One day Pelayo finds a disoriented and apparently homeless man in his courtyard; the man has enormous wings, is dirty, and speaks an incomprehensible language. Pelayo and his wife Elisenda learn from their neighbor that this strange man may be an angel, so they allow him to stay in the courtyard in a chicken coop.

Spanish-language version also available here.

A small village celebrates the occasion of their annual “lottery.” The villagers make great preparations for this event and pride themselves on keeping the tradition alive as some nearby villages or “pack of crazy fools” have given up their village’s lottery. The villagers make small talk and execute this tradition with an unlikely and surprising twist.

Johnsy, a young artist hit with a bout of pneumonia, believes that the infection will take her life. She concludes that her last days will coincide with the last fallen leaf on a tree outside of her window. Her neighbor, an elderly artist yet to produce his best work, decides that he will paint her an image which will give her the will to live.

Nnamabia’s story is told from his younger sister’s perspective. Nnamabia, a beautiful boy, and the center of his mother’s heart, is influenced by a violent and dangerous crowd. He is eventually caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. His behavior one night lands him in a jail cell.

Lavishing his wealth to gain the affection of his love, Frederigo eventually falls into poverty making his only possessions his falcon and a small farm. Even in poverty, Frederigo continues to attempt to gain the love of Monna.

"Make a copy" of the following activity and use to takes notes over the short stories you read.