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  The Monkey’s Paw “Be careful what you wish for, you may receive it.” – Anonymous PART ONE Outside, the night was cold and wet, but in the small living room the curtains were closed and the fire burned brightly. Father and son were playing chess; the father, whose ideas about the game involved some very unusual moves, putting his king into such sharp and unnecessary danger that it even brought comment from the white-haired old lady knitting quietly by the fire. “Listen to the wind,” said Mr. White who, having seen a mistake that could cost him the game after it was too late, was trying to stop his son from seeing it. “I’m listening,” said the son, seriously studying the board as he stretched out his hand. “Check.” “I should hardly think that he’ll come tonight,” said his father, with his hand held in the air over the board. “Mate,” replied the son. “That’s the worst of living so far out,” cried Mr. White with sudden and unexpected violence; “Of all the awful out...

  The Inn of Lost Time Lensey Namioka Will you promise to sleep if I tell you a story?” said the father. He pretended to put on a stern expression. “Yes! Yes!” the three little boys chanted in unison. It sounded like a nightly routine. The two guests smiled as they listened to the exchange. They were wandering ronin, or unemployed samurai, and they enjoyed watching this cozy family scene. The father gave the guests a helpless look. “What can I do? I have to tell them a story, or these little rascals will give us no peace.” Clearing his throat, he turned to the boys. “All right. The story tonight is about Urashima Taro.” Instantly the three boys became still. Sitting with their legs tucked under them, the three little boys, aged five, four, and three, looked like a descending row of stone statuettes. Matsuzo, the younger of the two ronin, was reminded of the wayside half-body statues of Jizo, the God of Travelers and Protector of Children. Behind the boys the farmer’...

Edgar Allan Poe: storyteller p Seven Stories   Adapted from Edgar Allan Poe p A Ladder Edition at the 4,000-word level p Edgar Allan Poe: Storyteller Author: Edgar Allan Poe Second Edition: 2013                                          ISBN (print)                                                     978-1-624-25060-6                            ...