Story #203

Maybe when she’d grow up she’ll know she can survive anything. Someday she could look back and admire how far she’s come and her own strength. Maybe she’ll even be a role model or help others overcome their obstacles. She could be someone people look up to and want to be around. But that’s all in the future. And to get to that future she first has to get past her present.

In the present she is sitting on the ledge, way up high, looking down. It’s dark inside, feels like there’s nothing to come back to. She doesn’t belong. She’s been sitting there for over 3 hours now. Waiting for something to happen. Nothing had happened. Nothing is going to happen. She’s getting cold. In a little while she could come inside, turn on the lights, and sigh. She could take another one of those pills that make her sleep for 16 hours straight. She could wake up tomorrow and try again. She could find herself on the ledge again. But, again, that’s in the future. In the present she is sitting on the ledge, way up high, looking down. She hesitates, unsure.

She jumps.

– Sam, Tel Aviv

Story #202

I am the accidental author. I’ve always been fascinated with technology. So, when the Internet was very young … around 1996 … as a hobby, I wrote a book about the Internet. I printed about 7,000 copies. I didn’t think they would sell very well. However, I was very wrong. Over a seven year period, I was pleasantly surprised that I sold over 3-million copies.

Due to the success of the books, many interesting things happened. I started to do many speaking engagements and even though I had never been on TV, I became a regular on television. Over time, all the excitement about the book series died down. It was a fun run.

But, a few months ago, I was contacted about writing another Internet book. So, I started doing research to see if I thought it was a good idea. After about a week of research, I discovered that there were thousands of gems on the Internet that most people do not know about. In a few months, I had enough content to come out with a new book.

We struggled over the title and the cover too. Alas, we came up with a name that identified the content of the book: ​Buried Treasures of the Web. And, we found someone who could interpret our suggestions into an outstanding cover.

We just released the book. While we do expect to sell many books, I’m not sure if we will top the 3-million we sold in the last go-round.

– Ken Leebow​

Story #201

Små grodorna runt midsommarstången hade värmt i kylan.

– Ray, Göteborg

Story #200

When I first met him, he was just a random guy.
The second time I fell in love with him.
Every time I saw him my heart exploded in my chest.
We dated for a while; everything was so perfect.
He cheated on me, and we broke up.
We don’t even talk anymore.
We live, now, 6382 km from each other.
I still love him.

– Stella, Stockholm

Story #199 – The Party Perils of Perry the Panda

A party for all, a birthday for one. Poor Perry the panda did not have much fun. A Facebook invite to all of his friends, to take place outside to play games with no end.

He put all the lantern balloons in their place and set down the drink cups, the forks and the plates. But after his planning and scheming was done, it seemed that no one even bothered to come.

“Of course it’s uncool to show up on time. Perhaps they’re in traffic or trapped in a mine!” “They should be here soon!” said the cheery eyed lad. But two hours of waiting made this panda real sad.

And with disappointment, no more full with hope. Toward his apartment our poor Perry moped. He walked the trip home, with a tear in his eye. He opened his door and was met with SURPRISE!!

His roommates, his father, his mother and friends popped up out of hiding with very large grins. With presents and flowers, some real and some fake, streamers and ice cream and a big bamboo cake.

Excited and happy our Perry was stunned. He couldn’t imagine a party more fun. Though having a blast he just had to know, why to his planned party his friends did not go.

Confused by his story, their ears they did lend. He told of his party that lacked all his friends. He thought of the invite, but before he could end, it seemed our friend Perry forgot to click “Send”.

Perry the panda and pals partied late. They drank all the punch and finished the cake. A birthday success that started out sad. Now known as the best birthday he ever had.

– Logan Riley, San Francisco

Story #198

I’m deaf. All my life, I had nightmares about falling into the void from any building. But, since fourteen years, inexplicably, I have dreams about flying to heaven. I dream that I can fly among the clouds like Superman, and I can feel the air on my face. And I can see the earth below while I’m flying.

I can feel a sense of peace while I am flying. Still don’t know why I’m having these dreams, but one thing is certain: I lost my fear of heights thanks to dreams.

I hope someday I can be able to fly and touch these beautiful clouds. Dreaming is beautiful. 🙂

– Ender, Monterrey, Mexico

Story #197

My mother likes to recount this story alot.

When my younger sister and I were just toddlers, my mom took us to a playground. She was watching my sister play in the sandbox when all of a sudden, another little boy walked over and snatched my sister’s sand bucket from her. Before my mom could even get to her feet, I had already marched over to the little boy to talk to him myself. A minute later and I was proudly carrying the bucket back to my sister. Who went on playing as if nothing had interrupted the construction of her castle.

My little sister can be a bit of a pacifist and a pest, but she’s also my best friend.

– Cynthia, Ithaca

Story #196

at first
we were both in it together
teetering on the edge,
and you wanted to pull back, you were scared
but in the end, we took that terrifying, exhilarating leap together
falling down a seemingly endless chasm
full of possibilities
side by side
and im sorry that i had a moment of weakness
sorry that i looked back up at the sky
sorry that i opened that parachute and slowed myself down but in the end i still chose to cut the strings and keep falling with you
and always always always we had each other in our sights
each blurry terrifyingly dizzy moment of free fall
and then all of a sudden i couldn’t see you
couldn’t hear you
wasn’t sure if you were still with me
and then i saw that you grabbed that ledge and held on tight

leaving me

to hit bottom

alone

– Cynthia, Vienna

Story #195

So I was on a cross country flight last night, and saw a first, for me at least. This dude has rolled out a miniature painting studio and is painting up a storm. His plastic palette was in his right hand in the air and his left holding the brush. Always one to support the arts community, I felt a tad guilty when I bumped his arm. 🙂

– Amy Stevens, Lafayette

Story #194

“Why are you doing it?” he said. “It obviously isn’t making you happy.”

“But sometimes it does,” she thought. “Sometimes it makes me feel special, alive, needed, like I’m part of something, like everyone else. And those times, those brief moments in time, they make it all worth it.”

“I don’t know,” she answered.

– Raquelita, UK