This story from Lloyd Alexander is about Maibon, a poor farmer who is worried about growing old. His troubles begin when he rescues one of the “fair-folk” from under a log and demands one of their famous “un-aging stones” as a reward. As often happens to those who try magic to defy nature, things start to go wrong. Maibon tries several times to throw the stone away. When it keeps reappearing, he has no choice but to return it. Maibon’s life goes back to normal and he learns that aging gracefully with one’s family can be a good thing.
Night Driver
In Italo Calvino’s Night Driver, a man speeds to his girlfriend’s house to apologize about a phone argument during which he called off their relationship. He needs to get there quickly, because she threatened to call a rival. He faces two problems in getting there on time: 1) they live far apart, so it is a long drive; and 2) he thinks too much. As he drives, the man examines every possibility as to what the other two may be doing, whether one or both could also be driving along the same highway, and what other steps he should take. More…
The Color Master
In this folktale-like story by Aimee Bender, a group of artisans skilled in making fine clothing and footwear receive several difficult commissions from a king. The story is a loosely based prequel to the fairy tale Donkey Skin, in which a princess demands three dresses of seemingly impossible color (the sky, the moon and the sun) to avoid having to marry her father. In the process of directing the work, the dying Color Master anoints a successor and, in instructing her to put anger into the creations, saves the princess. Themes include artisanship, succession, faith, unnatural love (incest).
The Girl Who Can
In this inspiring story by Ama Ata Aidoo, a seven-year-old Ghanaian girl demonstrates that success in life is not about meeting societal gender norms, but rather capitalizing on one’s natural talents and abilities. The girl’s grandmother clings to outdated concepts of a woman’s role and place in the community, criticizing her “non-child-bearing” legs and desire for education. The girl’s mother passively accepts the body comments, but supports her schooling. Ironically, when the girl achieves athletic success, the grandmother basks in her glory. Themes include innocence, matriarchy, tradition (gender roles), generational conflict, body shaming, education and self-improvement, identity (self-discovery and empowerment). More…
Sacred Duty / Mugaddas Farz
In this entertaining story by Ismat Chughtai, two sets of manipulative parents are put in their place after a Muslem girl opts out of an arranged marriage the day before it is due to take place and elopes with a Hindu boy. For the marriage to be recognized as Hindu, the boy’s parents pressure the girl to convert to Hinduism. To save face, her parents later pressure the boy to convert to Islam and the girl to reconvert. Themes include interfaith marriage, generational conflict and personal freedom, manipulation, the lengths that some cultures will go to preserve family honor. More…