Week 5 Story: The Ballad of Alice

Pen and paper writing setup. Web Source: Pexels

It was a hot summer's day in May of 1970. There was a local coffee shop around the bend of Right Street in Anniston, Alabama. The shop was called Aroma.

The local jazz brothers premiering that evening at the weekly 6pm jam, had just arrived. 

Alice inhaled with contentment as her chai tea latte filled her glasses with steam.

It had always been a dream of Alice's to perform in front of a crowd who appreciated her artistry.

Alice was in college at Gadsen state, studying to become a microbiologist.

But, Alice's true passion lay in the soul of music. 

Alice loved jazz, but no one in her demographic seemed to share the same fondness.

She resided in a small town where individual's usually were destined to be farmers or real estate agents.

Alice told her parents she got a job at Aroma, when in reality she went their everyday to write music and watch the performers scat, shuck, and jive their hearts out.

Alice enjoyed writing about her perspective of life and the things that made her feel alive. 

The rhythm of jazz filled a void within Alice's being, that she longed to attain.

Alice's parents were not very supportive of her love for jazz, because they viewed it as a irresponsible pastime that threatened her legitimate future career.

They wanted Alice to graduate and build a full life for herself.

However, Alice did not agree with them in the slightest bit. She often used jazz music to study the material in her courses.

If anything, jazz was Alice's secret weapon that provided her with the utmost control in her life.

Jazz was Alice's outlet to be creative and independent, while the world around her seemed so stagnant and dull.

On the night of the Caravan brothers big performance, Alice felt something so compelling inside her that she could not shake. Alice enjoying the rhythm as it swept her off her happy feet, emerged upon the stage.

The jazz band had encouraged any hidden artists in the audience, to join them on stage.

Alice decided it was time to be bold and truly embrace her desires.

As soon as Alice started softly filling the mike with tunes, her parents walked in.

They thought they would stop by to bring her dinner, since she had to work so late. 

Alice dropped the mike frozen stone cold, as she gasped in disbelief of the bodies staring directly back at her.

As tears flooded her eyes, she jumped off stage and ran to the bathroom. Her worst nightmare had come true.

Alice's mother ran after her and tried to comprehend the current events that spiraled before her. 

Alice faced her mother with sadness in her voice. She finally told her mom that microbiology isn't what brought her sunshine.

Alice's mother confusedly asked her what makes her happy.

Alice proclaimed her love for jazz music and writing.

She knew her parent's were disappointed, but she had to do what was best for her. 

So, at the end of the show, Alice packed her bags and hit the road.

She left behind the live she's always known, to pursue the life she has always dreamed of.

Alice never looked back, and a year later she was featured in a renowned magazine.

Her parents never understood her decisions, but they let her blossom on her own, thus became the ballad of Alice.

Author's Note: The story I utilized to create my own, is from "Sita Sings the Blues" by Nina Paley. I went a completely different direction for "The Ballad of Alice". I appreciated the musical aspect of Sita Sings the Blues, which is why I used music as the main theme of my story. But, I used jazz instead of the blues. I also changed the background of the plot, to fit a theme that was more vintage. I used Anniston, Alabama because the population is very small. In the Ramayana, the jungle where Sita and Rama are banished is also small and secluded. The Ballad of Alice is similar to Sita Sings the Blues, in the sense that it is told from a focused perspective on a strong female. Alice is yearning to be a jazz musician,  just as Sita longs for Rama.  I liked the idea of using Alice longing for a passion instead of a male, because I believe it is more relative to general life. We all have things we are passionate about and goals we wish to achieve, but there are almost always challenges that make it difficult to succeed. Sita's challenge was being captured by Ravana, while Alice's challenges stemmed from the disapproval of her interests by her parents. Additionally, towards the end of the story Sita ends up being alone for awhile because she is rejected by Rama. Alice rejects her parent's controlling her life, and sets out for new adventure focused on self awareness and courage. The lesson I wanted to display, is parallel to always finding the good in life. I also wanted to commend the journey of independence and going through trials, that serve to help us individually grow.

Bibliography: Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley