In the small town of Everett, everyone knew everyone. When anyone new came to town, they were the talk of the town. Most recently, a woman with her five sons, Dusty, Bison, AJ, Naka, and Slade, had moved there. Class was already halfway through, but their mom enrolled them to start immediately at Everett High School. Dusty, Bison, and AJ were all in their sophomore year, while Naka and Slade were freshmen. The boys quickly made friends at the school with a good group of people. They realized that something was off though when they went to the cafeteria. All the freshmen students hustled through the line with their heads down. They ate quickly and quietly, and then left the cafeteria. Bison went over to his new friend, Eli.
"Eli, what is going on? Why do all of the younger students rush through lunch?"
Eli scanned the room with a hint of fear in his eyes, and then replied, "One of the seniors, Bane, picks out a freshman every month. Every day of that month, he steals the freshman's lunch. Bane also makes the freshman sit there while he eats the kid's lunch just to pick on him. At the end of the month, Bane takes the kid to the bathroom, gives him a swirly, and then throws him in the trashcan. All of the freshmen are terrified of him, and it is almost the end of the month."
Image information: A bully picking on a child much smaller than him
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"That's terrible. We have to stop him! If he picks me, I will make sure that this never happens to any freshmen ever again," Bison said.
"Bison, that's not a good idea. We're new here, we shouldn't be starting trouble," Dusty said.
"Bane started the trouble the minute he decided to pick on someone smaller than him," Bison replied.
The next day, Bison brought his lunch and sat across from Bane. Bane looked at him with anger and demanded, "New kid, give me your lunch!"
"You have your own lunch, why would you need mine?" Bison questioned him.
"I'm hungry, and if you don't give me your lunch, I will beat you to a pulp. What more reason do I need?" Bane said aggressively.
"I am going to finish my lunch, you cannot have any of it." Bison said firmly.
Bane stood up and puffed his chest out, but Bison remained seated and continued eating his lunch. Bane grabbed for his lunch, but Bison was too quick. What Bane didn't know is that Bison was a very talented boxer in the town that he had lived in before. Bison stood up with his lunch and continued to eat. Bane's fist whirled through the air, but Bison dodged him easily. Next, Bane tried to tackle him, but once again Bison dodged him. As Bane's momentum was headed toward the ground, Bison just gave him a little push, and Bane found himself on the ground. As Bane started getting up, Bison set down his lunch which was now finished. Bane threw another punch at Bison, missing him again. Bison threw a punch back, hitting Bane square in the jaw. Bane went down immediately.
Soon after, a teacher arrived, but knowing how Bane treated the other students, she just turned and left. Bison kneeled over Bane, looking him square in the eye, and said, "You will not steal anyone else's lunch ever again. Do you understand?"
"Got it," Bane replied angrily, but defeated.
Author's Note: I decided to modernize the story of when Bhima confronted the rakshasa, Baka, in the town of Ekavrata. Baka was basically a bully who would only leave the whole village alone if the families of the town sacrifice food, two buffaloes, and one member of the family based on some sort of schedule. In my modern day story, Baka is Bane, the bully of the cafeteria, who picks on one freshman monthly. Bison is the character of Bhima, who stood up to Baka in the original story. Bison, like Bhima, is very strong and skilled in fighting. In my story, Bison fights Bane, much like Bhima fought Baka, and makes sure that Bane never picks on anyone ever again. I felt like this story would be very easy to modernize because Baka is really just a big bully who picks on people who cannot defend themselves.
Bibliography: Narayan, R.K. (1978) The Mahabharata.
Hey, Taylor! I loved the way you wrote your storytelling post. I always really like when people make the stories more modern and relatable, and you did just that. The story was easy to read but was compelling with the freshmen shying away their faces and the building anticipation of why they might do that. Keep up the wonderful work!
ReplyDeleteHi Taylor! This is a really neat take on that story! I like that you looked at the modern example of bullying! In my social work classes, we have talked an awful lot about bullying as it has become more and more prevalent in the news and the minds of those in the community. Have you seen the documentary titled "Bully"? It's really good.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I love your background! It's so pretty!
Hey Taylor, I just finished reading your storytelling post for this week and I really liked the style you used to write it. I feel like writing a story in a modern setting makes it much more relatable to the reader. Making the story into a classic lunch room school setting is something commonly familiar with many people and is a cool twist to such an old epic! Great Job!
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