The Alligator Story

The Alligator River Story

There lived a woman named Abigail who was in love with a man named
Gregory.  Gregory lived on the shore of a river.  Abigail lived on the
opposite shore of the same river.  The river that separated the two lovers
was teeming with dangerous alligators.  Abigail wanted to cross the river
to be with Gregory.  Unfortunately, the bridge had been washed out by a
heavy flood the previous week.  So she went to ask Sinbad, a riverboat
captain, to take her across.  He said he would be glad to if she would
consent to go to bed with him prior to the voyage.  She promptly refused
and went to a friend named Ivan to explain her plight.  Ivan did not want
to get involved at all in the situation.  Abigail felt her only
alternative was to accept Sinbad's terms.  Sinbad fulfilled his promise to
Abigail and delivered her into the arms of Gregory.  

When Abigail told Gregory about her amorous escapade in order to cross the
river, Gregory cast her aside with disdain.  Heartsick and rejected,
Abigail turned to Slug with her tale of woe.  Slug, feeling compassion for
Abigail, sought out Gregory and beat him brutally.  Abigail was overjoyed
at the sight of Gregory getting his due.  As the sun set on the horizon,
people heard Abigail laughing at Gregory.

=====================================================================

THE EXERCISE:  After reading the story, rank the five (5) characters in
the story beginning with the one whom you consider as the "most offensive"
and end with the one whom you consider the "least objectionable."  That
is, the character who seems to be the most reprehensible to you should be
entered first in the list following the story, then the second most
reprehensible, and so on, with the least reprehensible or objectionable
being entered fifth.  Very briefly note why you rank them in the order
that you do.


THE CHARACTERS:   Abigail,   Gregory,   Ivan,   Sinbad,   Slug


1. ______________________ (most offensive/reprehensible)

2. ______________________

3. ______________________

4. ______________________

5. ______________________ (least offensive/reprehensible)


ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/NOTES:

Return to Jim Thomas's homepage