The Straw Boater

adapted from the story of

Bawang Putih & Bawang Merah

Prepared by : Ng Wei Ying 0316366

Bawang Putih & Bawang Merah (Traditional Folk Tale)

The was once a widow who lived together with her daughter and step daughter. Both daughters were beautiful beyond comparison with extreme opposite personalities. Bawang putih (step daughter) was kind, honest and diligent whereas Bawang Merah (biological daughter) was incredibly vain, lazy, proud and envious. One day, Bawang Putih was doing her stepmother and sister's laundry. A piece of cloth belonging to her mother was accidentally washed away by the river. Bawang Putih kept looking and walked along the river to look for the cloth. Eventually Bawang Putih came to a place where the river flowed into a cave. There sat a very old woman in the cave. Bawang Putih asked the old woman if she knew of the cloth whereabouts. The woman knew where the cloth was, but she made a condition before she handed it to Bawang Putih. The condition was that she had to assist the old woman. Bawang Putih's work pleased the old woman. The woman handed the cloth to her and offered her a parting gift of pumpkins. There were two of them, one was larger than the other. Bawang Putih was asked to choose the gift she and she chose the smaller one.

The Stepmother and Bawang Merah were furious when bawang putih returned home because she was late. She told them what happened from the time her mother's cloth was washed away until her encounter with the old woman in the cave. Her stepmother was still furious and smashed the pumpkin to the ground. Diamonds and jewels came tumbling out from the smashed pumpkin . Bawang Merah and her mother immediately planned up a scheme to fulfill their greedy hearts. Bawang Merah followed the steps told by Bawang Putih. She willingly drifted her mother's cloth, walked along the river, asked people and eventually came to the cave where the old woman lived. Unlike Bawang Putih, however, Bawang Merah refused the old woman's order to work and demanded for the large pumpkin instead. And so the old woman gave it to Bawang Merah. Bawang Merah returned home to smash the large pumpkin together with her mother. But instead of jewelry, various poisonous snakes slithered out. The Widow and Bawang Merah finally realized what they had been doing all this time was wrong and begged Bawang Putih for forgiveness.

The Straw Boater

The story focused on two sisters (Penny and Meredith) and their childhood best friend, Kristina.

The trio had been friends for as long as they could remember. Penny and Kristina had always treated Meredith as an annoying younger sibling that likes to tag along wherever they go.

Peny was vain, arrogant and demanding whereas Meredith was kind, honest and helpful.

The story started off with the 3 of them getting drinks from a mini mart after school. They met the clumsy storekeeper who accidentally dropped the cans from a shelf in the store. Meredith helped out the storekeeper whereas the other two scorned in distaste of the mishap.

They met a well dressed old man walking with a crutch on the way to school. Meredith helped the old man and eventually became friends with him.

The other two remained disdainful and hostile towards the old man. The old man invited Meredith to his place for tea.

Penny and Kristina followed Meredith secretly and found out that the Merry got a straw boater from the old man.

Penny demanded the boater from Merry and she denied the request. As a result the two involved in a tug of war and tore the boater into two.

Later, Penny and Kristina visited the old man to demand more boaters from him.

They dumped the caps given by the old man as they deemed the caps were too boyish to be worn.

The 3 of them were surprised to find out that the old man was thier school's former principal and that Meredith was called to the stage.

Meredith received praises for her kindness while the other two was reprimanded for their selfish and greedy behavior.

Meredith

Age: 8

Kind, Helpful and Optimistic

Yonger sister of Penny and friend of Kristina

Likes to tag around with her sister and sister's friend

Penny

Age: 10

Vain, demanding and bossy

Older sibling of Meredith and friend of Kristina

Treats Merry as an annoying sibling who couldn't keep her nose out of people's business

Kristina Age: 10

Cynical, Greedy and Loyal

Friend of Penny and Meredith

Finds Meredith an annoying do-

gooder.

Old Man (Moose)

Age: Unknown

Former Principal of Titan Primary school

Befriended Meredith

Walks around with a walking stick

Generous

Likes to roam around Titan after retirement

Clumsy Shopkeeper

Age: Unknown

A staff in 7E mini mart

Clumsy and friendly

Principal Lee

Age: Unknown

Current principal of Titan Primary School

Setting

Takes place in urban areas (walkways, mini mart)

Titan Elementary School Suburban area of Moose's house

Reference

Elementary school of New Thornton Creek, retrieved from http://wedgwoodcc.org/new-thornton-creek-elementary-school-is-moving-forward-construction-to-begin-in-may-2015