The price of ginseng has stayed flat, not affected at all by the current inflation. How strange. Just when I think everything is up and up, ginseng comes out and displays its steady price exactly like before, as if to mock my misconception. The autumn and the coming winter are the appropriate time to take … Continue reading My Mother & Ginseng
Category: love
A Great Love Story Unwritten And Unread
Sometimes I can imagine myself attending my parents’ wedding and shouting at them, “please don’t. Don’t do that. Please do not create a hell for yourselves and for others.” And they heed my warning and believe me and part their ways, happily staying friends ever after, happily living their separate lives knowing that they are … Continue reading A Great Love Story Unwritten And Unread
My First Relationship Heartache (Part 3)
This is the 3rd part of the story. The previous parts are here: 1st, 2nd. Now looking back, I think she was trying to make connections with me through stories of her family. Talking about her family made her feel she was being intimate with me. I should reciprocate with my own family stories, but … Continue reading My First Relationship Heartache (Part 3)
My First Relationship Heartache (Part 2)
(This is the 2nd part of the story. The 1st part is here.) As if she was deliberately trying to annoy me, she talked about her family all the time. I was not so much jealous of her good fortune as I was terribly bored since I had no family story to tell to reciprocate … Continue reading My First Relationship Heartache (Part 2)
A Steppe Romance
I am writing a long steppe story that happened in the 7th century in the area that was located between the Mongolian steppe, the Tibetan highland and the Taklamakan desert. It is one part romance, one part Kung Fu, one part history, in which I will embed a lot of arguments between the nomadic life … Continue reading A Steppe Romance
An Old Friend & A Continuous Romance
I have always tried to steer away from reading a book of romance, which is usually too unrealistic for me. However recently I try to write a kind of Kung Fu story happened around Mongolian steppe. I should say proto-Mongolian steppe since the story is set in the 7th century when Mongolia as a country … Continue reading An Old Friend & A Continuous Romance
Inspire Somebody Unexpectedly
"Has she been living in a cave somewhere, not listening to the news, too busy toeing the real or imagined line?" I ask myself this question while smiling at her sweetly, the kind of smile that mixes business acumen with personal relationship. However recently I have started to doubt my ability to reach an ideal … Continue reading Inspire Somebody Unexpectedly
Romance Of The Steppe
I am trying to write a romance that is going to get rid of all the prevailing romance elements that I dislike, like the inevitable rescue scenes, rivalry, jealousy, frog to prince, love bombing etc. I want to write about two normal people who fall in love and talk their experiences and emotions in a … Continue reading Romance Of The Steppe
The Wuthering Alternatives
Inadvertently, "Wuthering Heights" is an Asian style story among books labeled as English literature. And "The Sorrows of Young Werther" is another Asian style story, but that doesn't really belong to English literature. The reason I am thinking about this book is that an Asian American girl's email reminds me of a conversation we had … Continue reading The Wuthering Alternatives
A Chance Encounter (Flash Fiction Continued)
canva stock image Flash Fiction #171 This is the 2nd half of the story. The 1st half is here. When the Korean Wave came, it put an end to the wildly popular Hong Kong shows and movies as well as the Japanese productions. With beautiful backdrops and costumes, Korean dramas look more spectacular. Not only … Continue reading A Chance Encounter (Flash Fiction Continued)
A Chance Encounter (Flash Fiction)
canva stock image Flash Fiction #171 "Why is it called martial arts? And why is it arts but not art? We say studio art and fine art without adding an 's' to the end, don't we?" Lulan says while staring at a tourist brochure which listed local attractions and festivals and competitions. Lulan and I … Continue reading A Chance Encounter (Flash Fiction)
The Professor’s Wife (Flash Fiction Part 9)
This is the 9th part of the story. The previous parts are here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. At length, Alotus comes back to the living room. What will she do next? She can call the police and turn herself in. It is an accident and it will not be counted as … Continue reading The Professor’s Wife (Flash Fiction Part 9)
The Professor’s Wife (Flash Fiction Part 8)
This is the 8th part of the story. The previous parts are here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Alotus waits until the dinner is over and the table is cleared. Her mother-in-law starts to watch a K-drama in the living room, and the two children go upstairs. Alotus steps into the small home … Continue reading The Professor’s Wife (Flash Fiction Part 8)
The Professor’s Wife (Flash Fiction Part 7)
This is the 7th part of the story. The previous parts are here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Alotus refuses to let her family ignore her. She demands their love and respect and attention. If something in the house needs to be fixed, she would ask her husband to do it first before calling … Continue reading The Professor’s Wife (Flash Fiction Part 7)
The Professor’s Wife (Flash Fiction Part 6)
This is the 6th part of the story. The previous parts are here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Alotus' revenge is weaved into everyday life. She doesn't have a plan or a plot with an up-and-down like a Broadway play, or a twisted surprise of a suspense movie. Actually what she is doing is not … Continue reading The Professor’s Wife (Flash Fiction Part 6)
The Professor’s Wife (Flash Fiction Part 5)
This is the 5th part of the story. The previous parts are here: 1, 2, 3, 4. Well, her husband Daneu has always been a good provider for her despite his over-enthusiasm in helping his mother and his brother. Alotus has never had a problem with it before, but now with her father's death and … Continue reading The Professor’s Wife (Flash Fiction Part 5)
The Professor’s Wife (Flash Fiction Part 4)
This is the 4th part of the story. The first three parts are here 1, 2, 3. Many women find solace in their children, but she is not able to do that. Both her children have had more interaction with relatives than with her. Now her daughter is 11 and her son 6 years old. … Continue reading The Professor’s Wife (Flash Fiction Part 4)
The Professor’s Wife (Flash Fiction Part 3)
This is the 3rd part of the story, the previous two parts are here: 1, 2. We all think Alotus should be happy and Alotus thinks she should be happy. However she is not happy. Actually she is not just a little unhappy. She is in fact very unhappy. That really puzzles Alotus and it … Continue reading The Professor’s Wife (Flash Fiction Part 3)
The Professor’s Wife (Flash Fiction Part 2)
This is the second part of the story. The first part is here. It turns out that Alotus' father died two weeks ago and she just came back from attending the funeral overseas. She describes her journey and I express my condolences. Then as we walk, we veer towards meaningless pleasantries and mutual congratulations on … Continue reading The Professor’s Wife (Flash Fiction Part 2)
The Professor’s Wife (Flash Fiction Part 1)
Flash Fiction #170 I meet Alotus from time to time in stores, financial seminars, children's events etc. I wouldn't call her my particular friend since she is the kind of person who has a perfect life, who concentrates on her perfect family, who has no need for outside friendship, who tends to talk about "facts" … Continue reading The Professor’s Wife (Flash Fiction Part 1)
Love Makes Us Blind Or Perceptive? (Flash Fiction Continued)
This is the 2nd half of the story. The 1st half is here. "What? What are you talking about? What got us together?" Jong asks. "It's an epiphany today. Thank you for enlightening me. I can't believe I didn't realize it before. It's hiding in plain sight but I just can't see it for what … Continue reading Love Makes Us Blind Or Perceptive? (Flash Fiction Continued)
Love Makes Us Blind Or Perceptive? (Flash Fiction)
Flash Fiction #169 "Love makes one blind or perceptive?" Shia says to her boyfriend Jong. "Probably blind." Jong answers absentmindedly. They are sitting in Bamboo Palace, finishing their dinner. Shia's animated expressions and eager communication are in direct contrast to Jong's nonchalant politeness. Their relationship has always been like this--Shia is anxious while Jong is … Continue reading Love Makes Us Blind Or Perceptive? (Flash Fiction)
Life Is Full Of Clues
Image by Freepik The day before yesterday, Wordle's answer is a five-letter word "nanny". And I put in a very lucky first word "moany", for which "ny" are the right letters in the right place, and "a" is the right letter for the wrong place. After my lucky first-word break, I went on to guess … Continue reading Life Is Full Of Clues
Wednesday’s Wandering Thoughts
Image by Ptrixxi from Pixabay Wednesday is always a tricky day, a little annoying, a little stuck in the middle. The weather too is a little unsure of itself, with clouds darkening in the gathering dusk, and an occasional raindrop falling but not really rainy. I just feel a little moody and whiny today, for … Continue reading Wednesday’s Wandering Thoughts
My First Response-Poem
Image by Alberto Adán from Pixabay Poem Of The Day #57 I read two poems which are very sad. I am thinking that I'll write several lines to dispel the gloom. The first sad poem is like this: Looking up at the stars, I know quite wellThat, for all they care, I can go to … Continue reading My First Response-Poem
Real Life Interviews
Image by Erika Varga from Pixabay The other day, I watched an Asian TV program, in which a young reporter--a girl probably just graduated from college--went around to interview several centenarians in a mountainous subtropical region, which is well known for its clean air, pristine environment, and people who have longer life spans than those … Continue reading Real Life Interviews
The Weekend Binge
mage by Public Co from Pixabay Last weekend, I tried to binge read three books--actually I tried to listen since these are audible books--but only managing to finish two, with the third one about half way through. The three books are "Catch and Kill" by Ronan Farrow, "She Said" by Jodi Kantor & Megan Twohey, … Continue reading The Weekend Binge
Quote Of The Day: Love And Criticism
Image by Couleur from Pixabay Quote Of The Day #75 there is no straight white line it's the bumps and the curves and obstacles that make this road yours and mine" Salena Godden how can I not look at myselfin the reflective universeoff the silver tinged powder of August hazehow can I not look at … Continue reading Quote Of The Day: Love And Criticism
A Mild Influence And A Big Decision (Continued)
Image by Anrita from Pixabay This is the 2nd half of the post. The 1st half is here. I sometimes wondered how M's parents helped M make the decision, and how they ignored the signs that have been there all along. I can't piece together a consistent story yet, but certain things do stick out … Continue reading A Mild Influence And A Big Decision (Continued)
A Mild Influence And A Big Decision
Image by Anrita from Pixabay I was trying to write the story into a flash fiction, but I don't have the ending for it. Real life stories usually have no endings, and I don't have the imagination to add a finale that's surprising yet plausible, satisfying yet entertaining. So without an ending, I guess the … Continue reading A Mild Influence And A Big Decision
Cultural Differences Overwhelm Jury
Image by Raskhan Kaderi from Pixabay This happened in British Columbia (BC), a province of Canada, located on the Pacific coast. I remember this place because I watched the 2010 Winter Olympics on TV, which was hosted in Vancouver, the largest city in BC. This is a true story and it happened in BC in … Continue reading Cultural Differences Overwhelm Jury
When We Talked, An Idea Just Came
Image by Couleur from Pixabay Yesterday, I went to my favorite Walmart on Route 1 in North Brunswick township and bought my favorite veggie griller, lettuce, cucumber, tofu, juices etc. At the checkout, I waited in line for more than half an hour, which is normal for this particular store. About six months ago, the … Continue reading When We Talked, An Idea Just Came
Quote Of The Day: Walk Through A Wall
Image by photosforyou from Pixabay Quote Of The Day #71 "There comes a time in a man’s life when to get where he has to go, if there are no doors or windows, he walks through a wall." --Bernard Malamud I am not sure about a man's ability to walk through a wall when he … Continue reading Quote Of The Day: Walk Through A Wall
New Word: Beauty
Image by David Mark from Pixabay New Word # 132 Whenever I hear a story of somebody doing a blepharoplasty (a procedure to double the eyelids), or microdermabrasion, botox, laser resurfacing (all wrinkle reducing treatments), I don't know what to say and how to feel. On the one hand, we all want to be beautiful. … Continue reading New Word: Beauty
Pets And Cultural Differences
Image by huoadg5888 from Pixabay We have all witnessed this on videos or in real life that Americans talk with their pets. I mean they really treat their pets as chatty friends. They would stare into their eyes, touch their pet "shoulders" (sometimes even asking for permission first as if their pets would file harassment … Continue reading Pets And Cultural Differences
Quote Of The Day: Sleeping On The Wing
Quote Of The Day #70 Finally, I find a translated poem that I really like. If you are one of the millions and millions of non-native speakers, you will understand why I dislike translated poem; you would have noticed how bad your favorite poem sounds like when it is translated into English. It is probably … Continue reading Quote Of The Day: Sleeping On The Wing
Quote Of The Day: Love And Romance
Image by Kati from Pixabay Quote Of The Day #69 I am glad that I paid so little attention to good advice; had I abided by it I might have been saved from some of my most valuable mistakes. I am most faithless when I most am true. After all's said after all's done, what … Continue reading Quote Of The Day: Love And Romance
The Love Stories Around Me
Image by Couleur from Pixabay Valentine's Day is already gone as I am writing this. Timing has never been my strength; delaying is often the consequence. Last year, I talked about Valentine's vocabulary, and the year prior, I talked about Valentine's day traditions in different countries, especially in Japan where women would usually give chocolate … Continue reading The Love Stories Around Me
A Real Life Love Triangle (Flash Fiction Part 3)
Image by Erik Karits from Pixabay Flash Fiction #162 This is the 3rd and last part of the story. The 1st part is here and the 2nd part is here. "I've never seen a scoundrel like Adu. Can you believe what he did? Weni's family is furious and her old relative was sent to the … Continue reading A Real Life Love Triangle (Flash Fiction Part 3)
A Real Life Love Triangle (Flash Fiction Part 2)
Image by Erik Karits from Pixabay Flash Fiction #162 This is the 2nd part of the story. The 1st part is here. At the time, Shasha was a student in the same university, and she was not really an innocent victim as people would like to categorize her later on when the whole love triangle … Continue reading A Real Life Love Triangle (Flash Fiction Part 2)
A Real Life Love Triangle (Flash Fiction Part 1)
Image by Erik Karits from Pixabay Flash Fiction #162 We all watched movies like "Runaway Bride" or read stories with a similar theme, which is someone, having cold feet before the wedding, fleeing the scene and leaving the intended partner at the altar. Well, in real life, I only witnessed it once. It happened in … Continue reading A Real Life Love Triangle (Flash Fiction Part 1)
The Love Stories Of Two Sisters (Flash Fiction Part 4)
Image by Jess Foami from Pixabay Flash Fiction #160 This is the 4th and last part of the story. The first three parts of the story is here: #1, #2, #3. From then on, Cia had always been trying to work Arji into any conversation we had in the dorm. When we were having a … Continue reading The Love Stories Of Two Sisters (Flash Fiction Part 4)
The Love Stories Of Two Sisters (Flash Fiction Part 3)
Image by Jess Foami from Pixabay Flash Fiction #160 This is the 3rd part of the story. The 1st part is here and the 2nd part is here. Shermei went out with Thon, her college classmate, who is a loving and a capable guy. However Thon was not good enough for his narcissistic future mother-in-law. … Continue reading The Love Stories Of Two Sisters (Flash Fiction Part 3)
The Love Stories Of Two Sisters (Flash Fiction Part 2)
Image by Jess Foami from Pixabay Flash Fiction #160 This is the 2nd part of the story. The 1st part is here. From the first day we met, Cia was always the one who wanted us to be more intimate. In a girl's dorm, such friendly girl "couples" are everywhere. However I balked at the … Continue reading The Love Stories Of Two Sisters (Flash Fiction Part 2)
The Love Stories Of Two Sisters (Flash Fiction Part 1)
Image by Jess Foami from Pixabay Flash Fiction #160 Cia and I were college roommates, and I can still remember looking into her eyes when I was chewing instant noodles as my midnight snack. She looks so young, fresh faced. Now looking back, I realize that she was perpetually searching for love and acceptance in … Continue reading The Love Stories Of Two Sisters (Flash Fiction Part 1)
The Orientation (Flash Fiction)
Image by Anna Lysenko from Pixabay Flash Fiction #159 Lisa doesn't really need extra tutoring, but that didn't prevent her parents from sending her to Ivy Training Center (ITC) since she got a "B" in the first quiz of the semester on pre-calculus, an important high school course. In her family, an "A-" is a … Continue reading The Orientation (Flash Fiction)
Husband And Wife At Atlantic City (Flash Fiction)
Image by David from Pixabay Flash Fiction #154 "Do you know that most lunar calendars are actually lunisolar calendars since only the months follow the lunar cycle while the years are still largely in their solar cycle." Pan says to his wife as they drive down to Atlantic City to celebrate the Lunar New Year. … Continue reading Husband And Wife At Atlantic City (Flash Fiction)
Psychic And Digital Psychic
Image by Enrique Meseguer from Pixabay I don't believe in psychics because my narcissistic family on my mother's side believes in psychic power very much. They often speak of their belief in certain psychic readings, or this or that child being predestined for greatness or villainy, or certain inexplicable sign bearing omens for future events. … Continue reading Psychic And Digital Psychic
Quote Of The Day: The Perfect Performance
Image by hoahoa111 from Pixabay Quote Of The Day #66 I have become a bore, I have been asked to forfeit my independent young feminist card. I don't care. I balance his checkbook, I trim his hair. I've gotten so retro, at one point I will probably use the word pocketbook, shuffling out the door … Continue reading Quote Of The Day: The Perfect Performance
The Sacred Myth (Flash Fiction)
Image by StockSnap from Pixabay Flash Fiction #152 Lea and I have been acquaintances for years, and then about two years ago, I started to talk with her about narcissism. At first she laughed and brushed my idea aside, but then she started to tell me about her mother-in-law Sandi who's a super sized narcissist … Continue reading The Sacred Myth (Flash Fiction)
The First Breakfast 2023 (Flash Fiction)
Image by StockSnap from Pixabay Flash Fiction #151 Pammy, her husband Pan, and their son Sam, who's a sophomore in high school, are having their first breakfast of the new year. Sam: This homemade soy milk is a little ... Pan: You are right, Sam. It is diluted. I've told your mom several times. Pammy: … Continue reading The First Breakfast 2023 (Flash Fiction)
A Love Story With A Twist (Flash Fiction Part 3)
Image by Annie Le from Pixabay This is the 3rd and last part of the story. The 1st part is here, and the 2nd part is here. Daughter: OK, you can tell me. So you had an affair and I am not Dad's daughter then. That's OK. I can take that. I guess Dad doesn't … Continue reading A Love Story With A Twist (Flash Fiction Part 3)
A Love Story With A Twist (Flash Fiction Part 2)
Image by Annie Le from Pixabay This is the second part of the story. The first part is here. Mother: You are right. It is not allowed. The beautiful nurse was transferred to a nursing school. Rumor had it that she didn't really finish her nursing school overseas. And the assistant professor helped her get … Continue reading A Love Story With A Twist (Flash Fiction Part 2)
A Love Story With A Twist (Flash Fiction Part 1)
Image by Annie Le from Pixabay Flash Fiction #149 Mother: It's the story of my life, but I've never told you about it for fear that you were too young to understand. Now I think you are old enough to digest the information... It all happened in America twenty years ago. Daughter: Is it a … Continue reading A Love Story With A Twist (Flash Fiction Part 1)
For The Right Or Wrong Reason
Image by Marjon Besteman from Pixabay The FIFA World Cup is coming to its most exciting final stretch, but not before Brazil was knocked off the quarterfinals. And people love the Brazil team and hate to see their unceremonious exit. So I heard. And even in America where soccer is not really popular, many of … Continue reading For The Right Or Wrong Reason
Quote Of The Day: Husband And Wife
Image by Annette Meyer from Pixabay Quote Of The Day #64 Joe Castleman is flying from New York to Helsinki with his wife Joan to receive the Helsinki Award for literature (imaginary. No such award exists). Joan was an aspiring writer once, and attended Smith College, but she quit and ran away with her professor … Continue reading Quote Of The Day: Husband And Wife
Quote Of The Day: Love And Dating
Image by Neil Dodhia from Pixabay Quote Of The Day # 63 It has become so necessary to maintain power structures to benefit a selected few that it has become woven into our idea of reality. You don't need to be in love to count as a human. When women do not have a partner, … Continue reading Quote Of The Day: Love And Dating
The Crazy Son-In-Law (Flash Fiction Continued)
Image by alba1970 from Pixabay This is the second half of the story. The first half of this story is here. Ajin is sitting in the living room, leafing through a pile of mathematical papers and murmuring something to himself when everybody comes out of the car and into the house. "Ajin, are you OK?" … Continue reading The Crazy Son-In-Law (Flash Fiction Continued)
Love Stories (Flash Fiction)
Image by Larisa Koshkina from Pixabay Flash Fiction #144 "My first love was a total disaster." Lola said. "I really liked this guy in my class for no reason in high school. Then I was silly enough to tell him that. I was in general very shy, and I didn't know what came over me. … Continue reading Love Stories (Flash Fiction)
My Aunt Ayun (Flash Fiction)
Image by Phong from Pixabay Flash Fiction #142 Aunt Ayun is my mother's younger sister. She is my favorite aunt, not only because she is a great cook and very clever, but also because she is very good tempered (just like my maternal grandfather), and very good to children. And needless to say, in a … Continue reading My Aunt Ayun (Flash Fiction)
A Real Life Romance (Part 3)
Image by yamabon from Pixabay Serial Fiction Part 3. The first part of this story is here and the second part of this story is here. I want to say something here before I proceed with the main story. I wrote about my grandpa Zili from my mother's side who blamed my father for my … Continue reading A Real Life Romance (Part 3)
A Real Life Romance (Part 2)
Image by yamabon from Pixabay Serial Fiction Part 2. The first part of this story is here. While my father was engaging in a correspondence with his future second wife living in a faraway big city, he also attracted the attention of several single women who lived locally. After all, my father earned a good … Continue reading A Real Life Romance (Part 2)
Quote Of The Day: The Ghost Writes
Image by Kira from Pixabay Quote Of The Day #61 "Everything undeniably true struck me as transparently false as soon as I wrote it down, and the greater the effort to be sincere, the worse it went." "I have neither too high nor too low an estimate of my work. I believe I know exactly … Continue reading Quote Of The Day: The Ghost Writes
The Village Psychic (Flash Fiction Part 2)
Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay Arton always speaks with his daughter in a tone that is a mixture of politeness, humor, and whining. Yilan has always enjoyed conversing with her father, basically following her father's train of thoughts and agreeing to his ideas. However recently Yilan has started to see a psychiatrist and has … Continue reading The Village Psychic (Flash Fiction Part 2)
The Village Psychic (Flash Fiction Part 1)
Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay Flash Fiction #136 When Yilan's father Arton and her mother Mi were about to get married, it's the local tradition that they should go to a local psychic, who would examine their family background, temperament, and other aspects of their life, from which their fortune would be told. So … Continue reading The Village Psychic (Flash Fiction Part 1)
The Truth Teller (Flash Fiction)
Image by Hamsterfreund from Pixabay Flash Fiction #135 "Can you persuade her? You are such a good girl, Venven, but your cousin Arlai is the exact opposite. Remember she went to Thailand for vacation and came back expressing her desire to be a Buddhist nun? Remember that? Then she tried to set up an animal … Continue reading The Truth Teller (Flash Fiction)
I Can’t Believe I Believed It
Image by Annie Le from Pixabay My friend told me last month that a lesbian couple moved into her street close to her home. And she is a little surprised to find that they are very normal, just like everybody else. She is almost a little disappointed that they are so normal. And this reminds … Continue reading I Can’t Believe I Believed It
Quote Of the Day: Josie’s Story
Image by Pavan Prasad from Pixabay Quote Of The Day #56 Josie grew up in a small town near Chicago. Her family was chaotic and her parents were not very responsible. She was actually a small town drunkard's angry daughter, a young woman already haunted by grim memories and oppressed by an inextinguishable resentment over … Continue reading Quote Of the Day: Josie’s Story
The Foxy Plan
Image by Monika from Pixabay Two girls, Banford and March, about thirty years old, bought a little farm together. In those days (about one hundred years ago when the story was written) such girls were considered old maid, with no prospect of ever marrying. Their lack of physical strength was described in detail by the … Continue reading The Foxy Plan
The Best Grandma (Flash Fiction)
Image by Hans from Pixabay Flash Fiction #129 "My Grandma Is The Best" --That's the title of her first composition in middle school when it was required of her, in her writing class, to describe a family member. Even those boys and girls who had the crazy version of dysfunctional families painted a rosy picture … Continue reading The Best Grandma (Flash Fiction)
I Want To Be A Monk (Flash Fiction Part 2)
Image by Judith Scharnowski from Pixabay This is the second half of the story. The first half can be found here. "To live with your mother?" Aryin stares at her husband with a bitterness that's more bitter than the herb medicine she has brewed for her weight loss and indigestion. "Remember last time your mother … Continue reading I Want To Be A Monk (Flash Fiction Part 2)
The Haunted House
Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay Japan is well know for its orderliness, cleanness, safety, strict gun control, and its best lost-and-found program in every public place. However its politics is not so peaceful and uneventful as it seems. The prime minister's official residence (called Kantei) is a famous haunted house--haunted by bloody incidences in … Continue reading The Haunted House
For Better Or Worse
Image by Pexels from Pixabay Maggie was a beautiful and capable woman. Since she grew up in a poor and dysfunctional family, she got married very young just to get out. Several years later, with two children in tow, she divorced her husband and left. Since she didn't have any income, the judge ruled that … Continue reading For Better Or Worse
Future Is A Tool
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay I talked with my friend L today. We unleashed our complaints about inflation and the hot weather etc. for an hour. Then the conversation inevitably veered towards family issues. "You know my mother-in-law had said that she would raise our kid for us. Seriously. Raise our kid for us. … Continue reading Future Is A Tool
I Want To Be A Monk (Flash Fiction)
Image by Judith Scharnowski from Pixabay Flash Fiction #127 "I want to be a monk." Miz announced in the dinner party his wife Aryin held. He had threatened to become a monk several times before, but never had the conviction to carry it out. Aryin was furious. Why did he choose such a moment to … Continue reading I Want To Be A Monk (Flash Fiction)
Quote Of The Day: A Secret Revealed
From My iPhone Quote Of The Day #51 Professor Coleman Silk, in his seventies, used a derogatory word to describe two absent students in his class. The students complained, the school investigated, and the news spread on campus. Coleman felt that he was unfairly vilified and censured--in a rage, he quit. His eminent wife couldn't … Continue reading Quote Of The Day: A Secret Revealed
The Battle For Water (Flash Fiction)
Image by Franz Bachinger from Pixabay Flash Fiction #126 This is a true story but I used fictional characters and a fictional location--somewhere in East or Southeast Asia. Let's just imagine a group of people have historically lived around Lake Mashawa peacefully, with quarrels and skirmishes here and there, but all in small manageable scales. … Continue reading The Battle For Water (Flash Fiction)
Haoyan Do 