Adulthood

  The sun let loose its warming rays over the lush decor of Cubbon Park. Tall boughs of a majestic Banyan had reached out on the ground forming an umbrella as tentacles offered a canopy sheltering families spreading out their baskets to have a picnic there. Cheers and laughter among the children playing badminton and football fill up the ambient peace. A little girl, Sonia, was playing with a shuttlecock. She let it fall beside a tree trunk and then ran after it, ponytail bouncing with every step. When she picked up the shuttlecock, she heard strange moaning sounds behind the tree. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she peeped behind the tree. What she saw wrinkled her forehead in worry. A couple, young one, embracing each other passionately, locked mouths, hands exploring each other's bodies. The girl figured they might need help, thinking the moaning was painful. She hastened back to her mother and pulled at her hand. "Mommy, Mommy! Those people need help!". Her m...

A Tale of Generations  The short story, "Cubbon Tales - Look Closer," reads like a seemingly simple tale about a child's curiosity and a mother's dilemma to explain something that is essentially a complex social norm. Yet, beneath all this lies an intense commentary on the changing values of generations and the friction caused when old meets new.  The Clash of Cultures: The story is based on the act of public kissing, which is considered inappropriate by the older generation but harmless by the younger generation. Sonia is the protagonist who seems to be confused regarding her mother's reaction to the couple's show of affection. She portrays innocent curiosity that reflects a generation less held in shackles of tradition and more open to expressing emotions freely. The story reveals how the emphasis of the older generation on social norms is against the desire for self-expression and authenticity by the younger generation.   The Power of Observation and Ques...