This is a chapter from the The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child, a collection of autobiographical short stories by Francisco Jiménez. Here. Jiménez describes his first year at school. Although slightly nervous because of his older brother’s stories about his first grade experience, he is excited to learn. However, his academic progress and relationships with classmates are held back by a complete lack of English. Frustrated, he compensates through daydreaming, artistic expression and interaction with the class caterpillar. Themes include family, poverty, language and communication, isolation and loneliness, persistence, understanding and forgiveness, art, personal growth (metamorphosis). More…
All posts by shortsonline
Old Love
In this story by Jeffrey Archer, a couple go from rivalry-inspired hatred at first sight to literally being unable to live without each other. From the time they meet as Oxford undergraduates in the 1930s, a fierce sense of competition between the gifted pair spurs them on to topping their class, attaining coveted professorships, and earning royal honours. After tragedy brings them together, the caustic relationship morphs into a life-long love affair during which legend has it they were never apart for more than a few hours. Themes include competiveness, lasting love, literature and the arts, dedication, achievement. More…
Cell One
Some websites describe Nnamabia, the young protagonist in this story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, using terms such as ‘a wayward, rebellious son’. This is treating him too kindly. At the beginning of the story, Nnamabia is an entitled, spoiled, manipulative brat… too weak-willed to resist imitating the petty thefts of his peers, yet so cowardly that the only person he is game enough to steal from is his mother. Although he did not deserve the punishment he received at the hands of the so-called Nigerian justice system, he learnt some important lessons and came out of it a man. More…
A Small, Good Thing
In this heart-wrenching story by Raymond Carver, parents mount a vigil by their unconscious son’s hospital bed after he was struck by a car on his eighth birthday. On the few occasions one of them goes home to freshen up and feed the family dog, they receive prank phone calls, often mentioning the boy’s name. The boy dies after three days, but the calls continue. The mother soon realizes the caller is a baker from whom she had ordered a birthday cake, and insists on immediately confronting the man. Themes include family, tragedy, helplessness and isolation, compassion, connection, loneliness, forgiveness. More…
Kitchen
The major themes of this novella by Mahoko (aka Banana) Yoshimoto are death, grieving, loneliness, friendship/love, and the transience and precious nature of life. The two major characters (Mikage and Yuichi) go through a similar process after being left alone in the world following the death of a loved-one. Fortunately, each finds the strength to rebuild their life thanks to the friendship and support of the other. A common thread in the story is “the kitchen”, the central focus of many Japanese homes symbolizing warmth, security and connection. Other themes: food and cooking, family, gender, mysticism. More…