Short Story

Everything had began magnificently the day I attended the renaissance fair. It was the first time I’d ever been to any festival of the sort, and the air was full of magic. At exactly 10:30 in the morning, the ceremony began. The King and Queen presented themselves atop the castle’s balcony to address their people. As the beautiful royals welcomed us into their kingdom, my heart beat erratically, and I crossed the threshold with my breath held. There were so many events that I wanted to see, and activities I wanted to try; I couldn’t wait to get inside. I wasn’t just an ordinary guest, however, I had a job to do. Carrying my instrument lightly with one hand, dressed as a princess and feeling important, I walked proudly through the bustling

Their children were busy gathering the stones, stuffing their pockets and making piles of stones. The people waited for the lottery to be finished quickly, so that they could get home to eat lunch and go back to work. The writer implies that the lottery was a casual village event like “the square dances, the teen club, the Halloween program” at the end of which the winner will get a prize. This quote from “The Lottery” is very significant for better understanding of the people’s attitude towards the coming event. Finding out the truth about the prize would make the reader’s blood run cold because it is

The ball has turned from a transformed from a ultra-private social event into ‘another tedious, over-touted soiree’ (White 1997, para. 3). To some people, the galas were much better before. Its original purpose – a fundraising benefit for the Costume Institute – seems to fade away through time. Nowadays, it is seen as a giant marketing fashion event, highly commercialized rather than a philanthropic affair as it was before (Stolman 2017). Big companies and fashion brands are willing to pay thousands per ticket to get celebrities in the party.

Already hearing the Mr.Beaufort raising his voice at Mrs.Struthers asking where the Countess was, Ellen Olenska knocked on the door with compunction. Mrs.Struthers answered the door and was already slightly intoxicated. Mrs.Struthers pushed her in and Ellen was immediately engulfed by the grandeur of Mrs.Struthers’ party. Massive chandeliers hung low from the ceiling, live music surrounded the house, and luxurious food was being enjoyed by Mrs.Struther’s party guests: the Duke and Mr.Beaufort. They offered her a seat and she declined, but Mr.Beaufort was importunate, and so she sat. After Mrs.Struthers’ servants gave Ellen her elegant food and a drink, they immediately plunged into conversation about the social codes and customs of this “close-minded”

There had been, also, a ritual salute, which the official of the lottery had had to use in addressing each person who came up to draw from the box, but this also had changed with time, until now it was felt necessary only for the official to speak to each person approaching. (7)

“Rue Lillington” said Melo Wane, our Capitol escort. My heart had dropped. “Me?! It's only my first year to enter!”I whimpered in my head. Accepting my faith I slowly walked to the stage trying not to show emotion.

"I wanted to welcome and thank you all for attending the first annual Cotillion Ball - an event intended to bring to light the importance of courtesy and decorum. For those of you who attended Courtly dance classes, this is your opportunity to show off what you learned, and for those who didn't hopefully, you shall next year!" she stated after welcoming all to the event.

“…some people remembered, there had been a recital of some sort, performed by the official of the lottery, a perfunctory, tuneless chant that had been rattled off duly each year; some people believed that the official of the lottery used to stand just so when he said or sang it, others believed that he was supposed to walk among the people, but years and years ago this part of the ritual had been allowed to lapse. There had

"All Rise," Mistress Meryl announced after the Royals had been seated and ready to proceed. She then continued to welcome everyone, "My Lords and Ladies, Knights, and Courtiers, and honored visitors from the Outer Bailey this aft, welcome to this session of Royal Court. It has been some eight moons since our last Royal Court was held and I know you are all eager to see the results of this Court's petitions. These will be pending shortly, of course, but first I would cede the floor to Her most benevolent Royal Majesty, and Her Royal

The room was big enough for a desk, a bed, a closet, and a dresser. The walls were bare wood from the airship, which gave it a neat look to the room. We were airborne, I was going to write a letter to the curator about the issues I had with Seth, but I decided not to write it, instead I decided to go to the dining hall and eat. When I made my way to the dining hall I was awestruck to see how busy and full it was and the smells, even the furnishings from; the walls to the carpeting on the floor to the windows, it was just breathtaking.

“That over in the north village they’re talking about giving up the lottery,” said Mr. Adams (130). Old Man Warner cerebrates the people in north village are ignorant for wanting to relinquish the lottery, moreover, he believes in following tradition because he’s been participating in the event for many years. “Pack of

Those of high and low birth are uniformly welcomed to an evening consisting not of a clash of steel, but of beauty and elegance. Through a night composed from trails boasting one’s allurement, talent, and affluence, however only revered contestants shall advance to the final round; claiming herself Miss Regalia. Those yearning to participate require the backing of any noble house to represent, although all are welcomed to bare witness to the pageant.

Finally, a woman with a microphone dressed in matriarchal business attire approached and stepped up to the platform. She announced the bidding rules. They allowed prospective bidders to come up to the platform, physically examine, and evaluate each slave before the actual bidding began. In the interest of time she asked bidders not to come up unless they were prepared to bid subject to their approval after examination.

Inside the arena, the floor seating was close to full, with more people making their way higher and higher up the sides. At the front of the floor seating area, the stage was lit with light purple and darker blue spotlights as screens to either side read out “Welcome Charlotte”. I found a seat in the far-left seating section directly across from the stage, climbing up to where an open row was available. As I entered the seating section, an usher handed me two offering envelopes. When I said I only needed one, she firmly insisted that I keep them both—with a smile.

“I’ll keep it,” she said. “But if someone makes a better gift than you, you will not win. Would anyone care to challenge Kako?” Nobody stepped up. Compared to Kako’s never-ending jewelry box, their presents were sure to be as meaningless to the princess as Apollo’s lyre! Kako smiled smugly at the staring audience. ‘I have surely won,’ he thought to himself. ‘No one will dare to compete with me now!’ But he was wrong.