Week 2 Storytellling- Caught in a Poisoned Pond

There once was a boy named Meach who lived in Brooklyn, Ney York. He was bad as a kid, but it was only because he didn’t know any better. His dad wasn’t allowed to spend time with him, and his mom was always gone working. He made friends with some older guys on his block. It was nice to feel like he fit in, and to know people cared about him. They were always up to no good. It started out with minor vandalism, spray painting their school and stealing traffic signs. Then they started to send Meach into stores to steal candy for them. He was so small and sweet-looking that store clerks usually just looked the other way in pitty. As they got older, they had an opportunity to join a gang. They praised Meach for getting invited; he’d be the youngest member they’d ever initiated. He’d be stupid not to join. Meach joined, but was starting to worry about his so-called friends. Their criminal acts were becoming more and more violent. Meach didn’t feel as bad when his actions didn’t hurt others, but now he was seeing shootings and muggings his gang members were a part of. Meach wanted out, and secluded himself for as long as he could to avoid the gang. The members took noticed and were worried Meach would start to rat them out. They wanted Meach to prove his commitment to the gang, and said he had to mug someone by the end of the week, or else. Meach knew what or else meant, he had heard the whispers calling him a rat. He had seen what they’d done to other so-called rats before. Ultimately, Meach did what he had to do.

“I am like a fish in a poisoned pond. Sooner or later I am bound to die, whether I stay in it or get out of it.” (The Ramayana A Shortened Prose Version of the Indian Epic by, R.K. Narayan)

He wished he didn’t have to, but he felt as though he didn’t have a choice. Even though Meach was still young, he felt old and tired. He had little hope for his own future, and barely had a will to survive. However, his will to survive was great enough to comply with the gang’s request. Meach secretly hoped that he would be arrested while he mugged that man. He even chose a strong and young man to attack in hopes that good could still somehow prevail, and the man would get away. The man he chose wasn’t going down without a fight. Even though Meach brought weapons, this man was stronger with just his two fists. Meach’s friends, watching nearby, eventually came in to help Meach.

Author’s Note

This story is a modern interpretation of a portion of our reading from R.K. Narayan’s The Ramayana A Shortened Prose Version of the Indian Epic. In the original story Ravana, who is a powerful and mighty being and the enemy of Rama, approaches his uncle Mareecha for help kidnapping Rama’s wife Stia. Ravana’s family and followers are known for their power and violence, but Mareecha has been trying to turn away from that lifestyle and pursue peace. Ultimately, Mareecha is forced to choose between his own death and assisting Ravana in the kidnapping of Sita.

I chose convert this story to a modern setting, because the group of demons described as Ravana’s “family” is very similar to a violent gang. Meach is based off the character Mareecha, and the members of the gang as a whole represent Ravana. In this story Meach was by no means a saint, but at least he was developing a desire to stay away from crime. Unfortunately Meach, like Mareecha, is too far in with the wrong crowd, and has to choose between assisting in evil schemes or death. The strong young man he attacks is representative of Rama. When reading for this class I wondered if Mareecha was secretly cheering for Rama even though he was helping Ravana, so I chose to include this element in my story. 

Rama and Laksmana Confront the Demons Marica and Subahu,

Original publication: 1597-1605, Author not listed, Source: Wikipedia

Bibliography

Narayan, R. K. The Ramayana A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic. London: Penguin Classics, 2006. Print.