Storytelling: The Secret to Power

Compared to the average Jane, Gayle had everything a modern day woman could want. A successful career as a radio host and an editor for a popular magazine. So,why was she so depressed? That is exactly what Gayle was going to find out. She put on her best dress, her favorite pair of shoes and grabbed her purse. She was on her way to see Dr. Phil. If anyone could help her, it was him.

When Gayle arrived, Dr. Phil was in the middle of taping his show. Today’s episode was “Women Who Secretly Hate Their Best Friends.” Gayle found the show intriguing but couldn’t understand how anyone could hate their best friend. She absolutely loved her’s. They did everything together, well almost everything. There was that one time that her invitation to her bff’s book club got lost in the mail, but that was just an accident. At least that’s what her best friend told her. Anyway, after Dr. Phil had finished taping his show, they went to his office.
When they got there, Gayle started having second thoughts. Maybe it was just the big lunch she had. Maybe she should just go to a yoga class or maybe a spinning class. If she stayed, she would be just waisting Dr. Phil’s time. Plus, his bald head and mustache were kind of creepy. “Hello Gayle! What do I owe the pleasure?” questioned the good doctor. Gayle, lost in self-dialogue, just set there thinking. Suddenly, she was interrupted, “Gayle! Is everything OK?” inquired Dr. Phil. Gayle snapped out of her trance and replied, “Oh! um... I...uh...just wanted to tell you that I enjoyed the show. “Thanks Gayle, but I wasn’t born yesterday. I know something is wrong. I can’t help you until you admit you need help,” replied Dr. Phil. Gayle quickly snapped back, “I’m fine. I’m happier than ever. I get to play second fiddle to the most admired woman in the world. People would die to be me.” Image Information: Dr. Phil McGraw
Web Source: CBS News


“How’s that working for ya?” quipped Dr. Phil.


Annoyed by where this was going, Gayle stormed out. How dare he treat her like one of his idiot patients. However, she soon realized that she wasn’t really angry at Dr. Phil. She was just in denial of the real cause of her problems. “Oprah,” she muttered under her breath. All of this was her fault. Why did she have to be so famous? Why was she so powerful? “That’s it,” thought Gayle. She had to find out where that power came from. Oprah’s power was just too unnatural. She must have had help. God, aliens, or the devil? Any one of them could have granted her the power. Gayle was determined to get to the bottom of this mystery.



Image Information: Gayle King
Web Source: Entertainment Tonight


The next day, Gayle came up with a plan. She threw on her black trench coat, a hat, and sunglasses and drove across town to a spooky old house. In the house, lived a drug dealer. He sold black market drugs. “What can I do ya for?” the toothless man uttered. Gayle pointed at a vial on the top shelf of the cabinet. “Are you sure? That one is um....uh...Oh well business is business. Here you go.” smirked the dealer. Gayle cautiously handed over the money and grabbed the vial. It was perfect, exactly was she needed for her plan.
A few hours later, she went to visit Oprah. Oprah gladly welcomed her in and the two friends chatted. Gayle began by telling Oprah about her visit to Dr. Phil’s. “Can you believe that there are women out there that are jealous of their best friend? ” said Gayle. “Why Yes, that is hard to believe, but then again, there aren’t too many friendships like ours,” replied Oprah. After the conversation started to die down, Oprah sent Gayle to the kitchen for some tea. In the kitchen, Gayle asked Martha for a fresh pot. Martha told her she would bring it right out. “No, I will take it. Oprah and I are in the middle of business and we don’t want to be disturbed.” Gayle took the tea and proceeded down the hallway. She quickly slipped into the hall closet. Placing the tea on the ground, she reached into her pocket for the vial. She then poured it into Oprah’s cup. Picking up the tray, she exited the closet and brought it to Oprah. Oprah was too busy to notice that Gayle had brought the tea. All she knew was that it was there. She took a few sips and in a few minutes she began to feel lightheaded. She didn’t know what was wrong but she was in great pain and could hardly breathe. Gayle pretended to call 911 and rushed to Oprah’s aid. Oprah pleaded with Gayle to do something to relieve her pain. Gayle finally confessed to Oprah that she had poisoned her. “Why Gayle? Why would you do this? We have been friends forever. We are like sisters,” gasped Oprah. Gayle then took out another vial, “Relax! I’m not stupid. I brought the antidote. Reveal the source of your power and I will give it to you.” Oprah then begged Gayle to stop and think about what she was doing. Gayle just scoffed and demanded Oprah’s secret. Finally, Oprah gave in and divulged the secret of her power. “It was given to me by the Egyptian God, Ra. He whispered to me his secret name and endowed me with his power. My name is not really Oprah, It is Isis. I have reincarnated myself and rule today as the queen of television.” It was then that Oprah unveiled her true self. Gayle stood in awe and hastily administered the antidote. From that day on, Gayle King kept her mouth shut and settled into her role as Oprah’s second fiddle.

Image Information: Oprah Sarcophagus
Web Source: Leo Kesting Gallery


Link to Original Story: The Story of Ra

Author's Note: I changed the characters and set the story in modern day. The story still has the overall theme of betrayal and deception.