Merged: Short stories.

[Jacopo]

---

Put the Glass Down

A lecturer was giving a lecture to his student on stress management.

He raised a glass of water and asked the audience,

"How heavy do youthink this glass of water is?"

The students' answers ranged from 20g to 500gm.

"It does not matter on the absolute weight. It depends on how long you hold it.

If I hold it for a minute, it is OK.

If I hold it for an hour, I will have an ache in my right arm.

If I hold it for a day, you will have to call an ambulance.

It is the exact same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

"If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later,

we will notbe able to carry on, the burden becoming increasingly heavier."

"What you have to do is to put the glass down, rest for a while before holding it up again."

We have to put down the burden periodically,

so that we can be refreshed and are able to carry on.

So before you return home from work tonight, put the burden of work down.

Don't carry it back home. You can pick it up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you are having now on your shoulders,

let it down for a moment if you can.

Pick it up again later when you have rested...

Rest and relax.

Life is short, enjoy it!!

[Jacopo]

How much would you give when you love?



Message: A girl and guy were speeding over 100 mph on the road...

Girl: Slow down. Im scared.
Guy: No this is fun.
Girl: No its not. Please, it’s too scary!
Guy: Then tell me you love me.
Girl: Fine, I love you. Slow down!
Guy: Now give me a BIG hug. *Girl hugged him*
Guy: Can you take my helmet off & put it on yourself? It’s bugging me.

---

(In the paper the next day):

A motorcycle had crashed into a building because of break failure. 2 people were on it, but only 1 survived.

The truth was that halfway down the road, the guy realized that his breaks broke, but he didn't want to let the girl know. Instead, he had her say she loved him & felt her hug 1 last time, then had her wear his helmet so that she would live even though it meant that he would die.



"If the heart is willing, it will make a thousand ways...if the heart is unwilling, it will make a thousand excuses"

[Jacopo]

The Empty Egg
>>>
>>>Author Unknown
>>>
>>> _____
>>>
>>>
>>>Jeremy was born with a twisted body and a slow mind. At the age of
>>>12 he
>>>was still in second grade, seemingly unable to learn. His teacher,
>>>Doris
>>>Miller, often became exasperated with him. He would squirm in his
>>>seat,
>>>drool, and make grunting noises. At other times, he spoke clearly
>>>and
>>>distinctly, as if a spot of light had penetrated the darkness of
>>>his
>>>brain. Most of the time, however, Jeremy just irritated his
>>>teacher.
>>>One day she called his parents and asked them to come in for a
>>>consultation. As the Forresters entered the empty classroom, Doris
>>>said
>>>to them, "Jeremy really belongs in a special school. It isn't fair
>>>to
>>>him to be with younger children who don't have learning problems.
>>>Why,
>>>there is a five year gap between his age and that of the other
>>>students."
>>>Mrs. Forrester cried softly into a tissue, while her husband
>>>spoke.
>>>"Miss Miller," he said, "there is no school of that kind nearby.
>>>It
>>>would be a terrible shock for Jeremy if we had to take him out of
>>>this
>>>school. We know he really likes it here." Doris sat for a long
>>>time
>>>after they had left, staring at the snow outside the window. Its
>>>coldness seemed to seep into her soul. She wanted to sympathize
>>>with the
>>>Forresters. After all, their only child had a terminal illness.
>>>But it
>>>wasn't fair to keep him in her class. She had 18 other youngsters
>>>to
>>>teach, and Jeremy was a distraction. Furthermore, he would never
>>>learn
>>>to read and write. Why waste any more time trying?
>>>As she pondered the situation, guilt washed over her. Here I am
>>>complaining when my problems are nothing compared to that poor
>>>family,
>>>she thought. Lord, please help me to be more patient with Jeremy.
>>>From
>>>that day on, she tried hard to ignore Jeremy's noises and his
>>>blank
>>>stares. Then one day, he limped to her desk, dragging his bad leg
>>>behind
>>>him.
>>>"I love you, Miss Miller," he exclaimed, loud enough for the whole
>>>class
>>>to hear. The other students snickered, and Doris' face burned red.
>>>She>
>>>stammered, "Wh-why that's very nice, Jeremy. N-now please take
>>>your
>>>seat."
>>>Spring came, and the children talked excitedly about the coming of
>>>Easter. Doris told them the story of Jesus, and then to emphasize
>>>the
>>>idea of new life springing forth, she gave each of the children a
>>>large
>>>plastic egg. "Now," she said to them, "I want you to take this
>>>home and
>>>bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life.
>>>Do you
>>>understand?"
>>>"Yes, Miss Miller," the children responded enthusiastically-all
>>>except
>>>for Jeremy. He listened intently; his eyes never left her face. He
>>>did
>>>not even make his usual noises. Had he understood what she had
>>>said
>>>about Jesus' death and resurrection? Did he understand the
>>>assignment?
>>>Perhaps she should call his parents and explain the project to
>>>them.
>>>That evening, Doris' kitchen sink stopped up. She called the
>>>landlord
>>>and waited an hour for him to come by and unclog it. After that,
>>>she
>>>still had to shop for groceries, iron a blouse, and prepare a
>>>vocabulary
>>>test for the next day. She completely forgot about phoning
>>>Jeremy's
>>>parents.
>>>The next morning, 19 children came to school, laughing and talking
>>>as
>>>they placed their eggs in the large wicker basket on Miss Miller's
>>>desk.
>>>After they completed their math lesson, it was time to open the
>>>eggs. In
>>>the first egg, Doris found a flower. "Oh yes, a flower is
>>>certainly a
>>>sign of new life," she said. "When plants peek through the ground,
>>>we
>>>know that spring is here." A small girl in the first row waved her
>>>arm.
>>>"That's my egg, Miss Miller," she called out. The next egg
>>>contained a
>>>plastic butterfly, which looked very real. Doris held it up. "We
>>>all
>>>know that a caterpillar changes and grows into a beautiful
>>>butterfly.
>>>Yes, that's new life, too." Little Judy smiled proudly and said,
>>>"Miss
>>>Miller, that one is mine." Next, Doris found a rock with moss on
>>>it. She
>>>explained that moss, too, showed life. Billy spoke up from the
>>>back of
>>>the classroom, "My daddy helped me," he beamed.
>>>Then Doris opened the fourth egg. She gasped. The egg was empty.
>>>Surely
>>>it must be Jeremy's she thought, and of course, he did not
>>>understand
>>>her instructions. If only she had not forgotten to phone his
>>>parents.
>>>Because she did not want to embarrass him, she quietly set the egg
>>>aside
>>>and reached for another. Suddenly, Jeremy spoke up. "Miss Miller,
>>>aren't
>>>you going to talk about my egg?" Flustered, Doris replied, "But
>>>Jeremy,
>>>your egg is empty." He looked into her eyes and said softly, "Yes,
>>>but
>>>Jesus' tomb was empty, too."
>>>Time stopped. When she could speak again, Doris asked him, "Do you
>>>know
>>>why the tomb was empty?" "Oh, yes," Jeremy said, "Jesus was killed
>>>and
>>>put in there. Then His Father raised Him up."
>>>The recess bell rang. While the children excitedly ran out to the
>>>schoolyard, Doris cried. The cold inside her melted completely
>>>away.
>>>Three months later, Jeremy died. Those who paid their respects at
>>>the
>>>mortuary were surprised to see 19 eggs on top of his casket.......
>>>all
>>>of them empty.

[Jacopo]

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year-old son waiting for him at the door...

Son: Daddy, may I ask you a question

Daddy:Yeah sure, what it is?

Son: Dad, how much do you make an hour

Daddy: \"Thats none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?

Son: I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?

Daddy: I make Rs. 500 an hour

Oh, the little boy replied, with his head down.

Looking up, he said, Dad, may I please borrow Rs. 300?

The father was furious,
if the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money
to buy a silly toy or other nonsense, then march yourself to your room and go to bed.
Think why you are being so selfish. I work hard everyday for such this childish behavior

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.

The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boys questions.

How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?

After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down,
and started to think:

May be there was something he really needed to buy with that
Rs. 300 and he really didnt ask for money very often!

The man went to the door of little boy\\\'s room and opened the door.
Are you asleep, son? He asked.
No daddy, Im awake, replied the boy.

Ive been thinking, may be I was too hard on you earlier, said the man,
Its been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you.
Heres the Rs.300 you asked for

The little boy sat straight up, smiling oh thank you dad! He yelled.

Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled some crippled up notes.
The man, seeing that the boy already had money, started to get angry again.

The little boy slowly counted out his money, then looked up at his father.

Why do you want money if you already had some? the father grumbled.

Because I didnt have enough, but now I do, the little boy replied.
Daddy I have Rs. 500 now. Can I buy an hour of your time?
Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you

MORAL Its just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life.
We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some
time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts.

If we die tomorrow,
the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days.

But the family & friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.
And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than to our family....

sort of reminder for us not to disregard our family.. truly inspiring...

OT: hope you guys out there share some of your inspiring stories.. who knows, it may be a small thought but it could change someone's life..

[anniepetilla]

beg pardon, can i have this space please?
will follow...

[Jacopo]

Building Your House

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week, but he wanted to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go & asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, "This is your house... my gift to you."

The carpenter was shocked!

What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently.

But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Someone once said, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Your attitude, and the choices you make today, help build the "house" you will live in tomorrow. Therefore, Build wisely!

[DebutsAndIDos]

how could she have done that? she's about to get married? ahhh, some lovestory!!

Love has its reasons of which reason knows nothing
--Blaise Pascal

[Jacopo]

THAT KIND WORD "MAYBE"
By Marjorie Holmes
My parents never had much money, but they enriched us by their use of that wonderful word "maybe."

Much of the time it was a hope word. When we'd plead, "Can I have a new bike?" "Are we going to the circus?" Dad would have to ponder. "Maybe," he would say, not wanting to make a promise he couldn't keep.

"Maybe" was also their word for dreaming. "Maybe next summer we can take a trip to the ocean." "Maybe someday we can buy a little farm with a brook.

But the thing I remember best is that "maybe" was a word for making allowances for others. Whenever one of us would make a snap judgement, we would hear it. "Just look at the poor lady loading all those groceries in the car while her husband sits there. Why doesn't he help her?" "Maybe he's been sick," Dad sympathized. "Maybe he's had a heart attack." Or, Doesn't that woman look awful. Her slip's showing and she's got a big run in her stocking." Mother: "Maybe her strap broke and she doesn't have a safety pin. Maybe she doesn't know about the run."

All this came back to me one awful day when my brakes failed in city traffic. Terrified, I couldn't even pause at lights except to go bucking into neutral. "You fool! Why don't you learn to drive?" a passing motorist bawled.

In my instant hurt and outrage I wanted to bellow back, "You're rude, you're mean! Can't you see I'm in trouble?" I didn't -- it wouldn't have done any good. But that's not what stopped my tirade. It was simply the healing word "maybe." Maybe the man was already tired and mad and hurting. Maybe he's just been fired, or his mate is leaving him. Maybe nobody ever taught him to control his temper. Maybe he can't help it!

Still praying desperately, I finally made it to a filling station and safely home -- too grateful to blame anybody, and so relieved I found myself praying for that man.

PRAYER

DEAR LORD, don't let me be so quick to judge people. We all have burdens and reasons others can't see. No matter what the provocation, help each of us to remember that kind word maybe.

[anniepetilla]

is it okay...

to truly stink at something you love doing?...The world has enough experts...

[anniepetilla]

the contract


they sat together on the bench, not saying a word.
he stole a glance sideways, saw that she was still occupied with the dozens of colorful beads in her left wrsit, and sighed. "she's not gonna say anything," he thought. and on a gloomier note, he added: "she's also going to say no."

he fidgeted himself. he wasnt the sort of person who fidgets a lot, but these kind of things often surface in the most inopportune of times.

he looked at her again. she was still at it, playing with her frigging beads. he felt nervous, stupid and clumsy.

they sat like that for two more minutes, minutes that seemed like ages to him. then to his consternation, rain began to fall down. not a gentle drizzle, or the undecided trickle of what we call a feminine shower, but a torrential downpour. it crashed down on them unceremoniously, and without warning. almost as if a bucket upstairs had just upended and decided to pour on them.

they scuttled towards the building terrace, the nearest one was theÂ* annexe. they were followed by other kids who had been playing soccer in the green, people strolling the afternoon break away.

in his surprise, he had run on ahead without bothering to look after her. she had sprang up from the hard bench littered with "i was here where were you's" and similar brilliant graffiti that bored students come up with.

they stood together with other students. she wiped her bare arms with a white handkerchief. . her skin glistened with the moisture. the hated beads stuck to her skin. bright crystals of water sat atop her hair. gingerly,Â* he brushed them off with his hand. he had a vague realization that his jeans had been splattered with water and mud on his mad dash indoors.he thought he didnt care. other students had been similarly dirtied up.

"okay then."

he looked at her. she was still wiping off water from her elbows. she wasnt even looking at him. it was as though she had never spoken at all, so engrossed was she at the task.

"what?" he asked a bit shortly.

"I said okay. are you a bit deaf now?" she answered, stuffing the wet hanky on her backpack. she looked at him then, faint color rising on her cheeks. the sight of her blushing,even faintly, amused him no end. Tita, his Tita, blush? the impatient, taciturn Tita, who can smile and rant in one breath and cut your head in the bargain, and who smokes a pack a day and read ayn rand to the wee hours of the morning--Tita in the flesh, blush?

he didnt answer first. he was afraid he would burst out laughing if he so much as open his mouth. already both ends were sore from being forced shut. he looked at the grounds. it was one of those weird rains when the sun is still visible, and the temperature barely cooling. he heard the students' chatter all around them. and the sound of the rain on the annexe roof.

finally, he said. "okay what? im not even sure what you're talking about. " he felt so absurdly happy and giggly he almost didnt believe it.

"okay okay. okay. take it or leave it."

he looped an arm accross her wet shoulders and tugged her towards him. "i always knew you'd say that."

"quit playing around, maximo," she scolded, but did not wriggle out of his clumsy hug. "my, your pants are dirty."

" do you care?" he asked. he was still feeling giddy, like a toddler out on his first circus trip. she smelled like rain and sunshine and shampoo. he debated telling her that, but decided against it. she will call it corny. or cliche. or worse, she could accuse him of clumsy flattery. he had never been so good at these things.

"yes. i care that you're rubbing mud in my legs." she was wearing khaki cut-offs.

"you are the most unromantic girl who ever crossed my path." he declared.but his huge grin bisected his face.

he wasnt looking at her face then, so he did not see the shadow that passed over her features briefly. a small frown creased her brows. she lookedÂ* up at his face, so close to her own, as familiar as the back of her hand.

he looked down at her. "what? why are you looking at me like that? are you thinking about how lucky you are to be having me as a boyfriend? nobody else looks at me like that. people who look at me like that are bound to get kissed, you know.."

for the first time that afternoon, she smiled. it wasnt her usual absentminded smile, it was a smile so there that he could barely remember if a smile ever existed before.

"maximo. ive just thought of something," she said, still looking at him with that curious smile.

Â* ***
she walked home with him that afternoon, a week later. he came off from work earlier so he had waited for her at the school. she had soccer that day and was late in coming out. he bought the two of them ice cream from the vendor parked outside the west gate. they talked about the movie they were going to see later that night.

at an intersection, she stopped and rummaged in her canvass bag, her left hand holding her ice cream cone aloft. wordlessly, he took the cone from her and she rummaged with both of her hands. he stood there with the ice creams melting into his hands. he licked one cone after the other.

"come on, come on..what are you looking for in there?"

"wait." she said. finally, she fished out a crumpled bunch of computer papers.three pieces of them, actually, stapled together. she handed them over to him. "there. read that."

he started to scan the first page.

"NO! not right away, maximo. later after you're sitting down or something. you're always so impatient. reading in the middle of traffic." she rolled her eyes and took the cone from him.

he did not say that she read in the middle of traffic more often than he did. and besides, what choice did he, with her shoving the papers under his nose have? he folded the papers neatly and stuffed them on his backpocket.

"good thing you wore your carpenter jeans with the humonguous pockets,: she remarked happily as they started to walk once again.

"yeah, thank god." he said. he wondered why his pockets seemed heavier. it was probably just one of her poems orÂ* straight A essays with glowing remarks by her professors. he shrugged mentally and began tugging at her ponytail.
Â* Â* ***

CONTRACT
binding and semi-legal

Thea Tasha Maquilin
Maximo Henares Jr.

The above mentioned parties are binded by this contract to pursue the terms stated below:

1. Thea Tasha Maquilin, nineteen years old and six months old, have said YES to Maximo Henares Jr., 23 years of age on the 15th of August, 200_. May it be remembered that this is a pay day.

2. By virtue of the YES bestowed by Thea Tasha Maquilin, the aforementioned parties are therefore bound by a common (which also means mutual) agreement on a commitment to each other the further details and idiosyncracies of which will be withheld for reasons of brevity.

3. They can call themselves sweethearts but not in public.

4. Maximo Henares Jr. is presently a boyfriend of Thea Theresa Maquilin and will enjoy the priviliges and obligations attached herewith.

5. Thea Theresa Maquilin is presently, as of August 15 2005, a GIRLFRIEND (an official designation exclusive to the latter) of Maximo Henares Jr. and will enjoy the privileges and obligations attached herewith.

6. By virtue of clause 4 and 5, Maximo Henares Jr. and Thea Theresa Maquilin are equally and without exceptions of any nature, PROHIBITED to get themselves another GIRLFRIEND or BOYFRIEND respectively, the manifestations of which are:
1. dating another girl/boy
2. kissing another girl/boy
3. getting into another relationship or commitment with another girl/boy
not in his/her family;contractual or otherwise
4. texting with another girl/boy with reasons other than for casual information or friendly communication



7. Should clause 6 be violated by either of the parties, said contract will have been rendered null and void.

8. explanations of certain atrocious behaviour are to be heard.

9. Being late for an appointment is punishable by any kind of penalty the aggrieved party care to devise, barring physical pain and death of course.

10. Party who makes a promise to do something, make a date to do something at a certain time and place, or anything at all that the other party trust the other party to do is BOUND by this contract to carry said promise or oath or date through with no shallower excuses than death in the family and the party itself. violation of this will be met with penaltyÂ* on clause number 9. to avoid contradictions, clause 8 will also be invoked in these proceedings.

11. Movies are once a week on a weekend, tickets are to be paid by Maximo Henares Jr., and food and drinks shall be provided by Thea Theresa Maquilin. Decisions on what movie to see will be alternate, excepting instances when both parties are in agreement on the subject.

12. Acceptable behaviour consisted of, but not limited to:

2.aÂ* holding hands
2.bÂ* occasional hugs
2.cÂ* even rarer kissing'
additional items can be negotiable.

13. No ***.

14. Fun activities will include: movies, walks, beach outings, long talks, family reunions when it is perfectly acceptable to bring the other party along, church, and anything else that both parties had already been doing the past 10 years and anything else that they may devise in the future. clause 12, par 2 will apply here.

15. neither of the parties will interfere or object to a day/night out with other friends, as long as the other party is fully aware of it beforehand.

16. when together, both parties shall surrender each of their mobile phones to the other.

17. the parties shall agree not to meet when one is not inclined to do so, for any reasons at all. it is up to the other party to persuade the one, taking into consideration the gravity whatever situation merits the meeting.

18. If, afterall the provisions stated in this contract, either one of the parties decided to terminate the COMMITMENT with each other, said contract will have been null and void.

19. lying, or deliberately misinforming, misleading or deceiving the other party about anything at all, or even the mere concealment of any pertinent information deemed essential to the preservation of said relationship will be considered an ATROCIOUS and UNFORGIVABLE behaviour.

20. Both parties are expressly prohibited of divulging any pertinent information regarding their relationship to other parties. this is one of the two clauses that will hold both parties after contract had been dissolved.







***
he had finished the whole thing, but he refused to look up from the paper. she had typed it in her dad's pc, no doubt. he wished he still had the ice cream just so he'd have something to do except look at the printed words on the white page.

she grew tired with his silence.

"come on, you've taken long enough...what do you think? will you sign it?" she said. she was seated accross him.

he looked up, placed his cheek against the heel of his hand and looked at her. it took a full minute before he spoke.

"Clause 13 and 14 are contradictory. in fact, most of your clauses are contradictory. there is always a way to get out of one rule by invoking another. you're not going to make a very good lawyer, tita."

she frowned. "so you dont wanna sign?"

again, he took a moment to answer. "well..i think the foremost question on my mind right now is..what made you think of writing out this..."he looked down at the paper. "Contract?"

she frowned at him. she wanted to see if he was laughing or treating it all a joke. he was just plain bemused. or bewildered. she looked away, her fingers absently playing with the indian beads on her left wrist. he stared at the beads. the afternoon was a lot cooler now. he looked at his watch--5:15 pm. children cavorted at a dune far out in the beach, with buckets and spades for hunting crabs. their delighted shrieks floated to where they sat at an empty cottage in Coconut Beach. beachcombers, young and old walked the sand, in twos, often singly, with that aimless gait of one who had all the time in the world to explore. A mile down the highway stood the Uniwide Mall where they would be catching a final run of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius.Â*

finally, tita spoke. "well, it's no big deal. i just thought it would be nice to have something to bank on. or something."

"dont you trust me at all?"

tita shook her head. "oh let's not talk about it anymore.it doesnt matter. what time is it?"

"Five fifteen. we still have forty minutes before the movie starts." he folded and refolded the paper, observing her. no, it wasnt okay. he could tell. it does matter to her. well what the heck. he tapped her cheek twice with his hand. "hey. you have a ballpen there?"

she looked at him, skeptical."yeah...?"

"come on. i aint got all day." he joked. he smiled even. she delved into her canvass bag again, and after a few minutes of frantic searching came up with a blue Bic pen.she uncapped it before handing it over to him.

he signed his name on all three pages, at the left hand bottom. then she signed them herself.

"there. doesnt it make it more official?" she grinned. " i'll have it notarized. so it's really legal."

"i shudder to think about what contract you'll have me sign when we marry." he said.

she laughed lightly. "something about castration in the event of unfaithfulness?"

he shook his head, stood up and went around the table. he held her up, hugged her to him, as if to seal the bargain.
"i just thought that whatever we had in our hearts would be stronger than any kind of paper to bind us."

"oh maximo," she giggled, not at all perturbed." you're so incredibly corny."

================================================== ================================

so i guess they were happy. even happier than they were when they were just casual acquaintances, or were study buddies, who became debate team enemies, movie buddies, or were smoking session buddies.
the only difference was the contract. the contract that she framed and recopied four times. one for her, one for him, one for official purposes, and the other one for a souvenir.
the contract, however, seemed like a very real authority in the transaction. the contract was in fact, like a very real personage sharing in the two's relationship. it was there whenever they walked at the beach, discussed nietzsche or played NBA games on the computer, or went to concerts. the contract sat with them at the movies, lined up with them at mcdonald's, jogged with them at the Strip, watched a boulevard sunrise with them even.
they never had