So obviously I’ve been on something of a childhood kick recently but I don’t really care, I’m finding my inner child again and it’s enlightening. Anyway, all this talk of archetypes has me thinking a lot about fairy tales and bedtime stories. At the beginning of the semester I checked some books of fairy tales out from the library and while I haven’t really had time to read much of anything, I’ve been talking about them an awful lot. I did get the chance to read some of the stories by Hans Christian Anderson and I’m more than a little bit too familiar with the somewhat gruesome tales by the Brothers Grimm, so I know my fair share of the classics. And I can say there are definitely clear patterns. The male hero (usually a prince, knight or soldier) wins the heart of the maiden (usually a queen or princess, or else unusually beautiful) by saving her from some monster/villain/life threatening situation/curse. While there are some variations regarding the quest or trials the hero must endure, the end is most commonly the predictable ‘happily ever after’ we’ve come to expect (thanks, Disney). So what’s my point here? Well, I guess I’m acknowledging that there’s nothing really new here. My ‘guy chases girl and eventually gets her’ post (22) isn’t unique, really, it’s the same basic formula as every other bedtime story with a happy ending. But so what? It can still be successful at conveying a message (VW helps you get the girl 😉 ), it just uses a tried-and-true method to do so. One of the reasons the ‘hero saves the maiden from the monster’ storyline is so popular is because it’s universal. Everyone knows it and understands. It works because it taps into the desire for ‘justice’ and ‘true love’ to triumph over all that deep down, most all of us have. And I’m going to exploit that. I’m going to write a (potentially cheesy) bedtime story, involving a VW, using that strategy. Here goes.
A man and a little girl are in a little girl’s bedroom, with the girl (let’s say she’s five) tucked into bed in her cute little PJs and the dad sitting by her bed next to a bookcase full of children’s books. He asks her what she wants to hear tonight and reaches towards the bookself. “NO.” she demands, “I want to hear one of your stories.” “My stories? Those aren’t bedtime stories.” “Pleeeease?” Who can resist a five-year-old’s puppydog eyes? “Okay, but it’s going to be boring.” She snuggles into her covers and blinks at him with eager anticipation.
“Once upon a time, in a not so far away land, there lived a boy.” “Was he a prince?” “No, he was just a boy.” “Was he five?” “No, he was a teenager.” “That’s not a boy, that’s a big kid.” “Well he was still a boy to everyone besides five year old little girls.” he says as he gently tweaks her nose. She giggles and he goes on, “ANYway,” he gives her a dirty look as if she’s going to interrupt again and she giggles with a finger over her lips and snuggles deeper into the covers “the boy loved a girl very much but she didn’t know he existed.” “Why not?” “Shhhh, I’m getting there.” He honks her nose this time. More giggles. “The girl didn’t notice the boy because he didn’t have a nice shiny new ride like some of the other boys.” “You mean a horsey?” “No, those other boys had cars.” “Oh.” “But anyway, the boy loved the girl very much and wanted nothing more than for her to love him back, but he didn’t have a car, so she didn’t even talk to him.” “Ahww, poor boy.” “But wait, he had a plan. He decided he would get a car. He would get a car so that the girl would notice him. And so he got a job. It was an icky job and he hated it, but he wanted the money so he could buy a car and the girl would notice him.” “Why was it icky?” “Because he had to mop floors and scrub really old dirty dishes and other gross things.” “Ewww.” “Yeah. But he did it, because he loved the girl. Well one day, two years later, he dumped his piggy bank out on his bed and counted up all the money and it was enough! So he went out and he bought a car, and it wasn’t as shiny as those other boys’ cars but he loved it anyway.” “What kind of car was it?” “It was a Volkswagen Bus.” “What’s a bus?” “A van, like the one your daddy used to drive.” “Ohhh.” “So anyway, at school that next week the boy went up to the girl and asked her out and she just looked at him and said, ‘do you even have a car?’ ‘Yes!’ he replied, but she just rolled her eyes and walked away. The boy was heartbroken. He had a ride but the girl still wouldn’t love him, so that summer he took a roadtrip across the country and met tons of cool and interesting other girls, and one was even better than the girl who broke his heart, and they fell in love. And they even got married and had a beautiful little girl named Katie.” “That’s my name!” “Yes it is sweetheart.” “And did they all live happily ever after?” “Yes they did.” “Okay. I like that story.” “Me too sweetie.” He leans over the bed and kisses her on the forehead, “good night, Katie.” “Good night Daddy.” He leaves and as he softly closes her bedroom door and turns to see his wife leaning against the wall grinning. “I like that story too.” “And they all” he kisses her “lived happily” she kisses him “ever after” a long kiss and they break away grinning.
This one is super cute and yes I am too cheesy to handle, whatever. It’s romantic and touching and gets the point across. It’s basically saying VW helps you find true love. It’s lasting value and pleasure all rolled into one.
Copy Write Paste 