Tuesday, 14 May 2013
Story by Jess Walter
Can a Corn
Ken took dialysis Tuesdays and Thursdays. It fell to Tommy after his
mom passed to check his stepdad out of the Pine Lodge Correctional
Facility. Drop him at the hospital. Take him back three hours later.
Ken groaned as he climbed up the truck. —Whatcha got there,
Tom?
Tommy looked over the backseat. —Pole and tackle.
—You goin’ fishin’ this weekend?
—I ain’t skydivin’.
Ken stared out his window. —You stop me by a store?
There was a downtown grocery sold Lotto, fortified wines, and
forties. Ken hopped out. Tommy spun radio stations till Ken come
back with a can a corn.
—Oh, no you ain’t, Ken.
—So got-damn tired, Tom. Can’t sit on that blood machine today.
—You’d rather die?
—I’d rather fish.
—No way, Ken.
He drove toward Sacred Heart. But when Tommy stopped at a red
light Ken reached back, got the pole and jumped out. Fine, Tommy
thought. Die. I don’t care. The old man walked toward the Spokane
River. Tommy pulled up next to him, reached over and rolled down
the passenger window.
—Get in the damn truck, Ken.
Ken ignored him.
—That pole ain’t even geared.
Ken walked, facing away.
Tommy drove alongside for another block. —Get in the truck,
Ken.
Ken turned down a one-way. Tommy couldn’t follow.
Fine. Stupid bastard. Tommy went back to work, but the only
thing in the pit was a brake job on some old lady’s Mercury: four
hundred in repairs on a shit-bucket worth three. Pissed, Tommy gave
the Mercury to Todd and drove back downtown.
He parked, got his tackle box from the truck and walked back
along the river. Found his stepfather under a bridge, dry pole next
to him.
Tommy gave him hook and weight.
Ken’s gray fingers shook.
—Give it here. Tommy weighted and hooked the line. He pulled
a can opener from the tackle box and opened Ken’s corn. Carefully,
Tommy pushed the steel hook into the corn’s paper skin until, with a
tiny spurt, it gave way.
He handed the old man back the pole. Ken cast it.
Half-hour later, Ken reeled in a dull catfish, yellow-eyed and spiny.
No fight in the thing at all. Almost like it didn’t mind.
Ken held it up. —Well I will be got-damned.
Tommy released the fish. It just kind of sank.
He dropped the old man at the front gate of the prison, his breathing already shallow. Rusty. He was so weak Tommy had to reach over
and pop his door.
—Hey that wadn’t a bad got-damn fish. All things considered. His
eyes were filming over already. —We should go again Tuesday.
—We gonna start playin’ catch now, too? Tommy asked.
Ken laughed. —I doubt it.
Then Tommy watched the dying old man pass through the metal
gate. The fucker.
Monday, 13 May 2013
Amazing Short Stories by J.G. Ballard
Read Here Amazing Short Stories by J.G.Ballard
Click at below link :
Amazing Short Stories by J. G. Ballard
Amazing Short Stories by J. G. Ballard
How to Be Cool in College
Want to be that awesome guy/girl in the college that everyone wants to be like? Here is how you do it:
People can tell you are a fake right away. You have to be the real deal so be who you are and be proud of who you are. Think about how cool are some of the things are about you. Most people have outgrown their high school persona by the time they are in college. If you haven't, there is a lot of growing up you need to do. College is a time to learn more about yourself and by the time you get your major established, be proud of what you are going into because that might be your adult identity and career.
2 Be kind.
Open doors to people, offer some help carrying books, offer some help with homework, help a person find there way around the college. Niceness is what does it.
3 Be friendly.
Try to make small talk with everyone. Make it an effort to talk to someone or help someone that you don't normally do each day. Don't be a stick in a mud. Try to talk about stuff such as weather, sports, classes, college life, travel, hobbies, plans for the weekend or vacation, movies, music, and favorite TV shows. Keep up to date with the latest celebrity gossip, news, and sports so you always have something to talk about. The weather does get very boring.
4 Have a good sense of humor.
Don't tell dumb cliche jokes. Be witty. Look up funny stuff on the Internet or watch funny TV shows or movies to get ideas.
5 Dress in stylish clothes.
You don't have to be Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian to look cool, or you don't have to dress like you have just come out of bed, since some college students do. I seen some come to school in pajamas. For guys, a nice button down shirt, t shirt, polo, or sweatshirt with jeans or shorts will do the trick. Hoodies are great too. For girls, a cute top with a nice looking hairstyle, modest makeup, and the like will do it as well. Try to dress according to your climate and your location as well. Many college students once they have declared their major start to dress similar to the way they will be at work, e.g. business casual for business majors, more artsy clothing for art majors, especially when doing internships, etc. Many will be wearing work clothes in college especially if they have a job after classes. Some majors will require you to wear a uniform such as scrubs for nursing or dental majors, cop outfits for law enforcement, etc. There are girls that are wearing dresses and skirts to school lately, so if you have a nice attractive looking dress, don't be afraid to wear it.
6 You don't have to party.
Going to parties all the time is for amateurs. Drinking is a sign that you're not confident and you need to chug alcohol to make you confident. Really cool people do not need that booster. Go to a good party once in a while (probably a relatives wedding dance) but don't make it a lifestyle. They are starting to make fun of college students who party already such as Toby Keith's "Red Solo Cup".
7 Don't join too many clubs.
Joining too many clubs are a sign that you are desperate and you just want to fit in too much. Only join clubs and activities that you are honestly interested in or related to your major. Don't join a nursing club if you are not considering nursing.
8 Show your dorky side too.
College is the place where it all comes out. Don't be afraid to do something you'll regret doing since it is "not cool". Who is determining the standards of what is cool anyway. Everyone has a different perception of what cool is, and there are many other things that determine cool such as where you live. You are trying to hard. Relax. Who cares if you like Justin Beiber or watch Tom and Jerry in your dorm or even listen to Lawrence Welk. If you like Justin Beiber, don't be afraid to blast it out of your loudspeakers. College students these days like to be "ironic" anyway.
9 Get good grades.
The grades are not a nerd thing. Grades give you something that is cool: A job that will give you the money to buy cool cars, houses, etc.
10 Don't be addicted to Facebook and other social networking and dating sites such as MySpace.
Facebooking too much wastes time and most of it is probably playing some dumb game. When you are on the Internet, stick to more listening to music, looking up funny jokes and pictures, watching YouTube, and if everything else fails, study.
11 You do not need a girlfriend/boyfriend or to have sex to be cool.
Sometimes having a girlfriend/boyfriend in college can take you away from the other cool stuff you can be doing or the main purpose of your career in college, to get an education for your future career. But if you find someone you like, don't afraid to make the first move. Remember there is a lot of drama involved as well.
12 Don't be afraid to express yourself.
Don't be afraid to stand up what you believe in and to do what is right, even though it may be popular. Everyone has different opinions about stuff so be sure to respect other peoples differences and treat everyone the same. If you don't believe in having sex or partying, even though it is "cool", or voting for some political candidate that is not cool, do it anyway.
13 Have an open mind.
College is a place where you'll be exposed to totally different cultures, races, nationalities, religions, political views, lifestyles, and ages, so don't be afraid to to think outside of the box and try something new. College is a place for identity formation so be open.
14 Remember what you are actually there for.
In college is where your grades count; your GPA pretty much determines your paycheck so if you want bucks in the future, you should actually crack a book and study. You can still have a social life but the primary reason for college is to get that degree so you can eventually get a job. Go to class too; why are you paying for it?
15 If all else fails, take online classes. You can "go to school" in the comfort of your home, where you don't have to worry about fitting in.
Thursday, 9 May 2013
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