11 Only the Dead Know Brooklyn by Thomas Wolfe

The narrator once met a big guy. The big guy tried to know everything about Brooklyn by traveling with his map. The narrator thought that he was crazy, because no one will ever know Brooklyn even if he lived in Brooklyn all his life. While they were on the train, the big guy asked the narrator whether he knows how to swim or not. The narrator said of course he knows, because his older brother pushed him into the water when he was 8 years old. He had to swim or he would drown. He swam. The big guy asked him what he would do when a man is drowning. The narrator said that he would pull him out of the water. The big guy asked what happened to people after they drowned in Brooklyn. The narrator said that it is impossible to drown here. That big guy was finding "Drowning" in the end, and the narrator got off the train to stay away from him. He remarked that only the dead might know whole Brooklyn, but most likely he will never know it all.

10 Putois by Anatole France

I didn't read this story, but my classmates, Enoch, Sophie, David, and Eric, did a play about the story. Enoch was the boss and the other 3 are the employees. Enoch called each one in and asked them why they didn't finish their work. They all said that a man named Putois did something causing them not to finish their work. The first guy said that Putois is a thief. The second one said that Putois is a lady-killer. The third one said that Putois is his gardener. The boss was confused and called all 3 in. They argued who Putois is, but couldn't reach any agreement. I think they all made up their own story, so they could have an excuse for slacking off. I think Putois doesn't exist.

The Shot Puppet Show

https://docs.google.com/document/d/114Ba4ituozcu25RpJhFZjHeiydmFppCnnicyGYBEq7Q/edit?hl=en_US

9 The Shot by Alexander Poushkin

The narrator was in the army. One day, a man named Silvio joined the army. Silvio was well respected and had good shots. Silvio and narrator were good friends until one day when Silvio refused to kill the man who threw a brass candle-stick at him. Narrator thought Silvio was a coward. One day, Silvio received a letter that his enemy is going to get married. Silvio told the narrator his past and how he got red cap with a hole in it. His rich young enemy stole his respected status and did not treat their duel seriously in the past. He was eating cherries when Silvio aimed at him with a gun. Silvio thought he was not ready to die yet and went away. Now, this enemy is getting married to a beautiful lady, so he must treat his life more seriously now. Silvio went to have a duel with him. Then the narrator never heard of him anymore and retired. One day, a beautiful countess and her husband the count came to live near the narrator. The narrator went to see her, and was welcomed warmly by them. Then he saw 2 holes, one on top of the other, on the wall. The count told him that a man gave him this souvenir. The narrator said that he knew a person who can shoot this well and said that he was Silvio. The count was surprised, because it was Silvio who gave him one of the shot. The count said that Silvio came one day asking for a duel and he was really scared. Silvio told him to shoot first and he did, but missed. Then Silvio aimed at him. Silvio did not shoot, because he was satisfied to see the count got nervous. Before he left, Silvio shoot the other one into the painting. Silvio was never heard of anymore, but probably died in a war.

8 The Courting of Dinah Shadd by Rudyard Kipling

There was an army and a soldier named Mulvaney. He told a story about how he got married to the beautiful Dinah Shadd. He was dating Dinah Shadd, and they were going to get married. Then, he got drunk and went to Judy's house. Judy sit on his lap and he stayed there for a few hours. Judy's mother saw him too and thought he was Judy's man. The next day, Mulvaney went to Dinah Shadd's house, but Judy came and said that Mulvaney was her man. Judy's mother also came. Mulvaney denied and Dinah Shadd said that she will still marry him. Then Judy's mother cursed them and their children. Judy and her mother left, and Mulvaney's child did die.