Black Eye

by Marjory, Anne, Gretchen, Earnest, Patricia [Alice, Lana]

[What's happening with this woman?]

She has a black eye. She got hit by somebody.

[How does she feel about that?]

She's feeling pain and discomfort, and she doesn't want anybody to see her. In other words, that's what you worry about.

[Why was she hit in the face?]

She didn't get to finish putting on her face, it's healing. The man in the circus hit her. She upset him.

[How did she upset him?]

She didn't want to see him anymore and had him arrested.

[What does she do when he's in jail?]

It didn't feel good because it was the wrong thing. She goes out somewhere, probably goes home.

[Who's waiting for her at home?]

They're alright, the people that came in. They're from around here. She knows them from church.

[What do they say about her black eye?]

They thought to let her know that it wasn't right. They have to talk about everything. The next day, they all felt better. They're all getting along, but some are hesitant and some feel guilty.

[Are these people close to her?]

They all think they're friends, but she doesn't know if she's guilty or not.

[How do you feel about her situation?]

I'm an adult, a damn good adult! It's a confusing situation and has got her all upset. He (the circus man) shouldn't have done that and he's going to pay for it.

[How long will he be in jail?]

He won't be in jail for very long. He knows people that have been bad often.

[How does the woman feel about him being in jail?]

She thinks he's bad and unsuitable for her. She may feel sorry for him when he's out of jail, but things may change.

[How is her life without him?]

I don't know how her life is going, waiting on you. Oh, my God! He'll get out when his sentence is over.

[What do you think she'll do once he's out of jail?]

She has two opposing thoughts -- she's at fault, and he's half bad. So, they pull each other's hair and I think they get back together.

[How do they feel about getting back together?]

They both feel bad and work through reasoning to fix it, and both keep trying. They have to.

We, the People

by Earnest, Eleanor, Gretchen, Nona, Marjory, [Alice, Lana]

[What do you see in the picture?]

That's a Coca-Cola and that's the one trying to be with it.

[Who's that in the picture?]

I guess that's supposed to be a person. He wants that coke to drink.

[What else do you see?]

It's an empty bottle. An "E" for effort. 

[What's the "person" doing?]

He's trying to fill the bottle but doesn't have anything to fill it with. The thing that's supposed to be a person is another bottle. They are trying to fill the two bottles up with ocean water.

[What's that taste like?]

It's salty, and the only one available. Maybe we're supposed to drink it, or maybe we're suppose to throw it away. Or maybe a little bit of both.

[What will happen if we drink it?]

It's hard to tell what will happen if we drink it. I don't think we'l die. We've got to have water to drink, that's for sure. Drinking salty water is stupid. I've never drank salty water. It would feel rather dull, and it wouldn't sharpen me up any.

[What will happen next?]

We're going to pick up these bottles and trade them back in. We'll get a dime a piece. Maybe a nickel. 

[What will we do with the money?]

We're going to buy more paper for more writing. We're going to start our own (news)paper. That's right! Once we get it all, it's a whole bunch of munch. Oh, yeah, it is, and the baking has to start, too.

[What will be in the paper?]

Maybe a picture of the area. We should see people and something good to look at. If that's what we're looking at, that's what we've got. 

[Do people like the paper?]

Our (news)paper is popular. They need to give everybody one. It's a bunch of junk, it's a newspaper and that's all it is. And that's what he's separating us from.

[Who's separating us?]

People who have stories to tell are separating us with their ideas. 

[What's the name of the paper?]

It could be called "Eleanor's Book".

[Have the people learned anything yet?]

We haven't learned anything yet. We should go ahead and trash it. (break for argument)

Eleanor has a big influence on all nine of us. That should be me. Eleanor keeps on teaching, and we're keeping the newspaper. She definitely tries to bring out the teaching in people. The people are curious.

[What does she teach people?]

She's teaching the people they can do their own things. 

[How do the people feel?]

They feel good. The people are ready. They now appreciate their education. They better take the whole damn thing in there.

The Dilemma of Joe's Friend

by Ellen, Gretchen, Maxine, Marjorie, Patricia, [Lana]

[What's happening in this picture?]

The topic is a ball. That's the man.

[What's the man's name?]

His name is Joe. He's a gentleman that stands up all the time. He doesn't like to lay down.

[What's he doing?]

Somebody's showing us how big they are to how big we are. 

[How's that make Joe feel?]

Joe's content with his size. Oh, Lord, yes -- it's good! I thought he would never come, and he's even barefooted.

[Why does Joe have a ball?]

Joe decided to play some ball. He likes to play! It's good. And today, I was so proud of them. Joe caught the ball, trying to win.

[Whose hand is holding the ball with Joe?]

It's me, the other hand. They could be friends.

[How do you feel about friends playing against each other?]

I think I'd try to stop it. Make them competitors, not as friends. But they'll always be friends, it's just a game.

[What will they do after the game?]

They'll talk about the game. Joe's bewildered because he got to keep his friend. Now, they're going to the hospital because Joe's friend is unconscious.

[Why's he unconscious?]

Joe had to take him because he was afraid he'd die. He's (Joe's friend) taking a lot of tests to see if he's okay.

[What did Joe do while his friend was taking these tests?]

Joe decided to let everyone know his friend is in the hospital. He doesn't have the right to decide his life for him. It was paved in a piece of paper. I don't know what it is but it was there all along.

[How's Joe's friend doing now?]

He's probably doing okay. They don't like the hospital, but they needed it desperately. But now they can leave.

[Where are they going?]

They're going home, and they feel good. You never know.

Peek-a-Boo

by Anne, Ellen, Margaret, Earnest, Marjorie, Maxine, Eleanor, Pura, Joey, [Alice, Lana]

[What do you want to call him?]

Peek-a-boo.

[What's he like?]

Peek-a-Boo is a curious little dog. He's wearing a towel because he's just been bathed, and he's nice and clean. His owner put the towel on. 

[What's the owner like?]

Apparently he cares about the dog to put a towel on him. Lucinda (named owner) takes good care of Peek-a-Boo.

[What's Peek-a-Boo like?]

Peek-a-Boo is very alert. It's some kind of fun!

[Tell me more about Lucinda.]

Lucinda is a quiet person with a good personality. She's going to adopt Peek-a-Boo. 

[How did they meet?]

Lucinda met Peek-a-Boo in the road. Peek-a-Boo was lost without any caretaker. She'll have to call him. She'll clap her hands and call "Peek-a-Boo!" And he comes naturally.

[What does Peek-a-Boo do then?]

When she picks him up, he will nuzzle to her, very alert. Nice and clean makes you feel good. You know how that does.

[How does that make you feel?]

I want to take him with me. When a child gets in that position and wants to take a dog with him and he can't, that's sad. Who gets the dog?

[Who do you want to get the dog?]

The safest place is with Lucinda because Lucinda will take good care of him and feed him. A child would lose interest. 

[How does the story end?]

A child this big (speaker measures four inches tall on fingers) gets to keep the dog. This is a scary thing because the child is bite-size.

The end.

A Cake Conversation

by Glenna, Margaret, Anne, Gretchen, Henry, Marjory, Dorothy, Philamine, Lorlene, Jean, Earnest, Evonne, Joyce, [Alice, Lana]

[What's happening?]

A little boy is walking in a storm.

[What should we call him?]

Jimmy Carlos Glenn from West Virginia.

[What's happening outside?]

The storm is in Tennessee.

[Where's he going?]

He was taking a trip, going someplace. He's walking there, asking people how to get there.

[How does he feel?]

He's tired, tired. His feet are sore, he's dodging traffic, he's thinking where he's going, soaking wet, cold.

[What should we call the other boy in the background?]

Little Boy Bobby (whose name is Robert).

[How does he feel?]

He is very lonesome because he's gone far away. Who would let a little boy like that by himself?

[Why is he alone?]

His people are sleeping. Why would they do that?

[Where is he now?]

Little Boy Bobby is farther away. There's a big difference. He's got more clothes. Somebody is going to go looking for him. His parents will go looking for him. Sooner or later somebody will find him.

[How will the story end?]

It may be the last one. Or maybe my mind or my miles. Count the steps. See what they say. Take somebody with me so they don't miss him. After the talking's done with children and parents, it went the way the parents said.

Mrs. Butler’s Adventure Into Animal World

by Henry, Barbara, Christine, Evelyn, Maxine, Margaret, Barbara, Ellen, Margory, Patricia, [Alice]

[What should we call her?]

Mrs. Butler

[Tell me about Mrs. Butler.]

She’s sitting by the window, got a smile on her face, so she isn’t sad.  She has a good friend she works with, does some television work.  She’s the pleasant hostess of a talk show, very intelligent, and she knows what she’s talking about.  She seems to be that way.  She’s thinking about something pleasant.  Good things going on.  She’s soft spoken. 

[What is Mrs. Butler doing?]

Going out to eat lunch.  She thinks before she starts.  Something light.  Nothing heavy.  She says, “I love them, I tell them anything I want to do, if you get in trouble, you come to me.  Don’t go to anybody else.”  Maybe she’s a helpful person in her own home at the dining table. 

She thinks before she speaks.  I wish I could be like that.  She’s one in a million.  Mesmerizing.  Mesmerizing is what I do a lot, when I’m not busy. 

[Tell me about Mrs. Butler’s talk show.]

Her special guest is someone she knows very well, an ordinary woman with a different view on a question.  Anyone can change their view.  It’s a good idea. 

[What is the question?]

The question she will ask is, “What is intelligence?” 

[How does her special guest answer?]

How your brain operates.  Somebody that’s smarter than somebody else.  Your brain is way ahead of other people.  You’re real smart.  Your brain works real fast.  Brains to go ahead and know what you are doing.  I’ve separated from that.  They have the brains.  She is the perfect one.  She wants to know what she knows now, she’s going to be asking people. 

[What else does she ask her special guest?]

“How does a zoo operate?” 

[What does her special guest say?]

Feed the animals, bring them out, make arrangements for other people to feed them.  A director.  They need water from the lake or the same place where they get the food from.  A pond.  Someplace like that where there’s water.  They have special feeding people for the dangerous animals, with a lot precaution behind a door or fence and not out in the open. 

Mrs. Butler asks her, “What kind of animals?” 

Small and medium assorted animals.  If she can find one and put it down [storyteller is talking about me typing when he says “put it down” - he points to the keyboard], it would be a big help.  She’s taking care of the animals and making sure they are properly cared for.  She showed the people who are interested some of the animals.  She brought them with her on the talk show.  The audience reacts emphatically. 

[How does the story end?]

The story ends pleasantly.  Life goes on.

Two Boys' Adventure

by Ellen, Joetta, Earnest, Gretchen, Margery, Henry, [Alice]

You can’t work them, because we knock each other’s elbows.  Elbows over here, can’t we?  It’s because of this thing, or maybe it isn’t, I don’t know.  I couldn’t see right.  What's happening on the ground?  Why didn’t you tell me I couldn’t see right?  You can’t. 

All those windows, that’s not a good idea.  Why not one big window?  This one tiny one on top, it’s an afterthought.  Big at the bottom, little at the top.  That’s not much room.

[What are your first impressions of the photo?]

I have two or three impressions at first.  A kid falling down, a kite up above.  Was the boy on the kite?  It won’t come up in our area.  You’re going to have to move me.  I’m not impressed.  [One storyteller asks another:] What is your opinion of it?

 

It would be tough to get over that thing right there [storyteller is referring to the building].  That big thing, it’s tough to get over top of it. 

I don’t know what to think.   I don’t like it, because I’ve been in places where people sit outside and holler for somebody, and nobody can hear them.  They were trying to give instruction to them.  The neighbor hears not either.  Either party was talking to the other.  They are short of leaders.  They need both. 

Where is this?  Stanton? Greenville? Chicago?   We don’t want the city to be too small.  The big cities are out of order. 

It was just about that tall.  One, two, three, four, but one is not the right size.  It doesn’t look right.  That’s what it is and not a lot of nonsense.  Five floors, and I can’t sit in that seat.  It slams.  It narrows down.  How do we do that?  Take a chance on falling, that’s how.

[Can you tell me more about what “narrows down”?]

Joy, as usual.  What is that joy?  Does it mean much?  I just wondered it.  Joy wasn’t very showing here [in the picture].  Mine is a little slower.   Stairs aren’t safe on a slope like that.  They are in high school, a lot of work to do.

[Who is in high school?]

An Irish climber named Buddy.  He’s a little bit weary of day camp.  He said, “How would anybody get up there?”  And he was concerned about the children.  But there’s no place to get lost over there.  They have quite a few toys in Chicago.  And boys will want to climb up the building.  Go there and look.  They’ve got a good start.

[Tell me more about the children.]

You wouldn’t dare leave two kids, any kids, or two dogs.  The boys have glasses.  The kids, the boys, get up top, but people are not going to let them.  One whole area is too young by far. 

Generally, two boys get in trouble.  The boys were trying to fly a kite.  It took off!  It wasn’t anchored very well at all, tied to the wall, no actual anchor.  Two boys with toys.  You better get two men together, because it looks pretty close between the windows, a pretty weak situation.  That one behind the window is not wild; he has playing to do. They already punched holes in the kite.  Then they are going to have to separate for grades, and that will be hard.  A different room. 

[Tell me more about the Irish climber named Buddy.  What is he doing?]

He already came and gone. 

[Where did he go?]

Go into the first floor, find the landings, climb the stairs. That would be safe.  It can’t move on a slant like that.  The stairs were how big?  If you get them computed, you can call a lot of sanding, a lot of trouble.  I need help with them.  Leave it and let’s see, but don’t force it.

[Will Buddy help the boys get their kite?]

Get a fire-broom with a rope, a fire department.  They are going to have toys all their lives.  The fire department has a lot of toys, they bring in their things and use it together.

[Did the fire department get the kite for the boys?]

The fire department said, “No way. You need to talk to your family.” 

The fire department let the kite go, but saved the boys.  That’s typical fire department.

Are they expanding?  One big window.  The window isn’t the issue, the fact is that the boys want to climb up after a damn kite that costs a couple of dollars.  Better than take a risk of losing their lives.  That is a lot of height among kids.  One, two, three, four, five.  Nobody but young kids would try it. 

Let Buddy take the kite home and show it to his kids.  Buddy will be at the top, dizzy, in danger of climbing.  Now what are they going to do?  I don’t think that’s quite right.  Nothing more than our instigation climbed a ladder and got scared.  He’s very interested.  Father thinks I’ll fall off and get hurt.

[What happens next?]

We wallpapered that one and that one on this side, but we didn’t touch the top door.  The school is too old for them to spend money.  Washed the windows with a hose.

I did all I could, washed four windows.  They guy left.  He’s gone.  Are these conditions in our notes?

[Yes, I’m typing everything you say.]

Is this happening in the near future, the expansion?  It’s a six year old building.  I was trying to get deals, they were growing too much.  I don’t think you can fix it.  Don’t do it!  Too late now.  [One storyteller asks another:] Do you think it can be fixed? 

On a big highway?  Uh-uh.  A big street?  Uh-uh.   They must be growing and demanding more information on how much space they have.  A good thing.  A very good thing.   

[How does the story end?]

The firemen take the boys home, and it ends happily.