Featured Stories

How Suan Became Rich

How Suan Became Rich: Tagalog folktale from Dean FanslerIn this Tagalog folktale from the Philippines, a rich man (Pedro) gives a friend (Suan) a post so that he can build himself a house. Pedro becomes unhappy when Suan’s new house is bigger than his. He asks Suan to return the post, which he can’t do as the house will fall down. Pedro takes Suan before the king to get the post back. On the way, Suan experiences further problems. He accidentally kills someone and breaks off a carabao (buffalo) tail. However, thanks to the wise king, Suan keeps the post and becomes the richest man in his village.

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Showdown

Showdown: Short story by Shirley JacksonA major theme of this Shirley Jackson story is community responsibility in preventing violence. Before the “showdown”, young Billy’s Saturdays were quiet and uneventful. When Tom Harper’s death breaks the pattern, a mystical power puts Billy (and possibly other townspeople) into a time loop. After many repeated Saturdays, Billy realizes that to break the cycle he must do something to prevent Tom’s death. Could the “haunting” be a result of Tom’s girlfriend Susy’s promises: I won’t ever forget you, and neither will anyone else! I’ll see that they don’t get off easy! Other themes: violence, love, hope, revenge, the supernatural.

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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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The Guilty Party – An East Side Tragedy

The Guilty Party – An East Side Tragedy: Short story by Gary SotoThis story by O. Henry takes recent events in America, where parents have been found partly responsible when their child commits murder, to a new level. A young man boasts to friends that he will teach his fiancée a lesson by taking another girl to a dance. The fiancée makes good her promise to kill him if he does, then flees and commits suicide. A heavenly court absolves her of the crime, blaming a red-haired, unshaven, untidy man, sitting by a window reading while his children play in the streets.. Themes include guilt and innocence, parental neglect, love, betrayal, redemption.

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Her Hands That Held the Stars

Her Hands That Held the Stars: Short story by Rebecca BirchThis story by Rebecca Birch for Cricket Magazine takes place in a future world where people live in tall towers and the air is so polluted that they cannot see stars through their windows. The only way to see them is to get above the “eversmog” by standing on top of one of the towers. This is so dangerous that it requires a special key. A disobedient but determined twelve-year-old “borrows” one of these keys. While gazing at the stars in awe, she learns that she has a special destiny. Themes: the wonder of nature, environmental degradation, courage, ambition, destiny.

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A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune

A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune: Short story by Chris CrutcherAngus, Chris Crutcher’s self-proclaimed fat kid with perverted parents, suffers major self-image problems. Constantly ridiculed for his size and unusual family, he is nevertheless surprisingly agile and a defensive force to be reckoned with on the school football team. A prank sees him voted the school Senior Winter Ball King. His “Queen” is the long-term girl of his dreams, who he has always considered out of his league. She arrives with one of the most popular boys at school but, after sharing a secret with Angus, they connect and leave together. Themes: body shaming, prejudice, bullying, self-image, courage, acceptance, homosexuality.

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The First Year of My Life

The First Year of My Life: Short story by Muriel SparkThe protagonist of this light-hearted anti-war story by Muriel Spark is an omniscient baby who can “tune in” to world events and the thoughts of famous people from her crib. Born in the final year of World War I, she contrasts the bloody battlefields of Europe with the almost business as usual atmosphere in London. She also shares her observations of selected world leaders, politicians, literary figures and celebrities. Themes: the horrors and futility of war; the British public’s ignorance of the true extent of human suffering; the lack of moral leadership from influential members of the artistic community.

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The Falling Girl

The Falling Girl: Short story by Dino BuzzattiThe meaning of this thought-provoking story by Dino Buzzati is reflected in both the building and the girl. The skyscraper is a metaphor for society: the idle rich party at the “top”, as the working class scurry about at the bottom. The story represents an attractive young woman’s journey from the glamor and excitement of the “high life” to the loneliness, frailty and fears of old age. In the sad conclusion, she has no one to mourn her (hear the “thud”) when she hits the ground. Themes include social class, consumerism, envy, lack of fulfilment, ageing, alienation and loneliness.

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