georgie porgie

On Wednesday, August 11th we learned about adaptation. We were given ten minutes to choose from the handout, one nursery rhyme. Using the tools Yato taught us: identify theme, characters, protagonist, antagonist, create setting... Yato asked us to shout out which nursery rhyme we wanted. I said, "Georgie Porgie."

I make my choice with one thing in mind: which has the fewest lines? I wanted to have a piece that was short. Maybe it would make things easier? I came into our SOMA writing space, after a very heady day in the office- I was just looking for something easy. Ha. It's a writing course. In a genre by the way, that is very new to me. I've been the girl that watches plays pretty regularly. I'm open to check out all sorts of work. But this time, I'm not in the audience. I'm on the page.

This is our first in class writing assignment. Our second day of class. I don't have my laptop, so I'm freaking out because every time I write in a journal, I can barely read my crazy handwriting! Now, I'm not talking about the pride I take contemplating verse and recording it subliminally in my journal. Abstract recordings of the day's events is my style. I will typically write in all caps. Letters leaning to the side. Linear and when I'm feeling fancy, in a circle. No simple act of deciphering allowed. There is no "Dear Diary" or detailed account. Neat for sure. This however, is an actual writing exercise, timed at that. Let's say it together.. FAIL.

Scratches everywhere. Arrows. Cursive. A bad combination when we are being asked to share our adaptation with the entire group aloud. Ten minutes. I panic. I scribble. I think about water and wish I was drinking some. There is no passing. Everyone sitting around this rectangular table is reading their adaptation, and a few are commenting. Right now I'm wondering if I would be writing this had it been a horrifying moment to tell? Probably because melodrama just makes for great art. Seriously, doesn't it? No scanty doses of emotion is really welcomed. Fluff sucks. People want...
Waterfalls
sudden drops
loss of oxygen
climax
knotted umbilical cords
paper cuts
on the brink of starvation
and a heart annihilated.
Yup. That's the stuff art is made from.
Right?

This blog is my digital reminder of the "Georgie Porgie" adaptation.

The original rhyme reads like this:
Georgie Porgie, puddin' and pie,
Kissed the girls and made them cry.
When the boys came out to play,
Georgie Porgie ran away.

Here's my adaptation.

Theme: Identity
"Untitled"

Setting
Georgie short for "Georgina" is attending her first day of school. Being her father's favorite daughter out of five, she asks him to take her to get a haircut. Georgie has the stylist cut her hair short.

First Day Of School
Georgie tucks her hair behind her ears, and wears her favorite red baseball cap. When recess happens Georgie plays "house" with the other little girls, and she ends up playing "Dad." "Now I'm leaving for work," says freckled face, Sara. Georgie who is putting on a pretend tie answers, "Okay, honey..." and leans in planting a hard kiss on the mouth to Sara's seven year old face. All the girls run away leaving Georgie standing in the middle of the playground. Short haired. The prettiest daughter. Her father's favorite. Georgie wishes her red cap could simply swallow her.

"I want to be invisible," she whispers.
"Come play with us, Georgina!" Lukas standing with a basketball is motioning Georgie across the playground. Georgie who keeps her face pointed low to the ground returns, "No."