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.
@All TypeWriters
Ugh it didn't keep the formatting!! Every four lines there is supposed to be a space! :)
@Mirela
I think it is your turn now for real in the plunge! :)
this is mylee
@Bethy its ok XD !
Sorry everyone. What are the
Sorry everyone. What are the words?
I have an impudent, insolent, arrogant, rebellious, dog.
@Mirela
You get to come up with them!
@Riley
That. Was. AMAZING! Good job! (Wdym not very good? WAAAAAAY better than mine...) I loved it!
I have an impudent, insolent, arrogant, rebellious, dog.
@Mirela
You get to come up with them!
@Riley
That. Was. AMAZING! Good job! (Wdym not very good? WAAAAAAY better than mine...) I loved it!
Is the color green morally better than the color yellow?
Riley: Great job!!! I know what you mean about formatting! It doesn't let you indent or anything!
Lots of comments
Lots of comments
@ Caden, @ All
Caden, I think I’ve seen your name about 1 million times today! Haha! How did you find us? Were you looking for an article for the 1st comment in a year competition?
@ All Ok everyone I’m thinking of words. When I’ve thought of those do I make a story from them?
Riley
Wow that’s a pretty good poem! BUT how dare you call us Brits sneaky and sly! (Jk jk! Just kidding!)
this is Kaewyn
@ Riley, Dessie, and Bethy
I LOVE your stories! I tried to pick hard words but I hope they were not too hard.
@ mirela j.
If you want to. You post 5 to 7 (or more) words and we (and you, if you want) write a story using those words! Does that clear up any of your confusion?
:)
@Typewriters, so I came across a story I was writing a couple of years ago, and started continuing it. Anyone want to read a chapter of it? It is totally fine to say no!
@Above
@Mirela: oops didn't think about you seeing that!! Haha sorry!!! XDXD I am not meaning you!!! XD
@Caroline. Sure if you want to!
@Comments about my poem
Thanks guys!!!!
.
Kaewyn: Not at all! It was really fun!
Caro: That would be great! :) We haven't had a lot of story-posting lately! (Besides Bella.)
Riley: Thanks for sharing it!
Wait............................................................
@Kaewyn
They were super fun and challenging!
@Caro
You should! Oh, and you forgot one line in 'Who Are You" It's 'Do you look on with a secret dream?" It goes right before the 'or wish that is now dead or so it seems.' It's probably my fault, please don't take offense!
@All
Please answer honestly; Are you guys tired of me putting up poems? Because I have another one I am sort of proud of and would like to share, but if you are tired of poems I can stop! I WILL NOT be offended if you say you are tired of them!
@ Dessie
NOT AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you're proud of it, post it! I'd LOVE to se it!
@ Amelia B.
Are you still here?
@Above
Dessie
I’d love to read another one of your poems, the one you did in the subject lines was really good
Belwyn
I’m still here, I’ve been really busy this week so haven’t had time to do any plunges
Best torture method: Eat a Hershey's bar in front of their face.
@Bella and Amelia
Thanks!
Ok....Here it is. (It's a little scary doing this but I like this one...)
Morning Will Come
The doom of night is now at hand
A shadow falls over this land
But do not yet despair, my friends!
For every darkness draws to an end.
.
Some nights grow long, and hard to bear
It becomes easy, then, to fall to despair.
But our hope rests with the dawn,
Morning comes, though the night seems long.
.
Soon over the hilltops the light we will see
It will break forth triumphantly
The Sun’s flames will lick the sky,
Night will flee, and darkness die.
.
So keep your eye trained beyond the night,
And know that very soon comes the light.
Do not fear the deepening gloom,
For morning comes, yes, is coming soon.
.
(Inspiration; Aragorn at Helm's Deep)
Best torture method: Eat a Hershey's bar in front of their face.
@Bella and Amelia
Thanks!
Ok....Here it is. (It's a little scary doing this but I like this one...)
Morning Will Come
The doom of night is now at hand
A shadow falls over this land
But do not yet despair, my friends!
For every darkness draws to an end.
.
Some nights grow long, and hard to bear
It becomes easy, then, to fall to despair.
But our hope rests with the dawn,
Morning comes, though the night seems long.
.
Soon over the hilltops the light we will see
It will break forth triumphantly
The Sun’s flames will lick the sky,
Night will flee, and darkness die.
.
So keep your eye trained beyond the night,
And know that very soon comes the light.
Do not fear the deepening gloom,
For morning comes, yes, is coming soon.
.
(Inspiration; Aragorn at Helm's Deep)
:)
So here is the first chapter of my story... Hope you like it! If you have any suggestions let me know!
There was a young man once with the name Simon Free. He married a girl named Sammantha Forever Loyal. You can see the contrast of their names. 50 years ago the father of every household chose their last names, the King offered money and land to anyone who chose their last names to be Loyal or something to do with that. Simon’s father chose Free and declined the money. My father was Simon Free. My mother was Sammantha Loyal. She was nothing like her father.
She started the revolution.
Now when people married, if the woman had a name to do with being loyal to the monster who is our King, she could keep it and not take her husband’s name. The ruler liked it best when they kept their loyalty name. My mother’s first act to get noticed was that she took my father’s name. Samantha Forever Free. When the rebellion was put down, the king tracked down my family, the Frees, and the Loyals. My Da took the blame, hoping to save my mother, but the king had them all hanged. My cousins, two year old brother, and myself were left orphans and at the mercy of the king. He took us, to “raise” us and make sure we were never rebellious.
But believe me. We were.
Words
Words:
Paper
Socks
Grinning
Ferry
Calendar
Strolling
@ Desarose and Caroline
@ Desarose Wow I like how it is dark into light! A nice consistency of topic.
@ Caroline A very interesting story line! What’s gonna happen next?..
:)
@Mirela, something horrible will happen, and from it a rebel will be born... So, some people will be killed and then the main character (Priscilla) will make a speech and then get stabbed. She started a revolt. So the main plot is that there will be a rebbelion to overthrow the evil king (sort of cliche, I know) And it is written like Cilla is writing down her story for people to read, but she isn't going to dramatisize it, she is just going to write it how she remembers. You can ask specific questions if you want :D
AHHH DID I MISS MY TERN TO DO
AHHH DID I MISS MY TERN TO DO THE LIST??? I haven't really been on here (this page) for a few days....
.
Dessie, great poem!
Caro, Loved your story! So does Cilla die? (I'll say more later if I can)
Mirela, thanks for the list!
Mirela's Writing Plunge
This was a fun one! I might have took to long though...:)
Grinning, Cassie pulled on her socks with the ferry-boats on them. According to the calendar, she was going to perform a play in the park with her club. Strolling into the park, Cassie put up papers advertising for the free show. It was early in the morning, and it was bitter cold, after all, it was December. Her socks didn’t match her costume, but they did keep her warm.
An hour later, she had put up all the flyers, and met her friend Kristen.
“Ready for practice?” Kristen asked.
Cassie nodded, “I hope enough people will come.”
“Oh I’m sure they will! You did such a great job with advertising, and we’ll have our parents come to the pageant.” Kristen assured her.
:I guess you're right, I’m just a bit nervous.” Cassie admitted.
“Well I am too.” Kristen took Cassie’s arm and steered her over to the practicing area.
“You can be, you’re playing Mary, but I feel like I shouldn’t be nervous since I’m just part of the Angel Choir.” Cassie told her.
Kristen laughed, “Oh, it'll be fine!”
Cassie hoped that that would be true.
They practiced all day. Their coach, Ms. Stone had told them that they needed to brave the weather since that was where the actual play would be. And so, at 4:00 when the play started, the cast was rather cold.
But they managed to pull through. Before she was to go on, Cassie was nervously wondering why she had been so excited that morning. She had taken her socks off, and was freezing.
But when at last it was her time to go on, she forgot all about being scared. She was swept away with the joy of telling the amazing story of Jesus’s birth. She hoped some people in the crowd would be positively impacted.
Afterwards, Cassie grew up to be an amazing actress, and was able to share the Good News with countless people, all because of a Christmas Pageant.
Caroline,
Since I don't know whole lot of the story, I'm not sure how much I'll be able to help, but:
1. Inconsistency: You refer to her parents as "father" and "mother" so that's what I assumed they would be. But then there's this: 'Da took the blame, hoping to save my mother,' suddenly he's "Da". Could you either explain why you changed it or keep it the same?
2. Sammantha should be spelled Samantha, unless you want to have an extra "m" or if you just want it that way.
3. '50 years ago' There are grammar and spelling rules for numbers, and this should be "Fifty".
4. 'My father was Simon Free. My mother was Sammantha Loyal. She was nothing like her father.' The last sentence has two thing that could be changed for the better, 1) If this is all from Cilla's perspective, you should probably keep the same tense. So it should be more like: "She was nothing like MY father'. Or, "She was nothing like her husband'. 2) You already have this fixed if you do the first one, but right not it sounds like Cilla's father is Sammantha's (Samantha's) father.
5. 'My mother’s first act to get noticed was that she took my father’s name. Samantha Forever Free.' 1) This part, "My mother’s first act to get noticed" is a bit weirdly worded. Maybe change it to something like, 'My mother's first act she performed to get herself in the eyes of the king" or something like that. [Since what I wrote wasn't very good!] 2) Only the 'Free' part is from her husband, the 'Forever' has stayed the same. Is there a reason for this?
6. For fifty years and more they've had the same tyrannical king?
7. What is the symbol at the bottom supposed to be? This thing: (It's isn't working to paste...XD)
I hope this helps and that I didn't make you feel bad! Remember, you don't have to change any of this!
@ Bethy @ Caroline
@ Bethy That’s a good story!!! I’ll write mine soon :)
@ Caroline Oh intriguing! Can you post the next bit of the story?
1682nd COMMENT
I'm excited to reveal more of my ideas on here.
@ Elijah S
Oh good! Will you put up more of your Castle Chronicles, or something new?
@ Caro
Uh...the symbol appeared once I saved the comment, but wasn't there when I wrote it...:)
:)
@Bethy, no, but she almost does.. So Cilla is Priscilla, Cilla is her nickname, it explains it in the second chapter. 1. That makes sence, but Cilla is really into nicknames, all her cousins have nicknames so Da is like her other name for her father, she calls him both Da and Father, but I might change that. 2. I'll have to decide on that, Samantha or Sammantha.. 3. Thanks! That makes sense! 4. So I meant Sammantha wasn't like her father, because Sammantha's father was loyal to the king. Not like she was nothing like Cilla's Father. Do you have an idea of how I could convey that better? 5. Forever is her middle name, but I might take that out... 6. Yeah, he is a litaral monster, but he always wears this mask so nobody knows. Readers will find out later that some spell he forced someone to make, made him unable to die from age, but it seriously messed him up..7. its fine! It is constructive critisism, I'm not letting my family read it yet, so it will be a surprise for them! @Mirela, sure! How about I post the forward and the second chapter?
:)
Actually, the forward and a little of chapter 2? It is a pretty long chapter.
Caro,
Okay, that makes sense.
4. How about "I am not very much like my father" or something. Would that work?
7. So...what is the symbol? (Sorry if you told me and I didn't get it.)
I'd love to have more! (If you want to!)
@Bethy
Oh! I still wasn't clear, ok, so Priscilla was writing about her mother, Sammantha. I was thinking 'She was nothing like her father, after all, her father was loyal to the king' What do you think of that? Do you mean the symbol in the subject line? Because that is the only symbol I can see....
Some more of my story!
FORWARD
My name is Priscilla Free. Just call me Cilla. This is my story.
My parents were rebels. I’m a rebel too, but I didn’t know it for a LONG time. I’ll start at the beginning.
CHAPTER 2
Time for introductions. It has been five years since that dreadful day. I am fifteen and my brother, Andrew is seven. All my cousins are younger than me, but Sven only by a couple of months. Sven is the oldest boy. Lacey is twelve. Katrina is 10. Nicholis is 7, he is Andrew’s best friend. We take care of each other. Sven, Katrina, and Lacey are sibs and Loyals, though in private we call them Free. Nick is the other Free. Not one of us knows the cook’s name. The King has a mask that he never takes off. It looks like a raven. Queen Tak is the Queen of monsters, she and the King have an “Alliance”. We joke that the King is sweet on Queen Tak, but I actually think it might be true. Queen Tak is a Uan (look at the end of this book for a description). Kat, Lace, and I work serving food mostly. Sven, Drew, and Nick are stable boys, and sometimes serve food (Though not often, they try to protect us when the monsters are being gross to us, but it normally just gets them, and us, in trouble.)
There is one day in particular that I want to tell you about. It was a very important day
My parents were rebels. I’m a rebel too, but I didn’t know it for a LONG time. I’ll start at the beginning.
:)
Oops! Ignore that last line, I wrote it again by accident! Also, that is only part of Chapter 2
can you post the rest of the
can you post the rest of the chapter?
The most random thing I can think of is this
@Caro
Wow! That's very intriuging!
@Nadia
Nope, your turn is next after Mirela's so you are just in time!
@Mirela
Working on the plunge......
The most random thing I can think of is this
@Caro
Wow! That's very intriuging!
@Nadia
Nope, your turn is next after Mirela's so you are just in time!
@Mirela
Working on the plunge......
All,
Looks good! I have to go, I'll say more later!
All of Chapter 2, as requested! :)
CHAPTER 2
Time for introductions. It has been five years since that dreadful day. I am fifteen and my brother, Andrew is seven. All my cousins are younger than me, but Sven only by a couple of months. Sven is the oldest boy. Lacey is twelve. Katrina is 10. Nicholis is 7, he is Andrew’s best friend. We take care of each other. Sven, Katrina, and Lacey are sibs and Loyals, though in private we call them Free. Nick is the other Free. Not one of us knows the cook’s name. The King has a mask that he never takes off. It looks like a raven. Queen Tak is the Queen of monsters, she and the King have an “Alliance”. We joke that the King is sweet on Queen Tak, but I actually think it might be true. Queen Tak is a Uan (look at the end of this book for a description). Kat, Lace, and I work serving food mostly. Sven, Drew, and Nick are stable boys, and sometimes serve food (Though not often, they try to protect us when the monsters are being gross to us, but it normally just gets them, and us, in trouble.)
There is one day in particular that I want to tell you about. It was a very important day.
We were all slotted to serve at a banquet. Kat, Lace and I were to serve the king’s table, and Sven, Nick, and Drew were supposed to help serve the monsters. I was on my way bringing a huge platter of food to the king, when a drunk cyclops grabbed my free arm (I was balancing the food in one hand, see) and spun me toward him. Thankfully I didn’t lose any food in the process. He slurred, “Well aren’t you a preeetty lady?”
Drew ran out of the crowd and shouted “Leave her alone!”
The cyclops let go of my arm and slapped him, knocking him over “Shut it, you little grub!”
Kat helped Drew up and I took the chance to try to run. I couldn’t get through the crowd though! I tripped but before I could fall, or even lose a drop of soup, a sturdy hand steadied me. I looked up. Sven. He pulled me up, and I smiled, then used sign language to thank him. It was too loud for him to hear me if I spoke.
I should probably explain the sign language. Lacey is mute, so we developed a sign language so she could talk to us.
Anyway, back to the story.
I saw my cousins and Drew. So they were safe. Whew. But… The monsters were brawling.
Uh oh.
Suddenly we were in the king’s throne room. This meant we were in trouble. The King said, “line up” so we did. Me, then Sven, Lacey, Katrina, Nick, and Drew.
“Well there are a lot of you. I guess I’ll have to change that,” He snapped his fingers and us girls were stuck to where we were and the boys were zoomed forward and stuck a few yards from the king. I tried to open my mouth, but couldn’t.
Then, instead of the boys, there was a pile of dust. I screamed in my head. And then…
We were back in our room. The girls ran to me and I pulled them into a group hug. They were sobbing, but I kept myself from crying, trying to be strong for them.
“Remember, Lace, Kat, we will see them again,”
They looked up at me with tear streaked faces. Kat said, “We have to leave, Cilla. I’ve been reading, we need to get free.” I looked down at her in surprise.
“You can read?”
“Yes, Cook taught me. But Cilla, we could get freedom. We could try and avenge them. We could… Start a revolution?”
“Kat, freedom? Revolution? A revolution is what got us here in the first place!”
“But, you are good at getting people to listen to you. I know what went wrong with every other revolt! And Lacey, can I tell her Lace?”
Lacey hesitates than signs, Yes.
“Lacey knows magic.”
I gasped. “Magic?!” I screeched.
“Yes.”
I knew we shouldn’t tell her.
“No, Lace, that’s amazing! But, let me think about it Kat, I don’t want you to get hurt. Anyway, we need sleep.”
“Ok, but Cilla?”
“Yes?”
“We aren’t little anymore.”
I changed into pajamas and got into bed with Kat and Lacey. But my head was spinning with thoughts. It would be a while before I slept.
So, that is the beginning of a VERY interesting life.
:)
Hope you like it! If you have any feedback, let me know! :D
@ Caro
Thanks for putting up more! :)
1. 'Nicholis is 7,' the comma has a space between it and the seven. Remove the space.
2. 'Not one of us knows the cook’s name. The King has a mask' What? Who is this "cook" and what does it have to do with the king and his mask? Do you mean king instead of cook?
3. 'Queen Tak is the Queen of monsters' I think your missing a word, "Queen of THE monsters."
4. ' and sometimes serve food' put a period after this, or at the end of the () in the sentence, bc right now it doesn't have an ending point.
5. 'the monsters are being gross to us' do you mean actual monsters? Or do you mean monsters who you haven't been mentioned yet? Or have they? Basically, who are you referring to?
6. '(I was balancing the food in one hand, see)' it might make more sense to have it say "hand, YOU see".
7. 'I couldn’t get through the crowd though!' I would take out the "though".
8. 'I tripped but before I could fall' put a comma in after "tripped"
9. 'Uh oh.' I think there should be a dash in between.
10. 'Yes, Cook taught me' Ohh! Who is this? Also, now 'Cook' is capitalized, so do you want the first one to be capitalized as well?
11. 'We could… Start a' delete the space between the period and 'start'.
12. '“But, you are good' take out the comma, I think.
13. 'tell her Lace?”' put a comma after "her".
14. 'Yes.' Maybe put speaking quotes around it? Or have it be in italics?
15. 'But, let me think about it Kat' I'm not sure if you want a comma after 'but'.
16. One of them refers to being little, it could be stronger if Cilla calls them little.
Wow! You did such a great job!!! I can't believe he dusted them! I can't wait for more! I hope I helped, and sorry if I sound mean.
My own Writing Plunge
The papers fluttered to the floor. ”Get them out of my sight” he said with disgust. Two armed men grabbed Adam and Sheila’s arms forcefully. They were dragged out to and along the street. Their shoes became no more and their socks turned to rags. They passed all sorts; half dead cats and dogs, trampled newspapers and decade old calendars, abandoned shops. Finally, after Adam’s eyes had seen enough, the guards arrived at the dock. A large, black, ferry-like boat sat as if it was mourning the death of a loved one. Adam and Sheila were led into it, through many winding corridors. After being ordered to stay exactly where they were, the two men strolled away, grinning evilly.
@ Mirela
Terrific job! I especially liked the part about their shoes being no more.
Bethy
Thank you so much! :D :D :D
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