By Any Other Nerd

Title:  The Stick Up Author:  John Oliver Killens Summary The narrator is enjoying himself while taking a walk through the park.  He observes the different sites and people enjoying the day as well.  When walking back home near the park exit, a large white man blocks his way and tells him it's a stick up.  The man then says he's only joking but hopes the man can give him some change.  The narrator says he doesn't have change to offer and continues to walk.  The man persists, putting his arm around the narrator and insists that he's not like other bums.  The narrator grows frustrated at the man's insistence but the man pulls out a picture of his family.  The narrator continues to give cues that he needs to go but the man isn't listening.  He makes a plea about them being together and fighting against the North Vietnam.  Finally, the narrator insists he must go and walks to the corner.  The white man makes a derogatory ...

Title:  Afternoon into Night Author:  Katherine Dunham Summary Umberto removes his bull-fighting clothes, reflecting on what he just witnessed.  His friend and mentor, Polero was just killed by a bull because he had decided to let the bull win.  He gets dressed and attempts to leave before the crowds cheer him on for being the hero who stepped in and killed the bull that killed Polero.  He makes his way home, pondering the event and his companion.  During this walk, he also sees hints and shadows of Polero as he continues to focus on his friend's death.  At one point, he begins to run as if escaping someone but there is no one in his wake.  He continues to imagine this man (or bull) following him throughout his trek through the city.  He finally confronts the man/bull that is following him and he knows he must confront it in order to move forward.  In the final scene, he seems to conquer the fear that the bull represents in his...

Title:  The Richer, The Poorer Author:  Dorothy West Summary As sisters, Lottie and Bess grew up together but learned different lessons.  Lottie regularly nagged Bess to save and be careful with her money.  Lottie saved everything and worked ceaseless to accrue more.  By contrast Bess seemed to enjoy life and worry little about the future.  As the year pass, Lottie never marries while Bess marries and goes off on various adventures.  In their older years, Bess's husband dies and she is left with nothing but to call and ask Lottie for help.  Lottie agrees to help and starts to get her home ready for Bess.  In doing so, Lottie feels for the first time in her life a desire to spend without frugality.  Towards the end of their first evening together and listening to Bess's adventures, Lottie begins to realize she hasn't lived life and thinks it may be too late.  However, Bess insists that there is still plenty of living to hap...

So many of my (so very few) readers know that I regular work with social media in my various capacities as instructional designer and instructor.  I have also been a social media strategist for NERCOMP and NEPCA over the years and provided consultations on social media for different individuals and organizations.  Social media is something I think, read, discuss, and use a lot.  So when I recently learned that a Jeanine O'Neil  was contemplating giving up her courses on social media at North Shore Community College's Community Education (their noncredit courses), I talked with her and them noncredit program to find out about trying to fill the gap.   For the first time, this late winter, I will be teaching:   Share This: Social Media for Personal, Professional, and Organizational Uses This first course will run from February 24-March 10 on Tuesday evenings from 6pm-9pm at the Cummings Center in Beverly .  I hope that this course will provide in...

Title: Marihuana and a Pistol Author:  Chester B. Himes Summary "Red" Caldwell sits in his room with the weed he bought a gun.  He smokes up as a means of disconnecting from his recent split with his girlfriend.  In this state, he decided he would go stick up a c company. His mind wanders back and forth from having a clear plan on what he will do to being completely confused about what he is trying to do.  In this distracted state, he finds himself in a candy store and thinking he might rob it or even just start shooting people.  By the time, the owner addresses Red, he is so lost in his mind about what he is going to do that he shoots the man five times.  He drops the gun, forgetting what he has done.  When he hears it clatter, he looks at it and begins to giggle, wondering why someone would leave the gun there.  He proceeds to vomit and it's then that he sees the dead man.  He flees the scene but is soon apprehended by the cops bu...

Title:  The Revolt of the Evil Fairies Author:  Ted Poston Summary The narrator explains that the annual Prince Charming and Sleeping Beauty at Booker T. Washington Colored Grammar School was the dramatic event of the year in the town.  However, it was clear that regardless of talent, light skinned African Americans were regularly picked to play the lead roles and the good fairies while the evil fairies were always darker-skinned African Americans.  The narrator is frustrated by this because he is skillful on stage and also was hoping to be Prince Charming because he has a massive crush on the girl playing Sleeping Beauty.  Designated as the lead Evil Fairy, he must confront and lose to Prince Charming in the story.  However, this year during the performance, Prince Charming gets a bit more aggressive in his stage direction, being physically aggressive when he doesn't have to be.  In the final act, when the Evil Fairy is supposed to lose, the...

Title:  Thank You Ma'am Author:  Langston Hughes Summary A boy tries to steal Miss Jones' purse while she is walking down the street.  He is unsuccessful and falls over in the interaction.  Jones picks him up and starts yelling at him.  She asks him what he did it for and he lies but is honest when he says he will run after she asks him whether he will if she lefts him go.  She decides to take him to her home and clean him up.  The boy asks to leave and Jones berates him for trying to steal from her and that this is now his fault.  They go back to the apartment and she learns that his name is Roger.  He reveals that he was stealing the purse to go buy a pair of blue suede shoes and she says he could have just asked for the money.  She then lets on that she too did things like steal when she was his age.  She goes to prepare some food after setting down the purse in front of him.  But Roger doesn't grab it and run, eve...

Title:  Miss Cynthie Author:  Rudolph Fisher Summary Miss Cynthie is amazed when she is referred to as madam when arriving in New York City.  She is visitng David,her grandson to learn about what he does for a living.  She chats with the employees at the station and mentions her purpose and that she hopes her grandson has amounted to something.  As she exits the terminal, she finds David who takes her to the car.  As they talk, Cynthie keeps trying to pry and find out what David does but he insists that she must wait until the following night.  As they travel through the city, he identifies different places including Broadway which she chides.  They arrive at David's apartment and he introduces his partner, Ruth.  Ruth encourages David to tell his grandmother what she does so as not to shock her but he insists that he has to show her, otherwise, she won't appreciate it.  While they are talking, they hear her singing to herself ...

I'm really into the home stretch here with the final month.  I'm surprised I've made it this far but so happy I'm here.  I am almost caught up with all the posting that I've been behind on.  I most definitely will be by December 31!  It was a bit much to ask to try to stay consistent the entire year, but I'll be glad if I end up with 365 short stories.  That's a feat I'll be proud of.   November was a fair share of Kate Chopin and Ambrose Bierce, which was a very curious juxtaposition that I enjoyed.  I appreciated reading new stories by Chopin that I hadn't encountered before and discovering more and more I like the way she captures elements of life.  By contrast, I am glad to be closing in on Bierce to be done with him.  I am glad that I have read the entire works of the man, but am also tied of seeing the same thing time and again.   So we're down to the final month--I wonder what new reads it will bring! The reading list of ent...

Title:  Fern  Author:  Jean Toomer Summary The narrator remarks about the all-consuming Fern, a woman whose attraction unravels anyone within her eye shot.  For a while, she would regularly see her suitors but eventually stops seeing people long enough that they think of her as pure.  The narrator admits to admiring and being attracted to Fern.  One day, the narrator gains the confidence to ask for Fern and go for a walk with her.  The narrator wraps his arms around her and when they look at each other, Fern becomes upset and eventually faints.  The narrator brings her back and people are suspect of him.  He eventually leaves town, thinking some day he might do something nice for Fern.   Reflection I'm torn about this story's meaning.  I have to wonder if the narrator was a male or female as it isn't entirely clear.  As to Fern's reaction at the end, I'm not sure of that either or it at least makes me wonder if ...