Resumo de Creative Expressions: Fourteen Short Stories

First impressions matter.

The cover page of Creative Expressions, based on a

painting

by Nalini Jayasuria, titled The Singing Tree,

visualizes

the essence of the book in no uncertain terms. This

short

story collection is about variety of expression;
about

depicting the vibrancy and colours of life in
unique

detail; about recording subtle impressions in

unforgettable

ways. And the book lives up to that promise in

delightful

abandon.

The objective of the editor, Nimal Sanderatne,

economist

and social scientist turned publisher, is
clear. "It is

to

provide opportunities for creative persons to write

short

stories." Since it is his intention to publish a
volume

annually, it is also an open invitation to new
writers.

After reading the book, I am quite tempted to take
up

the

invitation. If we are judged by the company we
keep, I,

who

never dreamt of writing fiction before, would not
mind

being among the writers whose works are included in

this

volume.

The fourteen writers, including the editor himself,
are

from all walks of life. And their ages span an
amazing

60

years, ranging from 13 to 83! Many are first time

writers.

The stories are from varied backgrounds as befits
such

a

mixed bunch.

The stories are as delightfully different from

eachother as

they can be. A mixed bunch, not of carefully grown

hothouse

blooms; but a refreshing bunch of individually
picked

wild

flowers, that somehow make a fragrant, multi hued,

quixotic

posy. This probably is due to the talent of the
editor

as

much as to that of the individual writers. Or
perhaps

it

was his power of motivation that made it possible.

Whatever

it was, putting this posy together could not have
been

a

mere walk in the park.

The following are but a few chosen flowers from
this

mixed

posy that captured my heart and interest:

The first story, Love, by Ransiri Menike Silva

tells

of a friendship between a delightful little girl
and an

old

rickshaw man. She does not lack for friends
because,

neigbouring ladies, old gentlemen, birds and
squirrels

and

the dog next door are all her admirers. But her
heart

goes

out to the old rickshaw man. When her brother makes
fun

of

her saying the rickshaw man is her grandfather, she

seriously considers making him so, because after
all,

he

pays more attention to her than both her
grandfathers!

The

story ends with an unforgettable lesson in life for
the

little girl-and for all of us.

In A Thief in the Night, Godfrey Gunatilleke

crafts

his tale around every parent's dilemma. You can try
and

try, but there are times when all you can do is
stand

and

watch, helpless.

Serendipity by Leonard Grasholm adds a different

perspective to what might otherwise have been a

collection

of stories by Sri Lankan writers. It relates the
story

of a

long drawn relationship between a Finn and a Sri

Lankan.

And if you are fond of unexpected endings, the
editor,

Nimal Sanderatne's Holiday Home would top your

list.

But how can I give you a true and faithful idea by

waving a

few chosen flowers from it in front of your face?

Tastes

differ. However, this collection of short stories,
is

capable of withstanding that immense challenge of

catering

to many tastes without becoming a flavourless hodge-

podge.

Throughout the book, one single question kept
nagging

me.

How real were these stories? They seemed uncannily
real

to

me. May be they were, in a way proving that real
life

is

far more interesting than fiction. I guess I shall

never

know the answer; at least, not unless I venture
into

writing shortstories.

Nilooka Dissanayake

First Chapters - www.smallbusiness.lk

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