from https://eslchestnut.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/writing31.png?w=635
if you could pick one mentor – living or dead – fictional or real – to train you to be like him or her – why would you choose who you would choose? describe the training process
Ben from the book Ten… Explanation not needed (he’s a crafty one)
yeah – you can’t trust people that fake diabetic shock… 🙂
“Hi, Detective.”
“Mayfield, I haven’t seen you since…”
“I hired you to solve the case of the missing coloring sheets from social studies class. I know. Anyway, I was hoping you could help.”
“Do you have lots and lots of money?”
“Of course, I’m a teacher. We’re currently bankrupting the state, if you haven’t heard the news.”
“Okay, so what do you need?”
“See, there’s this girl…”
“By girl you mean…”
“Woman, age-appropriate.”
“Ah, that’s so sweet.”
“Well, it would be except that I can’t get a read on the girl.”
“So you want me to find out.”
“Well, I thought maybe you could train me. Like to be a detective. So I could read her.”
“That’s either really creepy or really romantic.”
“Yeah, I’ve sort of realized it’s a fine line between the two. Like, I’ve been keeping a notebook about her…”
“Creepy…”
“But it’s about all my failed efforts to win her heart.”
“Ah, that’s so sweet.”
“Yes, but it’s so frustrating because I’m getting nowhere. Like, I asked her to Liberty Day.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. It seemed like a good idea at the time. There’s a parade. There’s fireworks. There’s funnel cakes.”
“And she said???”
“She said she couldn’t, that she would be out of town.”
“Which isn’t a no…”
“No, but it wasn’t a yes. So then I figured we’d reset back to friends.”
“Okay, not sure I’m following.”
“Well, if you get shot down, you have to build back up, right? Except I didn’t see her for like a month. Then, now that I see her, it’s like I’m not really sure where we are…”
“Probably not very far.”
“You got that right – which makes me think we’re back to the beginning.”
“So you’re thinking you should just give up?”
“Heck no, the girl’s really cute.”
“I see.”
“Well, and that’s part of the puzzle because girls by that age that are cute are married.”
“Do you think she’s divorced? Been scorned by another? Waiting for her perfect match?”
“I honestly don’t know. As you know, I’ve read several books, most all the way through, and I can’t wrap my mind around it.”
“Mayfield, I have decided I will take the job. And the mentorship. Just promise me you won’t get creepy stalkerish.”
“I don’t know Detective, creepy stalker-ish sounds like fun… Oh, okay, I’m in. How do I start.”
“Well, I typically find you get the most information from TALKING TO A GIRL.”
“Ooh, that might be my Achilles heel. She’s really cute.”
“You mean you can’t talk to cute girls? You’re talking to me!!!”
“Yeah, well, girls my own age – that’s never been a strong suit.”
“Okay, well, have you tried talking to your pillow?”
“Genius, Detective. I’ll try that.”
Dear Prompt Picker,
I don’t usually write in to these things, but I must voice my opinion that while I don’t write myself, I wouldn’t this week because the prompt is incredibly sexist with its use of the word “mentor.”
For generations, “mentor” was thrust upon us all as a term to use for the practice of training up the next generation. You can tell by its prefix “men” and its suffix “tor” that men were supposed to tour us all through life. Naturally, men took this power and used it in completely inappropriate ways, putting their subjects through torturous tasks and perilous plights.
Prompt Picker, wake up and smell the coffee. The use of the word “Womentor” is much more inclusive term. Plus, it encourages future generations of women to find other women in power to learn from. Tragically, we still live in a backwards world where there are too few women in positions of power. I blame this problem in part on sexist language, language you used this week with your backward way of seeing things with a “mentor.”
May I also womention (see what I did there?) that a “training process” is very male-centric too. Have you ever watched little boys and little girls play? Which ones play with trains? I rest my case.
It’s the 21st century Prompt Writer. We have two women running for president. Get over yourself.
i would choose….. umm… maybe…. lionblaze or jayfeather.