Author: Issa
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Why Hold Your Tongue
To be wise, know when to be silent, Discern when to keep the mouth shut, Ponder on what nourishes the spirit, Learn how to bring joy to the heart. It’s totally far from pretensions, Neither flattery nor false words, It neither qualifies as deceit nor lies, Not conceited words in disguise. Desire the power to…
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Freshen Up, Ladies!
Whining about headaches? Body pains? And all sorts of illnesses? You’re aging. Children hardly talk about ill-health. I hate to admit I often grumble about feeling weak. Yet, upon reading ‘Herself’ by Dr. Lowry, my outlook has changed. Any woman could be as young as she wants to be -only if she didn’t neglect to care…
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Say More, Sailor
“Come, I’ll drop you off,” Khaled insisted. “No, Julie’s taking a cab with me. I’ll drop her off on my way to Abu Dhabi,” Zi replied for me. “Are you sure, Julie?” Kavee whispered “I’ll be fine,” forcing a blank face. All my colleagues left except for me and Zi. “Zi, don’t deprive me of…
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Living Above 45 Degrees
If you think you can’t tolerate this much heat, never stay in the UAE in July to August. It’s true that the heat could kill you. It just did kill four in Abu Dhabi two days ago. At 49.9 degrees, the highest temp. recorded in the western region of the UAE’s capital city, four desert…
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Cycling Story
Well-built, genial, and hardworking, Mandie immediately got Lisa’s attention. He came in one morning at the bakery to ease her uncle’s heavy load. Lisa grew fonder of Mandie when he taught her how to pedal. Even her father didn’t find time to do that. Yet this man whom she hardly knew volunteered to teach her. How nice of…
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Pirc Perks
I loved Pirc: 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3, 3…g6. A king-side meek opening for black, it’s often summoned by close-gamers. The main aim is to secure the King’s position through early castling and to allow white to exploit the center (1.e4, 2. d4) at the beginning of the game. A chess arbiter, who happened to be observing my…
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Disfigured
With the pristine sights of green fields, refreshing whizz of winds, chantings of rushing waters, and everything around shaded by sunset, Lisa never felt a slight weariness walking home. “Heavenly”, she sighed in awe. Noiselessly, a grotesque figure with a broad head and a very round face came up and blocked her way. Though horrified, instinct drove Lisa’s feet…
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The Spelling Bee
As big, wide eyes focused on Lisa, she marveled at those tiny creatures glued to branches of trees in the wooded spot where their jeepney passed by. She hoped to stop the driver, yet it was not the time to go nuts. She was competing for a Spelling Bee – in Filipino. She laughed at…
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Zest for School
At the crack of each dawn, Lisa hurriedly gets out of bed and goes to her aunt’s bakery shop tagging along two of her younger siblings to help out. Filing the biscuits on silver trays before they’re put inside the oven is as easy as a pie. That’s why even Lisa’s younger sisters could do…