Week 10 Storytelling: The Date

One of the many good things about television is that you know exactly where people are and where they are going. Frank had flown from his and Ava’s hometown in Maine. It wasn’t easy breaking into his parent's safe and stealing all of their life savings but Frank was able to do it. It was enough to get him where he was going and then some.

Frank was now in a taxi to the restaurant Ava and Mike were supposed to go for dinner. It was early, only about five o’clock, but Frank wasn’t going to miss them. The taxi driver let him out and told him to have a good evening.

Frank went to the back of the building and waited for someone to come through the back door. After Frank waited a few minutes a man came out with trash bags. Before the man knew what was going on, Frank bashed his head on the side of the dumpster. Frank had taken all the clothes off the man and put them on. Frank then awkward lifted him into the dumpster and closed the top. When Frank closed the dumpster he noticed it had a lock on it. Frank fastened the lock and went inside.

When Frank got inside the restaurant he noticed the uniform he was wearing matched the bussers. Frank quickly started to play the role. Throughout the night he had gotten better and managed to not strike up a conversation with anyone. A couple of hours had passed by and Frank was on high alert. They had to be coming soon.

*             *             *

 “You look absolutely stunning,” Mike told Ava as he held her hand to help her out of the limousine. Ava was wearing a low-cut red dress and her brown hair was done by a stylist.

From DreamsTime

Blushing Ava said, “Thank you, Mike.”

The two walked into the five-star restaurant holding hands and already had a table waiting for them. The waitress took them to their table where Mike pulled out the chair for Ava to sit.

“I will be right back, doll.” Mike headed off to the restroom.

As Ava sat there she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Simultaneously a boy sat in Mike’s chair. It was Frank. Horror filled Ava’s heart and stomach. Before Ava could move Frank shook his head and made a gun with this finger and thumb. Ava, more terrified than before, started panicking. Frank had a gun and Ava didn’t know what to do. 

With a confident smile on his face Frank quietly whispered, “There is a door that leads to the back alley through the kitchen and to the left. As soon as I say to, go as quickly as you can to the ally. If you try to run or talk to anyone, I will shoot you. Do I make myself clear?”

Whimpering, Ava nodded her head.

“Go,” Frank demanded.

Trembling with tears in her eyes Ava stood up and started making her way toward the kitchen. Frank was right behind her, smiling. Once Ava got to the kitchen she stopped and looked back wishing Mike was there but only saw the emo boy. She turned back around and headed toward the door. When they were both out in the alley Ava turned to Frank and asked, “Why?”

“Because you don’t deserve this life. You have always had everything handed to you and everyone just adores you. You deserve to be as ugly and worthless as I am.”

“Frank, you aren’t ugly and worthless. Why do you think that? You had a rough childhood and I am sorry for that. Hurting me isn’t going to change anything. You are this far away from home already. Why not go further? You have the chance to start over.” Ava tried to reason with Frank.

*             *             *

Mike walked out of the bathroom nervous as can be. Ava was so beautiful and he wasn’t sure how she felt given how they met. Mike straightened his tie and walked back to the table. When the table came into sight he panicked. Ava wasn’t there! Mike wondered if it was him. He saw a waiter come up to the table.

“Excuse me, sir. Did you see the woman sitting here go anywhere?”

“I saw her go to the back with one of our bussers,” replied the waiter.

Concerned, Mike headed to the back toward the kitchen. Once in the kitchen he asked a cook if they had seen Ava. She told him she went out back with a busser.

Mike walked out the back door to the sight of a boy shaking Ava. The boy was yelling at her and Ava was crying. The boy suddenly stopped and pulled out a gun from his jacket and pointed it at her.

Mike didn’t hesitate. He rushed quietly to the boy and took the gun. At the same time he elbowed the boy in the face. The boy staggered back yelling obscenities at him. Angry filled the boy’s eyes and he rushed at Mike. Mike shoved him back on the ground.

“I will never stop,” The boy cried. “I will not stop until you get what you deserve!”

Ava was now weeping even harder. At that instant Mike made a decision. This boy was an obvious threat to Ava and would be as long as he was alive. Mike took a deep breath. He raised up the gun and shot the boy.

Ava was in utter shock. The only thing she could do was weep. Mike sat down the gun and went to Ava. He took her up in his arms.  

"You are safe now."

Author’s Note

This is the final story of my portfolio. It is a continuation of “Frank and Ava,” “The Dating Game,” and “The Dating Game Part 2.” In “Frank and Ava” Frank took on the representation of Ravana and Ava represented Sita. That story came from Sita Sings the Blues, by Nina Paley, which was a version of the Ramayana. After reading the Narayan’s Mahabharata, I wrote “The Dating Game” and “The Dating Game Part 2” Where Ava was the main character portraying Draupadi. Up until this story Frank had no one to represent. I wanted to really focus on Ava for those two stories and only keep Frank in there as a reminder. Now, Frank represents Jayadratha.

During the time of the Pandava's exile, the Pandavas had to leave and gather supplies. They left Draupadi alone with only a sage to watch over her. Jayadratha saw Draupadi and after finding out who she was he proposed to marry her. Draupadi refused Jayadratha, so he abducted her and started going to his kingdom. Once the Pandavas learned of this, Arjuna and Bhima rescued Draupadi and Jayadratha was humiliated like a slave.

I tied this to my own story in small ways. The first is when Mike leaves Ava to go to the restroom is when the Pandavas gather supplies. Since Frank already knew who Ava was and has always had an obsession, the huge fight Frank and Ava have in the alley is what I picture when Draupadi refuses Jayadrathas proposal. Lastly, since Mike is a Panadava in my story it is only fitting to have him save Ava.