Creative Writing

As part of our Reading to Write module in the Preliminary English course students were asked to write a story in the style of Jamaica Kincaid’s short story “Girl”. The results were as delightful and surprising as Jamaica Kincaid herself could have wished. Here is a snapshot of student writing.

Parent Talk II

The door opens and she hangs on the balcony; “Good afternoon, I prayed for you today; will you not come and shake my hand; you must be tired; there’s tea in the microwave and it’s getting lukewarm; I made the tea myself; I made it exactly how we like it; I am more tired than I have ever been; won’t you come hug me; don’t come too close I am a frail woman you must know this; go pray before you commit another sin; why haven’t you greeted your father; make sure to lower your head; and make sure he doesn’t shake your hand; you are not a little child you should know better; this is not how I have taught you how to talk to a man; if any man ever tries anything I will be the first to break their jaw; greet everyone then be sure to shower: you must shower with hot water, the cold will make you ill; don’t sit down until we have finished making dinner; today I am showing you how to make palak gosht; palak goes well with everything; will you cut the meat; I am more tired than I have ever been; don’t make a bad job of cutting the meat or what will your future husband think of you; don’t let your husband talk you into anything, it never ends well; when you marry I will bring you a gift of gold, don’t ever forget; make sure to love your children how I have taught you; always know that you and your brother are my heart and liver; you must never go against this; remember to put the rice on the table after it is done; remember not to sit too close to your father; remember to pray before dinner; thank God that I have raised you right; pray for me; remember that I am more tired than I have ever been.’