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Mariam Manoukyan's Stories

• “Light breath” (Youth & Peace)
• “Step on the ground carefully” (Stories About Spring)
• “The Tailless Rex” (Animals and Us)
• “If I didn't exist...” (If I didn't exist...)
• “A Funny Story” (Funny Stories)
• “What’s the trouble Mariam?” (People don't understand me)
• untitled (First time experiences)
• untitled (Future)
• “About Myself” (About Me)

Mariam Manoukyan's Page

“Light breath” (Youth & Peace)

Everybody in the world wants to live in peace but few people understand that peace depends on them. For example, people do evil things to one another instead of doing good things. Countries do the same; they only think about themselves and attack each other for their own welfare. Peace comes from little things: from the joyful laughs of children, from the fragrance of blossoming flowers, from people's warm smiles. I often think about what peace is for me, but different things come to my mind. Sometimes peace is when I've finished my lessons, at other times it's when I'm home with my mom and my sisters. Generally I don't even think about peace but then sometimes, you know, it's for the best to think about it because you never think about things you have. When you breathe freely you don't think about sinking. I want everybody to live this way.

Wrote at 11 years old age

“Step on the ground carefully” (Stories About Spring)

I like the garden of our summer house very much. I like it mostly in the spring. The garden was with two balconies, the first one is higher than the second one. One spring day me and my aunt were walking in the first balcony.
I asked Tam,” What kind of tree is this?”
She answered, “It’s not a tree it’s a bush of a flower.”
I turned to look it once more and I fell.
While my aunt was calling my name I was already in the second balcony. I had fallen badly but there was nothing serious with me if we don’t consider my foot injury. I am walking very carefully in our garden since that day even in spring.

Wrote at 10 years old age

“The Tailless Rex” (Animals and Us)

I've got a toy dog named little Rex. My mother says little Rex looks like a white dog that just came out of a sooty pipe. I used to put little Rex under my pillow before I went to bed. One day when I woke up I felt hair in my mouth. I also noticed there were fewer hairs on little Rex. Later I remembered me gnawing on something white while I was sleeping. I guess that something was my dog’s tail.

Wrote at 9 years old age

“If I didn't exist...” (If I didn't exist...)

My grandfather and grandmother wouldn't laugh at my funny words.

Wrote at 9 years old age

“A Funny Story” (Funny Stories)

Gohar is a student. One day little Daniel said to my sister Gohar:
“Gohar, lend me your waistcoat to wear.”
“It’s too loose for you, you’ll sink in it,” answered Gohar.
Daniel asked in surprise:
“Oho, is there any water in it?”

Wrote at 9 years old age

“What’s the trouble Mariam?” (People don't understand me)

Today, while I was sitting with my head down, my teacher entered and began:
“Dear Mariam, what’s wrong? Are you crying?”
“No”, I answered rudely, “I am just thinking.”
“I think something really is wrong with you.”
“You seem to be in bad spirits”, said one of my classmates.
“Now, Mariam, honestly, are you in l….”
“No! No! No! Nothing has happened. I’m just thinking.”
After the lessons I went home. As I came in, mum said:
“Is everything all right at school? Have you been crying?”
I ran up to my room, hugged my teddy and fell asleep.
After that incident, I am never deep in thought during the class.

Wrote at 12 years old age

untitled (First time experiences)

I was ten years old when I first had an argument with my mother. It was a usual spring day. I came home and said to mom:

“Can I put on my red shirt and go to studies? It is very hot today.”
“No.”
“Please, mom,” I continued convincing her but was sure she would not change her mind.
“No,” she said angrily.

I did not say anything. I took my bag silently and went out. In the evening when I returned, I closed up in my room. I stayed in, because I knew if I went out, I would have to talk to mom and I did not want to make peace with her. I sat in my room and did my lessons. Then I began to cry.

It was very late. I was about to fall asleep when the door opened and mom stepped in.

“Sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”
“For yelling at you, for being angry.”
“I am sorry.”

I ran to her, hugged her and tears fell down my cheeks. It was the first and the last time I had a misunderstanding with mom. I promised to myself to never hurt mom.

Wrote at 12 years old age

untitled (Future)

“There are more flying cars in the sky than ever, mom.”
“I have been watching out of the window today…I saw them too.”
“How could you, mom? Didn’t you think other people might be spying you? ”

There is a ban on looking out of the window. They have established this prohibition since long ago.
“I know about possible spies, dear, but it was so noisy inside! I thought it would be silent outside… It’s unbearable…
“I heard people talk about a sky accident. They say three airplanes had smashed into a large flying object.”
As a result of this, the trees in the park were ruined… the park is gone now.
“We have a problem with the computer.”
“How could it happen? What a pity! The computer is the only means of learning about things happening outside and now… ”
“Don’t be too worried darling. Now I will try to open the window once again. Who knows…?I did it once; I don’t think I will have problems in opening the window for the second time. …or …maybe I will try to open it tomorrow…”
The day was lingering… Every one in the house was bored with watching films about iron men…
In the morning we woke up of the breeze playing in our nostrils. Children were so happy to breathe fresh air…but…in some hours the flying objects would fill the sky with poisonous particles and we would have to close the windows again.

The computer started working in some days.
Every morning we could feel fresh air coming out of the open windows.

Wrote at 12 years old age

“About Myself” (About Me)

I don’t like to speak very much. I am very shy and usually blush. But if you see me with my friends or in the house, you won’t think that I’m the shy and blushing girl whom you have seen or whom you have known before. I like to laugh without any reason, but of course when I’m in good humour. That time I can laugh, laugh and not get bored. Sometimes I’m in a very bad mood and then I don’t want to laugh at all. I lie on my room’s floor and I either sleep or cry. At those moments I can even keep silent for hours. And that is the reason my family fails to find me. I like to speak on the phone very much, or how my mother says to “burn the phone”. I don’t like to be forced to do something. I like to drink hot tea, especially in the spring and in the winter. When I was little I liked to drink tea in the wardrobe. I’m usually very flexible.

Wrote at 12 years old age