week 2 story: leo in love
Harlem Acres is a quaint little town where everyone knew everything. The residents of this town liked to gossip. They all knew each other; if they didn’t know anyone, they knew of them. At the heart of the town, on at least 10 acres, in a Colonial style mansion that was painted pure white with a large turquoise front door, live the Westcott family.
Leo was the new kid in Harlem Acres. He moved to town with his mom and younger brother three weeks ago. Leo is a scruffy-looking young man, whom his mom refers to him as her “little lion” because his unkempt, shaggy auburn hair reminds her of a lion’s mane. He and his family had to move to Harlem Acres because Leo was always getting into trouble in their old town. Leo’s mom hoped that a new town would bring new beginnings for Leo. Although, she still couldn’t help but worry as he left for the first day of senior year at Harlem Acres High School.
Because Leo had to sell his car for the family’s move, he has to walk to school. He got a head start this morning and left 15 minutes early so he could get a breakfast burrito at one of the local cafés he liked.
At the café, Leo got his usual breakfast order: three sausage breakfast burritos, a protein bar, and a bottle of orange juice to go. Juggling with his breakfast necessities and phone in his hands, Leo turned around to leave. At the same moment, there stood a young girl with long, dark brown hair and green eyes. Leo thought she was the most beautiful girl he had seen.
He didn’t realize this, but he was staring at her with a blank expression. The girl offered a soft smile to Leo, “Are you alright?” Leo, fumbling with the things in his hands, fumbled with his words. Embarrassed, and not sure what just happened, he walked away abruptly without saying anything.
At school, Leo went to his first class of the day. He sat at a desk by the window, staring out at the leaves falling. Eventually, the classroom started to fill up with all the students. Leo turned to face the front. There she was in the middle of the front row--the most beautiful girl Leo had seen. The teacher began to check attendance and Leo learned the girl’s name was Lola Westcott. Leo felt something strange about her, but it was a good kind of strange.
He decided he was going to be brave and redeem himself from the incident at the café. When class ended, Leo walked to Lola and introduced himself. He apologized for his behavior earlier. Lola laughed it off. “It’s no big deal,” she said. Leo smiled back.
Leo and Lola had an instant connection and soon became fast friends. Over the next several months, their friendship quickly transformed into a romantic relationship. They had never been so in love.
One Saturday afternoon, Leo was walking through the town with his mom. His mom went into the flower shop and he waited outside. Suddenly, a woman appeared in front of Leo and startled him. She revealed herself to be Lola’s mom, Ellen. Leo reached out to shake her hand, but Ellen demanded that Leo stay away from Lola because he was not the proper young man that Lola should be with. She then threw at him an envelope with $5,000 in it to not see Lola anymore. Ellen walked off, not giving Leo time to respond.
Leo didn’t know what to do. Was he going to listen to Lola’s mom and keep the money? He pondered over this for days and talked to his mom, but she only wanted Leo to do what he felt was right. Five days had passed and Leo made his decision. He was going to be bold and stand up to Lola’s mom.
Leo arrived at the Westcott mansion with the money and knocked loudly on the turquoise door. Ellen opened the door. Before he could pass out, Leo quickly expressed his love for Lola-- that he was going to say no to Ellen’s demand. Who was Ellen to decide who Lola falls in love with? And trying to bribe him with money? He didn't want her money if it meant never speaking to Lola! Leo thought it was crazy.
He finally let out a breath, unsure what would happen next. He didn’t think this far. Then, Ellen smirked, “I was wondering when you were going to come by.” Leo was confused.
“I was testing you,” Ellen remarked. “Although, I did want to make sure you were the right person for Lola--a good, loving gentleman. All the other boys failed. I’ve never seen Lola this happy.”
Leo was shocked, but he was thrilled to be dating Lola and that her mom approved. He reached out to give her back the envelope of money. “Eh, keep it,” Ellen casually uttered. “I have plenty.”
This just got better for Leo. Of course, he decided he was going to give the money to his mom. Leo was in love and elated to be with Lola.
Leo was the new kid in Harlem Acres. He moved to town with his mom and younger brother three weeks ago. Leo is a scruffy-looking young man, whom his mom refers to him as her “little lion” because his unkempt, shaggy auburn hair reminds her of a lion’s mane. He and his family had to move to Harlem Acres because Leo was always getting into trouble in their old town. Leo’s mom hoped that a new town would bring new beginnings for Leo. Although, she still couldn’t help but worry as he left for the first day of senior year at Harlem Acres High School.
Because Leo had to sell his car for the family’s move, he has to walk to school. He got a head start this morning and left 15 minutes early so he could get a breakfast burrito at one of the local cafés he liked.
At the café, Leo got his usual breakfast order: three sausage breakfast burritos, a protein bar, and a bottle of orange juice to go. Juggling with his breakfast necessities and phone in his hands, Leo turned around to leave. At the same moment, there stood a young girl with long, dark brown hair and green eyes. Leo thought she was the most beautiful girl he had seen.
He didn’t realize this, but he was staring at her with a blank expression. The girl offered a soft smile to Leo, “Are you alright?” Leo, fumbling with the things in his hands, fumbled with his words. Embarrassed, and not sure what just happened, he walked away abruptly without saying anything.
At school, Leo went to his first class of the day. He sat at a desk by the window, staring out at the leaves falling. Eventually, the classroom started to fill up with all the students. Leo turned to face the front. There she was in the middle of the front row--the most beautiful girl Leo had seen. The teacher began to check attendance and Leo learned the girl’s name was Lola Westcott. Leo felt something strange about her, but it was a good kind of strange.
He decided he was going to be brave and redeem himself from the incident at the café. When class ended, Leo walked to Lola and introduced himself. He apologized for his behavior earlier. Lola laughed it off. “It’s no big deal,” she said. Leo smiled back.
Leo and Lola had an instant connection and soon became fast friends. Over the next several months, their friendship quickly transformed into a romantic relationship. They had never been so in love.
One Saturday afternoon, Leo was walking through the town with his mom. His mom went into the flower shop and he waited outside. Suddenly, a woman appeared in front of Leo and startled him. She revealed herself to be Lola’s mom, Ellen. Leo reached out to shake her hand, but Ellen demanded that Leo stay away from Lola because he was not the proper young man that Lola should be with. She then threw at him an envelope with $5,000 in it to not see Lola anymore. Ellen walked off, not giving Leo time to respond.
Leo didn’t know what to do. Was he going to listen to Lola’s mom and keep the money? He pondered over this for days and talked to his mom, but she only wanted Leo to do what he felt was right. Five days had passed and Leo made his decision. He was going to be bold and stand up to Lola’s mom.
Leo arrived at the Westcott mansion with the money and knocked loudly on the turquoise door. Ellen opened the door. Before he could pass out, Leo quickly expressed his love for Lola-- that he was going to say no to Ellen’s demand. Who was Ellen to decide who Lola falls in love with? And trying to bribe him with money? He didn't want her money if it meant never speaking to Lola! Leo thought it was crazy.
He finally let out a breath, unsure what would happen next. He didn’t think this far. Then, Ellen smirked, “I was wondering when you were going to come by.” Leo was confused.
“I was testing you,” Ellen remarked. “Although, I did want to make sure you were the right person for Lola--a good, loving gentleman. All the other boys failed. I’ve never seen Lola this happy.”
Leo was shocked, but he was thrilled to be dating Lola and that her mom approved. He reached out to give her back the envelope of money. “Eh, keep it,” Ellen casually uttered. “I have plenty.”
This just got better for Leo. Of course, he decided he was going to give the money to his mom. Leo was in love and elated to be with Lola.
love can have a powerful effect. Web Source
Author's Note: I saw the opportunity of retelling "The Lion in Love" as a cheesy love story. I turned the lion into a young man named Leo. He and his love interest, Lola, actually fall in love before he meets the parents, or Lola's mom. My story kind of still tests the protagonist's love by using money as a bribe to leave Lola alone. In this ending, Leo passes the test, but he still gets to be happy with his girl, too.
Bibliography: The Lion in Love from The Fables of Aesop by Joseph Jacobs.
Hi Soriyana!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your take on the story "The Lion in Love." I loved how Lola was testing his this whole time and that even though she pushed Leo away, he continued to pursue her. I wish stories like this happened more often in society today with men strongly pursing women. The only thing I would recommend is watching your verb tense throughout the story! Also always proofread your story before publishing because little mistakes happen. Trust me I am the queen of writing oopsies! Again I loved your story and I loved how you took and old story and made it new! Great job!
I enjoyed this take on "The Lion in Love." I particularly enjoyed the happy ending as well as the joyful blossoming of the relationship of "the lion" and the "prince" rather than the original unrequited love/infatuation. I also love the setting of a modern day town. I wonder if you could keep the trend of modern times, but test the waters of giving this a sad ending and showing the side of unrequited love?I really do enjoy the happy ending though, it is just fun to imagine "what if." Like what would he sacrifice to no avail? Would it be something of his own, or just not getting to keep the money and Lola? I enjoyed the strong imagery in the beginning, but it sort of lapses in the end of the middle portion, I would recommend keeping that imagery strong throughout. For example, you could describe the flowers or weather near the flower shop similar to how you did in the beginning. Overall, fantastic story.
ReplyDelete