These stories were created by groups of elders participating in the TimeSlips program. Elders use a provocative photo as a starting point for a story. All contributions are honored as a way to support participants' creativity and communication skills.
"Circus Follies"
"The Unbelievable Story of the Woman Behind the Wheel"
It takes place at a circus, in the 1800s. There’s a big cage filled with lions, tigers and leopards.
The trainer is in the middle of the cage: Her name is “Betsy the lion tamer.” She’s a crazy trainer! She’s dressed like a lion and matches the animals. She has gladiator sandals. She has a whip in her hand.
The animals’ names are Leo, Howly, Ruffy, Dragger and Tiger 1 and Tiger 2.
The first trick is to have a lion roll on its head. (facilitator demonstrates). The first trick worked! The lion tamer feels relieved! The audience applauds (clapping).
The second trick…oh, no! There is a lion out of the cage! It’s Leo. (gasps). This is a scary situation! The lion likes to eat deer and little children. The audience screams (screams).
Betsy the lion tamer thinks fast: She will provide some food to the lion to deal with this scary situation. She jumps the metal things. There’s a separate cage filled with deer. She goes into the cage with the deer and puts one on a leash and leads it out of the cage (mimic Betsy leading deer on a leash with lion roaming in background).
She leads the deer into the big cage (suspenseful sound effects – hands patting thighs). The lion follows it back into the cage.
But the deer escapes and does not become lunch.
The Ring Master is relieved. Everyone can rest another day (we exhale with relief).
The Ring Master says: “You’re fired” to get the act off the stage.
But the audience likes the girl. (We applaud her bravery and cleverness.)
By residents of Landow House, Charles E. Smith Life Communities, Rockville, MD.
This takes place in the 1900s. Her name is “Tilly,” and she’s in her 20s or her 40s. She’s rambunctious and adventurous and tolerant. She’s wearing a poncho: It’s part of her “flying gear.” She’s wearing gauntlets made out of leather so she can grip the wheel. Her boots are heavy, so they can protect her if she falls from the sky: They’re made out of steel. Her face is saying: “I’m a woman, and I can do what I want!”
She has created a flying machine, called “Contraption X.” She’s in an airplane hangar, and she might get hanged. There are onlookers in the background to cheer her on. Tilly is about to take to the sky: Whatever she is about to do is very dangerous. This is a fragile airplane, and she knows it. She’s never done this before: This is the first time a woman has flown this Contraption X.
She manipulates Contraption X to have it move. Her hands are hanging onto the wheel. She has to move her rear, to get it to move. (She has a big rear). There is a cylinder next to her left knee. She could be stepping on a pedal. Also people are using “people power” to push Contraption X to get Tilly up in the air. But sheer willpower is the ultimate energy source to get her into the air. (It’s a mysterious force that they haven’t come up with yet.)
She’s above a farm field in Kansas. She’s 100 feet above the field. She wants to go cross-country. Or maybe she’s on her way to Oz. But she may only make it around the field because she’s never done this before.
The onlookers are silent because of the expectation. They are worried because this young girl is flying this contraption for the first time. She has to be careful because of birds flying into her; she’s dodging the birds and she’s becoming confident. She’s also trying to avoid Superman: he appears coincidentally.
Now she has to think about coming down. (She cuts her cross-country trip short because she had to go to the bathroom). Superman helps her to land. (She will accept help from men.) He is grabbing the plane by its tail, while kicking with his legs to help her bring the plane down. There’s a gust of wind that comes at just the right time, which provides a smooth landing.
The onlookers cheer: “YAAAAYYYYYY!” She is fully satisfied, terrific and happy. She sets a world record for being the first woman to circle a corn field!
By residents of Landow House, Charles E. Smith Life Communities, Rockville, MD