One day two friends, Kennedy and Rebecca, were arguing over who is more popular. They decided that for their first year of college, they would see who could have more friends. After their freshman year, they would meet up again to truly see who was the most popular.
Rebecca was the first girl to head off to college. Once she got there, she went around to each girl on her dorm floor's room and pounded on their door. When the poor girls answered she immediately demanded that they now be considered friends and that they have to hang out whenever she wants so that she can win the competition. She forced herself upon so many people that she started to gain a reputation as a friendship tyrant. As the year went on the girls slowly stopped opening their doors for Rebecca and by the end of the year she ended up with no one around her.
Kennedy on the other hand came to college with freshly baked cookies. She went from room to room on her floor as well, but she kindly offered each girl some cookies and said how glad she was to meet them. Her warm demeanor and infectious laugh quickly drew the girls to her, and it wasn't long before she had quite a large group of friends.
Finally, their freshman year of college came to a close and Kennedy and Rebecca set up plans for lunch. Once they got together, Rebecca immediately brought up their competition from months earlier. Kennedy had been so focused on making real, valuable friendships that she had forgotten all about it, but of course Rebecca hadn't.
It was painfully obvious even to Rebecca that Kennedy had more friends, and as she pouted over losing Kennedy consoled her. "Remember Rebecca, it's not about how many people you know, it is about how you treat them."
Authors Note:
I wrote this story based off of Aesop's fables, a fable called "The Wind and the Sun". The story was about the wind and sun competing over who is stronger. They saw a traveler and decided whoever could get him to take his coat off was the strongest. The wind just made him tighten his coat around him, but the sun's heat made him take it off. I changed the story to two girls seeing who is more popular because I like my stories to be more relatable and about people. It still gets across the message that warmth has a stronger effect than force.
Friends by Pixabay
Bibliography:
Aesop's Fables by Joseph Jacobs link to the story
Hi Sarah!
ReplyDeleteThis was an awesome story. I don't believe I read the original, but this was such a great twist on the story. The way you were able to incorporate more of a 21st century theme made this story super enjoyable to read! I liked the message you incorporated at the end, as this ties the story together and really makes the story stronger overall. I loved it! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Sarah! I love your retelling! This is super imaginative and still gets across a clear message like all of Aesop's stories. I haven't read the original, but this one sounds far more applicable and relatable. One thing I wondered reading was how this story ends up for Rebecca? Does she take Kennedy's advice to heart and make new friends with her tactics? Does she remain friendless? Other than that detail, I loved reading your story and thought it was very creative — great job!
ReplyDeleteHey, Sarah, I really enjoyed the way you put a personal spin on this story. I really liked how you made the story more approachable and relatable. It is much easier to relate to people than it is to relate to abstract thoughts like a personified sun and wind. The whole point of fables is to portray some sort of lesson or message and you did that very well with your retelling. Well done!
ReplyDeleteWell done, Sarah. You successfully translated a story about a celestial body and a breeze into a story about two girl going to college. And you got the moral of the story translated as well. The only thing I'd change, would be to continue past the end so Rebecca could learn her lesson and make some friends. But I'm just a big softy and like happy endings.
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