I Was Robbed

Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter — What if? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers prompts —

The Exercise —

Here is the situation: You have just come out of the movie theater around seven in the evening, and you are mugged — a person asks for your money, then knocks you to the ground before running away. Or make up your own situation.

Next, pretend you are telling the account of this event to five different people:

Your mother, your best friend, your girlfriend or boyfriend (or wife or husband), a therapist, a police officer,

The Objective —

To become conscious of how we shape and shade the stories that we tell to each other according to the listener. Your characters also tell stories to each other and make selections about content according to who they are telling the story to, the effect they want the story to have, and the response they want to elicit from the listener. A lot of dialogue in fiction, in real life, is storytelling — and there is always the story listener who is as important in the tale as the tale itself.

Claire’s Story: Upon leaving the theatre after an afternoon matinee, I was assaulted. The man pushed me, and I fell. He ran off with my wallet. I was frightened and not hurt badly but realized it could have been so much worse.

Talking to Mom: “Mom, I’m okay. Don’t worry. I was roughed up but didn’t need to go to the hospital. I may be sore tomorrow, but I’ll be fine. For now, though, I’m going to get some rest.”

Talking to my best friend: “Betty, I know you are concerned about what happened to me. I also know that you warned me not to go to that movie by myself. I didn’t think it would be dark, yet when the movie was over, it was longer than two hours.”

Talking to my husband: “Honey, I am okay, but I could use some support here. I am getting around okay, but a bit weak. I will go to the doctor if I am not better after getting some rest.”

Talking to my therapist: “I was assaulted last Wednesday and have had some ongoing nightmares. The police couldn't find the guy. I really didn’t get the best look at him, as it happened so fast and he ran away. I was so scared to move that I just lay there for the longest time. Now it is happening in my dreams.”

Talking to a police officer: “I had just left the theatre and was walking to my car. My car is still there. I was pushed and fell. I felt someone reaching into my purse, and he took my wallet. Just that quick, he was gone. I got a very quick glimpse of him and can’t describe much. He had shorts on, gloves, a goatee with a mustache, light brown hair, and a sweatshirt. That’s it.”

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First published by Mercury Press on medium.com