so now there were five. Some of the children thought the fighting and arguing must be their fault, and they felt very badly about it. They began to fight and argue and strike each other in anger. It grieved the
princess; this was not her wish. She was paying the price, but where were the 7 wonderful children who would be gentle and kind and make the world a better place to live?
One day after the prince had gone off to his first job early in the morning the princess gathered her children around her and said that they were going on an adventure. She told them to get their clothes that they could carry and their favorite toy, and climb into the cart. Off they all went, excited to be on an adventure. Night time came and still they traveled on. The children slept in the cart as much as the bumpy cold ride would allow them to. Finally the princess stopped at an empty cabin and built a fire. She put the children to bed. They stayed in the cabin, fishing for food and running and
playing in the chilly winter air, feeling like all would be well now. They danced among the wild flowers and marveled at the sunsets and ran towards the rainbows.
But the children missed the prince and his joking laughter and his rough housing that he did with them on the rare evenings he spent at home. Soon they were crying for him every day.
The princess loved her 5 children so very much that it hurt her so see them sad and lonely for their father, so she sent a message with a hunter to tell the prince where they were, and that if he would come join them they could be happy there in the
woods, leaving all their anger behind. The prince was happy to get the message and managed his affairs so he was soon able to join them at the cabin in the forest.
For weeks they danced together among the wild flowers and walked among the garden blossoms, they marveled at the sunsets and ran towards the rainbows, and soon, another baby was
born. The family grew restless and lonesome for their friends and the farm they had at their small cottage. They had all forgotten the anger and fighting and did not remember how bad they all felt there.
The princess was so happy in the forest, she did not want to return to the farm, but she loved her children and the prince so very much that she said she would go with them back to the cottage if they had all learned from the experience to be more loving and thoughtful to each other.
Once again the princess, now older and not so elegant and beautiful, packed the cart and carried her family through the forest back to the farm and the cottage.
There she walked with the children in the garden, and she watched as they danced among the wild flowers. She gladly listened to them tell her of the sunsets they saw and gaily watched them run toward the rainbows
A short time later the seventh child was born and the princess became very ill. She rejoiced in the birth of their beautiful baby girl, but feared that she would
not live to see the child grow up.
So each day the princess tried very hard to tell each of her children to be strong and happy. She told the stories that helped them to learn that they had many choices in their lives that they could choose to be gentle and happy and kind in spite of the things that might happen to them. When she thought they had learned these lessons well enough
to live them and teach them to the two smallest children, she went away. She wanted to take the children with her when she went away this time, but she knew she could not.
She did not have any money and she was so very weak and ill. She thought
she was dying, so she left her children with the prince, for him to care for and pay for and make a home for and she went away to rest, so that at times when she had the strength she could see the children and play with them and tell them how much she loved them. She wanted to get well and strong so she could walk with her children among the gardens, and dance with them in the wild flowers. She longed to marvel with them once more at the sunsets and run with them toward the rainbows, and to teach them once more to be kind and gentle.
The prince married again and the stepmother was very good and kind to the children. She took good care of the children when the princess could not be with them, and the princess was grateful that her children had two mothers to teach them kindness and love.
Through the years that followed she wrote letters when she was away and took the children on adventures and picnics when they were together. She walked with them in the sunsets, and marveled at the rainbows. She told them stories of the castle and the king and queen and the little cottage. Stories about the cabin in the forest. She tried to help them forget the loud unkind words spoken so long ago when they were so very small, and the bad feelings they had from them.
The baby girl did not remember the arguments or the forest for she had not yet been born. She did not remember that the princess had ever lived in their little cottage with them, but she loved to go on the adventures with the princess. She was a beautiful child, and happy and gentle and she loved to walk among the garden blossoms, and dance among the wild flowers. She marveled at the sunset and ran to meet the rainbows.
The princess watched her children grow up to be kind, loving and gentle people. making the world a kinder, more gentle place to live. The tiny lady came once again to the princess and said, "You have paid a high price."
The princess said, "But I have had my wish come true, and it has been well worth the price, and more." The children were grown, with children of their own when the princess died. The children knew she had gone to where the sunsets are, to rest forever among the rainbows, but she would be with them in the gardens to dance among the wild flowers, as they taught their own children to be gentle and loving. She had left with them this last request:
Decorate my grave not
with brackish plastic flowers
Mocking nature’s reality.
Rather, garnish your days
with acts of kindness
One to another, and
Scatter handsfull of wild flowers or
Garden blossoms upon me to
Remind you that
Loving acts and feelings
Must be repeated daily so that
Love can be eternal.
Starship2
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Starship2
Robin and Ted talked for many days about what Robin could expect to find at his new home. He studied catalogues of clothes, and watched video movies of popular television shows. He studied the way the boys walked and talked, and wondered if he would be able to copy them so that he would fit in.
"I really feel fake when I try to walk the way they walk or talk the way they talk. That is not what I am used to and I just want to be myself. I wish I could just go there and say, Hello, I'm from a space ship. I've never been with humans before and if I act a little different, well, that is just because I am different and that should be ok."
Well, Ted answered cautiously," that might work. We have kids from other countries that come and even though they dress sort of different than others and talk our language with an accent they seem to make friends and get along ok. You just might be able to do that.
But, I better warn you, there will always bee some kids that want to tease and cause trouble. They seem to think it makes them look good when they can put other people down with name calling or comments about the way they dress or speak.
I've seen some kids get really hurt about the name calling and get into fights over it. Then they end up getting in trouble for fighting and it never seems to stop. It's almost like when they get mad, it pays off the guys that are starting the trouble. I don't know exactly but it seems like some kids just like to get other kids in trouble. I think maybe it is because they feel like they have power over them. Anytime that type of kid thinks he has power over someone to make them do things or get them into trouble they keep using that power over and over.
It is like some kind of game. They want attention, or power, so they find someone to pick on. If that student just ignores their insults or teasing, they try someone else and keep trying until they find the right victim. They know they have the right victim when the kid gets really mad about the insults and starts either crying about it or trying to fight. Of course they only pick on kids they can't hurt them, so if the kid cry he gets more insults and teasing, and if he fights back he gets more. It ends up being a vicious circle for the one that gets picked on.
But when you watch the game closely you see that both kids are playing it. The rules seem to be clear to them, because they will repeat the same scene over and over week after week. The bully searches out a victim. Those who don't pay the bully by crying or fighting just walk away and hardly notice what happened. The bully doesn't get his pay back so he tries other kids. most of the kids just ignore him, or don't even notice him. this makes him feel bad because he really wants attention and probably doesn't know how to get it. He keeps trying the same thing to get attention until finally he finds his victim who gives him the attention he wants in a pretty sad way. But then the victim is getting some attention too, he gets the attention of the bully and his friends. he gets the attention of adults around who either punish him or feel sorry for him if he gets into a fight and the rest of the kids make comments about the bully and the victim so they both get more pay off. The only way the game stops is when the bully and the victim are separated by being put in different classes or changing schools. Even then they each find a new partner and the game continues.
I can't help but fee sorry for both of them, because all they really want is the attention of others, and all they really get is negative attention. If they just learn to be who they are in a different way, to get attention by doing positive friendly things, they could get all the pay offs without the tears and bad feelings.
Most kids seem to know that without being told. But I guess there will always be some who just don't get it.
"That sounds pretty scary.. What if i get scared and upset about something and some bully decides I can be his victim. Does it have to keep going on like you say.
"Not if you don't pay the bully. Just think of it this way. If you get paid money each time you do something, you'll keep on doing it, won't you... if you need the money? IF you do it a bunch of times for money, and then no one pays you for doing it anymore, you might keep right on doing it for a while, until you notice you are not going to get paid. Then you will probably stop, unless it is something you just really like to do and don't care about the money.
Well, for the bully, the pay off is the attention from everyone that he really needs and doesn't know how to get in other way.s
When the victim stops spaying the bully, the game will continue for a short while, because the bully will take a while to realize he is not getting paid, because his game has become a habit.
But after a few times, he will look around and realize no one is paying attention to him, he is not getting paid. Probably since he needs the attention so badly he will find another victim. If he is lucky someone will take him aside and teach him some better ways of getting attention that will pay off in positive ways. Payoffs that will make him feel good about himself and feel good about other people. when he begins to get pay offs from the things he does without having to have other people March 15, 2009o the paying, then his self esteem rises and he begins to have confidence that he is worthwhile and valuable.
When the victim begins to gain self esteem and confidence he begins to realize that he is valuable and loveable no matter how he talks or acts. He doesn't have to have the approval of everyone, so it doesn't matter any more if someone criticizes him or calls him names, so he actually learns not only to walk away, but to really ignore the cements made by bullies. He really doesn't hear them anymore, or if he does , he doesn't believe that they are important to him. He doesn't have to have everyone approve of who he is or what he is.
"But you said it was good to copy the way others act. Why did I spend all this time on videos watching kids if I don't need to copy how they act?
St is good to watch other people and learn from them. when you see someone that does things that you like, or dresses in a way you think would be comfortable to you, or you hear people talking in a way that sounds comfortable to you you can learn from them by copying. this is called emulating. Emulating is copying what someone does or says to learn from it. That is the way you learn new words, new behaviors and new ways of thinking and acting. none of us are born knowing everything. the way we learn is to do it, it becomes a growing experiment. As long as we choose carefully who and what we emulate we can grow in our own way, and continue to be our own person while learning new ways of thinking and acting.
Ok. I get it. I can be me, and choose things to copy or emulate that fit with my own values and wants and needs. Copying other people that have behaviors that I like or want to develop in my self is a way of growing and learning. I don't have to copy everyone that comes along. Just the people I see that do things that I believe would be comfortable to me and help me grow in a way that fits with my own needs and wants.
That's right. You are learning fast. Now let my voice travel with you as you begin your journey to the earth colony. There will be many other teachers that you can learn from as you grow. Remember well the lessons of the star ship and the learnings you have gained through this experience. You will always have a friends if you know how to be one. But you can always be yourself and choose behaviros that make you feel comfortable and happy.
Robin traveled to the earth colony and began his new life as an earth boy. He did not want to let people know that he was born in space, he did not feel comfortable with that right away so he kept that secret to himself. He knew it was ok to have personal secrets that he didn't share with others as long as it was not about being hurt or abused. He could choose what to share about himself with others as he began to know the other boys and girls in his school. Perhaps one day he would feel comfortable with sharing that, but for now he was content to be the new boy in school and begin making new friends.
Growing Together Counseling and Education
801 224 3001 http://www.GrowingTogetherCounseling.com
Starship2
Robin and Ted talked for many days about what Robin could expect to find at his new home. He studied catalogues of clothes, and watched video movies of popular television shows. He studied the way the boys walked and talked, and wondered if he would be able to copy them so that he would fit in.
"I really feel fake when I try to walk the way they walk or talk the way they talk. That is not what I am used to and I just want to be myself. I wish I could just go there and say, Hello, I'm from a space ship. I've never been with humans before and if I act a little different, well, that is just because I am different and that should be ok."
Well, Ted answered cautiously," that might work. We have kids from other countries that come and even though they dress sort of different than others and talk our language with an accent they seem to make friends and get along ok. You just might be able to do that.
But, I better warn you, there will always bee some kids that want to tease and cause trouble. They seem to think it makes them look good when they can put other people down with name calling or comments about the way they dress or speak.
I've seen some kids get really hurt about the name calling and get into fights over it. Then they end up getting in trouble for fighting and it never seems to stop. It's almost like when they get mad, it pays off the guys that are starting the trouble. I don't know exactly but it seems like some kids just like to get other kids in trouble. I think maybe it is because they feel like they have power over them. Anytime that type of kid thinks he has power over someone to make them do things or get them into trouble they keep using that power over and over.
It is like some kind of game. They want attention, or power, so they find someone to pick on. If that student just ignores their insults or teasing, they try someone else and keep trying until they find the right victim. They know they have the right victim when the kid gets really mad about the insults and starts either crying about it or trying to fight. Of course they only pick on kids they can't hurt them, so if the kid cry he gets more insults and teasing, and if he fights back he gets more. It ends up being a vicious circle for the one that gets picked on.
But when you watch the game closely you see that both kids are playing it. The rules seem to be clear to them, because they will repeat the same scene over and over week after week. The bully searches out a victim. Those who don't pay the bully by crying or fighting just walk away and hardly notice what happened. The bully doesn't get his pay back so he tries other kids. most of the kids just ignore him, or don't even notice him. this makes him feel bad because he really wants attention and probably doesn't know how to get it. He keeps trying the same thing to get attention until finally he finds his victim who gives him the attention he wants in a pretty sad way. But then the victim is getting some attention too, he gets the attention of the bully and his friends. he gets the attention of adults around who either punish him or feel sorry for him if he gets into a fight and the rest of the kids make comments about the bully and the victim so they both get more pay off. The only way the game stops is when the bully and the victim are separated by being put in different classes or changing schools. Even then they each find a new partner and the game continues.
I can't help but fee sorry for both of them, because all they really want is the attention of others, and all they really get is negative attention. If they just learn to be who they are in a different way, to get attention by doing positive friendly things, they could get all the pay offs without the tears and bad feelings.
Most kids seem to know that without being told. But I guess there will always be some who just don't get it.
"That sounds pretty scary.. What if i get scared and upset about something and some bully decides I can be his victim. Does it have to keep going on like you say.
"Not if you don't pay the bully. Just think of it this way. If you get paid money each time you do something, you'll keep on doing it, won't you... if you need the money? IF you do it a bunch of times for money, and then no one pays you for doing it anymore, you might keep right on doing it for a while, until you notice you are not going to get paid. Then you will probably stop, unless it is something you just really like to do and don't care about the money.
Well, for the bully, the pay off is the attention from everyone that he really needs and doesn't know how to get in other way.s
When the victim stops spaying the bully, the game will continue for a short while, because the bully will take a while to realize he is not getting paid, because his game has become a habit.
But after a few times, he will look around and realize no one is paying attention to him, he is not getting paid. Probably since he needs the attention so badly he will find another victim. If he is lucky someone will take him aside and teach him some better ways of getting attention that will pay off in positive ways. Payoffs that will make him feel good about himself and feel good about other people. when he begins to get pay offs from the things he does without having to have other people March 15, 2009o the paying, then his self esteem rises and he begins to have confidence that he is worthwhile and valuable.
When the victim begins to gain self esteem and confidence he begins to realize that he is valuable and loveable no matter how he talks or acts. He doesn't have to have the approval of everyone, so it doesn't matter any more if someone criticizes him or calls him names, so he actually learns not only to walk away, but to really ignore the cements made by bullies. He really doesn't hear them anymore, or if he does , he doesn't believe that they are important to him. He doesn't have to have everyone approve of who he is or what he is.
"But you said it was good to copy the way others act. Why did I spend all this time on videos watching kids if I don't need to copy how they act?
St is good to watch other people and learn from them. when you see someone that does things that you like, or dresses in a way you think would be comfortable to you, or you hear people talking in a way that sounds comfortable to you you can learn from them by copying. this is called emulating. Emulating is copying what someone does or says to learn from it. That is the way you learn new words, new behaviors and new ways of thinking and acting. none of us are born knowing everything. the way we learn is to do it, it becomes a growing experiment. As long as we choose carefully who and what we emulate we can grow in our own way, and continue to be our own person while learning new ways of thinking and acting.
Ok. I get it. I can be me, and choose things to copy or emulate that fit with my own values and wants and needs. Copying other people that have behaviors that I like or want to develop in my self is a way of growing and learning. I don't have to copy everyone that comes along. Just the people I see that do things that I believe would be comfortable to me and help me grow in a way that fits with my own needs and wants.
That's right. You are learning fast. Now let my voice travel with you as you begin your journey to the earth colony. There will be many other teachers that you can learn from as you grow. Remember well the lessons of the star ship and the learnings you have gained through this experience. You will always have a friends if you know how to be one. But you can always be yourself and choose behaviros that make you feel comfortable and happy.
Robin traveled to the earth colony and began his new life as an earth boy. He did not want to let people know that he was born in space, he did not feel comfortable with that right away so he kept that secret to himself. He knew it was ok to have personal secrets that he didn't share with others as long as it was not about being hurt or abused. He could choose what to share about himself with others as he began to know the other boys and girls in his school. Perhaps one day he would feel comfortable with sharing that, but for now he was content to be the new boy in school and begin making new friends.
I can still choose to be happy.
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801 224 3001 http://www.GrowingTogetherCounseling.com
Sometimes I get so sad that all I can dois go to my room,pull the covers over my headand cry myself to sleep.
Dad says I don't have to be that sad.
He says it is not what happens,but what I think about what happens,that makes me feel so sad.
He said next time something happens that I don't like, to listen to the things I am saying myself.
When I started to listen to myself talk,I heard my self say things like,"I didn't like what happened.
That shouldn't have happened to me.
If people liked me, it wouldn't have happened.
No body likes me.Nothing good ever happens to me.
I must be a terrible person.
Then I get sadder and sadder thinking sad things,
so I go hide in my be and cry and cry until I fall asleep.
Dad said I can choose what thoughts I think.
I can choose my self talk.When something I don't like happens,
I can say,I don't like what happened, but then,
I can still choose to be happy.So I do.
Most the time.
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Sometimes I get so sad that all I can dois go to my room,pull the covers over my headand cry myself to sleep.
Dad says I don't have to be that sad.
He says it is not what happens,but what I think about what happens,that makes me feel so sad.
He said next time something happens that I don't like, to listen to the things I am saying myself.
When I started to listen to myself talk,I heard my self say things like,"I didn't like what happened.
That shouldn't have happened to me.
If people liked me, it wouldn't have happened.
No body likes me.Nothing good ever happens to me.
I must be a terrible person.
Then I get sadder and sadder thinking sad things,
so I go hide in my be and cry and cry until I fall asleep.
Dad said I can choose what thoughts I think.
I can choose my self talk.When something I don't like happens,
I can say,I don't like what happened, but then,
I can still choose to be happy.So I do.
Most the time.
starship 3
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Robin entered the holideck cautiously.
This would be his first experiement with earth people.
In the safety of the holodeck he could
try out different kinds of behaviors and
decide which felt the most comfortable
Ted promised him that the experiences would be
very much like being around real humans and
the things Robin did would have consequences
very much like they would on earth.
Robin found himself entering a classroom full of boys and girls. The others were his age, some larger and some smaller than him. The teacher smiled and motioned for him to bring his papers from the office to her desk.
Class, this is Robin Spencer, she told the class, putting her hand on his sholder. Robin is new here in this city and I hope you will show him how considerate and friendly you can be. Robin would you like to tell us about yourself?
Robin felt himself flinch away from the unacustomed hand and step back as Ms. Oliver invited him to say something. He had not thought of anything to say. What if he said something really stupid sounding and everyone laughed at him. Or what if his voice didn't come out at all, and he just stood there moving his lips.
Robin looked down and away and shook his head. He just wanted to get into a desk and disappear behind a book. Why was she torturing him like this. Some of the kids were smiling and looking at each other. They must be talking about me. They think I am a geek. I'll never fit in.
Oh, this is awful. I never should have come here. I hate it here already. It's not fair, why did I have to come here, why does everything terrible happen to me.
The students in the class looked back at their work, and away from Robin. As Mrs. Oliver showed robin his desk and books, he heard some whispers and snickers, but no one looked at him.
End program: Robin commanded the computer.
"Oh, that was nice," he said sarcastically. "I felt like a looser the first minute I walked into the school. I knew it would snot work out."
Was it my clothes? Did I comb my hair wrong or have the wrong shoes?
Ted watched the video replay and gave Robin some pointers.
Robin, watch how you walked into the room. You did not look around, you looked down at the floor. When the teacher touched your sholder you pulled away like you were afraid of her touch. Look at her face. Does she look like she is going to hurt you or let anyone hurt you? Did you think she would give you a death grip on the sholder?
No. I'm just not used to anyone touching me. I didn't think about it. I just reacted. I can see in her face that it made her feel uncomfortable too.
What should I do if someone touches me?
How about, let them, if it just on the sholder or back. If they want to touch more than that like hug or hold hands, you can tell them clearly that you do not feel like hugging, but you will shake their hand, or you don't want to be touched just now. It is ok to tell people how you feel about touching. And it is ok to let people touch you in safe ways like shaking hands, or pat on the back or sholder.
OK,I got it. I can do that.
Now look at your face when whe asked you about yourself?
People like to know about other people, and it shows interest when they ask questions.
She gaves you a chance to let the class memebers know a little about you so they wouldn't have to be guessing and speculating about you. That would have been a good chance to look at them all in the eyes and say,
"Hello, I'm new here and I might do things differedntly from you. Please help me if I seem lost or confused."
The way you looked away, it seemed like you were stuck up or snobbish and the kids though that you think you are too good for them. They were afraid to look at you or talk to you after that because they thought you might not answer them. Kids are really afraid tshey will loose value if someone treats them like they are not important.
You want to be treated like you are valuable and important, just as they do. It can start with the way you look at other people.
When you walk back to your desk with the teacyher, look up and look into the other kids' faces. Smile if they look at you, and later when it is time, feel free to ask their names even more than once if you need to.
It is important to learn their names and use them often.
OK. Are you ready to try that part again. Computer, repeat program?
Robin again entered the classroom, newly asssigned to Mrs. Oliver's classroom. He looked up and looked around at the students as he entered. When he saw Mrs. Oliver he walked toward her as she beckoned him with her hand. He handed her his papers and said in a clear voice, loud enough to be heard plainly by her, but not so loud it would startle her, "Hello, I'm Robin Spencer. I have been assigned to your classroom. Here are my papers."
Ms. Oliver again put her hand on Robin's sholder to introduce him to the class. The touch still felt a little strange to him, but he resisted stepping away, and he looked at the classs and smiled as she repeated his name and a welcome.
When she asked if he would like to say anything to the class, he said, "It is sure good to be here. I am glad that you look friendly so that I will feel ok asking for help or directions if I get lost or confused."
The kids looked back at him and lauged in a friendly way as they nodded their approval. Walking back to his desk he looked into some of the students faces and saw smiles. He smiled back and began to notice the name tags across the front of their desks that would help him learn their names.
He breathed a sigh of releif. This is going to be ok. I already have friends here.
Computer pause program;
I think that was a lot better. I feel better about myself when I look at people and think of them as friendly instead of looking away and being afraid. I think they liked me better the second time because they could tell I wasn't a snob or snooty. I'm glad I had a chance to practice that. Lets go on.
Chapter 4.
The morning in the holigram classroom continued quickly as the class changed from the morning announcements to social studies, then math. The material was no problem for Robin, he had studied all of it before. He felt comfortable making coments to the boys in the desks near by and said, "is this all you do here, I have already studied all of this. You mean you don't know these things already? '
The boys looked away and looked down at their books. Robin sknew he had made some kind of mistake but didn't know just what had gone wrong. Suddenly the smiling friendly faces had turned sour and turned away in an unfriendly way.
Computer, pause the program.
Ted, what did I do wrong.? I can tell by their faces that I made a mistake.
I was doing all the things I practices, I looked at them and smiled and even knew some of the names of the boys near by.
When I made a comment about the material we had to work on something went wrong. Please help me figure out what it was.
Ted, studied that portion of hte video. Robin what did you say right there, there just before Mike looked away. "I said this stuff was easy and I had already studied it."
Look carefully at Michael's math paper. You can see it there on his desk in the video. He doesn't have the right answers. He is not even doing the right process. Michael doesn't think it is easy. He looks like you took a peice of him away when you said how easy it is for you. When people have a hard time with learning things, it is not friendly to tell them how easy it is.
How was I supposed to know he was dumb?
That's a judgment. Making judgments about people is another way to take something away from them. Michael isn't necessarily dumb just because he hasn't learned that part of math.
If I offered to help him , would that take anything away from him. Would that be friendly.
Some people like help and others resent it, You will have to be careful who you offer to help, and how you offer. If you sound like a "know it all" or sound like you think they are dumb, they will probably resent your help. But if you sound sincerely friendly and helpful, and do it in a way that shows concern and a desire to be helpful, they will probalby accept it as friendly.
Ok.. One step at a time. Computer repeat the classroom scene starting with the math lesson:
Wow, Robin, are you finished already?
Yes, I have already studied this part of math. It was really hard for me at first, and I had to have a lot of help, but when I practiced with someone, I started to understand it, and Ilearned how to do it. It's kind of fun for me now. Would you like me to help you practice it?
I'm always in trouble at math time. Michaeel answered. The teacher goes too fast, and then I get confused. Can you explain it to me in a different way.
OK, Michael, how much of it do you already understand. Well, look you are doing most of it by yourself already. The next part is the tricky part. Watch, and we'll do it together at first, then you can try it by yourself.
They each worked the problem out on the paper, comparing steps as they went along. "That's right, Michael, you got it. I knew you could understand it. Now let's try another one to be sure you remember all the steps. sThat was really great. Mrs. Oliver will be pleased to see that you are able to keep up. I'm glad she lets us work together. I learned a lot by helping you too.
Michael and Robin continued to work silently on the rest of the morning's assignments until it was time for recess.
__________________
Chapter 5
Robin was glad for the chance to streatch his legs and get a drink of water. The morning had gone fast the second time through and he was feeling good just to be a part of the small group of boys that he sat around. "This isn't going to be so bad," he thought smiling and waling toward the door. I think I will try to get to know some of the other boys."
He watched a group from his class join with some others in a game of basket ball. He knew the rules and had tried a few practice shots so he walked over and stood on the side of the court. He waited quetly while the boys chose up teams quickly. They started to play but did not choose him for a team. He watched the ball going back and forth betyween the players and the laughing and shouthing reminded him of other times and places when he had been involved with friends and game. He began to feel very lonley and his face changed to a sad look. He felt uncomfortable and alone in the alien world. No one seemed to care about making him a part of their game. "I guess it is not as friendly here as I had thought.
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Robin entered the holideck cautiously.
This would be his first experiement with earth people.
In the safety of the holodeck he could
try out different kinds of behaviors and
decide which felt the most comfortable
Ted promised him that the experiences would be
very much like being around real humans and
the things Robin did would have consequences
very much like they would on earth.
Robin found himself entering a classroom full of boys and girls. The others were his age, some larger and some smaller than him. The teacher smiled and motioned for him to bring his papers from the office to her desk.
Class, this is Robin Spencer, she told the class, putting her hand on his sholder. Robin is new here in this city and I hope you will show him how considerate and friendly you can be. Robin would you like to tell us about yourself?
Robin felt himself flinch away from the unacustomed hand and step back as Ms. Oliver invited him to say something. He had not thought of anything to say. What if he said something really stupid sounding and everyone laughed at him. Or what if his voice didn't come out at all, and he just stood there moving his lips.
Robin looked down and away and shook his head. He just wanted to get into a desk and disappear behind a book. Why was she torturing him like this. Some of the kids were smiling and looking at each other. They must be talking about me. They think I am a geek. I'll never fit in.
Oh, this is awful. I never should have come here. I hate it here already. It's not fair, why did I have to come here, why does everything terrible happen to me.
The students in the class looked back at their work, and away from Robin. As Mrs. Oliver showed robin his desk and books, he heard some whispers and snickers, but no one looked at him.
End program: Robin commanded the computer.
"Oh, that was nice," he said sarcastically. "I felt like a looser the first minute I walked into the school. I knew it would snot work out."
Was it my clothes? Did I comb my hair wrong or have the wrong shoes?
Ted watched the video replay and gave Robin some pointers.
Robin, watch how you walked into the room. You did not look around, you looked down at the floor. When the teacher touched your sholder you pulled away like you were afraid of her touch. Look at her face. Does she look like she is going to hurt you or let anyone hurt you? Did you think she would give you a death grip on the sholder?
No. I'm just not used to anyone touching me. I didn't think about it. I just reacted. I can see in her face that it made her feel uncomfortable too.
What should I do if someone touches me?
How about, let them, if it just on the sholder or back. If they want to touch more than that like hug or hold hands, you can tell them clearly that you do not feel like hugging, but you will shake their hand, or you don't want to be touched just now. It is ok to tell people how you feel about touching. And it is ok to let people touch you in safe ways like shaking hands, or pat on the back or sholder.
OK,I got it. I can do that.
Now look at your face when whe asked you about yourself?
People like to know about other people, and it shows interest when they ask questions.
She gaves you a chance to let the class memebers know a little about you so they wouldn't have to be guessing and speculating about you. That would have been a good chance to look at them all in the eyes and say,
"Hello, I'm new here and I might do things differedntly from you. Please help me if I seem lost or confused."
The way you looked away, it seemed like you were stuck up or snobbish and the kids though that you think you are too good for them. They were afraid to look at you or talk to you after that because they thought you might not answer them. Kids are really afraid tshey will loose value if someone treats them like they are not important.
You want to be treated like you are valuable and important, just as they do. It can start with the way you look at other people.
When you walk back to your desk with the teacyher, look up and look into the other kids' faces. Smile if they look at you, and later when it is time, feel free to ask their names even more than once if you need to.
It is important to learn their names and use them often.
OK. Are you ready to try that part again. Computer, repeat program?
Robin again entered the classroom, newly asssigned to Mrs. Oliver's classroom. He looked up and looked around at the students as he entered. When he saw Mrs. Oliver he walked toward her as she beckoned him with her hand. He handed her his papers and said in a clear voice, loud enough to be heard plainly by her, but not so loud it would startle her, "Hello, I'm Robin Spencer. I have been assigned to your classroom. Here are my papers."
Ms. Oliver again put her hand on Robin's sholder to introduce him to the class. The touch still felt a little strange to him, but he resisted stepping away, and he looked at the classs and smiled as she repeated his name and a welcome.
When she asked if he would like to say anything to the class, he said, "It is sure good to be here. I am glad that you look friendly so that I will feel ok asking for help or directions if I get lost or confused."
The kids looked back at him and lauged in a friendly way as they nodded their approval. Walking back to his desk he looked into some of the students faces and saw smiles. He smiled back and began to notice the name tags across the front of their desks that would help him learn their names.
He breathed a sigh of releif. This is going to be ok. I already have friends here.
Computer pause program;
I think that was a lot better. I feel better about myself when I look at people and think of them as friendly instead of looking away and being afraid. I think they liked me better the second time because they could tell I wasn't a snob or snooty. I'm glad I had a chance to practice that. Lets go on.
Chapter 4.
The morning in the holigram classroom continued quickly as the class changed from the morning announcements to social studies, then math. The material was no problem for Robin, he had studied all of it before. He felt comfortable making coments to the boys in the desks near by and said, "is this all you do here, I have already studied all of this. You mean you don't know these things already? '
The boys looked away and looked down at their books. Robin sknew he had made some kind of mistake but didn't know just what had gone wrong. Suddenly the smiling friendly faces had turned sour and turned away in an unfriendly way.
Computer, pause the program.
Ted, what did I do wrong.? I can tell by their faces that I made a mistake.
I was doing all the things I practices, I looked at them and smiled and even knew some of the names of the boys near by.
When I made a comment about the material we had to work on something went wrong. Please help me figure out what it was.
Ted, studied that portion of hte video. Robin what did you say right there, there just before Mike looked away. "I said this stuff was easy and I had already studied it."
Look carefully at Michael's math paper. You can see it there on his desk in the video. He doesn't have the right answers. He is not even doing the right process. Michael doesn't think it is easy. He looks like you took a peice of him away when you said how easy it is for you. When people have a hard time with learning things, it is not friendly to tell them how easy it is.
How was I supposed to know he was dumb?
That's a judgment. Making judgments about people is another way to take something away from them. Michael isn't necessarily dumb just because he hasn't learned that part of math.
If I offered to help him , would that take anything away from him. Would that be friendly.
Some people like help and others resent it, You will have to be careful who you offer to help, and how you offer. If you sound like a "know it all" or sound like you think they are dumb, they will probably resent your help. But if you sound sincerely friendly and helpful, and do it in a way that shows concern and a desire to be helpful, they will probalby accept it as friendly.
Ok.. One step at a time. Computer repeat the classroom scene starting with the math lesson:
Wow, Robin, are you finished already?
Yes, I have already studied this part of math. It was really hard for me at first, and I had to have a lot of help, but when I practiced with someone, I started to understand it, and Ilearned how to do it. It's kind of fun for me now. Would you like me to help you practice it?
I'm always in trouble at math time. Michaeel answered. The teacher goes too fast, and then I get confused. Can you explain it to me in a different way.
OK, Michael, how much of it do you already understand. Well, look you are doing most of it by yourself already. The next part is the tricky part. Watch, and we'll do it together at first, then you can try it by yourself.
They each worked the problem out on the paper, comparing steps as they went along. "That's right, Michael, you got it. I knew you could understand it. Now let's try another one to be sure you remember all the steps. sThat was really great. Mrs. Oliver will be pleased to see that you are able to keep up. I'm glad she lets us work together. I learned a lot by helping you too.
Michael and Robin continued to work silently on the rest of the morning's assignments until it was time for recess.
__________________
Chapter 5
Robin was glad for the chance to streatch his legs and get a drink of water. The morning had gone fast the second time through and he was feeling good just to be a part of the small group of boys that he sat around. "This isn't going to be so bad," he thought smiling and waling toward the door. I think I will try to get to know some of the other boys."
He watched a group from his class join with some others in a game of basket ball. He knew the rules and had tried a few practice shots so he walked over and stood on the side of the court. He waited quetly while the boys chose up teams quickly. They started to play but did not choose him for a team. He watched the ball going back and forth betyween the players and the laughing and shouthing reminded him of other times and places when he had been involved with friends and game. He began to feel very lonley and his face changed to a sad look. He felt uncomfortable and alone in the alien world. No one seemed to care about making him a part of their game. "I guess it is not as friendly here as I had thought.
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