10 SHORT STORIES WITH A BEGINNING, MIDDLE AND END - LITERATURE - 2024

The short stories are stories by purpose show that present situations, real or fictitious, within a context in which these are developed, the knot or break points faced and the outcome that can display lessons.

They are promoted to foster creativity and understanding in infants between the ages of 9 and 12, as well as young people.

The beginning of the stories seeks to introduce the theme, either by explaining the main and secondary characters, as well as the environment that surrounds them. When a moment occurs that divides the story into the before and after, the knot occurs.

The main characters can begin to interact with secondary characters that change the course of the story.

The outcome is the result of the events that lead to the end of the story, where the main and secondary characters evolve showing the actions they carry out with one goal, to conclude through the solution of the problem, posed in the knot.

List of short stories for children

- The park was left alone

The park was left alone. Source: pixabay.com.

Start

María, Paula and Julia were three friends of twelve years each. They lived in a quiet town near a meadow. There they had everything, their school, their cinema, their library, their stores to buy food and clothes, and, best of all, a beautiful park where they met every day to play since they met at the age of 7.

The park was at the same distance from each one's house, through which they all walked the same hundred meters to meet there to have fun on the wheel, on the swing, on the seesaw, or simply play with their dolls on the grass.

Knot

Everything had gone well during those years of friendship. The time in the park was the most desired by them. However, like everything else in life, that year they entered secondary school, and as each one had decided on different studies, their schedules changed and they could not coincide as before in their special place.

Over time they went from seeing each other only three times a week when before there were seven; then only twice, and in the end they didn't even see each other. There was a lot of sadness in their hearts as a result of that estrangement, but the new things that happened in their lives made the regret not so deep. That is how in a year the park was left alone.

Outcome

Time, without the girls noticing, flew by. Due to things in life, they moved from town to study at the different universities they chose. However, when things are very good, they repeat themselves.

Twenty years after their games and diversions, María, Paula and Julia returned to their hometown, already married and with a daughter each.

Their daughters were named after them, each one was seven years old and, as happened in the past with their mothers, they became close friends in that park that awaited them.

Everything was identical, only now, in addition to the little ones, their mothers were also accompanying them to talk about everything they lived while they were away.

End.

- The boy who rowed against the current

Start

José Manuel was a boy of almost seven years old who lived in a coastal town on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. The place was beautiful, it had lots of grapes and also palm trees, and many boats on the beach, as it was a village dedicated to fishing for many years.

José's father was called Pedro, and he was a fisherman, as was his grandfather, great-grandfather, and a long list of ancestors before him. His family was one of the most distinguished throughout the region for being in charge of fishing for the dogfish shark, one of the richest species and requested by the buyers who came and the inhabitants of the same town.

Knot

Everything was going well until José Manuel's birthday, December 5, 1989. It turns out that in the town where they lived, as was customary, at the age of 7 the boy was initiated into fishing. After singing the birthday, the boy's father took him to a boat and told him: "Today you will start the family tradition, you will start in your trade."

After that the unexpected happened, something that shocked everyone. José Manuel, instantly and without thinking, said: "No, dad, I will not, I will be a writer and not a fisherman." The boy's father turned pale, he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Years and years, and generation after generation of traditions cast aside in a moment.

Yes, José rowed against the current, but this was not as strange as it seems, since the boy's grandmother, Dona Onorina, was a lover of literature, and since the little one was a baby, the old woman read him stories and tales. She taught him to read and write herself, while her father went fishing and her mother did housework.

Outcome

Despite how difficult it was for a large part of the family to accept José Manuel's decision, they respected it. Although the boy was very young, he had incredible conviction.

The truth is that as the days passed, José was enrolled in a school in a neighboring town, to which he went day after day accompanied by his beloved grandmother Onorina.

Years later, José's decision served to remind his family, as well as their traditions. He became a chronicler and writer, described every detail of their customs and immortalized the stories of his people and his people.

End.

- Daniel and the lake

Start

When Daniel woke up that morning he did not imagine that it would be a day that he would keep in his memory forever.

It seemed like a normal Wednesday day. It was the last month of vacation and Daniel had already turned 8 years old, which meant that from this year on he would start going to school alone. I was terrified.

It was only a few blocks from his home to his school, but halfway there was a black lake that terrified him.

His older brother, Sebastian, who was now going to college, had told him that in that lake lived a huge monster with eyes all over his body and a large mouth that opened the size of his head. That monster was called Hugo and he fed on studious children.

Knot

Daniel had thought that maybe he could tell his mother that he didn't want to go to school alone, but he was afraid he would be teased. Being the smallest was complicated, everyone laughed when he was afraid.

As the holidays came to an end, Daniel thought more and more of the lake and Hugo. When the day came to go to class, he couldn't handle his nerves. From the first step he took outside the house, he felt his legs tremble like jelly.

Outcome

He saw the lake from a distance and began to sweat. And then he noticed that three children were playing quietly on the shore, they were classmates. Daniel approached step by step, fearfully, paying attention to everything. He hid behind a tree to watch his friends play, they also had good grades, Hugo would appear at any moment.

But the minutes passed and Hugo did not appear. Finally, Daniel approached the group and shared the minutes that remained before having to start the way to class. Daniel always thought of that day as the day he learned not to believe in monsters.

End.

- Luis and the hole in the shoe

Start

If Luis wanted something above all else, that was to study, he demonstrated it by going to third grade in his difficult situation. The boy came from living a very strong childhood, in a very poor town and with a fragmented family.

He never knew his father, and his mother made an enormous effort to raise the daily money to feed him and his five siblings. Luis, only nine years old, decided to work on the street in the afternoons, while he studied in the morning. The boy sold sweets and also collected aluminum cans, for which he was paid very well.

He didn't feel bad about it, he didn't have time for it because he had to help his mother and because there is nothing wrong with working. What was not good is for a child of that age to work.

Knot

One day something happened at school that Luis didn't expect. He arrived early, as always, first of all and with his homework ready, as he had done it the previous afternoon when work left him.

After a few minutes the other children began to arrive, and one of them began to point at him while speaking in a low voice with a group. Laughter and mockery began instantly: "Hole in the shoe, hole in the shoe!" Was heard as they pointed to Luis.

The boy, who had always taken care of his shoes and clothes, had not noticed that that morning they had been torn and had a large hole that revealed his socks.

Before the shouts and teasing of his friends, the boy began to cry. He took his things and went home, devastated. His classmates couldn't stop laughing. When he got home, Luis wiped away his tears and went to work, there was no time for lamentations. Although, of course, the boy did not stop thinking about his shoes and that he did not have for new ones.

While he was selling the sweets and collecting the cans, a very luxurious cart approached him.

"Hey kid, come here," a man said, rolling down the window.

-Yes, tell me, how many sweets do you want? Luis answered, as he always did with every client.

"I want the whole box," said the man.

-Thank my Lord! I'll be able to go home early today, 'said the boy, and the man smiled and left.

After the sale, Luis went home with a strange mixture of feelings above him. He was fine because he had sold everything, but bad about his shoes and because he didn't want to go to his school like this.

Outcome

When he got home, the boy found his mother crying.

-Mommy mommy! What happens! Luis asked.

"A miracle, son, a miracle!" Come into the room so you can see, ”said the mother.

Inside the room Luis found many new clothes and pairs of shoes, the sizes of himself and his brothers. There were also study materials, encyclopedias and notebooks there.

The boy burst into tears. It turns out that the man with the luxurious truck had followed up on Luis' work, and how he studied while he worked. He found out where he lived and the situation of his family and bought everything they needed, then, to make the surprise faster, he went and bought the boy his sweets.

Since then, Luis continues to arrive at school first, with his tasks ready, he has not stopped working and he is the one with the best grades. By the way, his classmates were reprimanded for making fun and later apologized to him.

End.

- Martha and the cake

Start

Living alone was a more difficult task than she imagined. Every morning she had to get up very early to give her time to pack her lunch, have something for breakfast, and run to class. I kinda missed living at home.

He had turned 19 years ago a few months ago, and at the same time he had managed to enter the UCV, Central University of Venezuela. She was from San Fernando de Apure, so she had to go live alone in a residence. For the first time she would not count on Mom's help.

She had barely been in the capital for two months and had already damaged a dress, ruined a pot and stained a carpet. She wasn't stupid, she knew that, but she had no idea to do anything at all and she couldn't be calling mom every 10 minutes, she had to learn to do her thing.

Knot

She decided that cooking was essential to survive on her own, so she would tackle this task with full dedication.

He began by looking for recipes in the books he bought in bulk. She asked her friends for advice and studied magazines. She finally decided to make a chocolate cake. Among all the recipes he had read and studied, this was the one that made him the most attractive.

Outcome

She made a very careful shopping list, flour, butter (not margarine), eggs, milk, chocolate, chocolate chips, and a mold. He took the opportunity and bought a manual mixer so as not to mix with a fork, it was one of the things they had told him.

When he got home he measured everything carefully, floured the pan and put the cake in the oven. Martha was very excited with her cake and decided that she would give her time to take a bath, because in the recipe it said that cooking for 45 minutes at 180º was enough, she would put it at 120º, since there was no 90º and it could take an hour and quarter before opening the oven.

When he came out of the bathroom he found the house full of smoke. She hurried to check her cake and when she opened the oven it was black. She called her mother to find out what had happened, and then she understood that baking math didn't work like that.

End

- The Traveling Library

Start

Once upon a time, there was a mobile library that had children's books on music, horror and other games.

Knot

They lived in harmony, moving from one place to another until one day a group of people came looking for the oldest books to take them out of the library and throw them away. Knowing this from the books, they decided to unite and fight to defend themselves against that idea.

They came to rebel, demanding that they be left together and in peace. The people, seeing the level of discomfort, decided to put down their attitude and the books, united, achieved their goal.

Outcome

They continued to go from one place to another for many more years and people looked after them with respect and admiration.

- The children on the farm

Start

A long time ago, there was a farm owned by the Esteban family, made up of the spouses Carlos and María, their children Pedro, Petra and Sofía, and the dog Monte. They were a close family and every time they had vacations, they would go to the farm.

Pedro, Petra and Sofía always played with Monte and one day they observed a bright light and found an entrance to a magical world.

Knot

The 4 passed and observed a place of great beauty, but they had a problem, they were absent for a long time and got lost on the way. In that a magical being called Brill appears, who set out to help the Esteban brothers and their pet.

They walked to the point of arrival thanks to Monte's nose and the help of Brill, who spoke the magic words that made it possible for the brothers and Monte to return to the farm.

The 4 of them thanked Brill and asked to be in contact with him. Brill asked for more caution and discretion to avoid worrying his parents.

Outcome

This is how Pedro, Petra and Sofía did it. Every time they went to the farm, they shared with Brill and their loved ones from the magical world.

- The Magic Talking Computer

Start

Once upon a time, there was a 10-year-old boy, an only child, named Bruno who received a gift from his parents: A personal computer on his birthday.

Bruno's joy was such that he appreciated the gesture and soon started using the computer.

As days went by, the computer took on a life of its own, introducing itself to Bruno under the name Compu. The friendship developed into a brotherhood.

Knot

A sad event occurred when Bruno's father was kidnapped. This changed the harmony in Bruno's house and Compu, in a secret way, decided to act by locating the father through the Internet.

Upon finding the place, Compu informed Bruno and Bruno notified his mother of the find. They notified the authorities and they made the plan to rescue the father.

Outcome

Then Bruno's parents asked him how he did that job and he told them the truth about Compu, who asked the family group to keep it a secret. Thus his parents, Bruno and Compu lived together and strengthened for many years.

- The camel Lazarus

Start

Once upon a time there was a camel named Lazarus, who worked unceasingly carrying heavy load, traveling through the deserts of North Africa.

Knot

One day Lazaro woke up sick and had a lot of weight on his body to carry. He believed he was in mortal danger until a magician named Mauri appeared.

This wise man spoke with Lazarus to ask him about the problem that afflicted him, seeing that in his equipment he had a potion that he gave to Lazarus.

Upon taking it, Lázaro began to recover and took the opportunity to thank Mauri for this timely help. They talked and shared food, Mauri camped in his tent and Lázaro rested next to the tent. The next day when both began their return to their places of origin.

Outcome

Lázaro always had Mauri's gesture in his mind and wished all the best for him.

- Juancho the navigator

Start

Once upon a time there was a young man named Juancho, who had a small boat with which he made trips transferring food.

Knot

On one occasion he had to sail to an island, but the journey was very difficult because there were storms and the possibility of sinking.

Upon arrival, he met a giant tortoise named Silvina, who helped him calm his tension from the trip and made him understand that life always has dangers, challenges but also pleasant moments and gratitude.

Juancho listened attentively, thanked Silvina and left. These words encouraged Juancho to accommodate the ship and load food for 5 days, organizing his return to the mainland.

Outcome

Upon arrival, Juancho began to share more with his loved ones and learned to work for a living.

Imagination and the desire to write are the key elements to be able to develop short stories for children and young people.

It is a way to playfully approach these age groups with their elders, through the structured writing and reading of this type of stories.

References

1. Arrubla, M. (2005). Once Upon a Time The Tale. Bogotá, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.
2. Caso, C. (2015). An Educator's Guide to Lisa Graff. Coronado, Penguin Classroom.
3. Corvalan, R. (2010). Story Building Toolbox. Asunción, Human Rights Coordinator Paraguay.
4. García Muñoz, R. (2012). Once upon a time… folk tales, a didactic tool in the ELE class. Paris, I Practical Meeting of ELE Teachers in France.
5. Perrault, C. The Red Riding Hood. Recovered from: chaperon.rouge.online.fr.