Stories and Paintings
It is said that rock band AC/DC used to test their songs by playing them on piano—if a song sounded good on piano, then it was a good song. Stripping away the guitar amplifiers and distortion and thumping drums weeded out any bad riffs or half-hearted efforts, leaving only the cream of the crop... Continue Reading →
“WHAT THE F**K WERE YOU DOING?” That was, aside from a few slight variations, the opening line that began Jake’s phone calls from the movie producers, executive producer, director, co-star, his agent, film studio head and his accountant. Helen was the only one to see the bright side: “Jake, honey, how are you doing?...... Continue Reading →
“…opening at cinemas around the country on June twenty-third, the movie is called The First Return. Jake, tell us about the movie.” The host looked up from his notes (he needed notes). The other host leaned in; it showed she was listening, and showed her cheekbones perfectly at that camera angle. Jake looked at... Continue Reading →
Sitting on the stool, before an audience of television studio cameras and lights, he closed his eyes and prepared himself for the charade. He had done two hundred of them, but this was his first in a while. The crew was at their best and trying to show it. The makeup artist hovered longer... Continue Reading →
In China, sunflowers are associated with long life and good fortune. A Chinese villager recalled a man being forced to bury his own son alive, as punishment for the boy stealing grain. And that was not an isolated incident. Starvation, torture, rape and execution were the norm in China under Mao Tse Tung’s reign.... Continue Reading →
The rain stung Henry’s eyes, and his left ham burned with pain, but he kicked through the floodwater, with the kittens clinging to his back. “This way,” called one of the kittens, nipping Henry’s right ear. Henry turned a little to the right. “Yes, that’s it,” said the kitten. “I see the tree. We... Continue Reading →
The little pig and the three kittens floated along. Henry swam across stream and lined himself up so the current would guide him to the willow tree and the big round hill. With shelter distant but in sight, he relaxed to a gentle paddle with his front trotters, letting his hind legs drag in... Continue Reading →
The farm had never seen such a deluge. The little pig kicked and kicked, despite it seeming at first like he was getting nowhere. Lightning flashed just north of the farm, and a second later thunder resounded through the sky. Beneath the water, Henry’s front trotters worked as fast as a boxer’s fists, back... Continue Reading →
As he approached the avocado trees, Henry looked up and saw two more frightened kittens huddled together and shivering on a low branch of the smallest tree. The base of its trunk had split and grown in two directions, creating a fork through which the rushing floodwater now swirled to make a whirlpool. As... Continue Reading →
Henry’s vision was a little blurry, and it took a minute to refocus. He looked out upon the rising, rushing water, and saw something like a big black frog floating his way, a few feet out from where he stood. As it neared, Henry realised it was not a frog. He leapt into the water,... Continue Reading →
