It was a dark night.. pitch dark.. all the street lights were out.. no
moon.. The wind was blowing fiercely. There was a slight drizzle.
In the dimly lit room, he got up to get ready. He quickly dressed himself - in black. Black shirt, black trousers, black boots, dark glasses.. Who was he?? Zeeeem Boooom Baaaa...
He stepped out, locked the door behind him, and stealthily went down the stairs - tock, tock, tock, the sound of his boots, amplified by the silence in the neighbourhood... Now what did he do...? this Zeeeem Boooom Baaaa.... He crossed the road.. and walked towards a motorbike - a black motorbike. It was parked near a bush. He sat himself on the bike and wore his helmet. And turned the ignition on. Chugh, chugh, chugh. It was silent again. He tried once more to start the bike, and failed...Again, who was he?? Zeeeem Boooom Baaaa... What did he do now... This Zeeeem Boooom Baaaa? He lifted his head and looked far ahead, as if waiting for something to come up….
******* *******
Six children, eyes filled with curiosity, stare at the middle aged man, who continues to narrate. He knows this story has no end... In fact there is no story at all, but he continues… explaining every single thing about the scene, giving enough detail for the kids to make a picture in their head. The children have heard this piece over and over again, and yet come back the next time, hoping to hear just a little more of the plot. Everytime they end up hearing just this much. But the animation in the words excites them, the picture in their minds grows more detail. They are thrilled by the name of Zeeeem Boooom Baaaa.
******** *******
How did this man manage to keep the interest levels soaring at every narration despite being repetitive, and having nothing more to tell? Why did the children never get tired of hearing the same thing over and over again? What did each child think about Zeeeem Boooom Baaaa?
Being one among the 6 children, this story is very dear to me. It is the best suspense thriller I have heard in my life. Even today when I think of the story, I can feel that Zeeeem Boooom Baaaa is a villain and is on the verge of committing a hideous crime. What it is, is left to my imagination.
This is my personal benchmark for storytelling. And he is my favourite story-teller: my father. I have not merely ‘heard’ stories from him; I have ‘watched’ them in my mind, scene after scene, detail within detail. Though the story may be incomplete, the experience is complete!!
Do leave a comment telling us who your child’s favourite story-teller is, and what engrosses him/her more – word-play / props / sing-along lines / Or anything else?
In the dimly lit room, he got up to get ready. He quickly dressed himself - in black. Black shirt, black trousers, black boots, dark glasses.. Who was he?? Zeeeem Boooom Baaaa...
He stepped out, locked the door behind him, and stealthily went down the stairs - tock, tock, tock, the sound of his boots, amplified by the silence in the neighbourhood... Now what did he do...? this Zeeeem Boooom Baaaa.... He crossed the road.. and walked towards a motorbike - a black motorbike. It was parked near a bush. He sat himself on the bike and wore his helmet. And turned the ignition on. Chugh, chugh, chugh. It was silent again. He tried once more to start the bike, and failed...Again, who was he?? Zeeeem Boooom Baaaa... What did he do now... This Zeeeem Boooom Baaaa? He lifted his head and looked far ahead, as if waiting for something to come up….
******* *******
Six children, eyes filled with curiosity, stare at the middle aged man, who continues to narrate. He knows this story has no end... In fact there is no story at all, but he continues… explaining every single thing about the scene, giving enough detail for the kids to make a picture in their head. The children have heard this piece over and over again, and yet come back the next time, hoping to hear just a little more of the plot. Everytime they end up hearing just this much. But the animation in the words excites them, the picture in their minds grows more detail. They are thrilled by the name of Zeeeem Boooom Baaaa.
******** *******
How did this man manage to keep the interest levels soaring at every narration despite being repetitive, and having nothing more to tell? Why did the children never get tired of hearing the same thing over and over again? What did each child think about Zeeeem Boooom Baaaa?
Being one among the 6 children, this story is very dear to me. It is the best suspense thriller I have heard in my life. Even today when I think of the story, I can feel that Zeeeem Boooom Baaaa is a villain and is on the verge of committing a hideous crime. What it is, is left to my imagination.
This is my personal benchmark for storytelling. And he is my favourite story-teller: my father. I have not merely ‘heard’ stories from him; I have ‘watched’ them in my mind, scene after scene, detail within detail. Though the story may be incomplete, the experience is complete!!
Do leave a comment telling us who your child’s favourite story-teller is, and what engrosses him/her more – word-play / props / sing-along lines / Or anything else?
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