Story Of The Month: March 2006:
March's Story Of The Month is Kim Paterson's comedy fan fiction, Ringo's Banana, the winner of Best Ringo Story in the 2005 BFFD Awards..
This story is a traditional Beatle romp, starting one sullen day when Ringo's lucky banana (and who doesn't have one of those?!) goes missing!
Ringo's Banana is written in a script or play style, making it easy to read and very enjoyable. Despite starring all four Beatles in its narrative, its was for its characterisation of Ringo that it was nominated, and became the clear winner with over two thirds of the final vote.
Well the story really began when my friend Linda and I were sitting around doing nothing. We had read
some similar comedy fan fictions in the past and thought we might try to imitate the idea. So we began plotting a story about Ringo and his Banana - giving each a character that accentuated a certain characteristic of their individual personalitites. So the story just took life and there you have it.The plot is derived from the characters, in that it follows what would happen in a world where certain aspects of the Beatles were amplified to an extreme. For instance, Paul is very vain, George is obsessed, John is concentrated on himself and Ringo is the sentimentalist. The story is told as if they were really like this; they follow what would come "naturally" in this world.
Ringo, in this story, probably does not reflect the actual Ringo Starr, considering that I have never met
him personally, and all I've ever heard of him comes from books. I wanted to create a charcter that was
loveable and funny all the same, so I took some artistic leave on this. I hope his character is enjoyable though! Ringo in this story is somewhat of a sentimentalist, which can probably be said about the real Ringo to some degree. I doubt, however, that Ringo is really this... unaware of everything! I chose Ringo mainly because I think he had a lot of character to begin with, and it would be easy enough to pick it apart and make a story of it. If Ringo did read this, I hope he would laugh, because that's what it's meant for!My influences are deffinately Shakespeare, Milay, and a rather unknown early 20th century poet named
Alan Seeger. As far as books go, I love Ted Dekker novels and a lot of sci-fi.This is one of many fan fictions I have written (comedy, as well as romance) and I do enjoy writing it. I have another story I've been working on, which is non-beatle related but non-fiction nonetheless. I'd be happy to share, if anyone would like to email me. I love writing, I write poetry, et cetera, which is mostly availible on my site [Random Thoughts]. If I could write full time as an author I would, but I plan on working in other fields so I can eat once an a while!
The scene opens with Paul sitting in a chair, leaning back on two legs, facing the wall. He is throwing a ball at the wall and catching it as it rebounds. John is sitting in his pit we call his bed reading his book, and George is staring at a small chip of paint on the wall. Ringo is nowhere to be found. Its raining hard outside.
GEORGE: How long do you think that's been there Paul?PAUL: what? What's been there?
GEORGE: that paint. How long do you think its been on that wall?
PAUL: Why don't you ask John he's an idiot.
JOHN: What?
PAUL: Oh nothing just checking to see if you were alive.
JOHN: Oh I'm quite well thank you.
GEORGE: nobody asks me if I'm ok!
PAUL: (still throwing the ball) Anyone seen Ringo?
JOHN: last time I saw him he was getting a short of kip on his beanbag chair. But I haven't seen him since then. Do you think he went to that class on how to drive tractors?
PAUL: No, not without telling us. He knows how much I hate it when he runs off without me. I mean all the mischief he could cause! And without me!
GEORGE: (still staring at the wall) Maybe it's only been there for a day..or maybe, just maybe, a half an hour.
Suddenly Ringo runs in, in a fit of tears. He looks side to side tearing up the room around him as though he was looking for something.
JOHN: Nope the big nose is back already. Couldn't say I missed him. It was a lot more fun then. Now he has to come in rippin' up everything in sight!
RINGO: (Crying in a panicking sort of way) My banana! Has anyone seen my banana?!?
Many thanks to Kim for her co-operation and permission to use her story.
