Modern Short Stories: A Book for High Schools

In Short

This volume gathers vibrant short fiction to replace lengthy, outdated texts in the secondary classroom. Showcasing contemporary authors and themes of present-day thought, it moves through suspenseful mysteries, rustic family conflicts, whimsical animal tales, and profound personal sacrifices. The collection endures because it captures life in concentrated, fast-moving episodes that engage the imagination while cultivating a lifelong taste for literature.

The Story

The volume opens with a call to modernize reading for young audiences, arguing that concise, active narratives reflect daily experience far better than long, dusty classics. It then embarks on a wide-ranging tour of human nature through varied landscapes and singular lives. In one tale, an old witch-man relentlessly pursues a fleeing couple, Simon and Susanna, across magic barriers—forests, fogs, deep waters, and soaring mountain walls—until a final stone barricade lets the lovers rest. Elsewhere, an aging Russian shoemaker named Avdeitch sits by his basement window, watching the snowy street and inviting a shivering street-sweeper in for warm tea while holding out hope for a divine visit.

Drama unfolds in quiet woods where a panicked mother and local searchers, aided by a heavy-set curate and a pair of bleary-eyed bloodhounds, scour the forest for a lost little girl named Joan. In another corner of the world, an unruly, thirty-nine-year-old elephant named Moti Guj rebels when his beloved keeper fails to return on time, gleefully chasing the plantation owner into a veranda and bluffing past giant chain-bearing punisher elephants with his ears cocked high.

Domestic humor emerges in a father's proud defense of his stubborn son, "Sonny," who challenges his schoolmasters on everything from the curvature of the earth to basic arithmetic, shifting from school to school to keep his principles intact. Meanwhile, at an elegant horse show, young Angelica Stanton boldly claims permission to ride her spirited former horse, Lady Washington, defying nervous grooms to prove the mare is not vicious.

Mystery and danger take over as the famous detective Sherlock Holmes inspects a client named Jabez Wilson—noting his oversized right hand, Freemason pin, and Chinese wrist tattoo—before thwarting a dark cellar bank raid and arresting the aristocratic criminal John Clay. At an intense dinner gathering, a hostess forces her guests to return a stolen sapphire ring under cover of darkness, only to leave the true culprit a haunting, unsolved riddle.

The scene shifts to tranquil waters where a monk gazes past umbrella-pines toward Venice while gondoliers long for a rich post-Lent meal, and to the misty Hebridean islands where the dark strains of a flute-player named Gloom haunt a reluctant bride. The anthology concludes by tracing the stark realities of war, where a youthful soldier's hesitation brings tragedy, demonstrating the profound range of the modern short narrative.

How It Unfolds

A call for modern tales The collection opens by arguing that high school readers deserve fast-paced, contemporary fiction rather than tedious historical texts. It sets out to build thoughtful citizens through dynamic, modern storytelling.

Fleeing the witch-man An old storyteller describes Simon and Susanna running from a relentless witch-man who slashes through magical forests and drinks up enchanted ponds. A giant rock wall finally halts the pursuer, granting the weary runners peace.

Welcoming the stranger The shoemaker Avdeitch gazes out his window at the snow and spots old Stepanitch shivering over his shovel. He invites the frail worker inside, pouring warm tea and keeping a watchful eye on the street.

Searching the dark woods Concerned neighbors, a tall curate, and police with bloodhounds gather to search for a missing child named Joan. The hounds follow her scent straight to a quiet patch of turf enclosed by thick bushes.

Defying the chains When his driver strays, the elephant Moti Guj refuses to work and humorously chases the planter into his house. He then stands his ground against two massive driver elephants sent to punish him with heavy iron chains.

Outsmarting the schoolmaster A devoted father recounts how his boy Sonny questions every lesson, insisting the road between home and school has no curve. Rather than yield to bad marks, the boy simply gathers his books and heads for a new schoolhouse.

Trapping the cellar thief Sherlock Holmes deduces the details of Jabez Wilson's life before laying a trap in a dark bank vault. He corners the sophisticated thief John Clay as the criminal pulls himself through a floorboard hole.

Leaving the mystery open A hostess retrieves a missing diamond and sapphire ring by turning out the lights and letting the culprit set it on the table. The narrator finishes the tale without naming the thief, leaving the guests to debate the intellectual puzzle.

The People

• Avdeitch: An elderly, warm-hearted shoemaker who sits by his low window stitching boots. He longs for a meaningful spiritual visit and offers tea and shelter to broken, working-class passersby like Stepanitch.
• Moti Guj: A headstrong, thirty-nine-year-old work elephant who values his bond with his primary keeper. He refuses commands from substitutes, humorously terrorizes the plantation manager, and faces down intimidating chain-bearing elephants.
• Sonny: An inquisitive, stubborn schoolboy who refuses to take facts on authority. He clashes with teachers over geography and math, choosing to change schools rather than compromise his personal view of the world.
• Angelica Stanton: A determined young girl who loves her former horse, Lady Washington. She uses clever logic to bypass hesitant stable-boys and prove her beloved mount is gentle rather than mean.
• Sherlock Holmes: A brilliant, observant detective who reads a man's entire background from small physical details. He remains calm during dangerous confrontations, swiftly disarming clever criminals in dark vaults.
• John Clay: A suave, arrogant bank robber with royal blood who orchestrates the Red-Headed League scheme. Even when captured in a cellar, he maintains a cool demeanour and demands polite treatment from the police.

In Its Own Voice

“High school students have longed for action, for quickness, for life, for climax, for something new and modern.”

The editor explains why traditional educational texts fail to hold the interest of young readers.

“‘Time de coat tech de groun’, a big thick woods sprung up whar it fell. But de man, he cut his way thoo it wid de knife, en kep’ on a-pursuin’ atter um.’”

Uncle Remus tells the little boy how the fleeing lovers try to slow down the witch-man.

“‘I put on my Sunday clo’es, an’ I went down an’ had it fixed right. They all wanted Sonny, too, come down to the truth, ’cause besides bein’ fond of him, they knowed thet Sonny always fetched a big basket.’”

A father proudly describes navigating the local school politics on behalf of his headstrong son.

What It's Really About

At its core, this volume explores how concise storytelling illuminates fundamental human truths. It argues that short fiction is uniquely suited to modern life, offering quick yet deep insights into moral choices, empathy, and personal resilience. The selected narratives question rigid authority—whether through a boy who refuses to accept flat-earth geography on faith, an elephant who rejects harsh discipline from strangers, or a detective who sees through superficial illusions.

Underneath the varied plots lies a consistent interest in empathy and justice. The stories ask how individuals treat the vulnerable, how communities respond to crisis, and how ordinary moments reveal extraordinary character. By presenting these dynamic glimpses of human nature, the book encourages readers to observe the world around them with sharper eyes and broader sympathies.

Why Read It Today

This collection appeals to readers who appreciate swift, varied storytelling and classic narrative craft. Reading it feels like flipping through a vibrant scrapbook of late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century imagination, moving seamlessly from cozy domestic humor to tense detective work and magical folk tales. The brevity of each piece creates an engaging, fast-moving rhythm that keeps the mind nimble and curious.

Modern readers should be prepared for period difficulties. The text reflects its era through regional dialects, heavy phonetic spellings, and old-fashioned social attitudes that can occasionally slow the pace or feel foreign to modern sensibilities. Folk tales rely heavily on rendered vernacular, while schoolhouse scenes present dated educational norms.

Yet these historical textures add to the charm of the collection. What stays with you is the enduring vitality of the short story format itself—its unique ability to capture a complete world, a sudden epiphany, or an unforgettable character in just a few pages. It remains an inspiring celebration of narrative art.