This same situation is true in stories. People love to read about conflict in fact, all the stories are based on conflict because this is what stories are: incidents in which conflict is resolved.
In this exercise you’ll have a chance to create a conflict and its outcome. This exercise has three parts. You will:
1. Create characters
2. Put the characters in opposition
3. Solve this conflict the characters have”
Excerpt from Writing Strands Level 6, lesson #3, pg 13
Dear reader,
I wrote this piece at the age of sixteen while learning about conflict. I hope that you find it interesting and informative. I did not change any of the original content except for punctuation. Without further ADO
Writing Strands Book 6 Lesson 1
I Want Desert!
Janet Williams had just finished setting the table when her husband Fred walked into the dining room from the pantry.
Fred smiled with satisfaction and said, “Well, I just finished putting the last of the groceries away. How are things coming in the supper department?”
“Dinner’s almost ready darlin’,” replied Mrs. Williams in a Southerly accented voice as she picked up the bowl of cheesy mashed potatoes and carried it over to the table. She continued, “Why don’t you go tell Steve to save his game, ‘cause supper’s ready.”
“Sounds good,” said Fred as he headed into the living room where he expected his son to be.
A moment later Steve came hurrying out of the pantry with a package of cookies in his hands. Then with an eager and hungry expression on his face he blurted, “Hey Momma can I have some of these Cookey Ookey Cookies?” He smiled and went up and down on his tiptoes while mouthing the commercial catch phrase again, “Cookey Ookey Cookies.”
Janet looked at her son with smiling disapproval on her face, “You already know the answer to that question. And it’s always goin’ to be, not until you’ve had your supper.”
Steve shrank back into what he thought was a pitiful look and began stammering, “But, but, but…”
“No, buts about it Steve,” said Janet in a soft but stern voice, “Now go wash your hands and come to the table.”
Steve struggled slightly but gave up the package of cookies. Then with a downcast face he trudged over to the kitchen sink and started washing his hands.
A few minutes later everyone had sat down for supper, and Mrs. Williams had just deposited the cookies on the counter. Fred asked GOD to bless the meal and thanked Him for the beautiful day. Then they ate.
Janet dished up some sautéed vegetables and cheesy potatoes for Mr. Williams, then Steve, and then herself.
“This is delicious darling,” commented Fred as he noticed his son’s apparent lack of appetite.
“Thanks honey.” Janet replied as she discreetly nodded toward the cookies on the counter, and then stared pointedly at the dinner she had prepared.
Fred nodded as he got the hint. Steve, on the other hand, while staring at his untouched plate, was recalling the Cookey Ookey Cookies commercial. Similar to other modern advertisements Cookey Ookey Cookies implied that the average parent was a dim wit and the average kid was a smart alack who always knew best. Steve loved T.V. and the commercials influenced his behavior a lot.
“Aren’t you hungry son?” asked Mr. Williams in a conversational voice. “Cheesy mashed potatoes are your favorite.”
“I want Cookey Ookey Cookies.” Steve whined.
“You know ya got to eat your supper first,” asserted Janet mildly.
“Nuh, uh,” said Steve in a rebellious tone. “According to the Cookey Ookey Cookies commercial kids can eat cookies all the time!” With that Steve defiantly stuck his nose up in the air.
These actions rankled Mr. Williams a great deal; however, he did a good job of hiding his irritation. The grip on his fork tightened only a little. He then smiled a warning smile as he stated, “Son, I will not have that kind of disrespect in this house.” Fred spoke slowly so there could be no room for misunderstanding, “And you will eat your supper before any desert will be had.”
Steve moved his chair slightly to the left, away from his father and toward the counter. He then, though with less confidence than before, crossed his arms over his chest, as he had seen children on T.V. do, and declared, “I want Cookey Ookey Cookies right now.”
“You’d best listen to your father.” Janet said in a slightly anxious voice. Steve was ordinarily a well-behaved boy and only on occasion had he shown insubordination. On those occasions a simple stern word or warning expression from Mr. Williams was enough to set him straight. But this time Steve had pushed Fred too far, and Janet knew it. The new boy that Steve was playing with must have been giving him a bad example.
“I want Cookey Ookey Cookies. I want Cookey Ookey Cookies!” Repeated Steve again and again. With each statement he scooted farther and farther away from his father.
Janet watched as her husband slowly rose out of his chair with a look of grim determination on his face. She knew it pained Fred and her as well to punish their son. On the other hand without discipline Steve would quickly become a spoiled rotten little brat. He had been pushing both her and Fred for the past few days to figure out just how much he could get away with. Janet gritted her teeth as she witnessed Steve scoot just a little closer to the counter which held the cookies. Just a little closer to find out just how much he could get away with.
Fred began striding with purpose around the table, past Janet, and toward Steve. The thought crossed his mind, “I sure hope Steve doesn’t have to learn this lesson the hard way twice.”
Steve saw that his father was rounding on him rapidly. It was either now or never. He pushed his chair away from the table and lunged for the cookies on the counter. He wound up instead, in the grip of his father’s strong arms.
From then on Steve didn’t hangout with the bad example, Bobby, any more. More importantly, he seldom disobeyed his parents again.
Copyrighted Isaiah T. Silkwood 3/27/12
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