Picking up the Gauntlet . . .
Once I remember wonderful Suzanne Down challenging her newsletter readers to try writing a shelter story using a sea side theme. She suggested the sea shell becoming the common shelter--similar to the tale of "The Mitten", where a little mouse happens upon an abandoned mitten and calls it home, and along comes a little friend, and then another. Always each new friend is welcomed to join the others. What a great idea, I thought (thank you, Suzanne!) and sat down to give it a try. Those of you who have written your own stories know that the first moments are the trickiest . . . but it's always worth the effort! Somehow the tale begins to speak and guide the writer into what to say. For my story I ended up using the same rhyming format as a German shelter story another dear friend introduced me to called "The Pot" (thank you, Renate Hiller!) The version written here works nicely for those living in a beach community as I do, or during the summer time and early autumn. At the end of this story you'll see a little 'horse of the sea' puppet pattern, to help bring the tale to life!
And now, dear friends, I am throwing the gauntlet to you! Begin a story today . . . take a few minutes to drink in the wonders of nature in your backyard or a beloved park, then bathe in the quiet and listen . . . write what comes to you!! Scroll down this page for a link to tips on storytelling!
Shining Shell
Once I remember wonderful Suzanne Down challenging her newsletter readers to try writing a shelter story using a sea side theme. She suggested the sea shell becoming the common shelter--similar to the tale of "The Mitten", where a little mouse happens upon an abandoned mitten and calls it home, and along comes a little friend, and then another. Always each new friend is welcomed to join the others. What a great idea, I thought (thank you, Suzanne!) and sat down to give it a try. Those of you who have written your own stories know that the first moments are the trickiest . . . but it's always worth the effort! Somehow the tale begins to speak and guide the writer into what to say. For my story I ended up using the same rhyming format as a German shelter story another dear friend introduced me to called "The Pot" (thank you, Renate Hiller!) The version written here works nicely for those living in a beach community as I do, or during the summer time and early autumn. At the end of this story you'll see a little 'horse of the sea' puppet pattern, to help bring the tale to life!And now, dear friends, I am throwing the gauntlet to you! Begin a story today . . . take a few minutes to drink in the wonders of nature in your backyard or a beloved park, then bathe in the quiet and listen . . . write what comes to you!! Scroll down this page for a link to tips on storytelling!
Shining Shell
by
Connie Manson © 2012
In the ocean blue, near the shore, the
waves rolled this-a way, and they rolled that a-way. A sea shell tumbled and
tossed in the water. It rolled and rolled and then came to a stop on the sandy
ocean bottom. The sun was shining brightly up above, and little rays of
sunshine danced in the water. A tiny blue fish came darting by, swimming up and
swimming down, and looking all around. It saw the sea shell lying there. It
looked to be as big as a smooth, shining palace! It swam up to the sea shell
and called “Shining shell, shining shell, who dwells here?” But no one
answered, because no one was inside. “Then I shall live here,” it said, and it
made a cozy home inside the shell.
Along came goldie the fish. It saw the sea
shell and called out, “Shining shell, shining shell, who dwells here?”
“I do, tiny blue, oh-so-true, and who are
you?”
“I am goldie the fish, who darts and
dips.”
“Come inside, and make yourself a home
here.”
And so the two of them began to live
together. After a time, a little starfish came crawling by. It saw the sea
shell and called out, “Shining shell, shining shell, who dwells here?”
“I do, goldie the fish, who darts and
dips.”
“I do, tiny blue, oh-so-true, and who are
you?”
“I am sandy the starfish who carries a
wish.”
“Come inside, and make yourself a home
here.”
And so the three of them began to live
together. Along came a sea turtle,
paddling by. He saw the sea shell and called out, “Shining shell, shining
shell, who dwells here?”
“I do, sandy the starfish who carries a
wish.”
“I do, goldie the fish, who darts and
dips.”
“I do, tiny blue, oh-so-true, and who are
you?”
“I am snappy the turtle who paddles and
flips.”
“Come inside, and make yourself a home here.”
And so the four of them began to live
together.
Suddenly before them darted a little sea
horse. He was in a great hurry. He saw the sea shell and cried, “I am horse of
the sea, please rescue me, for an octopus, he chases me!”
“Let’s bring him inside--a shelter
we’ll be!”
Little horse of the sea was safely tucked
inside. The octopus came gliding by. He looked this-a-way, he looked
that-a-way. But nothing could he spy, save a shining shell that sat nearby.
Said the octopus, “How could that creature
disappear so fast?” Oh-so-quietly the
little friends sat, until at last, the octopus went gliding away.
And from that day on, the little friends
lived ever safe and sound, in their shining home on the sandy ground.
Sew around the edges with a blanket stitch or overcast stitch, leaving the bottom of the belly section open if you'd like to use it as a finger puppet.
Marionette option: Add a small stone and lightly stuff with wool and sew up the opening. Add a string at the head and fin to create a simple marionette!