Flight

Just the thought of having his granddaughter marrying Steven angered him. Why do all of them have to fall in love and leave? Alice, his favourite was the last to marry.

In the field he would play with his favourite bird and allow it to flutter around while he lied on his back His birds were all he had left, but they were sure to leave as well- he was certain.

He was told that Alice was happy, and advised to feel the same way she did. But he felt a sense of worry and depression. When Alice marries Steven, he feared both would forget about him altogether. Grandfather hated Steven. He hated him for stealing the only granddaughter he had left. A month would would past by, and he'd be alone in his empty home.

As Alice waits for her love, grandfather attempts to convince her that she is making the wrong decision. Her replies infuriated him as she disagreed with his words. Moments later, grandfather stands alone at the back of the house staring off into the distance, tears running down his cheeks. He doesn't want to let go, she will not visit him, she won't! Alice and Steven greet him as they made their way and hand him a present. A bird to prove that they would not leave permanently, they'll be there for grandfather, always.

The couple runs off on their own, enjoying the afternoon, laughing and having a good time. Just as he did before, grandfather feels alone and forgotten. He sets to his birds and releases every single one of them. Like he expected, they flew away up high into the sky. He stood erect as he watched his prize possessions further themselves away. To his surprise, they returned some moments later ready to be placed back into the dovecote they were kept in.

Letting go is going to be hard. But like his birds, Alice is sure to come back and visit.

The Wish

An imaginative young boy makes his way along the carpet as careful as possible. The black of the carpet as he mentions, represents snakes where one may be bitten when touched. The red as well dangerous for it would burn the young preschooler alive. All that was left was yellow, the safest way to make it out the door from the staircase he was previously sitting on.

He'd edge further ahead, step by step as he risked his life along the thin yellow patches that acted as tightropes. The boy mustn't touch the other colours if he wanted to go outside to play. He believed in himself- it was only the previous day that he successfully crossed the brick path in his backyard.

The snakes frightened him as they'd jump out from their positions as he slowly made his way. Alas, he reaches a point where he must choose between two paths. One, lacking in yellow and enough red to burn his body whole, or the other where a large patch of black lied between his destined patch of yellow.

Unready to die now, the boy continues his quest and attempts to step over the snakes. It was impossible to jump over, it was too long. Slowly, he lifted his right foot, and reached the edge of the yellow. With one foot on each safe patch, he struggles to lift up his left. As he loses his balance, the boy begins to wave his arms to keep from falling but only made matters worst. Slowly, he begins to go over, descending faster and faster and increasing the tension and fear. At the last possible moment, he reaches his hand out, with his bare hand inside the pile of terror.

A Penny In The Dust

As two siblings, walk along the fields prior to their father's funeral, both reminisce on past events that have occurred during his lifetime. Peter's sister asks him if he recalls the time his parents had thought he was lost.

When Peter was seven, his father gave him a shiny penny as bright as gold. His father and him did not have a regular "father and son" relationship that everyone else had. They were both rather quiet towards each other, nor had they spent any quality time.

On his way to the store, Peter began to put off the decision of spending his money. Instead, he sat alongside the dusty road alone. Repeatedly, he'd hide his new penny deep in the sand, and recover it moments later. It wasn't until Peter had lost the penny that he decided to head home.

After long hours of searching for her son, Peter's mother doubtfully walks into his room, finding him lying down on his bed. When asked where he had been, Peter simply replied, " I lost my penny." He wanted to tell her how he lost it, but his father came into the room, changing his mind. How could Peter bear the shame of mentioning his visions to his father, or the reason of guilt that he truly felt when loosing the penny?

The following morning, Peter and his father made their way to the road where the penny had disappeared. His father was quite a handy man. He could fix almost anything, and could make whatever he wanted with perfection. It wasn't surprising when he found the penny almost at once. Assuming that Peter hid it, his father pointed out that he didn't need to- he wouldn't have been beaten.

Peter felt like he hurt his father, for he did not intend on hiding the penny. And so, he told his father the truth. Finding the penny once it had been buried gave Peter the feeling that he was finding treasure. Peter had visions where him and his father had the money to afford a car, where they'd drive around laughing and talking. He desired the father and son relationship. For the first time, his father put his arm around him.

The penny in this story symbolizes the love and happiness. At first, it only represents something of value one may use to buy from a store. The penny doesn't so much have much meaning to it. Later on though, it displays the memories that one shall treasure- like a shiny new penny.

A Television Drama

Carolee Mitchell didn't seem to be aware of anything different in her neighbourhood, for the sounds could have been the regular occurrence out on the street. What caught her eye though, was a bird that was seldom seen in the summer.

As she looked out her window, the scene consisted of a multiple number of police cars, a motorcycle, men in uniform, and police with dogs crossing the field located at the bottom of the ravine. Other arrivals involved the media, and the nosy neighbours who desired to know what was going on. A loud voice would order for everyone to clear away the street, and for householders to stay in their homes. As if it wasn't even heard, everyone remained in their positions. The street appeared to be almost motionless.

Changing to the windows of Pete's study, Carolee noted that more policemen and an ambulance were visible. She noticed a young man in an awkward position sitting by the pond pressing his hand against his shoulder. He was bleeding. Carolee had to call someone, but who? Everyone was already out there. Unexpectedly the man got up and began to run with a struggle. Moments later he fell onto his back, quickly gathered around by the police and reporters. He was a suspected, and he had been apprehended.

Hours later, Pete came home, newspaper in hand. Carolee looked at a sketch provided on the front page of the newspaper, of which she analyzed. It provided a plain view of the suspect and his path, but no policeman or reporter in sight. She began to develop a new fear and wonders if the dots on the paper would have changed if she had said something. She may not have been there, but it seemed real to her. Now she was afraid of her own street. It just didn't seem all too safe any longer.

A Handful of Dates

As the story commences, the boy firstly mentions that the his grandfather brought him along everywhere- except in the mornings when he'd learn the koran at the mosque. Not only though did the boy have a passion for the koran, he enjoyed swimming in the river as well. When tired, he'd sit, gaze in the water, and let his imagination take over. The boy would picture himself like his grandfather - tall and thin, with a white luxuriant beard and sharp nose. He loved and idolized his grandfather, as he symbolized everything related to purity and beauty.

When asked about their neighbour Masood as to why his grandfather didn't like him, he states that “he's an indolent man,” of which he didn't like. The feddans, date palms, and trees were just given to Masood, inherited by his father- though the boy was not concerned about who owned it. He discovers that two thirds was presently his grandfather's, relinquishing the assumption that the land belonged to him since God's creation. Pity was felt towards the neighbour. After asking the reason why Masood sold the land, grandfather ungraciously replied “women,” for he married multiple times.

A number of people attended the harvesting of the dates, but the boy couldn't remove his attention from his neighbour who stood with no concern. Whilst attentively caring for for the dates, the grandfather falls asleep.

After awakening, grandfather makes his way towards the finished sack dates, followed by the merchant, another owner, and strangers. As they began to eat a few, the boy received some from his grandfather who gladly munched on some as well. After the sacks were distributed to the attending party, the boy notices that Masood does not receive one. He felt his neighbours pain as well and ran off ignoring the call from his grandfather. He hated his grandfather for he wasn't who he thought he was. After reaching the riverbank, he threw up the dates he had eaten beforehand. All respect was lost.