Instructors Note:
This is an exercise in adaptation of a sort, an experiment to see if it is true, as I believe, that all good stories are infinitely malleable, that their beginnings can lead us down different rabbit holes because we as writers have the creative capacity to extend their trajectories. So ... take either the beginning of ALICE, or the opening paragraph of any story or novel that you like and follow it up with a completely original second paragraph of your own.
Once upon a time there were three little kittens and their names were Mittens, Tom Kitten, and Moppet.
They had dear little fur coats of their own, and they tumbled about the doorstep and played in the dust.
But one day their mother Mrs. Tabitha Twitchit was having a friend over so the kittens had to get cleaned up.
“Kittens” she shouted,” take a bath, and wash your fur and put on clean clothes because my friend is coming over today”.
“OK Mom, we will,” so the kittens jumped in the bath and put so many bubbles they couldn’t find each other. They laughed and slid out of the tub and shook to dry off.
The Kittens then rifled through their dresser for clean clothes. The Kittens are really good at getting dressed. Blue shirts, green pants, yellow vest, orange jacket, purple shoes, they looked the same and looked so pretty.
The Kittens came to the kitchen to show Mom how clean and pretty they were.
Mom said” I am so proud of the three of you, you took a bath and smell fresh and clean, such good listeners, and you dressed yourself so beautifully”. “Now go into the living room and play nicely while I finish up here in the kitchen”.
Mittens, Tom Kitten and Moppet decided to play Monopoly; quietly they played, next to the warm fire, feeling safe and warm.
Mrs. Duck was walking up the road; suddenly they heard a big crash and boom. The three kittens ran outside and there was Mrs. Duck upside down on the road, her basket tossed to the side and big paddle yellow webbed feet high in the air.
Mittens and Moppet helped Mrs. Duck stand up and Tom Kitten grabbed the basket. Mrs. Duck said,” Oh what good Kittens you are, I slipped on the road and fell, thank you for helping me”.
By now Mom heard the commotion and ran outside to see what happened and was so proud of her good kittens for their kindness and help.
Mrs. Duck and the Kittens and Mom sat down to lunch and the treats in Mrs. Duck’s basket. They talked and laughed and told jokes and played Monopoly.
Mr. Duck picked up Mrs. Duck in his red pickup to make sure she didn’t fall down again.
“Good night Mrs. Duck, see you again soon”, waved Mom. The kittens waved bye too. Mom gave her wonderful Kitten's saucers of milk just before bed, kissed them and told them, “You were wonderful today, I love you, sweet dreams and I’ll see you tomorrow”.
Mittens, Moppet and Tom Kitten yawned, snuggled in their beds and fell quietly into dream land.
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