Week 10 Storytelling: The Three Rings

Vintage Diamond Ring Robert gives to Jenny, Source: wikimedia

Jenny and Robert had been friends for a long time. If you asked Jenny, she would say they were strictly friends and nothing more. If you asked Robert, he would say they were strictly friends but he wanted to be more.

Robert had always viewed Jenny as a perfect woman. She was kind and loved by everyone, including him. She was beautiful: big brown eyes and dark skin with long flowing curls that perfectly framed her angelic face. It was hard not to be mesmerized by her pearly white smile that always seemed to radiate from her face.

One day Robert was sitting across from Jenny while they were eating during their lunch break at work. She was looking out the window admiring the perfect fall day outside as the trees were beginning to turn their leaves from green to shades of crimson and gold. Robert was too busy focusing on the beauty sitting across from him to notice the leaves outside. A man sitting at the table next to Robert and Jenny noticed Robert’s longing for her and took pity on him. When Jenny left to return to work, the man approached Robert at the table.

“I saw you were very interested in the woman you were with,” said the man with a grin on his face. “I think I may be able to make her yours if you would accept my help.”

“I do not know what you are talking about,” stammered Robert nervously. “Me and that woman are just friends.”

The man chuckled and smiled at Roberts. “She may think that, but you can not fool me. I know you want to be more than friends with her and that you think she is the most beautiful woman you have ever seen. I am a jeweler and design some of the most extravagant rings in the city. Let me design some rings for you and we will make that woman love you as you love her,” explained the man.

Robert was hesitant, but nodded a yes to the man and followed him to his store.

The man helped Robert pick out 3 rings for Jenny. Two of the rings were his best sellers and one of the rings was a one-of-a-kind vintage ring with multiple set diamonds.

The next day Robert gave Jenny the first ring, she was unimpressed and refused Robert’s offer. Robert was disappointed, but Jenny was the most beautiful woman. She needed the most beautiful ring.

The next day Robert presented Jenny with the second ring. She was, again, unimpressed and denied Robert’s proposal. Robert was starting to lose hope that she would ever be his. Maybe they were just destined to be friends forever.

The only ring Robert had left was the one-of-a-kind vintage ring. He knew that if this ring could not capture the heart of Jenny that she would never be his. He set up a romantic dinner and presented the ring to Jenny. Her eyes grew wide at the sight of the ring and a big smile spread across her face. She had never seen a ring this extravagant. She knew Robert loved her dearly and had done everything to show her how much he loved and cared for her. She said yes.

Author's Note: This story was adapted from the Cherokee myth The Origin of Strawberries. In the Cherokee myth, a woman leaves the man who is still in love with her. The great Apportioner (the Sun) takes pity on the man and helps him. He plants huckleberries in the path of the woman but she will not turn around. Next the Sun plants blackberries in front of the woman but she still does not turn around. Lastly, the Sun plants a brand new red berry, strawberries, in front of the woman and she is so intrigued by the new berry she stops and turns to look behind her. She sees her husband who has followed her this whole way and is reminded of her desire for him. She brings the strawberries to her husband and they live happily ever after. I made my story set in the present day and changed the berries to diamond rings. Jenny only says yes when she receives the most extravagant ring so unique she has never seen one like it before.

Bibliography: The Origin of Strawberries. Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney (1900)