True Stories I Love to Tell Out Loud

People Love to Hear It

Storytelling isn't always on the page. It's in the way our voices fluctuate and how our faces express our exact emotions when connecting to a story. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love telling stories in person. Seeing other's wish they had experienced what I had experienced gives me pride in my storytelling abilities. So today, I figured I would write two stories I love to tell people. They might not come across the same on paper, but I'm okay with that!

Wolfgang the Wolf

Wolfgang was the name of the alpha found in a pack of three. During my time at my three month internship, it was warned time and time again how no one was allowed to go in with him besides a select few of staff members. Why? Well because he almost ripped out a guys throat and had been showing signs of aggression previously.

This isn't unheard of when it comes to socializing wolves. It's often seen every few years wolves become aggressive towards the very people they've been raised by. It's why many packs split in the wild as dominance becomes more important. It can last for a few years, and reside gradually overtime to rear it's head again once the wolf reaches an old age.

Wolfgang was about to turn 11 and he had been blacklisted for several years at the point of my internship. For some reason the up and down trend seen in most wolves just wasn't happening for him. So he found himself only seeing the 1-2 staff members in person while seeing everyone else from afar while his pack mates, Wotan and Dharma socialized.

Our second day on the job, all new interns were forced to watch a behavioral tutorial on how to react if things went south. Swiping wolves away with an arm if they jumped at your face, not looking them in the eyes, or not entering an enclosure if you feel or even think about fear because guess what... they can sense it.

These were all things I luckily never had to use in practice during my first few months there, but just when I was getting comfortable in my new home I was reminded it was only temporary. My last day had come and it was time to pick who I wanted to spend my last hours with.

I'd spent most of my time with another pack as well as some lone wolves who were kicked out of the pack long before, so it only felt right to pick Wotan and Dharma. Wotan was Wolfgang's twin brother, and unlike him stuck to himself or would shyly come and say hi every once in a blue moon.

While I walked with another intern Sarah, her last visit being with Dharma, and the park manager Dana, Dana turned and asked, "Do you want to try and meet Wolfgang?"

"Uh, yeah," it wasn't even a question of saying no.

Without further thought we made our way to their encloser and there it dawned on me what was about to happen. I was going to meet Wolfgang, the only wolf to show true aggression and who hadn't been around others in years. Surprisingly, fear did not enter my body. I'd been conditioned over the months to forget it even existed. But flashes of the old school video played in my mind over and over again of how to react in case anything went down. Dana paused, the same thoughts running through her head, "Remember, no fear or he might attack."

We both nodded our heads, the wolves on the other side jumping for joy seeing their visitors. I'm not sure how it happened but I was let in first my eyes zeroed in on Wolfgang. I should have known better than to keep my eyes only on him and instead focused on all three of them when Dharma, the most loving wolf of them all and one who liked to greet at the face, jumped up to me. Instinctively I swiped my arm connecting with her midair. Her body flew landing with a big thump feet from me, her face distraught over what just happened. I couldn't stop to say I was sorry though because Wolfgang was heading my way.

The look on his face said it all.

Happy.

Happy to see someone new. Instantly he rubbed all over me and when I kneeled down he began grooming my hair with his teeth clattering together in little nips. Strands of my hair kept getting in his mouth but he didn't care, instead he kept grooming and then muzzling me. If anyone is wondering what that is, it's a form of affection which entails his mouth over my face. That's right the wolf who had almost ripped out a man's throat years ago had my face in his mouth but the mood was light and airy. Wotan who was normally shy, wouldn't leave me alone happy to see his brother getting some attention. Even Dharam joined in who seemed to forgotten about the little swiping mishap.

For about an hour this continued until we decided to leave before things could possibly go array. Sarah and I shot back to the house where the other 8 interns were cooking dinner for the night.

"We just meet Wolfgang!" I called out.

"What!?" They exclaimed, food hanging from their mouths.

"Yeah and my face was in his mouth," I went on to explain how Dana suggested us going in.

No one could believe it including myself. It was the perfect way to end my time their and the perfect way for Wolfgang to start seeing more staff and team members again.

Serial Killers

When I was in college, one of my roommates and I loved to spend time reading when we had the chance. Her room was filled with bookshelves while mine lacked due to the small size.

One night she is telling me about one of her favorite books called Kiss the Girls, in which you follow two serial killers around. Well, I love a good serial killer story so figured I would give it a chance. What better way to read it then waiting until 1 am when the house is quiet and any little bump in the night can make you fear for your life?

There I was about 2/3rds of the way through when I heard walking in the stairwell which connected the downstairs studios to our part of the house. We had all lived there for about 4 years, so I knew each person's walk like the back of my hand. I closed the book immediately straining my ear to confirm what I had heard. A few more steps and I was out of my bed.

Now the top floor of the house contained an open kitchen/dining room/living room set up with one hallway leading to the three bedrooms and one bath. It worked for us, but the builders forgot one major detail. Overhead lighting in the living room. Terrified out of my mind, I opened my door, the light from my room pouring into the hallway. My silhouette showing my exact location to anyone peering in from the living room.

I quickly shut the door closing myself in the darkness moving softly on my feet towards the very location an intruder could potentially be hiding. I got myself between the living room and dining room sure whoever was in the house wouldn't be able to find me. I stood, listening for another step to tell me I wasn't imagining this. But after a few minutes, I took a few more steps into the dining room peering out the front window. My thoughts telling me someone could be on the other side peering in and I would have no idea because of how dark it was.

Now I probably wouldn't have gotten out of bed, if it wasn't for the unlocked back door which contained the stairwell on the other side. It was always unlocked, the only people using the door were the 5 people living in the house, while others couldn't see it due to trees blocking the view.

I stood by the door ear pressed hard to see if I could hear even the slightest bit of breathing to indicate someone was there. Minutes passed again and I heard nothing. Taking the lock in my hand I turned it. Though never used, it slid perfectly without making a single click. I sighed a breath of relief, laughing to myself I had made this all up and the book had made me scared. It was a serial killer book after all. I turned making my way back to my room to finish the book.

With class early the next day, I got ready heading out the back door leading to the stairwell which lead outside. With backpack on shoulders I was halted in my tracks running into several police canvasing the place.

"Um, can I help you?"

"Sorry for the intrusion, last night someone we were after got away on foot. With the light snow on the ground we followed his tracks which lead up to this door where he decided to stay for some time before leaving. Don't worry he has left your property and is in custody, we are just getting details to fill out the report."

I, to stunned to ask further questions, nodded my head and set off to class thankful I had locked the door when I had.

Final Thoughts

Well what did you think of the stories? In my opinion I think they are better told in person as I get pretty animated, but it was still fun writing them out. What are some stories you like to tell? Let me know if the comments below.