A Kidnapped Santa Clause

A Kidnapped Santa Clause: Short story by L. Frank BaumThe major theme of this Christmas story by L. Frank Baum is the triumph of good over evil. Five daemons (creatures that thrive on naughtiness) are angry with Santa Clause because his gifts and messages of goodwill discourage children from visiting their caves. Upon realizing that Santa will never change, they kidnap him as he begins his Christmas deliveries. When Santa’s assistants notice this, they complete his rounds and return with an army of magical immortals to rescue him. Other themes: loyalty, duty and (as reflected in the names of the daemons) selfishness, envy, hatred, malice and redemption.

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Only the Dead Know Brooklyn

Only the Dead Know Brooklyn: Short story by Thomas WolfeNew arrivals in a city often learn things and visit places that long-term residents don’t know about. In this humorous story from Thomas Wolfe, a stranger demonstrates this to the annoyance of the well-meaning but increasingly agitated narrator. The highly opinionated men differ over the narrator’s warnings about the dangers of the “nice sounding” Brooklyn neighborhoods the stranger has chosen for his nightly walks. To make matters worse, the stranger insists that all one needs to feel safe and get to “know” the city is a good map. Themes: connection, pride, perception, fear, curiosity.

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Amigo Brothers

Amigo Brothers: Short story by Piri ThomasIn this story by Piri Thomas, best friends from a poor neighborhood share a passion for boxing. They are both so good that they must compete against each other in a match to decide who will represent their club in the famous ‘Golden Gloves’ boxing championship. Although the boys have different fighting styles, they are very evenly matched. The fight becomes so brutal that instead of cheering, the crowd falls silent. The match ends with both boys bloodied and in pain. The judges must choose a winner, raising the question: How will their decision affect the friendship?

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Zero Hour

Zero Hour: Short story by Ray BradburyThis chilling story by Ray Bradbury involves an inattentive mother, a feisty seven-year-old girl, and her imaginary friend Drill. Throughout most of the story, the girl leads her friends in a construction game following instructions she receives from Drill. Her mother later learns that groups of children across America are playing the same game. Its name is “Invasion”, and for her the climax comes in a single word: Peekaboo. The major theme of the story is complacency. The mother senses something is wrong, but doesn’t act until too late. Other themes include human smugness (We’re impregnable!), childhood innocence/impressionability, manipulation, fear.

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The Man Who Could Work Miracles (A Pantoum in Prose)

The Man Who Could Work Miracles: Short story by H. G. WellsIn this light-hearted story by H. G. Wells, a man known as a sceptic as far as miracles are concerned suddenly discovers he can make things happen just by thinking about them. After a few teething problems, such as sending a local police constable to Hades, he confides in his parish priest. Once convinced, the priest becomes so obsessed with using the miracle worker’s powers for good that he inadvertently encourages him to do something that brings about global catastrophe. Themes include the supernatural, power and responsibility, human frailty, the danger of interfering with nature, science vs. religion.

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Teacher Tamer

Teacher Tamer: Short story by Edward Wortis (aka Avi)Edward Wortis (aka Avi)’s Teacher Tamer is a coming of age story about unfairness, revenge, peer pressure, compassion and courage. A burnt-out fifth grade teacher regularly punishes the most promising student in class for things he did not do. In a moment of anger, the boy plots revenge and boasts about it to classmates. Although the class bully questions his courage, others say that if he succeeds he will become the class hero. He feels pressured into going ahead. The plan ends in failure, but by the end of the story he is hailed by the nickname Teacher Tamer.

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The School

The School: Short story by Donald BarthelmeStrange things are happening in the school featured in this story by Donald Barthelme. First, all plants and animals in student projects die. Death seems to be everywhere when an adopted dog, sponsored Korean orphan, and higher than average numbers of parents pass on. Then, to cap it all off, two students are killed in an accident while playing on a building site. In order to experience renewal of life, students ask their teacher to demonstrate sex with his teaching assistant. But just as they kiss and things start to get interesting, something happens that makes the children cheer wildly.

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The Memsahib of Mandla

The Memsahib of Mandla: Short story by Khushwant SinghIn this story by Khushwant Singh, nature and the ghost of a woman who founded an Indian missionary school combine to drive a British man and his family from a forest officer’s rest house. The rest house was the woman’s home before it was appropriated by the government, and hasn’t been lived in since she died. In addition to being insensitive and chauvinistic, the husband typifies the stereotype of arrogant, self-serving British officials during the Raj. He decides to shoot the ghost, but things don’t turn out as planned. Themes include colonialism, humanitarianism, loyalty, fear, justice, the supernatural.

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The Goophered Grapevine

The Goophered Grapevine: Short story by Charles W. ChesnuttSet shortly after the American Civil War, this story from Charles W. Chesnutt is about a “Northerner” with an interest in grape cultivation who moves to the South for his wife’s health. While inspecting a derelict vineyard, they meet a “colored man” who tells how the previous owner had a sorceress put a spell (goopher) on the grapes to stop them being stolen. He then describes the sad fate of a newly acquired slave who, unaware of the spell, “sampled” the grapes. Themes: racism and slavery, the supernatural, greed, exploitation, dishonesty, trickery, karma.

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Big Brother, Little Sister

Big Brother, Little Sister: Short story by Witi IhimaeraSadly, elements of this story by Witi Ihimaera play out every day in cities across the world. Major themes include domestic violence, fear, isolation, desperation and sibling love. When a young boy flees home to escape his insecure mother’s abusive boyfriend, his seven-year-old sister follows. Within a few hours, they encounter several of the dangers that being alone on the streets at night have to offer. The city is portrayed as an endless stream of lost souls, each struggling to survive or reach an unknown destination. The two children join them. Other themes: drug and alcohol abuse, dependency, irresponsibility, hope.

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