The power of storytelling

I love to write stories, but I’m no good at telling them. My husband, however, can spin a tale out of thin air. Maybe because he knows to ask for help.

Imagine this scene: tired after a day of backpacking up a mountain trail, a mom and dad and three daughters (ages 8, 6, and 4) are flopped on top of sleeping bags in a tent. It’s not quite dark, because summer evenings stay light past ten o’clock in the Pacific Northwest. Nobody’s ready to sleep.

“Daddy, tell us a story!”

“OK. Who’s this story about?”

“A unicorn!” says the middle daughter.

“What’s the unicorn’s name?”

“Dave!” says the oldest. “Rainbow!” says the youngest.

“OK, Dave and Rainbow. Where do they live?”

“In a cave,” says the middle daughter. The oldest says, “Unicorns don’t live in caves, they live in the forest!”

“Great, so we have Dave in the cave, and Rainbow in the forest,” the dad says. “So, one day, Dave in the cave is eating breakfast, and there’s a knock at his door. He opens it. Who’s there?”

“An octopus!” says the youngest. Her sisters laugh.

And that’s how the ‘Dave in the Cave’ stories were born, destined to become a staple of camping trips, long car rides, and even bedtimes at home. The adventures of Dave in the Cave and his best friend Rainbow bore an uncanny resemblance to what was going on in our daughters’ lives at the time, but at a safe distance, and safely disguised. 

Do you tell stories to your children or grandchildren? Do you ask for their help?