Yesterday morning during a read-aloud that mentioned “Backwards Day,” I watched students getting into the concept. One boy twisted his sweatshirt around so that he could pull the hood over his face. He took off his sneakers and tried, unsuccessfully, to put them on his feet backwards (note: these are second graders). Others said “What a terrible story!” meaning, of course, “What a great story!” And the guest reader, Gabby, said her name was “E-Bag,” to howls of kid-laughter.
It took me back to my own childhood, when a friend and I decided to call each other by our backwards-names: I was Narf. She was Irret.
Hysterically funny! So utterly original!
Until I mentioned it to my father, who burst my bubble: “I did that when I was a kid, too.”
“Oh,” I mumbled. So much for inventing one’s own new fun thing.
“Yeah,” Daddy went on, matter-of-factly, “I was Nodrog.”
NODROG?!
I collapsed in the floor, convulsing with laughter.
It sounded almost like a sci-fi/fantasy name. What would a character named Nodrog be like? Would he be an inept superhero who was basically good-hearted but forever blundering (à la Inspector Clouseau)? Or a giant, rugged, comic book character, a cinderblock kind of robot whose foosteps shook the Earth?
In either case, nothing like Daddy, with his silvery crewcut, work uniform, and photo gray eyeglasses. Who knew he’d actually been a real kid?
After the second-graders and “E-Bag” stirred the old memories, I found myself wondering:
What would a character named Narf be like?
Associations like Nerf and Nerd crowd my mind… but perhaps these are useful.
Maybe Narf would be athletic. Very fast and agile (I was a fast runner as a kid, whenever asthma didn’t do me in, but never really athletic, emphasis on never). I should like to think a facet of myself could be so skilled at sports, in something greater than Tetherball (if you know what this is, you are, like me, from a bygone era).
Or maybe Narf is from another world (my favorite kind of story!). This spawns all sorts of questions: How would Narf get to our world? And why? What would Narf’s world be like? Should we go there instead? Is it in danger of being destroyed? Is Narf on some kind of mission? Can Narf operate advanced technological devices and spacecraft, or even build them? … the possibilities here are endless…
Somehow I cannot think of Narf as an elegant being, except for maybe graceful while playing sports, but more likely a scrappy player. I can, however, envision Narf as something else entirely, a comical character wearing a big fascinator with giant, garish fruits fashioned from sponge (toldja those first associations might be useful).
And then I wonder…would Narf be my alter ego? My evil twin? (I accused my own children of having one).
—OH OH OH OH—
As the wan light began to fade, they stood side by side on a dune looking out over the desolation. Nothing but rippled sand to the smoky white horizon. No other living thing in sight. This was once the shoreline of the Great Sea, long since dried up.
Nodrog broke the deafening silence: This is where we must go our separate ways.
Narf nodded. After a moment, she spoke: Will we ever meet again?
She knew the answer.
Not in this world, Child. It is the last day. The end of Drawkcab. You must remember what you have been taught.
His spear fell into the sand. He was already fading like the light, becoming the mist, same as all the others. Her hands shot out, grasping at nothing. She could not hold him.
Nodrog was no more.
She bent, picked up his spear, and leaned on it, weeping.
We will meet again, she said aloud, sure that he could still hear — is it not the last sense to go?
We will meet again, she repeated, louder, if not in Drawkcab, then Drawrof. Yes. Drawrof.
And she set out over the dry Great Sea-bed, shells crunching under her feet.
—What shall I do with them now, Nodrog and Narf? Should these newly-materialized characters live out their whole story, somehow?
Ot maybe I’ll save the names for a different manifestation, in case Nodrog and Narf should come to me in the form of, say, two pet dachshunds.
Somewhere, Daddy is shaking his head about all this.
In amusement.
I’m sure of it.
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” sylvar. CC BY 2.0.
*******
Composed for Day 2 of the annual Slice of Life Story Challenge with Two Writing Teachers.
Q: Where might your name in reverse take you?
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Oh, what a fun backwards story! I’d love for this to become a story. Your fantasy writing has great potential! I love the adventures you and your backward Dad would have.
All the best,
Esined
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Esined! -It’s wonderful!! I had to go in and fix a couple of errors but playing with this idea was too fun. Wasn’t sure where it would take me – writing is such an adventure. I so appreciate your warm and always-uplifting responses.
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I’m with Denise. Keep living with these two characters and see where it takes you. You had me and I will admit, fantasy writing isn’t a go-to genre for me. Something about the magic of seeing words become new fantastical proper nouns when written backwards hooked me, like Drawkcab – so clever! And feel free to add a character named Yllas to your story!!
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YLLAS-! Love it! I see Yllas as some kind of sage, a guide for others in this as yet undefined world. You have somehow made me recall a book I read looonnng ago, entitled “The Piebald Princess” featuring a Siamese cat named Riah Renekrad. She turned out to be a plain ol’ cat using…if you look at her name backwards… hair darkener. I adored this book as a kid. I so appreciate your words and I promise: If I write any more of this story, Yllas will be there. 🙂
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I think I have to do this with my students! Backwards names? Fantasy fiction? A wonderful combination to explore. Recently I was at a dinner party. I met Janet and later came back around to talk with her. (I’d had a few sips of wine.) She said, “I’ve forgotten your name.” I said, “It’s Teragram. backwards.” She was smart enough to figure it out. Then we had a topic to talk and laugh about. I felt very clever which just about never happens to the introverted me.
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If you try this with students, Margaret, you must let us know! Oh Lord, what a hilarious exchange between you and Janet! I’m cracking up! I can just see demure you (still graceful even after those sips) making that comment to the gregarious Janet. Gotta love her. And Teragram is a FABULOUS name. This is a wise-woman name, for someone who lives rather like a reclusive prophetess in the far reaches of this other world, a person sought out by people who need her help… it is perfect. And: you are infinitely clever to me 🙂
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Fran – Narf, Annarf, these are sweet moments of fun, and I can picture you collapsed on the floor at Nodrog’s comment. Students love these ideas, and those shoes had me cracking up. So many ideas for classrooms, rich for the borrowing. I see Mik…..climbing trees, backwards ball cap, stringy hair, jeans with knee holes, chewing on a dandelion reed…..and it’s not far off from yesteryear.
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I confess that I far prefer Annarf to Narf, or even Cesnarf… now, we’re getting somewhere! and Mik! This is a character that Narf would wish to be, because Mik is unafraid. She would be the scout sent ahead to bring back reports; she would know many ways of getting out of situations, the best sort of travel-partner through a troubled world. She’s fiercely loyal. What do you think???
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This was a fun slice to read–and would be a fun prompt for students. Create a backwards name story. Tucking this away for another day! –Atsirk.
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So glad you found the Slice fun to read, Krista! If you try a backwards story with the students, I’d love to know. Atsirk…what a glorious name for a character in a fantasy story! It seems to carry a sense of authority and power… oh my, the characters appearing in this other world are so compelling!
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Fran!!! Only you can make me laugh and cry by Day 2 of the challenge. The story within the story is beautifully crafted. This post is giving me so many ideas. Thank you for sharing!
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Aww, Cindy – thank you for this response to the Slice. I am excited to know it sparks ideas – you are so amazingly imaginative when you write that I cannot even think where this could lead! If you get the ideas down I would so love to read them. So good to “see” you again!
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Fran/Narf,
I loved this Slice. When I see the word Narf it reminds me of the show Pinky & the Brain. Pinky had one catch phrase and you guessed it. It was Narf! I already know and despise my backward name. I’m cursed with a palindrome name.
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Anna Maria, I had forgotten all about Pinky and the Brain! My oldest loved the show. Now, as for this curse of the palindrome name: I know you mean Anna, but I have to say Airam Anna sounds beautifully exotic to me. Musical, even…her character might be the songstress of this other world. She sings, and things are transformed…my imagination iso overdrive today but I am loving it; I so appreciate you and your words!
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Your read aloud spurred ideas as well as memories so powerful that you began what could certainly become a series of stories! Wonderful memories and a magical story.
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Thank you, Anita – I so appreciate your response.
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I love your two new characters. A great start to a story. I do hope it continues. I have no idea how I would pronounce my name backwards. ennaoj – but I love the idea of playing with this. Wish I was in a classroom now to set this up as a writing event. Great fun!
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Joanne, I so appreciate your words here, and your backwards name fascinates me. Ennaoj…well, it can be pronounced however you like! As for setting up something like this with students: I believe it would be extraordinary fun. Kids have the richest imaginations, when they’re allowed to use them… that said: I never imagined the fun I’d have with this today. All I can say is, this is the great magic of writing alongside others. 🙂
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This was fun, for sure! And it reminded me of my son (now 18) when he spent almost a full year talking backwards. To the point where we had a “rule” about talking conventionally with others!!
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Amy, I saw a news segment once about people who can happily converse with backwards words, like your son. This blows my mind as much as people who see colors for solving math problems (synesthesia). The brain is endlessly fascinating… and alarming. I so get the need to have that rule; I had to keep my youngest from turning on all the lights and ceiling fans when we visited other people. One can only take so much…
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Great post, Fran! Our 1st graders were talking about Backwards Day this week and making each other laugh when they said their names backwards. I love all your wild imaginings.
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I can see and hear those kids laughing, Joanne – such great fun! Who can keep from loving the glee of Backwards Day??
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What fun! I like how you go from a present moment in school to a memory to a story. I definitely think Narf is an alien, by the way. When I was little, my sister and I got books with our names in them backwards. Adnama was a giraffe and I’m pretty sure Ylrebmik was a bird who had somehow arrived at the military base where we lived. (Of course, the authors didn’t know it was a military base; they just put in our street address.) I wonder what Adnama is up to these days? Thanks for taking me down memory lane.
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Narf as an alien…I could work with that, maybe something akin to the humanoids of Avatar. I absolutely love this snippet of your childhood, these manifestations of Adnama and Ylrebmik, a giraffe and bird who didn’t know they were living on a military base! So enchanting! The stirring of memories is one of the things I love best about this Challenge. Thank you for this gem, Amanda.
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Fun! I remember doing this in high school. I was/am Eilatan. Seems very futuristic. A good friend of mine, with his last name was Kcin Draw, which was so cool because he was an artist!
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Eliatan is fantastic-! A perfect name for a character in another (futuristic) world. I wonder what sort of role Eliatan would play there-? Something scientific, I think. An inventor. I absolutely love this part about your artist-friend’s backward name being Draw – too good! Thank you so much for this fun response.
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Your post is delightful and heartwarming, thank you for the smiles. Love, Anitsirk
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Anitsirk! What a great character name! Sounds downright magical. Thank you for your thoughts ❤
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Fran, I love the way your backward story takes you to your childhood, with all the sweet memories of your dad bubbling up like it was just yesterday that you played this game as a child. I will try, I don’t know where will it take me.
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Thank you Nadia – I’m delighted you enjoyed, and would love to hear of your “backward” adventure!
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Oh yes, I had totally forgotten that we used to do this in England too, so I guess it’s worldwide in the English language at least (wonder if they try it in France or Italy?!) When your name ends in a vowel and starts with a consonant, pronunciation is relatively easy, so I was Ailec Nosniggih (my surname back then, which I hated, so happily turned it around) It actually flowed quite well.
It would be a problem with some of the Khasi names my students have…. Ibapynsngewbha, Ibawanriehtngen and Ilarihunshisha are hard enough to say forwards, let alone backwards!!
Thanks for a fun post!
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Great observation, Celia, regarding longer, non-English names. Makes me wonder what sort of name games they play, kids being kids the world over. Your backwards name is enchanting! I see Ailec Nosnigghih hiking up mountainsides with a thick wooden staff and earth-tone robes!
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