  Short Stories
This week: Everyday life ... a story? Edited by: THANKFUL SONALI Library Class!  
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Browsing at a second hand book stall one day, I came across a children's picture book called 'There's a Cow on the Road".
It gave me a chuckle, because here in India, we see cows on our streets every day.
It also got me thinking ... the things I take for granted could be material for a story, for someone else! So -- here goes. |
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Dear Reader,
Imagine the scenario.
The phone (landline, that is) rings. A teenage boy answers the phone, "Hello?"
"Hello," replies a young lady's voice, hesitantly. "May I speak to him please?"
The teenage boy understands immediately, and fetches his older brother, who takes the phone with the slightest smile on his face.
If you're in India, you'll understand what's going on at once. The older brother is engaged to the young lady, and they are not allowed to utter one anothers' names. It is considered bad luck, in India, to utter the name of your fiance(e) or spouse. Indians are used to the innovative ways in which couples get around this. Calling the spouse "Junior's father / mother" is the most common. Sometimes, when they are speaking directly to each other, they start with "Hey, are you listening," which is an effective substitute for the name.
I hadn't even thought of it till my Dad told me that once, he was the 'teenage boy' of the scenario above, and his eldest brother (they're nine brothers all together, Dad being seventh) got a phone-call from his fiancee, who asked for HIM.
Dad, ever the prankster, pretended not to understand who she wanted. He reeled off all the other male names in the family, as guesses, arriving at the one she wanted at the end, by which time the poor lady had been saying, 'no, not him, HIM,' for ten minutes.
Material for a story, in a culture not familiar with this custom.
Now about the cows.
There are cows everywhere in India. On the streets, in the bazaars, even in the fields. So 'there's a cow on the road' doesn't make a story for an Indian child, unless the cow really did something unusual. I've gone to shop for vegetables, and watched the vendors shooing hungry cows away ... they were trying to eat the veggies stocked in the open stalls without paying,and that won't do.
When my nephew returned to India after having spent seven of his eight years in England, the first thing he told his Mom was, "There's a cow walking around, call the farmer to take it away." The guy is a lawyer now, but hasn't heard the end of the cow episode yet.
Here's another.
I first ate with a knife and fork when I was eleven years old -- it was at a restaurant and the food flew in to the neighbouring table. I still prefer to eat the way I've grown up eating -- with my fingers. I scoop the rice with my fingers, I break the roti with my fingers ... no space for knives and forks here! Incidentally, I love omelettes. I eat omelette and toast with my fingers, too. There are restaurants and homes which don't give you a spoon by default, you have to ask for it ... and as for knives and forks ... well ... good luck with those!
So if you're stuck for a story idea, sometimes, take the prompt or the spark of an idea that you have ... and mix it up with another culture. Might be fun!
Thanks for listening,
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Thanks for the responses to "Short Stories Newsletter (May 10, 2017)"
Thank you for featuring my poem in your newsletter. I enjoyed reminiscing Harry Potter with you! - Azrael Tseng
Great job. I read the books years a go and didn't remember the blanket episode. Interesting. - Quick-Quill
Very nicely done. I hadn't read the one with Harry and his children, I think it was in play form? Now I shall get to library and check it out. Thanks a bunch - LinnAnn -Book writer
You made a very good example with Harry Potter. I will use the ironic twist method for future writing. I'm writing a novel and a little of this tool would go well with it. I just have to come up with one. Lol. -- brom21
Excellent newsletter! Brought back some memories (because it's been many years since I've read the Harry Potter books) but also gave me an idea for a story, how I can twist my character's mistake into an advantage.  Thank you for featuring my Power Anniversary party in the Editor's Picks! --Tiggy
This was very interesting! I haven't read the HP books, on behalf of my parents not wanting me to, (witchcraft and all) but now I might just read them when I get older. But thanks for pointing stuff like that out, I remember seeing things like that in movies like Lord of the Rings and maybe some Marvel movies. -- Jade Amber Jewel
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Short Stories: September 27, 2017 Issue [#8511]
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