Percibald Garcia isn’t an actor or voiceover artist. He’s not a teacher or childcare worker. But since May, the 27-year-old architect has been a popular storyteller among some kids in quarantine.
During the pandemic, weeks of confinement—no friends, no group activities—have been dull and dreary, especially for children.
“Almost nobody was looking after the way that kids were experiencing this lockdown,” Garcia says.
For months now, Garcia has taken his “wandering microphone” into the green spaces between buildings in an enormous Mexico City apartment complex. There he broadcasts stories while children listen.
During His time on Earth, Jesus told stories. He often spoke in parables because He knows that stories can reveal truth, overcome barriers, gather people together—and even change them.
Garcia reads stories like El Tlacuache Lunatico (The Crazy Opossum) by David Martín del Campo. He often plays songs by Mexican children’s composer Francisco Gabilondo Soler. Children pop up at the windows of the multistory buildings for the show. A few venture out with parents to sit on the grass or a bench.
“The public plaza has been extremely important in Mexico since the time of our ancestors,” Garcia notes. “It is where people meet, talk, where the life of a neighborhood develops.” The pandemic hit this aspect of life hard, because people have been encouraged not to go out or gather. He calls his reading project “De la Casa a la Plaza” (“From the house to the plaza”).
Garcia believes his readings help to reclaim those shared spaces—and stem the movement to a digital world. “In the last three months, everything has gone online—work, contacts, shopping,” he says. “This is an act of resistance in the face of this ferocious digitalization.”
Rogelio Morales listens from his grandmother’s window. Since March, the nine-year-old has spent much of his time playing video games. “The only thing I go out for is to walk my dog,” he says. “It’s a little boring.”
But of the storytelling, Rogelio says, “It’s nice. We can relax a little.”
Luna Gonzalez came outside with her mother. They listened to Garcia from a safe distance, both wearing face masks. “I imagine what the animals are like,” says Luna. “I get bored at home.”
Rogelio’s grandmother, Maria Elena Sevilla, also sits at the window. “It is not just children he is entertaining,” she says. “It is people of my age too.”
These days, most of his neighbors have cellphones, tablets, or computers. But Garcia wants them to hear the human voice—and thrill in the world of shared tales.
:)
So, it's Bella's turn., right?
@Amelia
Way down deep in the jungles of Africa, Caleb wiped sweat off his forehead and rested on his shovel for a minute. They were excavating the remains of an old tribal camp, and they had struck something hard and long. He turned back to his work and threw up shovel fulls of dirt. Finally they had the object dug up. To their surprise, it was a coffin like box. "They had coffins back then?" Caleb asked.
"I don't think so," said Mr. Brock, the leader. "I am going to look inside." Slowly, he lifted the lid of the box. Inside were different object. A little flute, a sling, and some folded cloth they had not decayed. There was also a frame of sticks. Caleb pulled it out and look at it for a moment, turning it this way and that. "It's a kite!" He exclaimed after a moment.
"Interesting. I never knew they were that far advanced in their thinking," sadi Mr. Brock.
Caleb laid the kite down on the fuzzy green moss on the forest floor and went back to wrok. The air was filled with the humming of insects, the wind through the trees, and the very annoying chatter of many monkeys which watched them through curious eyes as the group worked. They worked around the site for the rest of the day, and then finally started home. Because the trees were so dense, they had had to park their jeep about a half mile before the work site, and had ridden bicycles the rest of the way in. Caleb hopped on his and carefully led the group out to their jeep.
(And that is all I wrote it took 8 mins but I gotta go eat breakfast!! ) ( I think it is Bella's turn next if I am not mistaken.)
@ All
Oh, I forgot it was going to be my day! Here I go:
-Ring
-Heart
-Chihuahua (a type of dog)
-Student
-Singing
-(Uh, ooh, and) Slops
(Is that good?) Good luck, ya'll! I'll try and do it later!
this is Wyn
So are you guys ok calling me Kaewyn ? That's my real name (please don't be offended) I was also wondering if this would make it possible to put me sooner on the writing plunge list sense we're leaving soon? If not, that's fine. If, with all the math and stuff, it ends up that the letter w goes before the end of the month, just keep me on as Wyn. (Just in general, I would prefer to be referred to as Kaewyn, if possible) Hopefully this all made sense and didn't offend anyone or mess up any plans. If you have any questions, just ask me!
from us both/ Bethy
Congrats on 1500th comment! 1500 cheers 4 Bethy! Hip- hip- hooray! Hip- hip- hooray! Hip- hip- hooray! Hip- hip- hooray! Hip- hip- hooray! Hip- hip- hooray! Hip- hip- hooray! Hip- hip- hooray! Hip- hip- hooray! Hip- hip- hooray! Hip- hip- hooray! Hip- hip- hooray! Hip- hip- hooray! Hip- hip- hooray! Hip- hip- hooray! Hip- hip- hooray! Hip- hip- hooray! Hip- hip- hooray! Hip- hip- hooray! Hip- hip- hooray!... (You can finish saying the rest! :D We got through 20!)
@Bella
Did you mean slops as in feeding pigs slops?
@ Amelia
I think it can be any kind of ‘slops’
Do you have a dreadful secret?
@Kaewyn
Alright, that's fine! So here is the adjusted list.
Amelia
Bella
Bethy
Caro
Dessie
Kaewyn
Mirela
Nadia
Riley
(Did I do this right? I'm sorry if I left out anyone...I am not good at the alphabet XD)
@Bella
Wow! Good words! I'll try find time to do this very soon!
@Riley
I can switch with you and go last on the list if you don't want to be last....
@Bethy
I might finish it...but again, I might not.....I don't know! I mean, I know the ending but I was out of time and decided to be mean and leave everyone with a cliffhanger XD. I can put up the next part if you want me too.
I don't need anything yet but thanks so much for offering!
Do you have a dreadful secret?
@Kaewyn
Alright, that's fine! So here is the adjusted list.
Amelia
Bella
Bethy
Caro
Dessie
Kaewyn
Mirela
Nadia
Riley
(Did I do this right? I'm sorry if I left out anyone...I am not good at the alphabet XD)
@Bella
Wow! Good words! I'll try find time to do this very soon!
@Riley
I can switch with you and go last on the list if you don't want to be last....
@Bethy
I might finish it...but again, I might not.....I don't know! I mean, I know the ending but I was out of time and decided to be mean and leave everyone with a cliffhanger XD. I can put up the next part if you want me too.
I don't need anything yet but thanks so much for offering!
Are you too afraid to even think of it?
@Bella and Everyone
So I tried to see if I could do a poem and here's what I came up with! It turned out better than I thought, although it is hard to follow....here it is!
My Crazy Adventure
“Hey! Hey!” I heard someone call.
“I need your help to catch my ball!”
I turned to see the astonishing sight
Of a gigantic ring, so golden and so bright!
But beyond the ring was something more
A dog stood there, a chihuahua to the core!
It had spoken! My heart about stopped!
“Stay there!” I called, and ran off to get slops.
When I returned, I heard someone sing.
I about fainted; the song came from the ring!
“Who on earth are you?” I gasped to the dog
“No one important,” It said, “But you’re a frog.”
“A frog!” I roared, now that was too much.
“Dog, my students will eat you for lunch!”
“I tell you truth.” It solemnly said.
“Now give me that pail, the one that is red.”
“This bucket is blue!” I screamed. “You’re so dense!
Nothing you tell me makes any sense!”
“I don’t care,” the dog said, winking its eye.
“You humans are so crazy, you should all die.”
Suddenly I found myself down on the ground.
I tried to leave, but it was then that I found,
I was no longer human, but now was a frog!
“Argh!” I croaked. “I hate that dog!”
Are you too afraid to even think of it?
@Bella and Everyone
So I tried to see if I could do a poem and here's what I came up with! It turned out better than I thought, although it is hard to follow....here it is!
My Crazy Adventure
“Hey! Hey!” I heard someone call.
“I need your help to catch my ball!”
I turned to see the astonishing sight
Of a gigantic ring, so golden and so bright!
But beyond the ring was something more
A dog stood there, a chihuahua to the core!
It had spoken! My heart about stopped!
“Stay there!” I called, and ran off to get slops.
When I returned, I heard someone sing.
I about fainted; the song came from the ring!
“Who on earth are you?” I gasped to the dog
“No one important,” It said, “But you’re a frog.”
“A frog!” I roared, now that was too much.
“Dog, my students will eat you for lunch!”
“I tell you truth.” It solemnly said.
“Now give me that pail, the one that is red.”
“This bucket is blue!” I screamed. “You’re so dense!
Nothing you tell me makes any sense!”
“I don’t care,” the dog said, winking its eye.
“You humans are so crazy, you should all die.”
Suddenly I found myself down on the ground.
I tried to leave, but it was then that I found,
I was no longer human, but now was a frog!
“Argh!” I croaked. “I hate that dog!”
@Bella
I could not stop the tears of joy running down my face, and my heart was overflowing with happiness. Prince Benedict slid the ring onto my finger, saying I do. The choir was singing in the background as we kissed for the first time as husband and wife. Suddenly I hear a shout of, “Get up girl. The pigs want their slops.” That shout woke me from my dream world and reminded me that I was stuck here to pay off my parents’ debt that they left when they died. Until I was six, I was a student in the Royal School, the best of the best. My father was a councilor of the king, and my mother was the head of all the household staff. I must admit, I was a very spoiled little girl. But, when my parents died in a boating accident, huge debts of theirs were discovered. My father, it turns out, was an active gambler, and my mother had a taste for the king’s wine. Because of them, I am stuck with this farmer, working long grueling hours like a slave from before the sun is up until after it sets, it is especially for a girl not used to any manual labor. I lost everything that day, my friends, family, status, clothes, and even my Chihuahua, Ginny. I could never marry Prince Benedict, no matter how much I longed for him. I wonder if he even remembers me, I have not played with him, pulled pranks on the staff, or snuck snacks from the kitchen with him since we were six.
@Dessie
I love that poem. Great Job!
:)
@Amelia, you should continue that story!!!!!!!!!!! It made me want to read more!!!!!! @Kaewyn, I love your name!! Of course I'll call you that!!!!!!!! @Dessie, that poem is so hilarius!!!!!!!(I can't spell very well..... LOL)@Belwyn, you guys are leaving at the end of the month? I'll miss you!!! @Typewriters, I don't know if I'll have time to do the new plunge....
Amelia B.
That's what I meant.
@ all
Great stories/poems! I will write one tonight and post it tomorrow!
Are fish fishy?
Dessie: So do you a page? Also, the new list looks great!
Kaewyn: Of course I can call you Kaewyn!
I think that's who I needed to responded too...
Oh, and BELWYN
Thanks for the cheers! :)
AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! THE TRUTH COMES OUT EVEN WORSE!!!!
WELP I couldn't think of ANYTHING good that wasn't TOO bad so this is what happened......it's so awful and terrible but Ima play fair and send it anyway *groans* (I think I wrote it in two different tenses on accident.....*ahem*)
.
.
I started at Lucas in shock and admiration. My heart skipped a beat as he handed me the small envelope containing what I thought, would be the start of my future.
A strange setting it had been, for we had both been young, hardly out of our teens. Two young students sitting on the rail of a pigpen. The stench of pig slop and the flies singing loudly in our ears had not been what I as a young girl living on my father’s plantation had imagined this moment to be.
He had handed me the envelope with a nervous smile and motioned me to open it. I laughed a little, for there was a picture of a small Chihuahua on the front. It was the cheapest card in the whole village, for I and the village girl had often fancied together what card we should receive and had counted the cost well.
I had opened the card to see in his scratchy handwriting the words I had always wanted to see. I beamed at him with pleasure. My face must have said ”Yes” for he produced a small, ring and placed it on my finger. I gasped in surprise, for I had not thought it affordable for him to purchase one.
I opened my mouth to ask “How?” but our happy moment was interrupted by the sound of gunfire.....
Story for Listed Words
I’m a student in The Singing School for Super Students. This school is new, but I like it. Well, it’s a bit weird because I’m a pig named Anne, and when I want to eat slops, the rest of the students, (Chihuahuas) all want to eat bacon. (Which is so tragic!) Anyway, my heart breaks whenever I see them eat the--well, that thing. SO I started a campaign, called “Pigs for Life!” I think it has a nice ring, but most people-chihuahuas, wanted to change it to what I was pushing for: Steak inStead of Bacon. Well, our teams fought vigorously; it was a hard, bitter WAR! Eventually, after many rants and protests and Peace For Pigs walks, we all reached (well, I don’t like it.) a compromise. We would eat bacon-flavored steak. I eventually found that it wasn't too bad, and I found out an important lesson: Bacon is good. My new school has proven to be an exciting adventure, but it is really quite fun! As well and peaceful!
At least until the famous cow-singer walked through the doors!
@ Nadia aka NobleAspirations aka NotAvailable
Oooh! A romance! YAY!!!!!!!
Did you lose a friend or brother?
@Caro, Amelia, Bella, and Bethy
Thank you! It was so much fun to write!
@Bethy
Great story! And i'm sorry I don't know what you mean by 'do you a page'...sorry!
@Nadia
That wasn't bad AT ALL! It made me want to read more! Really good!
@Ameilia
Your's is great also!
In death did they fall, and are gone forever?
@Bella Since you might be going to leave soon, could you maybe put up more of Running Deer? @Kaewyn since you might be going soon can you put up a little more of Cloverson's Secret?
In death did they fall, and are gone forever?
@Bella Since you might be going to leave soon, could you maybe put up more of Running Deer? @Kaewyn since you might be going soon can you put up a little more of Cloverson's Secret?
:)
@Kaewyn, and Bella, Yes! Please put up more of your stories!!!!!!!!
:)
@Bethy, it is your turn for the writing plunge!!! I believe....
@Bella
(@Kaewyn sure no prob I like your name; so unique!)
My Story: My heart beat quickly as I watched my little Chihuahua lay on the operating table. She had a broken leg and the vets were goning to fix it. I twisted the ring on my finger nervously as I watched them put her to sleep. Then my mom came and told me I had to get going to school, and that we could come see my dog alter. I jumped in the car and drove myself to Brookside High, where I was a student in the 11th grade. I went through my classes in a dazed mind, always thinking about Sweetie, my dog. How was she doing? Would she be okay? Of course we had a pop science quiz today, so I hope I get a good grade. In choir, I am sure my singing sounded terrible, because the director kept looking at me with a funny face. I was the lead singer of the school, and always sang the solos. At lunch I hurried to the cafeteria with my friend Hailey. We sat down at the table and looked at our food. "What IS this?" Hailey asked. "It looks like slop fit for pigs!" I laughed for the first time today and started eating the 'slop' which tasted good despite how disgusting it looked. "Cafeteria food," I told her. After school I hurried back to the vet clinic, where I saw Sweetie in a kennel, laying on her side, be awake and alert. I ran to her. "Oh you are going to be okay!" I exclaimed. She gave a happy little bark.
(Gotta go eat again! Sorry I am always last but I only get on here in the mornings!!!! And this took me 7 mins!@Dessie: Wow way to go trying a poem it always takes me too long to think up ryming words that make sense! XD)
@Above
Oh also I am fine with going last as long as I still have a subscription I think it ends at the end of APril but I am hoping to renew it!
this is mylee
@amelia great story you should really continue it XD ! Dessie your poem made me laugh it was so funny !!!!all of yall are so good at writing...
@ Dessie / this is Kaewyn
Sure, i can try to put up more of Cloverson's Secret. Do you want more of the first chapter or something a little more intense?
:)
@Riley, if you don't end up renewing your subscription, let us know so we can say good bye!!!!
:)
@Kaewyn, are you hoping to publish Cloverson's Secret? Because if you do, I will get it! How about an exciting part?
@ Riley /this is Kaewyn
Thanks, i was born in Italy so my name had to sound good when it was said in an Italian accent.
When they live, are they already gone?
Kaewyn: How about something more intense? (Are you publishing?)
Caro: That's what I thought. But thanks! (But I think I'm the only one here in the Pacific Time Zones, which means I'm usually near the end of any comments!
Bella: Yes! I would like some more Running Deer...and then I can go get it! (And you are trying to publish it in May?)
Dessie: I'm also sorry...what are you talking about? Wait, do you mean me finding a page in the past comments that has a story in it that you would want to read?
The List! (of words)
Environment
Biome
Death
Planet
Cyber
Robot
Bonus: AI (Artificial Intelligence)
P.S I don't knw why I got all space-y.
@ All
This is from the list I put on. I did my best. Amelia stole my first idea, so here’s one I came up with on short notice. ☺
I yawned. The wake up bell was peeling loudly. I looked out of my window at a pig girl giving a pail of slops to her master’s pigs. Oh, what I would give to be a simple peasant girl, not a princess! Princesses couldn’t have fun and run and laugh and feel the wind in their hair. Instead, they must be students at princess school and learn how to be ladylike and proper. My only friend here amongst thousands of stuck-up princesses was my Chihuahua, Josie, who I had brought with me from Primnproper. As I slid out of bed, my hand brushed the diamond ring on my finger. Tears sprang into my eyes as I thought of the meaning behind the trinket. Only a month before, my soul had been singing with joy as Prince Nathan proposed to me. I had accepted, for I loved him with all my heart. But, two days before the wedding, disaster struck. My beloved was killed in a carriage accident. His father, my foster father, was so deeply devastated, that he sent me away in a huff to this wretched Princess Academy, until my second Prince Charming comes to rescue me from this tower of agony. From outside my thick, oak door, I heard a voice calling, “Princess Jemima, are you wake?” Oh, dear Prince! Come soon!
(I will admit, this took me more than ten minutes.)
I will attempt to post more of my book soon, but it probably I won’t post much. Thanks for being so excited about it!
@ Bethy
Yes, that's the plan! I probably won't do your list for lack of time but it sounds fun! ☺
@ Belwyn
Thanks. Btw, I loved the story you did put up! It was so.....:) :) :)
@ Belwyn (Again)
Just curious...have you read Princess Academy by Shannon Hale? (The name makes it sound a bit silly, but it is actually very well-written, and has taught me a lot about diplomacy, the French Revolution, monarchical politics, diplomats, ambassadors, taxes, and royalty, all while being a fictional-fairy-tale-romance. I was surprised by just how much I learned. It's my sixth favorite book series. < All that was pretty pointless if you have read it.)
@Bethy
This sounds dumb but what is a biome? Also, I have always heard of 'AI' as "Artificial Insemination' Like when you AI a cow with semen
Do you look on, with a secret dream?
@Bethy
In one of your comments you said “Dessie: So, do you a page?” I didn’t really understand what you meant so that’s what I was asking.
@All
And here is the plunge!
.
The Tragic Life of A Robotic Rat
“Go away, pesky little rat!” Roars the master of the ship as he swings at me with his stick. What he doesn’t know is that I am a robot. Robotic ears, tail, and legs. Oh, how I want to run away! But I can’t move unless my controller moves me. Alas that my controller is taking a break! He’s never around when I need him! So here I am, in a strange environment, glued to the deck of the ship, with no way of escape and certain death heading my way in the form of a gigantic stick. Waaaaaaiiiit. I’m a robotic rat, right? So I can’t die. Oh wait, no, nevermind! I’m going to break! Into a million pieces! What am I going to doooooooooooooooo!!!
Ten minutes later….
“….Biome…...Cyber…...Robotic…...Spy…..” What? Where am I? And what on earth does biome mean, anyway? Oh dear… “Artificial Intelligence….destroyed…..Sharpie……” If only I could hear what was going on! My ear must have been disconnected. I can only catch a little of what they are saying. Wait. My robotic eyes are opening. What's going on? Oh, dear, I believe I have been smashed and have only a few more minutes left to ‘live.’ Yep, my little robotic brain is half out. I don’t have that much longer. Well, I’ll send one last message to my controller. Ahem. ’Dear Matt Thomason. I am dying. But you don’t care, do you? It doesn’t matter anyway. When you send little robots to spy for you you’re bound to trip sometime. Well, I have done my work. It’s been an honor serving you, my lord. From Planet 32500” (My name) Hm...it...went….through….goodbye, dear….readers….I’m going….now…..
.
I didn’t know what Biome or Cyber really meant but I did my best! Oh yeah, and I got the line: “It’s been an honor serving you, my lord’ from a favorite book, a servant said it right before drinking poison to save the king’s life.
@Riley
Huh? Dumb? I know this wasn’t addressed to me but what were you talking about when you said dumb? Or do you mean fun? And thank you! I liked your story, especially since I love dogs! :)
@Kaewyn
Yes, maybe something intense would be fun! I can’t wait!
@Mylee thank you!
@Belwyn
Awesome!
Do you look on, with a secret dream?
@Bethy
In one of your comments you said “Dessie: So, do you a page?” I didn’t really understand what you meant so that’s what I was asking.
@All
And here is the plunge!
.
The Tragic Life of A Robotic Rat
“Go away, pesky little rat!” Roars the master of the ship as he swings at me with his stick. What he doesn’t know is that I am a robot. Robotic ears, tail, and legs. Oh, how I want to run away! But I can’t move unless my controller moves me. Alas that my controller is taking a break! He’s never around when I need him! So here I am, in a strange environment, glued to the deck of the ship, with no way of escape and certain death heading my way in the form of a gigantic stick. Waaaaaaiiiit. I’m a robotic rat, right? So I can’t die. Oh wait, no, nevermind! I’m going to break! Into a million pieces! What am I going to doooooooooooooooo!!!
Ten minutes later….
“….Biome…...Cyber…...Robotic…...Spy…..” What? Where am I? And what on earth does biome mean, anyway? Oh dear… “Artificial Intelligence….destroyed…..Sharpie……” If only I could hear what was going on! My ear must have been disconnected. I can only catch a little of what they are saying. Wait. My robotic eyes are opening. What's going on? Oh, dear, I believe I have been smashed and have only a few more minutes left to ‘live.’ Yep, my little robotic brain is half out. I don’t have that much longer. Well, I’ll send one last message to my controller. Ahem. ’Dear Matt Thomason. I am dying. But you don’t care, do you? It doesn’t matter anyway. When you send little robots to spy for you you’re bound to trip sometime. Well, I have done my work. It’s been an honor serving you, my lord. From Planet 32500” (My name) Hm...it...went….through….goodbye, dear….readers….I’m going….now…..
.
I didn’t know what Biome or Cyber really meant but I did my best! Oh yeah, and I got the line: “It’s been an honor serving you, my lord’ from a favorite book, a servant said it right before drinking poison to save the king’s life.
@Riley
Huh? Dumb? I know this wasn’t addressed to me but what were you talking about when you said dumb? Or do you mean fun? And thank you! I liked your story, especially since I love dogs! :)
@Kaewyn
Yes, maybe something intense would be fun! I can’t wait!
@Mylee thank you!
@Belwyn
Awesome!
@ Riley
Well, in video games when you play against the computer, they are called "AIs". I've never heard of it being that other thing. But I think when most people say AI they mean Artificial Intelligence.
Biome: A biome is a type of place\habitat. For instance, the rainforest is a type of biome. It has its own ecosystem and predators and prey, which God designed to all work together in a certain way. A biome could be also be in desert, tundra, etc.
(According to Wikipedia: [an online encyclopedia] A biome is a collection of plants and animals that have common characteristics for the environment they exist in. They can be found over a range of continents. Biomes are distinct biological communities that have formed in response to a shared physical climate. Biome is a broader term than habitat; any biome can comprise a variety of habitats.)
@ All
I'm so sorry! I didn't realize that my list would be confusing or weird! I should have changed it...sorry again for making it not clear.
Dessie: Great story.
@ Desarose
Yeah, um cyber is like...uh...it's in science fiction and is often used in two parts. Meriam Webster says: of, relating to, or involving computers or computer networks (such as the Internet)
That's a tough list og words
That's a tough list og words xDD I'll see what I can come up with....
@Bethy
Oh okay thanks! Yeah I don't use those words often so this will be difficult!!!
@All: I make a motion to not do writing plunges over the weekend,( Saturday and Sunday) seeing as at least I, and I don't know about the rest of you, don't really get on here on the weekends and do more work and family time. All in favor type 'Aye' all opposed type 'Nay 'and state opposition.
@Dessie
I meant that my question probably sounded dumb to all of y'all because I didn't know what biome was.
Aye
Aye
Aye
Aye
Or wish that is now dead, or so it seems?
@Riley
Aye
@Bethy
Thanks!
@Caro
Your turn on Monday!
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