NEW STORY-LOVERS PRODUCT BARE BONES FOR STORYTELLERS! 100 Years of Story Skeletons from Around the World VOLUME 3 — TRUE LOVE

Front cover	Back cover

Here's one of the bare bones from Volume 3, True Love:
#1 - Ivan and the Chestnut Horse
[Bones taken from Edmund Dulac’s Fairy Book, 1916.]
An old man raised three sons; taught them to read, write and everything else they needed to know. On his deathbed, he cautioned them to never forget to read prayers over his grave; they all promised. Two older brothers were huge proud men, but Ivan, the youngest, was pale and small, though fire lit his eyes and determination circled his mouth.

After funeral, Ivan read prayers over grave, observed King’s messenger announcing Princess Helena the Fair had built a shrine with 12 pillars, 12 rows of beams where she sat on a high throne waiting for a man who could leap up on his horse in a single bound to her height and kiss her on the lips as she bent forward. That man she would marry. The whole countryside was soon talking, young suitors’ blood began to boil. Great day was set.

Ivan’s elder brothers trained to accomplish task. Ivan reminded them of their promises to pray over father’s grave; they excused themselves, leaving it to Ivan alone first for seven days, then another seven, then another. Keeping it secret from each other, brothers raced and jumped their horses, curled their hair, cleaned their teeth, practiced “prunes and prisms” “pomegranate” “peaches of passion” “peripatetic perambulation” with their lips into mirrors. Never read prayers over grave, far far too busy. Left it all to Ivan. They jumped over hedges, ditches; tore madly around fields, dyed moustaches, preparing to meet the rosy lips of Princess at apex of their leaps. Ivan still read prayers daily over grave. Brothers finally refused to meet with Ivan at all, instructing him by letter to continue prayers, which he did.

Great day arrived. All would-be bridegrooms prepared for jumps. Ivan at gravesite, suddenly seized with desire to look just once upon face of Helena, broke down, cried. His father in his coffin heard him, shook off the damp earth, stood before Ivan. Father reassured terrified Ivan, thanked him for all his prayers, promised to help. Rising to a tremendous height, his loud voice echoed throughout the land. In response, Ivan heard sound of galloping hoofbeats; a wondrous chestnut horse appeared, circled three times, stood before them, forefeet together, eyes, ears, nostrils shooting flames of fire. Horse asked, “What is your will? Command me and I obey!” Father took Ivan to horse’s side, ordered him to pass through the right ear and out the left ear so that he could command the horse. Ivan did so. He changed from dreamy youth to man of affairs, high ambition in his eyes, and at his father’s urging, he sped like lightning toward shrine of Helena the Fair. Arrived just as sun was setting. No man had been successful, including Ivan’s two disconsolate brothers.

All turned to look at the daring rider on the chestnut horse, whose hoofs shook the earth, whose nostrils snorted fire. They circled round, circled round; then a splendid leap, a whiff of Helena’s sweet breath, but no kiss. Down they came, circled round again and again, then a magnificent leap, a long sweet kiss while the horse lingered in the air at the top of its leap. Down horse and rider came; disappeared. All searched to no avail. Helena, blinded by lovelight in her eyes, sank back into her shrine, treasuring the warmth of the beloved kiss on her lips.

The steed returned Ivan to the gravesite, galloped off over a rainbow trail. Ivan returned to his prayers, once more his father appeared, told him to go to the great gathering the next day but say nothing. Helena searched the throng, finally spied humble Ivan sitting in a corner, recognized him, took him by the hand, led him past the shrine into the palace; the people cheered and rejoiced. King blessed the union, Ivan and Princess married, lived happily together.

Stories that are Funny • Surprising • Lost/Found Love • Poignant • Imaginative • Thought-provoking

DETAILS:
Size: 8-1/2 x 11
Spiral bound
Plastic covers front and back
77 detailed story skeletons about True Love in all its aspects
Recurring Subjects Index
Keyword Index
$20

Includes nine 5 x 7 glossy prints ready to frame

Contact me by e-mail to order:
bubbul@vom.com
or call: Jackie Baldwin 707-996-1996