Week 5 Story

Life can be Hard But 

Each day, I drive to work. My wife drives to work in the other direction. Our kids put themselves on the bus and spend two hours at home, doing their homework, until one of us returns. Our lives revolve around providing for our two kids. We haven't taken a trip since our honeymoon and get very little time together. I just want a break. I don't even know who my kids are becoming because I never spend time with them. 

When I make my commute to work, I always pass a fishing pond. I used to fish when I was young with my dad and it is where we really bonded. I hoped to take my kids with me soon, but I'd have to brush up on my skills first before I tried to teach them. 

A Pond with Fish

One day, I got off an hour early from work so I decided to try fishing out again. I pulled into the small little pond, got out my fishing pole and sat down on the bench. My first try I throw the cast out and reel in a stick. It sucks, but I can try again. I throw another cast out. Thinking I have a bite, I reeled it in again, but this time it is a plastic garbage bag. Confused, I try again. This time the same thing happens, but instead, I reel in a little pot. This pot, I open it and a blue man jumps out. 

The blue man was aggressive, angry from being held captive. I asked him for his story. He replied, " I am a prisoner to that pot. I have been trapped for years. Your kind always leaves me places where no one will find me for ages after they have used my powers." 

Sensing his incoming tantrum, I say; "What kind of powers? Tell me about your strengths." Giving him the opportunity to boost himself, instantly calming him. 

He then reveals he is a genie, with great power but enslaved by the owner. I reply, "Give me a life of more leisure and less stress so I can spend more time with my family, and I will set you free." 

This calms the genie. He finally saw a chance for freedom and he took it. Agreeing almost instantly, he granted my wish. Moments later, I got a call from work, saying I got a raise- the new position meant fewer hours and more money. My wife called a few moments after that and told me she got a similar offer. Happily, I set the genie free and started dreaming of the new freedom we both found.

Author's Note

I based this slightly off of The Story of the Fisherman. I updated the story and also gave more insights on why he was fishing which was unnecessary to the original. I also changed the genie slightly. The fisherman's genie is homicidal but this genie is more like a toddler without a nap. I figure since he is a dad, it would be better for him to deal with something he was used to. Also, the fisherman does not let the genie go, but slavery is bad so I made that change.

Reading Notes- Arabian Nights B

Arabian Nights

Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp

Aladdin was an idle boy who just liked to play. His uncle found him in the streets and they welcomed him home. He was a magician. The uncle took him on a walk and kidnapped him. He made him go into a cave. Aladdin took too long and the magician left him inside of the cave. He stayed in there for 2 days until he rubbed the ring while praying, releasing the genie inside of it. 

2

The genie brought him outside of the place. He still had the lamp and rubbed it to clean it so he could sell it for food. A genie came out of it and they got food. He would sell the silver plates to eat. One day the princess was outgoing to the bath and Aladdin got a peep. He fell in love. His mom brought the bejeweled fruit and begged him to consider her son. But the SUltan thought they were being cheap so he said to wait three months. The sultan promised the princess to the son of the grand-vizir but the princess hated that idea so much when Aladdin showed up she went with her. 

3

Aladdin had also tormented the grand-vizir's son. He wanted to be separated from her. After 3 months, Aladdin sent back his mom and he said Aladdin must send 40 basins of gold jewels, carried by slaves, led by more all dressed nice. He sent his request and the sultan welcomed him. While they were meeting, the genie was building them a palace. Aladdin also became a general and won many battles for the sultan. 

Palace in the Far East

4

The magician who left Aladdin decided to check on him realized that he was thriving. The princess, while Aladdin was gone, exchanged the old lamp to the magician. She didn't know the value. The palace and the princess disappeared so the sultan wanted him killed. Without one of the genies, Aladdin had to find all his stuff. 

5

Aladdin went to Africa and found his Wife and Palace. The magician carried the lamp with him always. They decided to deceive the magician. She put stuff in his drink and he fell back lifeless.

6

Aladdin got back the lamp and they returned. But since they killed the magician, his brother wanted to avenge it. He pretended to be a holy woman, Fatima. The princess decided to keep her close, and the fake holy woman tried to get her to remodel part of their palace. Aladin listened to bc happy wife happy life but the genie said he was stupid and enlightened him. Aladdin killed the brother and they lived happily for years and he replaced the sultan when he died. 

Reading- Arabian Nights

Arabian Nights

Scheherazade

The Sultan Schahrair had a wife who he loved so much. He spoiled her. He found out eventually that she deceived her and he had to put her to death. It was really hard on him so he decided every woman was terrible. He married a woman every night and killed them that night. The grand-vizir's daughter wanted to stop it so she decided to marry the sultan. She brought her sister the last night she was supposed to be alive. 

The Story of the Merchant and the Genius 

Scheherazade tells a story to the sultan so she can stay alive and it is granted to him. The story is of a Merchant expecting to be killed at the hands of a merchant like her own situation. 

The Story of the First Old Man and of the Hind

She introduced the Hind and the Deer. They tell their own story to the genie.  The merchant's life depends on whether the genie likes the story or not. 

The hind is the man's wife. She didn't like the man's kid or mom. When he left she changed his kid into a cow. The wife wanted to sacrifice the cow/kid. A young woman saved his son and turned his wife into the deer. 

The Story of the Second Old Man and of the Two Black Dogs

The genie was amazed with the story and granted a 1/3 pardon. Then she tells a story of a man with two dogs hoping to save her own life. This man's brothers kept selling their shops and traveling a ndgoing broke. He eventually went with them. He found a wife and did well. They got jealous and threw them into the sea but they survived. His fairy wife decided to kill his brothers. HE begged her not to so he turned them into dogs. 

The Story of the Fisherman

The fisherman demands a story from a genie. He started talking and he shut the lid back down on it, saving himself. 

Genie- Disney

The Story of the Greek King and the Physician Douban

The fisherman is dad fashion tells a story to teach the genie about trust. It was about a greek king who was a leper. A doctor claimed to be able to fix him. His fix of polo worked. But his grand-vizir didn't like him getting close with someone new so he tried to cause tension by saying the physician wanted to kill the king.
The Story of the Physician's Revenge 

The king sent for the physician and the physician said if he was spared then the king would live. He allowed the physician to get his stuff in order before he died.  The head kept talking after it was cut off and the king flipped through an empty book, getting poisoned for killing an innocent man.
The Story of the Story of the Sultan and the Fish 

The genie showed him where to throw his net. He then was told to sell it to the Sultan. He would only cast his net once a day,  He met a man made of black marble. 
The Story of the Young King of the Black Isles

His wife no longer loved him. She turned the people into fish. Once a day she comes back and whips the king. The sultan killed the slave who was barely alive and took his spot. The sultan tricked her into turning everyone back. When the sultan got back, he reward the fisherman and his family.