The first story I heard began with a soft piano playing in the background, similar to what you would hear in a somber movie scene or at a place that is dull and reflective- like a funeral service or a calm, small wedding. As the speaker introduces the summary of the horrific event, she speaks softly and with a gentle tone. The story then is narrated by the victim’s mother and grandmother and captures the audiences’ attention because of how personal the telling of the story will be. The mother and grandmother are extremely anecdotal in the story, highlighting specific details that occurred that day. The grandmother uses pathos to capture the sadness of this story, often relying on her pauses and memories. Also included at the end is soft music, which reminds me of a sad and dark movie scene. This story reminds me of a true-crime documentary, as the narrators use emotions and amazing stories to explain their story, their son and grandson’s story, and a story can change lives.
The second story I listened to was from the same school shooting, however a different family. The piano is still soft-like, and the narrator introducing the story is also gentle in her approach as the parents of the victim come into the audio and share their memories and their story of the horrific event. The mother begins by sharing an anecdote and memory of what was happening prior to the shooting. She shares how her daughter was not supposed to be in school that day and the many plans they had for her instead. This storytelling pulls at the heartstrings because it leaves the audience with wondering, “what if?” The parents speak in a very gentle and soft voice and share their favorite memories of their daughter and describe the event in such great detail. There is a great amount of emotion that is tied into this story, which shows how deeply sad this story is. It concludes with an inspirational piano sound at the end.