Narrative Plan

Keishla Mota-Santos

CNSL 501

Narrative Plan

04/28/2016

Narrative Plan

        My grandmother would always tell me, “Stop beating yourself up! You are a work in progress, which means you get there a little at a time, not all at once.” Yesterday, I learned that the hard way and that she is correct.  

        “Mom, I am going to sleep now,” said Victoria. When I heard those words from my daughter, I knew right away that I was going to have a long night ahead of me. My night will consist of endless assignments and readings for school. I looked at Victoria, hid the frown inside of me and put a smile on my face. “Goodnight Victoria, sweet dreams.” Immediately, I turned to my best friend Chardonnay, which was hidden in the bottom desk drawer. I was hoping for an easy steady night.

        When I reached the counter, I looked at my choices. I could only see empty bottles of the Moscato, Chardonnay, and Malbec. I could hear the rumbling of my very disappointed stomach. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw one last cup of wine in the Vinos De Los Muertos bottle (which means Wine of the Dead) crafted as a celebration of life and a reminder of our mortality. I got so elated.  

With excitement, I took a glass out of the cabinet and poured the wine so quickly the bottle slid out of my hands. I tried to save it, but the bottle shattered into millions of pieces and the wine spilled all over the floor.  

I could feel my face turning redder and redder. All I could think about was how I would get through the night without having my glass of wine. As I looked on the floor, I heard the repetition of my grandmother’s voice. I then saw was it appeared to look like a little piece of paper folded and taped on the back of the bottle. I reached forward and grabbed the piece of paper.

 It was a letter from my grandma. I read the letter out loud and tears began to fall down my cheeks, “Dear Penelope, the first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are. I want you to believe more deeply. Hold your face up to the light, even though for the moment you do not see. Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. Sometimes the smallest step in the right decision ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tip toe if you must, but take the step. You can choose to let it define you, confine you, refine you, outshine you, or you can choose to move on and leave it behind you. Don’t lose hope. Today is a perfect day for a new beginning.”