A practical joke is a trick played on someone to make them look foolish and to amuse others. This idea is explored by Guy de Maupassant in his stories, “A Normandy Joke” and “An Uncomfortable Bed.” In “A Normandy Joke,” it starts off with a wedding procession, the bridegroom being a wealthy sportsman by the Read more…
Firebirds When one day my loneliness built a castle, I kept myself inside. Three despicable thieves tried to break through the wall, damaged the gates with swords and torches and entered the high tower. They stole the nightingale and kept it as gift from the dead. Little did I know that the nightingale was buried Read more…
Squanto: when miraculous journeys become history by Aaron Hur Squanto, at the young age of twelve would never have guessed what journey would later approach him. He lived in a tribe called the Patuxets, a friendly tribe in the 17th century. However, one day a mammoth piece of transportation came their way, approximately the size Read more…
Two Morality Tales It was another Tuesday evening. Pearl had just gotten back from a tiring two-hour long practice, and she was exhausted. Her hair had fallen out of its perfect bun and her leotard had lost some gems, but before she could relax, she had to first get through her math homework. She took Read more…
My grandfather, Kevin Lim, is a 75 year-old man happily retired living in Daly City with his wife. He has one son and two grandsons. Kevin Lim was born and raised in Korea but soon turned to America for a better life for his family. His story is one of struggle and ambition as he Read more…
Curing an age-old curse: Lewis Barnavelt’s triumph Spoiler Alert: Do not read if you are going to get the book. The book is difficult to find (only in print in the UK) and first editions are very expensive. The fifth installment of the Lewis Barnavelt series, The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder, builds a nice storyline through Read more…
Spoiler Alert for “William and Mary” by Roald Dahl. Do not read unless you have read the story. The story “William and Mary” by Roald Dahl is an interesting tale of a man dying and undergoing a science experiment that flipped the science world on its head. The story starts with William’s wife Mary taking Read more…
Coyotes in Wonderland All I heard that night was scratches, barking, and growling. I couldn’t see what was going on, for I had not yet gained my sight. The ripping of flesh and the violent ruffle of trees and bushes was an indicator that I wasn’t exactly witnessing my siblings play-fighting each other. It was Read more…
Power by Adrienne Rich Living in the earth-deposits of our history Today a backhoe divulged out of a crumbling flank of earthone bottle amber perfect a hundred-year-oldcure for fever or melancholy a tonicfor living on this earth in the winters of this climate. Today I was reading about Marie Curie:she must have known she suffered Read more…
“The Swan” by Roald Dahl (Spoiler Alert) Ernie and Raymond are best friends. They are both described as large for their age, but their physical similarities stop there. The author describes them as, “But while Ernie was heavy and loutish, Raymond was tall, slim, and muscular.” They are both very violent people, and often go Read more…
