Week 10 Story: It's a Bad Idea, Me and You

There is something about bad boys, I think, as Kaxo climbs out of bed and stretches his shoulders. We had been at this for weeks, despite the fact that my parents hate him. The tribal tattoos along his shoulders stretch and move, almost like they are alive on his tanned skin. The wolf between his shoulder blades moves as if alive, the skull between its jaws escaping some unknown horror inside. 

What I image Kaxo's tattoo looks like. Found on favim.

It had been weeks since this had started, weeks since my parents kicked me out and sent both of us packing. The entire community backed them. They never liked him; Kaxo was an outsider in their eyes, someone who would never leave up to the impossible standards that they had set for everyone around them.

And I was going to have his child.

We had found out only a few days before, when I had been sick over a long period of days without any other explanation. We couldn’t see a doctor – neither of us had insurance – and I was far too prideful to go to a clinic. So, a pregnancy test it was, and it was positive.

“I’m going to meet Crow.” Kaxo tells me, turning around with that smile that got us in so much trouble in the first place. His best friend is the only one from our old neighborhood that keeps in contact, the only one that believed Kaxo was just as amazing as I believed him to be.

Together, the two of them were going to figure out what Kaxo and I were going to do. With the baby on the way, there was nothing that I could do but sit and let the baby grow.

From what Kaxo has told me, they believe that if my parents believe that if I broke it off with him, if I really prove to them I have come to my senses, they would take me back in. I could have the baby taken care of and when he, or she – Kaxo firmly believes it’s a boy – is born, I leave again.

But the problem is, I don’t know if I can leave Kaxo for that long. I guess we’ll have to see.

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Author's Note: The original story is The Dog-Husband, and it talks about a young woman who is seduced and has an affair for a man who's a dog during the day, and human during the night. In the original story, when her parents find out, she is exiled and the man is killed. She goes to the beach and has the babies. A crow helps them later on in the story, when the babies are born and start to grow up. The main character is forced to make her village believe the babies are dead, and they except her back. But the babies come and end up ruling the tribe. In my story, it's modern day, and  I've named the young man. Kaxo is actually the Quinault word for dog. And I kept the Crow in the story so that we have a sense of the original story in mine. I made it first person, and I also kept Kaxo alive because I hate death. Hope you liked my (short) story.

Bibliography: Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson (1929). Link to online reading.

Week 10: Native American Marriage Tales Reading Notes Part B

GoT marriage meme. Found on WeddingBee.

1.     I know that animals are a significant part of the Native American culture, but it’s really weird that these humans sleep with half-dog people and then have PUPPIES WHEN THEY GIVE BIRTH. Also, none of the characters in the stories I’ve read so far have had names. I’d like the characters to have names, just because it helps to connect them to the reader more, as you have a name to go with a face.

2. Cannibalism. Not a good plot point. Just really gross.

3. The language used in The Youth Who Joined the Deer is more modern, making the story easier to read. However, the dialogue isn’t exactly the way that humans would talk, at least nowadays. It’s too formal. I think that changing it into a more conversational tone would make it more relatable and not like something out of a robot-horror movie.

4. Also, although I like when the characterization of male characters in stories is not all macho, the main character in the Deer story – the hunter – was whiny and definitely should have taken his wife back by himself, instead of running to others.

5. I realize that the first place that has actually been named and given a description is in the story about the girl and the turkeys. Interesting. I would definitely like to hear more about what the settings are in each story, so that I can create an image and connect with the telling a little bit more so than I would if I had to create it all by myself.

6. So the True Bride definitely reminds me of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Except, you know, there was only four men. But also Cinderella, with the evil stepmother thing, but I guess that Snow White also has an evil stepmother as well? Oh well. I liked this story the most out of all the ones that I had to read.

Bibliography: Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson (1929). Link to online source.

Week 10: Native American Marriage Tales, Reading Notes A

1. Okay, so first off, the first story starts off with rape – it doesn’t say it in so many words, but it’s eluded to the fact most certainly – which is horrible and I would definitely take that part of the story out quickly. I know that this was a different time period but it would still make me uncomfortable to write something into a story that ends “happily.” The other weird part of this story is the fact that the boy’s mother is a cow part of the time – and also that she FORGAVE THE MAN THAT RAPED HER. Basically, the thing I would change about this story is ALL OF IT.

2. The Splinter-Footed Girl reminded me some of the story of the birth of Athena, because Athena was born from Zeus’ head, much like the child was born from the man’s leg. One of the best aspects about this story is the relationship between the men and the daughter; if I were to rewrite this story, I would use that connection and make it stronger. Maybe I would have each of the fathers help her, instead of the different animals. Using another character seems to diminish the connection between the girl and her parents.

3. At least in the story about the Whale and the Eagle, the little girls get to choose their husbands for themselves, even if it didn’t end all that well. Still kind of freaked out by the bestiality. The language in this story is a little different than the others, making it harder to get into. Making the dialogue more modern would connect the reader to the story, and it would be easier to read.

4. The Fox-Woman starts off with the phrase “dutiful wife” In the first sentence. Gross. BUT this was my favorite story. I wanted it to be longer. In the end, I might put a twist. Does the woman end up alone for the rest of her life? Maybe. Or MAYBE she ends up with another woman. WHOA! PLOT TWIST!

5. A lot of these stories have nasty endings. Not that I’m not a fan, usually, but dang. Where is the happiness?

6. The Bear-Woman is definitely my second favorite story. I think that I would change the POV to the eldest sisters, and make her attack on the village something like revenge for the murder of his husband. But also, CONSTELLATIOINS!!!!!!!!!

Futrama Constellation Meme. Found on quickmeme.

 Bibliography: Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson (1929). Link to online reading.