Mini-sagas by 2008-2009 Avanzado 2 students - Your Writings - Your Stuff!
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Minisagas by the groups of Avanzado 2 (Course 2008-2009)
Minisagas are stories told in exactly 50 words. Writing them develops various amazing skills, from getting a good sense of what 50 words in your own handwriting is, to learning how to make a meaningful point (literarily or even in terms of contentions, arguments) in a limited amount of words, including enticing your creativity!
We have also included the minisagas on Sherman Alexie's Smoke Signals here.
I don't know how I can express everything I feel for you. I filled a bottle with all my feelings and I threw it to the sea, I thought of giving you roses, chocolate but my love goes beyond the physical things. I love you… will it be enough?
They came looking forward to learning to love, that magical and amazing feeling human beings are capable of. They flew all around the Earth looking for it. Before the space ship disappeared back into outer space, somebody heard, "We must have come to the wrong planet. There is no sign of love in what we've just seen."
We were sitting comfortably in our seats. We led ordinary lives. We didn't care about outside problems. An unexpected smoke signal approached, floating on the horizon. We woke up. It shook our consciousnesses. It made us fight for important things which were so close we hadn't even realized.
Mwajuma
Fear overcame Mwajuma as several men loaded the fragile shell with some food and water. Travellers were piled up. Behind her: Africa, starvation, an almost sure death. In front of her: the sea, the skyline, her hopes, a better life. Mwajuma took her baby and got into the small boat.
The old woman stood looking astonished at the door. She was late again. It was closed.
She would have to sleep in the street. If she had got rid of all her belongings, she could have walked faster.
She looked at the two plastic bags. Then she stared into space.
The little boy looked very nervous. He was in the playing-room making a great deal of noise.
"What are you doing, honey?" cried his mother from the kitchen.
"Nothing, Mum! Just playing," he replied.
"None of her business. I am nearly five years old," he thought.
And he continued playing.
Humans are shy, and violent. So the world is both deadly silent and deadly noisy. Water is not shy. Nor is the wind. Fire is far from being bashful. The earth speaks non-stop (if we’d only let her be). And outer space is full of specks, strings and things happening.
His teeth were chattering. He had never been so nervous.
"It is not life or death," he thought. "It will only last a few minutes"
But he realized that what really worried him was not getting the driving licence on time.
Then he saw his teacher and the examiner approaching.
The listener
He listens to her and thinks about how wonderful she is: she keeps him company, fills his empty silences, allows him to travel in time and space, warms his soul and teaches him how to listen instead of worrying about what he wants to say… She is his old radio.
Smoke signals. Across the glacial distance, I made a smoky fire to tell you I can’t wait any longer. Spring is closer and I want to be somewhere else by then. I hope you find my message in the winter sky. It is full of caring sweetness for you.
When my pants flew out the window, I panicked. I ran to rescue them.
"My beautiful neighbour hasn't seen me picking them up" – I thought coming back from the courtyard.
In the corridor, I heard her:
It is a good idea to get dressed before leaving one's apartment!
Quite often, we ask ourselves about the path we should take: for this time, just follow your heart. Forget about your brain, just use your heart. If you want, I'll be really close, holding your hand; otherwise, I'll always remember you just as you are right now: marvellous...
Winter will never be again
Something cracked inside herself. She realised she had been an ice woman, because her soul was melting. This water poured out of her body and when the drops touched the ground life sprouted. A man, her love: in this very moment her son was born.
Snow flakes falling from the sky. It is wonderful to see them from my window... Dangerous to face them on the street... An amazing experience if you come from a tropical country... A threatening occasion when it is time to leave: be careful - you may trip and fall over…
Northern Lights
Awaiting for it to appear, by the frozen shore of the Tasermiut Glacier, outside the tent.
Out of the blue, it started to move. Dancing with the stars from one place to another in a magnificent performance.
Our dreams deeply fulfilled, we went to bed, totally lost for words. OOH!
I have just woken up. I have a look out of the window… It is snowing! How wonderful nature is! What nice emotions you feel when you see a fantastic landscape like this! Happiness can be found in these little things: a sunrise, a baby smiling…a street covered in snow!
There was once a man. He had all he could wish for: the only thing he had left in this life was to lose everything, and that's precisely what he did. Since this important moment on , he has lived peacefully, dying when his past memories came to his mind.
Shadows Within
All seemed to be OK but deep inside shadows were undemining my faith in him. He kissed me tenderly, soon after having left his lover -I could still smell her. Loyalty in unknown to him. Will our love last forever? Or is it just a dream never to come true?
We've been going out together for many years. Trying to smile and bear it. It's easier said than done. This isn't a simple open-and-shut matter. Although she has broken my heart, my door remains open. It's no time to bear somebody's ill will. We still have time at hand!