Featured Stories

Aquifer

Aquifer: Short story by Tim WintonAquifer is from Tim Winton’s collection The Turning. Set in an Australian immigrant suburb, the overlapping stories explore life-shaping events in otherwise ordinary lives. Here, a drop in the aquifer brought about by land clearing and prolonged dry weather drains a nearby swamp. A news story about the discovery of human bones at the water’s edge prompts a middle-aged ex-resident to re-live his childhood and the time when, as the only witness, he calmly stood by and watched a neighborhood bully drown. Themes: change, racial stereotyping, perceptions of time. Change is explored on three levels: personal, community and the environment.

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The Mispaired Anklet

The Mispaired Anklet: Short story by R. K. NarayanThis story by R. K. Narayan, is based on the Tamil legend of Kannagi, a devoted wife who stands by her husband despite his love affair with a dancer. When he finally repents after squandering their fortune on entertainment and gifts for the other woman, they move to another city. They live happily there until Kannagi’s husband is framed for theft and summarily executed while trying to sell one of her gold anklets. Kannagi’s wrath is so great that she calls on the gods and has the city destroyed. Later, she learns that her fate was the result of karma.

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Agkon, the Greedy Son

Agkon, the Greedy Son: Philippine Folktale from Richard M. DorsonIn this Philippine (Kalingga) folktale, a mother revives a rotting corpse to punish her only son for not sharing a meal. Not only is the punishment rather extreme, but when the poor lad is no more she regrets the decision… not because she loved the boy, but because she is lonely and has nobody else to help around the house. So, off to the river with some of his blood, a few magic words, and presto! He is back, having learned an important lesson about sharing. Unfortunately, there is no punishment for the mother’s cruelty and heartlessness!

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The Emperor’s New Clothes

The Emperor's New Clothes: children's story by from Hans Christian AndersenThe main theme of this famous children’s story from Hans Christian Andersen is, of course, vanity. Other themes include deceit, gullibility, honesty (fear of speaking up) and pride. The Emperor who puts appearance before the well-being of his people, and his courtiers who sense that something is amiss but don’t have the courage to report it, carry two important messages. We shouldn’t judge people by the clothes they wear, what brand of phone they carry etc., and children should be encouraged to speak up if safe to do so when they see something that is wrong.

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A Tiger in the House

A Tiger in the House: Short story by Ruskin BondIn this story by Ruskin Bond, an old man finds what appears to be an orphan tiger cub in the jungle and takes it home as a family pet. After six months, the cub grows out of its ‘playful’ stage and starts to become less friendly. The old man donates the tiger to a zoo, and gets an unexpected surprise when he visits it six months later. The story raises serious questions about the man’s two decisions (to take the tiger cub home, and to give the grown animal to a zoo where there are no others of its kind).

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Little Claus and Great Claus

Little Claus and Great Claus: Short story by H. C. AndersenThis children’s story by Hans Christian Andersen caused a stir among critics when first released because of the violence involved. A poor farmer who develops a talent for swindling people invents stories to explain the source of his newfound wealth to an envious neighbor.. When the greedy neighbor tries to make money the same way, he suffers greatly. In a fit of anger, the neighbor tries to kill the farmer. However this, too, results in an unexpected windfall for the unscrupulous fraudster. Themes include cleverness, fraud, greed, envy, death, turning the tables.

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Girl

Girl: Short story by Jamaica KincaidIn this story by Jamaica Kincaid, a mother provides what she believes to be essential ‘life advice’ to her maturing daughter. This ranges from tips for young girls (how to cook, sew, sweep, etc.) to things older girls should know (how to love a man, bring on a miscarriage, etc.). The advice consists of a single sentence of 649 words. The daughter gives only two responses, the first of which the mother ignores. The major theme is motherhood: the mother’s concern that her daughter will become a “slut”. Other themes: coming of age, gender stereotypes, generation gap, appearances.

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Pret in the House / Ghost Trouble

Pret in the House / Ghost Trouble: Short story by Ruskin BondThis light-hearted children’s tale from master storyteller Ruskin Bond reflects a once common Indian belief that ghosts and other spirits (pret) inhabit certain types of tree. If something happens to such a tree, these are set free and must find a new home. There are many kinds of pret. Fortunately, the one that moves into a family’s house in this story is of the mischievous rather than dangerous or hungry variety. When its playful pranks become too annoying, the family decides to move away. This does not prove as easy as they thought! Themes: superstition, progress, family connectedness.

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