Thursday, October 29, 2015

Opera Stories

The opera stories have been a challenge and a thrill this year.  Many students want to write very involved stories, and I have even had operas within operas, how clever, how interesting, and what a great way to solve the problem.  I think they have learned a lot about themselves, about plot and about each other working on these stories.  I insist that they are long enough to tell the whole story, and to have a beginning, middle and end.  We discuss the twists and turns of the plot, we discuss rising action, conflict, setting, climax and resolution as well as all the character development that I expect in an opera.  Here is one selection, just to whet your appetite.



                                                    B.L.T.
By: Lily Feugill and Maya Neel
One day, there was a perfect B.L.T on the kitchen counter. It was so good looking, it was in fact, BEAUTIFUL!
(singing happens now)

The ingredients were all giving each other compliments. They wouldn’t stop being nice to each other. Except, for one day when Mayo was lying on French Bread (FB) too long and FB yelled, “Ahhhh, I am becoming mushy!” Fb started screaming at Mayo because Fb realized he was getting soggy from Mayo!
“Hey! Chill dude.” Mayo exclaimed.
“Oh yeah, I’m chilled. Chilled and SOGGY” whined FB.
“But-” (Mayo)
“NO BUTS!!! Come on Frenchie! Lets get outa here.” argued FB.

“ No, I am not going anywhere with you, you look like you are about to fall apart!” said Frenchie. They all started talking at once and no one could hear anyone.
(singing happens now)

Suddenly, everybody had an idea. They all made Lettuce into a stretcher and put FB on Lettuce, carried FB over to the fridge, and  threw him in, so he could harden again.  They knew it wasn’t a complete sandwich anymore, but it was totally worth it.

That very eventful morning, they all got Lettuce and made him into a stretcher, so they could get FB out of the refrigerator.
“Hey, were you munching on some food? ‘cause it seems like you gained a few pounds. You are also hard as a rock!” exclaimed Lettuce.
“ Oh, that’s just his awesome muscle.” Said Frenchie
“Oh stop it, Frenchie.” says FB “I’m just hardened from ALL MY TIME IN THE FRIDGE, BECAUSE SOMEBODY FORGOT ABOUT ME!”
tomato sings funny song about being sorry)
“ I know how to make him lighter! We need to put him on the treadmill!” Says Tomato.
“No way, Lettuce, put me in the microwave for 30 seconds.” Shouted FB.
“Now, when you put me in the microwave, I will run against the spinning dish, like the wind, as if I were on a treadmill.” Vociferated FB.
“I think, I should be with you while you are running. We could be running partners or something.” said Frenchie, happily.
  “Alright frenchie. Here we gooooo!” Then they  were off.
***
10 seconds later, they couldn’t keep up with the microwave. They were both way too slow, and they fell flat on their faces. They were spinning and groaning, spinning and groaning and so on and so on.
“I think we should take them out before they both get crispy, like me. I am crunchy, and I break way too easily.” says Bacon glumly. Suddenly, they all heard yelling and saw that mayo and FB are fighting. Mayo doesn’t like the way FB was talking to him and acting to him so he decides to run away. Unfortunately, he is stopped by a huge, sliding, glass door. Behind the door, Mayo sees a beautiful green landscape, with huge maple trees and a little off-white house with a red roof. Mayo uses his super mayo powers and turns into a “puddle”. He slides under the crack and finds himself in the beautiful landscape. He approaches the house. He heard chains move from inside and there, he saw a big eyeball from the other side of the window. “Ahhhhhhh” in that quick moment he realized that he had some sort of thick, clear, warm liquid on him. “UcK” Then, he used his super mayo squirt and blasted the huge, furry, and oddly adorable creature in the face. Then, he ran into the dog house.
***
“Where did Mayo go?” Pondered Lettuce.
“I think he ran away.” said Tomato.
“ No duh.” said Lettuce.
“I should be quiet now.” Mumbled Tomato.
“Yes, yes you should.” Lettuce said.
“Yah sorry, but you are kind of getting all of your facts wrong.” said Bacon. They were scavenging everywhere in the house. Tomato searched upstairs and Bacon searched in the living room. Bacon was lazy and depressed about this. He was dragging himself around a table, under a low chair, up on to the couch, by the tv and finally in a cabinet right next to the tv with a lot of cds. FB and Frenchy were still spinning in the microwave. Lettuce checked the dining room. He Jumped up on an extremely big wood table, he jumped on every single chair, on the glass chandelier where he was caught looking at himself, posing. Everyone met back at the microwave and took FB and Frenchie out. They were dizzy, but got over the feeling.
“Guys, the only place we haven’t looked yet is the Backyard. We need to look there before night fall.” Lettuce said convincingly.
“Yah. we are all important to the B.L.T sandwich!” Tomato cheered
FB had a different opinion, “Well not Mayo, B stands for you Bacon, L stands for you Lettuce and T stands for you Tomato. I don’t see another letter that is an M for Mayo. And plus you have to have bread for a complete sandwich.”
“Oh be quiet, you have no room to be talking. Someone could have used Wonder bread also known as Wonder or Italian bread known as Italia, Whole Wheat bread known as Wheat. So there, Mayo is just as equally important as you.” Overruled Lettuce.
“Let’s head outside!” Yelled Tomato. “Me and Fb will stay here.” said Frenchie. “He’s not in good enough condition to go ANYWHERE. Come on FB” said Frenchie, as she carried him upstairs to the girls bedroom.
“I guess that’s settled then.” said Lettuce.
They all ran to the glass sliding door and realized a tiny complication. They can’t reach the door handle. Even if they could, they wouldn’t be able to slide the door because it was to heavy.
“uhhhhh… what should we do?” Pondered Tomato.
“I know what to do, we need, a hammer, a shovel, a butter knife, a machete, a cheese grater, a blender, a wrench, and mashed potato masher!”
“NO!” Everyone said in sync.
“There must be a way, ‘cause Mayo got out.” said Tomato stupidly.
“I think that is the smartest thing you have ever said in your whole entire life of being a dumb tomato.” SMARTLY states lettuce.
“That’s offensive lettuce.” Snarled Tomato. They were about to get in a big fight when Bacon, very, very lazy Bacon, said that he knows how Mayo got through.
“Really?” said everyone
“Just because I am lazy, like, really lazy doesn’t mean you have to underestimate the smartness I have in my big brain.”
“ I think you are too thin to have a brain.” Said Lettuce.
“ Yah, explain how Mayo got out, ‘cause I noticed that there is mayonnaise by the door so Mayo had to of used his super mayo powers!” Screeched Bacon.
“I guess he is right guys. So I guess if Mayo did use his super Mayo powers, then all we need to do is get Mayonnaise from the fridge and squirt it in the crack of door and squeeze through.”
“Phenomenal idea Lettuce.” Bacon said, while gazing outside.
***
Why oh why did my stupid brain tell my stupid legs to go in this place!?! Sadly thought Mayo. Mayo heard the monster coming up behind him. He was cornered. Mayo looked around the room for a hiding spot. There! Mayo saw a big, red, shiny wall. He climbed up it. Which was hard, since there were no hand or foot holds. He jumped down. He landed in a big pile of bacon pieces. WAIT. BACON PIECES! “I’M OUTA HERE!” Screeched Mayo. Mayo tried to run but he couldn’t climb up the wall! It was way to slippery. So he did what he had to. He buried himself in the remains of what must have been Bacon’s friends.
***
“Uh guys,” grumbles FB “I’m kinda’ falling apart” And he was. FB was crumbling down. He had a few holes in him already! “Noooooo!” cries Tomato. “You are my only friend.”
***
“Uh” sighs Mayo, as he uses his Mayo lasso to pull himself out the the big red prison- the monster was currently preoccupied with barking at a terrified squirrel. Mayo ran out of the dog house and scrambled up a huge maple tree. He perched up on a branch, looked around, then grabbed a leaf and went to sleep.
***
“RARRRR!!!” Mayo woke up to the sound of the monster. Guess I’ll be here awhile. Thought Mayo glumbly. Might as well start making a camp. Mayo climbed higher up the tree. After a little while, he found a little hollow. It looked like a hollow knot. Mayo climbed in. Moss had grown all over the walls, floor, and ceiling. This’ll do,  thought Mayo. The moss will make it nice and comfy.
Mayo brought in some leafs for blankets and a stick, for a bench. He made a couch by covering a L shaped rock with moss, and set up his bed in a corner, using a very colorful leaf for a blanket, and a sunflower for a pillow. He didn’t need a mattress since the floor was covered with moss.
***
A cute brown and white bulldog sat at the bottom of the tree. Play with me! he thought. PLAY! PLAY! But the yellow blob wouldn’t come down. Suddenly, he heard a noise coming from the glass door. Friends? He thought. But the thin green leafy thing and it’s two red followers, one very thin and very round. PLAY!!! thought the dog as he ran towards these strange visitors.
Mayo saw these two things, that he saw a lot when he came over to the house.
“I think they are acorn caps. Are they supposed to go up to your ears?” pounded Mayo. He puts them up to his ears slowly and cautiously and waits for three seconds…
“Umm umm um umm um umm, I really like this, umm this ACORN MUSIC. Umm umm um umm Shake it off sh-shake it off ya ya! This way too inspirational. I have to tell the rest of the B.L.T! I- I  just feel way too happy, I am going to help Fb.”
They all found a way out.
“ This is amazing!” said Tomat.  Bacon, Lettuce, And Tomato jumped off the porch and walked towards a dandelion- but stopped in their tracks when a HUGE creature bounded towards them. “WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!” (PLAY! PLAY! PLAY!) “RUN FOR YOUR LIFE” said lettuce.“Is it life or death? If it is ,then I choose death.” Bacon stayed there to get eaten and the creature slobbered all over him.
“Am I dead yet?” No response.
“ It’s the fatal slobber! The fatal slobber!”
“It’s not fatal. It’s just SUPER gross. Which is why i’m not exactly sure why I’m about to grab your hand and pull you.” said lettuce. “NOW COME ON!”
“That was my only chance and you guys ruined it.” whimpered  Bacon.
Mayo walks in the house. He uses his super squirt Mayo powers to slip right under the door. He still has his “Earphones” on and is rock’n down to the hall to the kitchen.
He yells “HELLO” and there was no response. He walks back to the glass sliding door and sits down and jams.
The rest of the B.L.T ran back to the door. It looked like the dog was chasing nothing because they’re so tiny. The dog sure was chasing something though.
“Guys! Look, it’s mayo!!!” everyone gathered around the glass door and started pounding it.
“Mayo, Mayo, Mayo!!!!” everyone said in sync.
“Umm umm um umm um Shake it off sh-sh-shake it off ya ya. I wonder where everyone is? I will Just keep jam’n!” Mayo walked right back to the kitchen counter.

“Great. Just great. That was our chance and Mayo and his acorn caps ruined it for us. Now we can panic.” says Lettuce. “Let’s panic then!” said Tomato. “AHHHHHH” Tomato screamed. “Ah! AH! AH” He ran around the porch, flailing his arms around, until, eventually, he tripped in a crack flat on his face. “Come on Tomato, we’ll be alright.” said Lettuce. “No we won’t,
Not with that” Bacon said. “Bacon!” Lettuce scolded as Tomato burst into tears. “But look!” Said Bacon. They all looked up and saw the dog again. It had a bone in it’s mouth.
“He ate Mayo already.” cried Tomato
“No dumb-bo, mayo is inside! Plus, Mayo doesn’t have bones.” said Lettuce . “I bet it just wants to play.” Pondered Tomato as he walked towards it. “NO STUPID” shouted Lettuce. Tomato picked up a stick anyway. The monster looked down at him with big, expecting eyes. “GOOOOOO FETCH!” cried Tomato as the huge mass of fur bounded away to get the stick. “He’ll come back once he gets the stick, you know” said Tomato in a know-it-all voice. “Duh” said Lettuce. “Then let’s RUUUUUN” said Tomato “Not this again” said Bacon.
***
Mayo climbed up the stairs. (He had inspected the WHOLE kitchen but NO one was there.) When he reached the top, he heard crying. “Oh FB, just hang in there. We’ll find a way to save you.” That was Frenchie. That was DEFINITELY Frenchie. Mayo slid through the small crack beneath the door. Then he saw it. Fb was laying on a rug, coughing up crumbs. Mayos happy mood disappeared. He had to save his friend. He jumped into the room, did a flip, and, with a big “HI-YAH!” he landed in a ninja pose right beside FB. “I’m so sorry FB!” He cried. “It’s all my fulllllllll tttttttt!”
“No, i’m sorry FB.” Said FB. “It was an accident. You didn’t mean to. I should have given you another chance.” Mayo’s eyes started to well up. “And now,” said FB as tears slipped down Mayo’s slippery cheeks, “and now I will give you another chance” “Oh FB!” Mayo threw his arms around FB but pulled back at once when he realized that was the reason they were fighting any way.
***
“How do we get through the door” Poundered Bacon. “Good question.” said Lettuce. “But no matter how simple the question was, I don’t know the answer.” So they all sat there thinking…….and thinking… until Bacon came up with an idea. “Me and Lettuce are so thin that we can probably fit under the door in the crack.” Said Bacon
I think that is a great idea.”  Said Tomato
“As for Tomato, he seems to have a new friend.” said Bacon as he turned his head over to a happy Tomato that was throwing sticks and scratching the monster’s belly.

“Ya well good thing the monster is entertained we just need to find Mayo and Fb.” cried Lettuce.
***
“Mayo!” shouted Fb. “I’m so sorry Fb.” Stammered Mayo.
“Don't be. Look, you fixed me!” and indeed he did. Mayo’s glue had stuck Fb back together. “Woooo Hooooo!” Yelled Fb as he slid down the railing, and Mayo jumped. “Wait up!” Called Frenchie as she skipped down the stairs.
***
“Where could they be?” said Lettuce.
“Probably inside.” Said Tomato.
“Hey look there they are.” Tomato replied
“Tomato no time for jokes, wait to tell them after we find Mayo, Fb and Frenchie.” Lettuce screeched.
“No seriously there they are. I don’t believe it I think I am happy.” Said Bacon.
“Hey Mayo, guys let us in, Fb and other people, let us in now, hey, hey!!!!” They all said different things at once.
“Hey I didn’t know I was famous, wait they want me to open the door. Never mind.” sadly answered Mayo.
“Get some mayonnaise and give it to us out here.” Said Lettuce
“KK” replied Mayo. Mayo ran to the fridge, pulled out some mayonnaise and brought it right back to the rest of the B.L.T outside.
“It’s starting to get dark Lettuce.” Bacon whined.
It’s ok we will be inside in just a couple of minutes.” Lettuce said. Mayo got the mayonnaise and slid under the crack of the door handed them the mayonnaise and slipped right back underneath the door and waited for them to squirt the mayonnaise.
“Okay come on. Yah ummm... “ said lettuce. Lettuce slipped under the door then Bacon and then tried but couldn’t get through.
“I am too fat.” said Tomato.  No one knew if he was even trying to get through or not.
“Push, push, push through the pain.” Lettuce exclaimed. Tomato did it, he left some puddles behind but it’s okay.
“Guys I realized that our fight all started with me if I didn’t run away we wouldn’t be here.” sadly said Mayo.
“Well I am almost glad you ran away because now look at us, we are way closer in friendship.” happily said Lettuce.
“Yah I guess you could say that.” Everyone agreed.
“Come on guys, get close, get close.”Said Lettuce. They all got right back on the kitchen counter right back where they belong.
“I will get on Lettuce. You won’t have to worry about getting soggy Fb.” said mayo
“No, you can lay on me. I won’t mind.” Said Fb. They now hoped that it would stay like this forever.

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