Exercise 1

“Late in the evening I was walking in the park. Suddenly I heard screams coming from

behind the bushes. I stopped to listen and realized that a woman was being attacked. I

heard sounds of fighting and muttering. For several moments I was hesitating, should

I get involved?

I panicked. I was frightened for my own safety. Maybe it is better to call the police?

Then I realized that the woman ‘s voice became weaker, so I knew I had to act

quickly. Finally, I decided that I have to help this unknown woman even if I had to

risk my own life. I felt some strange transformation happening inside of me. I ran

swiftly behind the bushes. Then, I pulled the attacker off the girl. We fell to the

ground and grappled for several minutes. The assailant jumped up and ran away.

Breathing hard, I slowly came up to the girl, who was cowering behind a tree. It was

dark, so I could not see her face clearly. I felt that she was afraid, so I talked to her

from a distance: "You are safe now, it is ok, the man ran away". After a few moments I

heard her words with great amazement in her voice: "Dad, is that you?” And then I

realized that the girl was my youngest daughter.”

Themes in this story are bravery and fear.

Exercise 2 – Revenge

A chess match fiercely ensued in the remote part of the evergreen park. Here the afternoon sun became

displeasing to my eye. Therefore, I found rescue on the bench under a tree. However, my eye found

enemy elsewhere. My gaze was fixed on 3 children- as if aiming its hate at them- who found joy in

soaking adults in paint. The sight was too overwhelming, as it flooded my eyes with the memories from

three years ago; when I was their newest victim. I thought that pranks in the park were a naïve,

simplistic matter. I let the pride of my adulthood prevent me from responding with anything but a roll of

eye or wave of fist. However, it occurred again, repeatedly, and incessantly throughout these years.

Eventually, my blood began to boil at the sight of them, until its heat rivaled the afternoon sun. Today,

the sound of my revenge will reverberate this silent park. Firstly, like pawn to f4, I lured them into my
trap with a trail of candy droppings. Next, I leap out of the bushes and reveal my buckets of paint and

the chase begins. Strangely, the word “check” comes to mind. Finally, I let loose my buckets, and its

contents freefall upon pesky children. I feel unbelievable satisfaction seeing the same colours that

stained me for years upon the clothes of my enemies. I then leave the park, accompanied by one word

screamed by the winner of the distant chess match; “checkmate”.