Kill Time (Like a Boss)

Some days, time seems to turn into a boggling sea of jelly, making everything stuck in it as slow as commercial breaks between an action packed movie. What do you do when you find yourself in a situation like this? Below are some tips to kill waiting:

Situation A: The doctor told you to come at 5, but you've been waiting for 2 hours already. At one point, you start believing that this is a sick experiment created to observe your cracking point, and your life is nothing but a Community episode. What do you do to make yourself get out of this mess?

Think up the weirdest disease you could contract. Twitch violently from time to time, or let out an occasional yelp. Pretend to have a contagious itch and scratch yourself all over. Notice other people's reactions and how they move away from you. Sit near the TV or fan so that when they do you can occupy the best seat.

Situation B: The duty of paying the bills has landed on your shoulders. You find yourself standing in a mile long queue at the bank. You cannot move from your place and your legs ache. How do you manage to endure this medieval torture?

Make up your own language. Make sure it does not sound Chinese because then people will know it's made up. Everyone makes the same noises while pretending to be Chinese. Take out your mobile phone and shoot furtive glances at someone standing next in line. Fake talk on the phone and keep stealing peeks at them. Move your eyes when they spot you. Enjoy watching them squirm uncomfortably in a short while.

Situation C: You know that moment. We all do. The one where we spot that endless line of cars blocking the road ahead of you. You let out a sigh and prepare for the long wait in your rickshaw or car. You believe there's no escape.

For these situations always carry a notepad in your bag. Take it out and start drawing, writing, doodling or making origami shapes. Draw the vehicles you see, the people or the buildings. Even if you suck at drawing, try describing some of the things going on around you. Go ahead, and you might just get an A in English this year.

Situation D: Your mother has captured you like a spider captures those little flies and is dragging you around as she enters each and every shop in the mall. The only reason she brought you with her is so that you carry her bags, ensuring you cannot move anywhere out of sight. Here is one way you can easily spend the hour.

Play Sherlock Holmes. Select your target and observe them for about five minutes. It could be that harmless looking middle aged woman haggling in an uncharacteristically ferocious way with the sari seller, or it could be the nervous looking dude who never takes his hands out from inside his pockets. After observing them, try to imagine who they are, what they do and what's going on with them. Even give them a name. You might just realize that the hot girl recently went through a break up and is looking for movies to keep herself occupied while having a double scooped ice cream.

Situation E: It's math class again. That time of the day when you practically hear all the clocks in the world whirr to a stop. The teacher's voice, sounding like the engine of a motorboat has filled up the classroom, making everyone lethargic. Now you don't have to endure that torture anymore, thanks to the rapidly approaching winter. But be sure that you only do this when the class is really unimportant, because, you know, you don't want to fail that quiz next week.

Put your music player on shuffle and tuck it into your trouser waistline. Now tape one of the earphones to you palm. Wear a sweater so that the wires remain hidden. Now you can lean your head against your palm and listen you music all you want. One of your ears will remain free so that the teacher asks you something you can reply. Be careful that the music is not on too loud. No blame lies on this writer if you get your music player confiscated!

By Anashua

Wishing for a heavier pocket

Money makes the world go round. Shiny suits, posh cars, luxurious apartments - all follow with money. Bill Gates wouldn't be himself without the money. Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn't be in dandruff shampoo ads if it weren't for the money. Then there are people like yours truly - those who do not earn. How do our worlds go round? That little ray of sunshine that sows the seed for a cash-packed future - pocket money!

Children get odd-jobs delivering newspaper, mowing lawns or painting garages abroad. But in Bangladesh, perhaps the most we can do is wash our parents' car since they are too afraid that we'll get kidnapped every time we set foot out of our houses. There comes a point where you don't want to go begging to Mom every time the ice-cream cart comes by. And then a point you want to split cash and pay for a meal with friends. That my friends, is when pocket money does its magic.

After asking around, we found most people claiming they don't need pocket money. “My parents usually pay for most things I need,” says an 11-year-old. “But I understand why my friends want it - if they are idiots, they immediately spend on candy but if they are smart, they save it.” The idea of saving seemed very popular among everyone.

“I have been saving the bits of pocket money I receive for something more expensive - like headphones, for when my current pair stops working,” says a confident 13-year-old, while another one stated that she does not receive “official” pocket money but saves the money she gets to buy lunch from school.

Pocket money gives children a feeling of power and wealth. “I know the money is there. I am rich. For the moment.” Of course, it is never good to be carried away.

“I have always given my daughter everything she has needed,” claimed the mother of a 12-year-old who doesn't support handing out pocket money. “If she wants something, I'll pay for it. Who knows what she'll be wasting it on if I give her random amounts every now and then?”

Another mother did support the concept, but was aware of its negatives. She explained that pocket money is a good method of preparing children for the future by teaching them how to live on a fixed budget. Children may also learn to be organised if they keep records of how much they are spending every time they buy anything.

“I monitor what my children are doing,” she said. “I don't give them too much, I am aware of how easily children may get spoilt.”

Of course you cannot blame children for wanting an extra scoop of ice-cream or the latest action figure. But parents may also try to teach them the hard way by asking them to either help out around the kitchen or make their beds. Some parents are even satisfied if children get good grades and raise their allowance. Thus pocket money is definitely a good incentive to get kids to study. Or eat green vegetables.

Getting hands on money gives children strange sensations of freedom. So parents, why not bring a smile to your angels' faces and hand over 50 bucks every other Friday?

By Padya

NANOTALES

60-word stories

The Day

Whispers, prayers. Last words for some as they sense the end approach. The building buzzes with dreadful anticipation. And in a rush, they're out. People crying - from heartbreak or happiness, it's impossible to tell. For the scroll that holds their futures has just been unravelled. And there their destinies lay, staring back at them in black and white, unflinching.

By Tahmida Zaman

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Apocalypse

The waters rushed along the flat plains, climbing over the occasional ridges; washing away all that was unholy and unclean. She fled as it swept towards her, but it was too quick, too overwhelming. She saw others disappear beneath the tempestuous mass. The waves carried her down the drain as the man hosed down the bathroom, flooding out the ants.

By Whoever