Fool's Prerogative: A Collection of Tales, Poems, & Essays

By Jesse Wong

Self-expression in its purest form can be depicted through one’s writing. Jesse Wong is a rising senior at Monta Vista High School. Fool’s Prerogative consists of works of writings meticulously crafted by Jesse from his freshman year through his junior year. These compositions include informative essays, exquisite stories, and elegant works of poetry written for three literature classes throughout these three years. As J exercises his fool’s prerogative through the ideas expressed in the collection of works, he exhibits the evolution of his writing and development of his character throughout his high school career.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jesse Wong
• Release date: Jun 13, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370457717

Jesse Wong

My name is Jesse Wong. I am soon to be a senior at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino, California. My hobbies include hanging out with friends, watching movies, and playing sports.

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Fool's Prerogative: A Collection of Tales, Poems, & Essays

Published by Jesse Wong at Smashwords

Copyright 2017 Jesse Wong

Fool's Prerogative: A Collection of Tales, Poems, & Essays

By Jesse Wong

License Notes

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may only be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Who You Are

Poetry

Happiness Comes From Within

A Shortcut to Death

Flash Fiction

A Surreal Experience

In Bad Company

Essay

Industrialization’s Impact on China’s Air Pollution

Short Story

Black King

The Struggle of Reading Kafka

In the Department of Magic

Ideals from A Thousand Li Away

It is a fool's prerogative to utter truths that no one else will speak.

— Morpheus, The Sandman A Midsummer Night's Dream

June 13, 2017

Dear [Your Name],

By some cosmic whim of fate, you’ve found my book among the great indie authors on Smashwords. You might be wondering who Jesse Wong is and what Fool’s Prerogative is about. After all, your time is precious. I’m a rising senior at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino, California, and I’ll be turning seventeen in a few days after this book’s publication. Fool’s Prerogative is a collection of writing assignments I turned in for my English classes from 9th-11th grade. They span various genres, because in curriculum theory, my teachers had to cover California’s Common Core Language Arts standards. That’s why you’ll notice headings on top of my assignments.

For your information, Kate Evard, Jessica Kaufman, and Jireh Tanabe were my English teachers for freshman, sophomore, and junior year respectively. The title, Fool’s Prerogative, comes from a line written by Neil Gaiman. It is a reference to the Shakespearean fool whose dramatic function is to relate the subject of the story to the audience’s reality. I hope you’ll enjoy my first book as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Sincerely,

Jesse Wong

Introduction

Who You Are

Requirements (in Ebonics English to protect my teacher’s implied copyright):

On yo' 8x10 piece o' whitey paper, illustrate or make uh collage dat details who you be. Dis here should relate ta elements o' yo' culture, personality, an' interests. Additionally, you will attach uh piece o' binder paper wif an MLA formatted paragraph explaining how yo' collage or illustration relates ta who you be!

Jesse Wong

Miss Kaufman

World Core Lit/Writ Period 3

September 3, 2015

Who You Are

Every day, I practice a sense of gratitude. For example, I am grateful for my loving parents who come from Taiwan and Hong Kong and act as my pillars of support. I also found Christianity attending CCIC (Chinese Church in Christ) in Cupertino, California, and the weekly fellowships help ease my academic stress. My current priorities are to study well and get the best grades I can to prepare for a successful future. Outside of academics, I also love playing sports. I used to play volleyball in middle school, but have since moved on to other sports like swimming and badminton. I joined the DACA (De Anza Cupertino Aquatics) varsity swim team two years ago and Monta Vista High School’s badminton team last year. As for my hobbies, I enjoy clothes shopping, accessorizing, and trying new restaurants with my family and friends. At the restaurants, I especially love to order strawberry ice cream sundaes, Japanese ramen, New York strip steak, and gourmet cheeseburgers. When I daydream of dinosaurs, I am reminded of life’s luxuries and feel grateful for this joie de vivre.

My Who You Are Collage

Jesse Wong

Mrs. Evard

Lit/Writ Period 5

January 16, 2015

Happiness Comes From Within

He is a sad, sad man, say his former company peers,

who question why he even lives anymore.

A small man, too, say his ragged clothes

in the closet of his gray corridor.

A penniless man, too, says the eviction notice,

posted on his peeling door.

A weak man, too, says his medication

which he can scarcely afford.

But he is a kind man, say the thank-you letters

sticking out of his P.O. box.

But he is a caring man, too, say the homeless men on the streets,

who no longer think suicidal thoughts.

But he is a hard-working man, too, say the job applications,

piled high on his kitchen table.

But he is a loving dad, too, says his daughter in the corner,

wrapped in her father's blanket.

So he is a strong man, says his resolute will,

that willpower which comes from above.

So he is a rich man, says his warm heart,

now spoiled in the riches of love.

So he is a big man, says his fiery soul,

burning hotter than any pyre.

And so he is a happy man, says the man,

for he has been freed from material desire.

January 21, 2015

A Shortcut To Death

A man who lived on a rolling green hill,

finished his dinner, and went for a walk

to the river lined with pink daffodils.

He looked down at his watch. Seven o’ clock.

Along the way, he strays off of the trail.

And