Συνειδητοποιώντας ότι λησμόνησα ν'αναφέρω δυό λόγια αντί προλόγου στην πρώτη μου ανάρτηση, θα το κάνω τώρα, κυρίως για τους μη μυημένους.
Οι ιστορίες που διαβάζουμε γράφτηκαν από τους μαθητές και τις μαθήτριες των τμημάτων Α1, Α4 και Α5 του σχολείου μας στα πλαίσια μιας εργασίας που αφορούσε τα μαθήματα δημιουργικής γραφής (short story writing), που μας απασχόλησαν το πρώτο τετράμηνο.
Ελπίζω να τις διαβάσετε με τον ίδιο ενθουσιασμό όπως κι εγώ! Περισσότερη έμπνευση, φαντασία και δημιουργικότητα! Λιγότερη αγγαρεία! Καλή ανάγνωση!
Romance
1. Red Dress, a Photo and a Trip
2. Love & War
3. Give Love a Try
Red Dress, a Photo and a Trip
By Eleni Siamtanidou
Christmas is for joy, for giving and sharing, for laughter, for reuniting with family and friends, for tinsel and brightly decorated packages. But most of all, Christmas is for love. My story begins during a Christmas event for charity…
First of all, my job is to photograph events for a famous magazine of the country; I had to go, as you realise. During the opening of the event I had to take some photos of the area and finally of the famous people as they arrived with their big cheques for the homeless! As I was taking photos of some of the popular models I noticed a beautiful woman. She was tall, with white skin, full lips and blond hair, wearing a long red dress that highlighted her beautiful slim figure! I lost my mind, I did not know what to do, but I approached slowly and finding the courage I managed to utter: “It isn’t fair for me to photograph unimportant people but not you! Would you mind terribly if I captured your image with my camera?”
Turning back, she answered with a surprised look on her face: “Okay, Casanova, but you must capture it with the first click, because I will give you only one photo!”
Of course I was willing to take the chance. As soon as I took her picture, she disappeared. I looked for her all night but I did not manage to find her; the only thing I could do then was to put her picture on the cover of one of the most widely-circulated magazines of the country! You see, I happen to have great connections everywhere!
During the next week her picture was everywhere! I was expecting her to call the magazine to thank me but she never did! A month later I was walking in the street and I saw again the girl with the red dress, not exactly the same red dress but something new; then she looked at me and slowly came towards me and said: “Why did you have to do that for?”
“Because I wanted you to see that with one “click” only I always manage the desired result!”
“So now what happens next?”
“If you want, we could go for a walk or for a coffee, what do you think?
“Okay”, she said and we finally went out together.
For almost a year we were together. We made plans for the future, because we were in love! It was horrifying, stupid and crazy to love each other as passionately as we did, but it was just like that for a long time! But she left this relationship a few days ago and she never told me why. Yesterday this is what I heard on the TV news:
“Unfortunately another famous director lost the fight with cancer. She was only 28. Jessica Carroll, have a nice trip! We will now see a tribute about her life and work”.
Utterly devastated and still in a state of shock, I realised why Jessica, my Jessica had left me without any explanation. “Goodbye, my love! I will always remember you!”
Love & War
By Vaggelis Ekmektsoglou
One hot evening in Padua they carried him up onto the roof and he could look out over the top of the town. There were chimney swifts in the sky. After a while it got dark and the searchlights came out. The others went down and took the bottles with them. He and Luz could hear them below on the balcony. Luz sat on the bed. She was cool and fresh in the hot night.
Luz stayed on night duty for three months. They were glad to let her. When they operated on him she prepared him for the operating table; and they had a joke about friend or enemy. He went under the anaesthetic holding tight on to himself so he would not blab about anything during the silly, talky time. After he got on crutches he used to take the temperatures so Luz would not have to get up from the bed. There were only a few patients, and they all knew about it. They all liked Luz. As he walked back along the halls he thought of Luz in his bed.
Before he went back to the front they went into the Duomo and prayed. It was dim and quiet, and there were other people praying. They wanted to get married, but there was not enough time for the banns, and neither of them had birth certificates. They felt as though they were married, but they wanted everyone to know about it, and to make it so they could not lose it.
Luz wrote him many letters that he never got until after the armistice. Fifteen came in a bunch to the front and he sorted them by the dates and read them all straight through. They were all about the hospital, and how much she loved him and how it was impossible to get along without him and how terrible it was missing him at night.
After the armistice they agreed he should go home to get a job so they might be married. Luz would not come home until he had a good job and could come to New York to meet her. It was understood he would not drink, and he did not want to see his friends or anyone in the States. Only to get a job and be married. On the train from Padua to Milan they quarrelled about her not being willing to come home at once. When they had to say good-bye, in the station at Milan, they kissed good-bye, but were not finished with the quarrel. He felt sick about saying good-bye like that.
He went to America on a boat from Genoa. Luz went back to Pordonone to open a hospital. It was lonely and rainy there, and there was a battalion of arditi quartered in the town. Living in the muddy, rainy town in the winter, the major of the battalion made love to Luz, and she had never known Italians before, and finally wrote to the States that theirs had only been a boy and girl affair. She was sorry, and she knew he would probably not be able to understand, but might some day forgive her, and be grateful to her, and she expected, absolutely unexpectedly, to be married in the spring. She loved him as always, but she realized now it was only a boy and girl love. She hoped he would have a great career, and believed in him absolutely. She knew it was for the best.
The major did not marry her in the spring, or any other time. Luz never got an answer to the letter to Chicago about it.A little later, he contracted gonorrhoea from a sales girl in a loop department store, while riding in a taxicab through Lincoln Park.
Give love a try
By Stavroula Charitidou
It was the night for the school prom and Jessica was so nervous wondering what to wear. Jessica is 15 years old, she's very beautiful but extremely shy. Her crush, Ryan, is her classmate and he's popular, but mysterious.
Two hours before the prom, Jessica was in her home with her best friend, Lilly. She thought that a boy like Ryan would never like a girl like her. They were so different. ''Oh come on Lilly, the only thing we have in common with Ryan is that we both live in London!'' Jessica said to her friend. Lilly tried to encourage her ''Hey! Stop being such a miserable girl! I am sure if you give love a try, you and Ryan will be together!'
As they were getting ready, Lilly informed Jessica that Ryan would give a gig with his band at the prom. That made her more nervous and so excited at the same time. Music is Jessica's passion and her dream is to become a singer.
The two girls were driven to the prom and when they entered the room, they realised that everybody were looking at them. They were stunning! People started talking to the girls which was very unusual for them.
All of a sudden, the lights turned off. After a while, the lights turned on again and the music started! ''Oh my Gosh, it's Ryan! This guy with the blue electric guitar!'', said Jessica full of excitement. She started singing with the band and then Lilly had a great idea to help her friend.
Lilly was right. They might not have a lot of things in common, but music was their passion! Jessica was looking for Ryan to congratulate him on the band's performance. Ryan found her first and smiled at her. They were talking about music for an hour and as a result Ryan was so interested in Jessica that he asked her to go out at the weekend.
Jessica and Ryan have been together for four months now and they have learnt a lot of things about each other. Despite the difficulties and their differences, they have given love a try and now they are the happiest couple in the world.
Fantasy
1. A Weird Dream
2. Christmas in London
3. Dream or Reality?
4. Maternal Love
5. The Cube
6. The King Who Loved To Sing
A weird dream
By Ely Stogianni
While I was wandering in the woods, I started falling into a huge hole. When I stopped falling, I was in a strange place. I noticed something in the horizon and I decided to find out what it was.
When I came close, I surprisingly saw a big rabbit with a huge hat, having a tea party with his friends. When they saw me, they invited me to join them. At first, I had my doubts but then I thought a cup of tea would be nice, so I accepted their invitation. They offered me a really nice cup of tea and we started chatting. Suddenly, their clocks started beeping and a second later they were all gone.
Very confused and thoughtful, I started wandering again in this strange place. Then, appearing out of nowhere, a hungry and angry wolf chased me for a couple of minutes. When he finally lost me, afraid and even more confused I tried to find a way out. Instead of that, I found a house made of chocolate. I couldn’t resist as chocolate is my addiction, so I got into the house. Then, a nice old woman gave me a bed to sleep, telling me that I could stay as long as wanted. In the morning, I decided to go in order to continue my research for a way out. Before I left she gave me an apple in case I got hungry.
Some hours later I ate the apple and some minutes later I felt dizzy. Then, three fairies appeared and told me that the apple was poisoned. Panicked and terrified I asked for their help. They said that if I wanted to live, they would have to make a spell in which I had to fall asleep until a prince gave me a true-love kiss. I had no choice so I accepted their help. Then, I fell asleep for a long time I think.
One day , I finally opened my eyes staring at my rescuer. Suddenly, something started beeping. Then, I realized. It was all just a dream.
Christmas in London
By Kalliopi Papadopoulou
I spent hours and hours dreaming of this trip: Christmas in London - admittedly an unexpected surprise for me and my little brother. During the flight, I was sitting literally on the edge of my seat. Once we landed we headed towards the hotel to get some sleep and then straight to the center of London.
The breathtaking scenery was beyond any expectation! Fancy, star-shaped lights, stunning, tremendous Christmas trees and people dressed up as Santa Claus were all over the place. Carol singers were singing harmonic melodies around the overcrowded Trafalgar Square, warming up the atmosphere
Mum and dad were watching a marvelous juggler-performance on the street, while my brother and I were laughing over a baby which was dancing hilariously. His dad walked a bit further and we spontaneously followed him, struggling to pass through the jam of people just to get a glimpse of that funny baby. A moment later there it was! I turned around to let my brother know we had found it, but instead I found some strangers and no sign of my brother.
A sense of horror took me over immediately. Frightened I started desperately making room with my hands, and made it to one of the fountains. My brother was still missing! After a quarter I lost my patience and quitted my hopeless searching. The smiling faces and the Christmas songs all around me couldn’t take away my pain. The guilt and the thought of my helpless little brother were the last things I remember. Suddenly, I lost control and felt the earth moving down my feet…
“Get up, you lazy!”. As I was waking, I realized I was in the hotel room with my parents. The horrible memory came back only to be vanished immediately: my brother was hopping carelessly next to my bed! I got up and hugged him abruptly. ”Are you mad?” my brother cried. “Leave your sister, she must have had a nightmare! Hurry up guys, London is waiting!”.
Dream or Reality?
By Panagiwta Tsikoura
He could never really understand why he had decided to follow his instinct, going to a place he had never been before and never wanted to go. For the first time he ignored this voice from inside his mind telling him NOT to do something reckless, which had saved his life so many times in the past… he just couldn’t help himself from walking that door leading him to the unknown.
Just a week ago, Tom, a 19-year-old young man, woke up that day and as usual he got dressed, had breakfast and left home driving to work. But that day wasn’t meant to be a typical day of his life. The sudden traffic jam forced him to get out of his car and try to find out what was going on. After he walked through the berserk, angry and despaired car drivers, he reached the cause of the problem. A little girl, perhaps 8 or 9 years old, was lying unconscious in the middle of the street, but no one seemed to care enough to call the ambulance or take her to hospital. When Tom got closer he realized why… the girl had huge weird glowing blue marks all over her body. Her dress was ripped and her eyes wet like she had been crying.
Without having a second thought Tom lifted the girl and carried her to his car. After an hour they finally reached Tom’s house. “What is this????” Penny shouted, when Tom came in with the girl in his arms. Penny was Tom’s girlfriend and she was working night shifts as a waitress at a local bar. Tom explained what had happened and immediately she told him to put the girl on the sofa. Penny dressed her wounds and put new clothes on her. After a brief discussion, Tom and Penny decided to look after the girl, until she got better and return to her home… if she really had one.
A whole week passed but the girl didn’t wake up. One night Tom couldn’t sleep so he decided to watch some TV. When he entered the living room he saw the girl standing next to the window watching the stars in the sky. She heard his footsteps and turned to see him. Her eyes were so bright and she seemed extremely happy. “I never thought that stars could be so beautiful… how many are they?” she asked Tom, but didn’t wait for an answer. “Really so beautiful!” she said as she turned to the window again. Tom was speechless. “Are… are you ok? Do you feel better?” he asked. “I feel great!” she answered with a big smile on her face. “What happened to you? How did you get these scars? Who are you?” he asked in confusion. “My name is Ameena and I think this is the only question I can answer… The only thing I remember is that I was running away from… something in the woods…” she said as she seemed to remember horrible things by the look of her face. “Don’t worry. We’ll find your family… tomorrow. Now get some rest.”
The next day Tom got dressed and packed a small backpack. He talked to Penny and told her he was going to find what was going on in the woods. Ameena couldn’t remember what had chased her that night but it wasn’t human or an animal. He also called the police to search for her family. Later he got into his car and drove towards the central park.
And here he is… standing in front of the “hell’s gate”, as the children call it. A “gate” formed by old bending trees.
“Here we are…” he is thinking, as he is making his first step into the “hell” of dense vegetation. His heart is beating like crazy, but he doesn’t know why. As he is getting deeper into the woods he realizes that he doesn’t know what exactly he’s looking for, he is just searching. After the longest hour of his life, he sees a faint light and something tells him to reach it. His heart is beating even faster with every step he makes closer to the light.
He now thinks he hears something as well. A whisper, but Tom can’t be sure if it’s talking or is just a noise. The light is getting brighter and the sound clearer. It was a voice, a woman’s soft whispering voice “run… run for your life… save yourself… run”. Tom wants to run, but his feet don’t listen to him. He finally reaches the light, but it’s so bright that prevents Tom from seeing it. He is trying to touch it and suddenly the voice changes. It’s getting louder and scarier and it shouts at him “DAAARKNESSSSSS”. Tom is so scared that he can’t leave. A shadow is encircling him. Finally his feet are unleashed and he starts running as fast as he can. Now everything is dark, so dark that can’t see a thing. Dark and quiet…
“What? What happened? Where am I?” Tom wakes up and sees Penny really worried standing next to him. “Are you ok?” she asks him. “I’m… I’m fine… Where’s Ameena?” Tom asks looking in the house to find her. “Who? Who is Ameena?”. “You mean you… never mind… I guess it was just a dream” he says trying to remember what happened. Later that day Tom does a research on the internet and he finds an article: “A young girl found outside of the central park having weird wound all over her body. She was taken to hospital where doctors are trying to find out what happened to her. She hasn’t woken up yet but while sleeping she keeps repeating the same think "run… run for your life…save yourself… run”. Tom is really upset. “Was this… was this a dream or did it really happen?”
Maternal love
By Danai Frantzi
Once upon a time, there was a family living in the woods. This family wasn't like the others. The parents were great wizards and their baby boy would become even greater. The boy was just two years old and his parents loved him dearly. Humans knew nothing about the wizards or about the wizards' city, where all wizards lived.
The father worked for the ''mortals'', as wizards call humans, and he had to leave on a two-day business trip.
In the ''Dark Tower'', the most powerful and evil wizard learned from his servant that the little boy was unprotected, as his father left .''This is my chance!' 'he yelled and laughed. The evil wizard knew that the boy would be an obstacle for him to fulfil his dream, becoming the lord of wizard city, so he should kill him.
The next day, the powerful wizard was ready to attack. He spelled the words ''Drive me to the boy'' and right away he reached the house. He demolished the backwall and found the boy's room. The mother, scared and without knowing what was happening, had already gone to the room and she held her son tightly in her arms. The evil wizard attacked the mother. After saying '' Die, die, die'', silence spread everywhere.
A few hours later the father returned. He found the house totally destroyed except the boy's room, which was untouched. After stepping into the room and finding his son smiling at him he felt relieved.
His mother’s love was so strong that had saved him. When the evil wizard attacked her, the spell turned against him. The mother managed to defeat and kill the wizard, but she didn't survive. The boy wasn't harmed at all. He was protected by the most powerful spells in the whole world, his mother’s love.
The Cube
By Chatziastrou Michael
It was a sunny spring day, and as it was a pleasantly warm day, Rodger, his brother Robin and their wives decided to organize a picnic by the river. They had just found a good spot to sit when Rodger heard a peculiar sound coming out of the nearby woods.
Rodger apologized and left his companions seeking for the sound’s source. Without knowing it, he was led deep into the woods. Meanwhile, the sound had stopped and the only thing he could hear was the birds singing above his head in the trees. And just when he was about to turn back, he saw something shining.
He looked closer. It was a cube, made of a substance he couldn’t recognize. It was loaded with gems though, and so he thought of selling it. He put it in his pocket and returned to the company, where he ate well and chatted pleasantly. Something made him unwilling to reveal his finding.
The next morning he left the house to go to the jeweller’s, who would probably estimate its value. Most of the men he crossed in the street were armed. Weapons, He thought. That’s the signature of our times. The Emperor is really exhausting his people with his everlasting wars. And I bet that he is going to raise the taxes again. Down the road he saw two imperial soldiers, bullying the owner of the local tavern and demanding to be fed for free. The protectors of freedom, he thought and felt wrath taking over him. He did nothing though.
The jeweller, could not value the item, for he could not find out what it was made of, so Rodger left the store kind of disappointed. He did not go to work that day because he felt really puzzled about the matter. That, as will be seen later, apparently saved his life. For he learned by a colleague of his that had rushed to the house, that there had appeared a bunch of armed men questioning about the Cube. Someone mentioned his name and they seemed very interested in finding him, too. They were hooded and looked really frightening. Rodger thanked him.
The next day they had disappeared. Some said they had moved. Others said that they might have business abroad. And others, better informed, said that they had already been caught by the strangers. Rodger’s brother was missing, too. The truth was that Rodger and his wife had left for protection. She was sent to the parental house of hers. He stayed in the forest near the village to learn of the tidings and decide how he should act. Robin was nowhere to be found. In the forest Rodger now dwelt and the life there was difficult. He learned that his house was burned, but not before some weird men searched it first.
But even though he managed to hide for a week or so, he could not be hidden for ever, not with so many people looking for him. It was a disaster, the discovery of his dwelling. He was hunted, and shot at last in the leg with an arrow. Then he would have ended, if it hadn’t been for Erian the outlaw. He hid him in a bush, and so he saved him.
Erian was a member of a society created by former outlaws who hated the Emperor but wanted to live the rest of their lives peacefully. Erian messaged their leader, and found out that Rodger was accepted, to the latter’s surprise. In the leader’s message was mentioned that Rodger was accepted, for he himself was an outlaw and had a rather high bounty. That put Rodger into unpleasant thoughts.
With Erian he became good friends, and he led him to the outlaws’ hideout, which was miraculous. Rodger was surprised by the natural cavern which could hold a whole community in secrecy. But even more surprised was he when he saw the Boss (as the outlaws called their leader). For the boss was Robin.
Three months had passed since Rodger and his wife had settled down in the secret cavern. Three months without having to work for money or pay taxes. Three months full of peace, love and happiness, away from the wars of the republic. And all these would now seize. As had been known earlier this morning, Robin was abducted by men of the Republic, who had announced they would trade him for the Cube. All I knew was that they had him in a carriage.
After lots of thinking Rodger took a great decision; he alone would follow the carriage of his brother and free him.
For three days he had been tracking the soldiers, until he finally reached them. And they were expecting him. They tied him and placed him with his brother, who was unconscious.
Tied like this he was brought before the Emperor, who wanted to question him about the Cube himself. He was sitting in a throne of stone, and was wearing a golden armor and a deep red greatcoat. He said: “Fools they are, all those who believe they can escape the power of the Emperor. I can guess how horrified you are. Now tell me, where is the Cube?” Rodger, who had, until a while ago, been filled with anger and terror, was now sitting calmly in front of him. “The Cube is in and on me” he said, but he wasn’t really speaking of his own. He felt another power controlling him, while he stood up and showed the Cube. In his hand it had turned into a mighty sword which pierced through the Emperor’s armor as if it had its own will.
And so the Emperor died and with him the era of tyranny for his people.
Experiences
1. Echo
2. Do You Want To Be A Star?
3. Scott Williams (1st Airborne Division): The Normandy Landings
4. Puppies for Sale
5. 02-01-2012: A Day to Remember
6. An Unexpected Meeting
7. Birthday Surprise
Echo
By Aimilios Athitsos
"A son and his father were walking on the mountains.Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"He receives the answer: "Who are you?"And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!"The voice answers: "I admire you!"Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"He receives the answer: "Coward!"He looks at his father and asks: "What's going on?"The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention."Again the man screams: "You are a champion!"The voice answers: "You are a champion!"The boy is surprised, but does not understand.Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really this is life.It gives you back everything you say or do.Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart.If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence.This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life;Life will give you back everything you have given to it. "Your life is not a coincidence. It’s a reflection of you!!!
Do You Want to Be a Star?
By Ioanna Sidiropoulou
If someone told you that your dream was about to come true, would you believe him? Well, it all started on a normal hot Sunday morning, while I was at a coffee shop with a friend of mine. After a while, a strange man probably around 30, came to our table and asked my name. His face reminded me of something, but I couldn't say for sure so I simply replied "Why are you asking?" He then laughed and explained to me who he was and what he wanted.
His name was-of course-Joe Smith, the director of the well known film "Maria". He was remaking a film called "The Lord of Thieves" and he was looking for a fresh young cast. He told me I could play Meredith's role and it wasn't hard to guess why. I looked exactly like her! I had watched the film a couple of times in the past and I really liked her character. As for her appearance, she had long blond hair just like me, only a little bit shorter than mine and full lips. But what we really had in common, were our eyes. Big, light green eyes! I was speechless. This couldn't be happening to me!
"Okay", I said, "but I've never starred in a real movie before". He told me he wasn't looking for professionals and that I could really give it a try at the open auditions for the role in two weeks. After giving me all the information I needed, he left looking satisfied with himself. I was thrilled! I was so happy about having this opportunity that I didn't know who to tell first. All of my friends and family were happy about me, because they knew I deserved a chance to make my dreams come true. It was a day I will definitely never forget.
Scott Williams ( 1st Airborne Division ) – The Normandy landings.
By Savvas Simeonidis
It was a sunny morning on June the 6th 1944. This day was one of the most important days in my whole life. Operation Neptune started at 10:00 AM and we were ordered to land behind the Axis lines and steal some top secret documents that could change the whole course of the war. They told us that we were supposed to land at the beach of Normandy, France and find our way through the trenches. Along with us, were also 30 aircraft having the same mission.
As a Paratrooper I was one of the first soldiers to invade Normandy. The experience I gained was unique! At 8:00 AM we boarded our aircraft from Heathrow airport, in London. It was an old, rusty airplane with broken seats. During the flight nobody was actually talking. Some fellow soldiers were writing maybe their last letter to their families, while others were praying and asking strength from God. When we finally reached France, our officer ordered us to jump and land at the safest place we could, in order to avoid getting shot by the enemy.
After two or three minutes I finally landed in a crops field. We were suffering heavy casualties from the enemy’s anti-aircraft weapons. German patrols were passing by me all the time and I couldn’t reassemble with my squad. At this time I was terrified because we knew that the Germans didn’t actually hold any prisoners so I kept hiding. I was lucky because an airplane of ours had just crashed in a barn next to the field, so the Germans were busy examining the debris and I ran as fast as I could to the “safe zone”.
When I arrived only a few men were there. After waiting for about an hour we proceeded with the plan. We sneaked behind the enemy lines and arrived at our destination. It was a large base encircled with barbed wire and was heavily guarded. We thought that such a base has to hide some very important files. We fought with bravery repelling every single counter-attack the Germans attempted, even when we were outnumbered. Finally, after some hours of fighting, we captured the base and with it also some prisoners and the top secret files. The files were about some plans for constructing deadly missiles and weapons.
After that we contacted our seniors using the German radio station and waited for them to come and take us back home. It was an unforgettable experience that I will remember forever, both exciting and terrifying. I was awarded with the Medal of Honor by the US Government and I am still very proud to have participated in World War II, served my country and fought for freedom and democracy against the Nazi’s scourge.
Puppies for Sale
By Efi Panagiotidou
My name is Jerry. I'm a farmer. My life in the farm is really hard as I don't make much money for a long time now. So, the fact that I found a thoroughbred, female, labrador retriever was just beyond my belief! I thought it was my lucky day, because the dog would mate and I could sell its puppies and make my life better and easier.
More or less, the things went as I had expected. Cookie, the dog, got pregnant and gave birth to 10 beautiful beige and black puppies. But, since they were borne earlier than they should, the vet kept them in order to monitor them. The puppies became 1 month old and the vet announced me that he would bring them at my farm with his truck. "But, you should know,", he said, "all 9 puppies are completely healthy except for one that has a little problem in walking." "It's ok!", I said, "I'll see what I can do."
When the day of their return had arrived, I started preparing the farm and when I finished I got out and put a sign where I had written with big red letters: "PUPPIES FOR SALE". While I was doing that, I noticed a little boy staring at the sign. He approached me hesitantly and said: "Sir, can I please have a puppy too?" I looked at him and told him: "You know son, these puppies come from really great parents and are worth a fortune." The little boy got frustrated. He looked down for a minute, got some coins out of his pocket and asked: "Is this money enough at least to see them?" I didn't get the chance to answer, when the vet's truck arrived. "Come son!", I said. The truck's door opened and 10 little fairy balls got down. They all started running here and there except for one, that was trying to approach them almost crawling. "This is the one I want!", he exclaimed! "But son, you can't have this one. It won't be able to run and play just like the others!", I said. The boy lifted up him pants and revealed two steel blades that were holding his legs and were leading to a special shoe. "See sir", he said, "I can't run fast either and this little puppy is going to need someone who understands it." All torn up, I took the little dog and put it in the boy's arms. "How much is it sir?", he asked me. "It does nothing, boy.", I answered.
The boy takes really good care of the puppy and visits me every week. And there's one thing I'm sure about. I'll never forget that day!
2-01-12 a day to remember
By Ioanna Antoniadou
It was during the first snowstorm of the year. The view out of my window was stunning, I couldn't take my eyes, everything was white and had a cozy and warm outlook. I was living alone in a studio apartment in the noisy and busy side of New York City, so I was able to watch people walking with many bags and gifts while the Christmas lights were shining. Although I was all alone I had a bright smile on my face, as I was feeling like hanging out with the people outside. Christmas holidays, here in New York, is something unique, because wherever you look you sense the liveliness and the happiness and this is something that I really love about New York.
The time was passing by, while I was doing many things such as watching TV, reading books and stuff like that. It was almost 5 o' clock when the phone rang. I answered immediately and a very familiar voice started speaking and after a couple of minutes I realised that it was Jenny.
"Hey! Are you still there?" I heard her yelling, as I didn't talk to her because I was in deep thoughts about who it could be.
"Ooh.. Jenny. Yes I'm still here. Sorry for not talking to you, but something just crossed my mind."
"It's alright. I was wondering if you want to go out for coffee with the other girls.."
"Yes, of course. I would love to." I said happily.
"Okay then, me, Christine and Selena will come over your house in an hour to pick you up for coffee."
"Alright I am looking forward to seeing you all. Ho, Ho!"
" Bye sweetie"
Suddenly the silence dominated my apartment.At the same time I turned on the stereo and I heard my favorite Christmas song playing. I started singing, while I was preparing for my date. I kept singing and singing all hour and didn't stop until the doorbell rang. Running through the door I opened with a quick movement and who could be? Girls, of course. Immediately I wrapped my favorite hot pink scarf and we went out.
The center of New York was crowded with so many people and all coffee shops were full. Fortunately we found a table at the second floor of Starbucks with exactly four chairs and near the window, just what we needed. Of course I sat at the seat that was next to the window and I saw the beautiful view and then I caught four pairs of eyes staring at us. There were four boys that were gossiping about us. I didn't pay attention and I kept talking with the girls but suddenly I looked up and saw these boys right next to me.
"Hello! Do you remember us?" one of them said.
"Er.. Nope" I answered with a weird expression on my face.
"We were schoolmates at High School"
And at the same time memories from the past came over my mind.
After a while all the boys joined us and we started a conversation about our days in high school. We were talking and laughing for hours. It was so much fun and everyone had a great time. From thenon we became very close friends with the boys and every day we hanged out together. That day would be definitely one of my best to remember. Although these guys came out of nowhere, they changed our lives in a better way.
An Unexpected Meeting
By Lazaros Papadopoulos
Last Friday, I had an appointment with my physiotherapist and then I decided to spend my rest time at a café near the doctor's office. The weather was really bad and it had just started snowing. Drinking something hot was the best choice, for sure.
While I was drinking a cup of my favourite tea and enjoying a piece of a lovely cake, I noticed a familiar person sitting at a table next to me. He had brown hair and grey eyes and a crooked nose. He was reading a sports newspaper and drinking a cup of coffee. I tried to remember his name, but I couldn't. Suddenly, I caught him looking at me and I smiled.
After a few minutes I decided to go to his table to ask his name. He was George Ioannou, my best friend at primary school. I hadn't seen him for years, but he was still the same person. He was always funny and I could laugh for hours with his jokes. We talked about the past and exchanged our telephone numbers and e-mails to keep in touch. He said that he had occasionally tried to locate me, but with no luck.
At that very moment Jenny Papadopoulou appeared and sat down next to George. I immediately recognized her and she recognized me, too. Jenny was my classmatel, too and we were good friends. Now, she is George's girlfriend, as George told me just before. She has blonde with beautiful blue eyes. I also remember her singing very well and told her so. So, she invited me to listen to her at a concert with her group the next afternoon.
I was very happy for this unexpected meeting and we all decided to keep in touch. In my opinion, childhood friendships remain untouched forever and are precious, as they remind us of happy, carefree years full of hope and future dreams.
Birthday Surprise
By Konstantina Hamotheou
I was just going to bed when I saw something in the garden. My parents weren't at home and I would spend the night all alone. I looked again and I didn't see anything strange in the garden.
I didn't pay attention to that event and I decided to go to my bed. Three minutes later the lights in my bedroom went out and voices were coming from the garden. I was so scared but I decided to search and find what was happening. I lit a candle and opened the door from my house. The weather was so bad and the candle extinguished. I didn't hear anything anymore and I didn't see anyone in my garden.
I went into the house and I called my parents to tell them what had happened. They didn't answer and I decided to forget about it. I lay on my bed and suddenly the wardrobe doors opened. I started screaming and my friends appeared with a birthday cake. I thought nobody had remembered my birthday...but I was mistaken. We laughed very much. It was the best birthday I have ever had!!!!
Adventure
και η ορχήστρα! 
