Featured Stories

Supper

Supper: Short story by Lesléa NewmanThe major themes of this story by Lesléa Newman are sexuality and alienation. Protagonist Jocelyn’s annoying grandmother spoils supper by complaining about her vegetarian diet and trying to force her to eat some meat. Later, the grandmother makes a cruel comment about her being too skinny to attract boys. Jocelyn blushes because she thinks there might be something wrong with her. She “doesn’t like” boys, but found a kissing and petting ‘practice session’ with her best friend (who demonstrated what her experienced boyfriend does) sexually stimulating. Sadly, the poor girl doesn’t appear to have anyone to talk to about it.

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Small Change

Small Change: Short story by Yehudit HendelThis impressionistic novella by Yehudit Hendel describes the psychological trauma experienced by an Israeli woman while imprisoned for a minor crime in post-World War 2 Switzerland. After growing up in an oppressive atmosphere dominated by a cold, autocratic father, her nightmarish ordeal is an allusion to Germany’s inhuman treatment of detainees during the holocaust. Although severely impacted by the experience, she is empowered to rebel against her cruel, obsessive father, who has cared more about his stamp and small change collections than his family. Themes: parent-child relationships, obsession, anti-Semitism, injustice, cruelty and sexual violence, self-empowerment.

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Farewell to a Ghost

Farewell to a Ghost: Short story by Manoj DasAlthough one of the main characters is a ghost, this story by Manoj Das is not a horror story. An unfortunate ghost in a deserted villa has become an integral part of life in an Indian village. The government plans to demolish the villa to pay its taxes, and the villagers must try to relocate the ghost so that it doesn’t try to resettle in someone’s house. Themes include coming of age, the important role of superstition in traditional village culture, and the impact of modern ideas in changing traditional values and beliefs.

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The English Pupil

The English Pupil: Short story by Andrea BarrettIn addition to being a celebration of the life and work of renowned biologist Carl Linnaeus, major themes of this touching story by Andrea Barrett are aging, memory and approaching death. The dying scientist has his coachman take him to his empty country estate where, amid a fog of fading memories, he reminisces about his life and the fate of some of the “apostles” he sent around the world to collect biological specimens. Later, he is joined by a concerned daughter and an unknown man he imagines to be his only surviving pupil. Other themes include family, pride and regret.

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Grandad’s Gifts

Grandad's Gifts: Short story by Paul JenningsThis story from Paul Jennings disproves the English proverb Curiosity killed the cat. When protagonist Shane’s family move into his deceased grandfather’s house, his father points to a cupboard in his bedroom and says: We can’t open that. I promised my father. Grandad locked it up many years ago and it’s never been opened. I lived in this bedroom for nineteen years and kept my promise. As might be expected, Shane develops a burning desire to discover the cupboard’s secret. Rather than killing a cat, his curiosity gives a different animal a new life. Themes: curiosity, disobedience, kindness, the supernatural.

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A Nurse’s Story

A Nurse's Story: Short story by Peter BaidaInterwoven in this tale by Peter Baida are the story of the life and death of a nurse of forty years, her town, the nursing profession, worker’s rights, and 1960s activism. As the woman looks back at her life, she tries to encourage a new nurse in the geriatric facility in which she is staying to stand up for her right to fair wages. In doing this, she recounts her experience in helping to unionize the hospital in which she had worked. Themes include love, family, dying with dignity, worker’s rights, activism, memories.

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On the Bridge

On the Bridge: Short story by Todd StrasserIn this coming of age story by Todd Strasser, a young teen learns the importance of being himself. As the boy (Seth) and the “cool” friend he looks up to (Adam) stand smoking on a highway bridge, Adam brags about his toughness and experience with older girls. When Adam throws his cigarette onto the windshield of a passing car, the three occupants confront the boys. Adam points to Seth as the culprit, and stands by as Seth is brutally beaten. Seth finally sees Adam for what he is: a boastful fake. Themes include friendship, social acceptance, bravado, betrayal, violence, enlightenment.

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The Garden Party

The Garden Party: Short story by Katherine MansfieldBecause of the complex issues raised, this is one of Katherine Mansfield’s most highly acclaimed stories. A wealthy family enjoy an ostentatious garden party in the spacious grounds of their mansion, fully aware that the father of a poverty-stricken family living within hearing distance died in an accident earlier the same day. Only one family member (a teen-aged girl) is sensitive to the poor family’s plight. She visits the house to offer condolences, and experiences an epiphany when unexpectedly ushered in to view the body. Themes include social class (class-consciousness, pretention, insensitivity towards others), poverty, innocence, humanity, coming of age.

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