Finished Narratives
Though this is part of a series of sketches about my University years, it can be read independently and has no connection with the rest of the series, other than the characters (though they get renamed a lot) and the style.
This is the story of a brave warrior, told by a minstrel and loyal companion... or it is simply the story of how my best friend and I went to see "A Beautiful Mind" and couldn't get tickets. Neither version should be truly interesting, but the blending of the two isn't bad for an experiment.
You all have, I suppose, at least heard of the famous "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. Quite an interesting tale, if you like that sort of idealistic, moralizing thing. Well, if you don't, you'll be pleased to know that this little ghost-story, though it follows its example as best it is able to, is neither idealistic nor moralizing, but simply ironic.
I hope you all have as much fun reading it as I've had writing it. But I worn you: if you are the romantic type and you love Valentine's Day, you won't like it. This story is only for the few of us who are cynical and bitter boyfriendless sworn spinsters.
Corinne the Faithful and the Quest for the Holy Schnitzel
I have a friend who loves the schnitzels my grandmother makes. She lives just across the street, but she rarely comes to visit. One day she was supposed to come for lunch, but first she went to meet a prospective client. She went by bus instead of taking a cab. She got downtown too early and spent about an hour in a church to keep out of the sun and sit down. The meeting was postponed, so she walked for a while to pass the time. She didn't manage to make the deal she was hoping for, so the day was wasted, but at least she made it in time for dinner. To cheer her up, I told her the story had a moral meaning to it, two meanings actually, and I endeavoured to write it down.
This is the story that won Gryphonwood Magazine's first contest, back in the winter of 2004. It was supposed to be about a knight, but not a very good one. Somehow it ended up being about my dropping out of the University and about my friends' inability to find a boyfriend they'd like. But it is fantasy. Don't believe me about the dragon either: the only vegetarian I know would kill you instantly for interrupting her while she's watching a football game.
