A girl named Helen Stoner asked Sherlock Holmes for help. She lived in an old estate near the village, along with her stepfather Dr. Grimesby Roylott who used to be a doctor when he lived in India. Two years ago she lost her sister Julia. She died two weeks before her wedding, under mysterious circumstances. Before his death, for several nights in the house she heard a strange whistling that very frightened her. The night Julie died, Helen had heard similar sounds. On her deathbed, Julia shouted : "It was a speckled band!" Now Helen temporarily moved to her sister's room because her one is being repaired. At the first night Helen heard a strange whistling again and panicked.

Colonel Elias Openshaw has been a large planter in the South of U.S. But he returned at motherland, to England after war. Elias used to be brave and determined, but he become horrified, when received an envelope with letters “K.K.K.” on it, and inside was nothing but the five orange pips. Fourteen month later the exact same letter was send to his brother Joseph. Five days after that he died falling down from the hill and breaking his head. Almost two years left and now letter with five pips received John Openshaw the Joseph’s father.

The big black pirate ship sailed in the Caribbean sea. There were ghostly pirates in it. They had never left their ship because of the curse. It was just a sailor’s story, wasn’t it? One little rich girl stood on the big ship owned her father and sang a song which called the pirates. Twelve-year-old Elizabeth Swann dreamt to meet them. In that day the Dauntless ship got out from the dark water a boy. His name was Will Turner and when he was asleep Elizabeth had taken from his shirt a gold medallion with a skull and crossbones. The big black ship with the same skull and crossbones on it was sailing past them at that moment. She understood that boy was a pirate. Elizabeth was very afraid, but she hid the medallion under her dress and kept this secret for eight years.

It was in 1867 when first rumors about dangerous and horrible monster that lives somewhere in sea depths appeared. According to witnesses, this creature was enormous and could sink any ship. Many people claimed that it was just a very big whale, but this beast was twice bigger than the biggest known whale. When a Capitan of American ship named ‘Abraham Lincoln’ was gathering a team for monster hunting, he invited a famous writer and professor of sea world Aronnax to be an expert at expedition. Aronnax took his friend Conseil to be his assistant. Also on board was well-known whale killer Ned Land, who promised if they found the creature, only one of them would survive. Finally, after three months of sailing they have faced with their enemy in the middle of nowhere.

The famous professor of geology and his nineteen-year personal assistant, nephew Axel found seven-hundred years old book in an old bookshop. This book was written in a dead language from Iceland and said about an old princes from Norway. Professor couldn’t read it, despite the fact that he knew a lot of languages. By the most interesting was not the book itself but a handwritten note that was hidden inside. This piece of sheet was left by famous scientist who was considered crazy by other scholars because of his views about the Earth. Next steps to solving this puzzle was a journey to Denmark. Professor of geology and his assistant wanted to get into the volcano at Sneffells Yokul. It was planned as fantastic journey but turned at something even more.

This book is about the dangerous and funny adventures in Africa. You will go to Savannah together with the main hero Jack. He is twelve years boy and he lives there with his parents and an older sister with her husband. You will know a lot about such great animals as giraffes and about their behavior. You'll love a handsome baby giraffe Spotty and his brave and wise mother. Together with Jack, you'll worry about giraffes and will try to save them from angry man Bill. Let us not judge too harshly Bill. He loves his wife so much and always wants her dreams come true and does everything for it, even if it's evil things! One day his wife Jill wanted to have a pet giraffe. So Bill decided to catch the animal in the grasslands, despite the fact that it is illegal.

This is a fairytale, which became known thanks to a famous Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s ballet. It is a love story between Prince Zigfried and a swan. It all has began when the Prince’s father died. The Prince was in a deep sorrow for a long time. His loyal servant Ozlowe tried very hard to cheer him but he failed every time. During his other attempt, he proposed his master to leave their castle for a walk. While they were wandering around a forest, they found a lake. A beautiful white swan with a gold crown on its head was swimming there. Ozlowe decided to kill the animal for Prince’s pleasure and shot an arrow. Prince Zigfried tried to stop his servant but it was too late. Fortunately, the arrow missed its target. Ozlowe became a stone, and the swan disappeared mysteriously…

This is a story about a strong love that would overcome all obstacles and even stop a bloody war. Pocahontas was a native chief's daughter. She was eleven when, sitting on the top of a cliff, she saw a big ship in the sea approaching the coast. The ship was full of white people who were searching for gold in the New World. All native tribes were certain that war was upon them and would start as soon as the ship would reach the land. But it turned out that the ship dropped anchor only to replenish its freshwater stores. Captain John Smith was chosen as the explorer of the new land. Pocahontas followed John very carefully, trying to find out what he really wanted from the natives. The moment their eyes met, they fell in love with each other. Their mutual feelings were so powerful that they had never left each other since then.

Luke Harrison and Jake Fulbright are directors and partners at a large real estate firm. They attend a board meeting and have a hard discussion about the company's development strategy. Luke wants to build housing for children, having in mind a positive, meaningful effort, while Jake prefers constructing office buildings in order to make bigger money. The two are good old friends, currently at the highest point of their career together. Luke is raising two children with his wife, but Jake's private life consists of little more than some bad habits. Something in their friendship goes wrong as Jake falls in love with his friend’s wife. Luke's suspicions make him feel uncomfortable in Jake's company. Jake views himself as a natural winner and plans to take all from Luke, not only business-wise…

There was a grand event in the palace. The king shared with the joyful news: he was blessed with a long- awaited daughter Aurora. There was a festive party in honor of the princess. Seven fairies were invited except the eighth one. Everybody thought she was dead. However, the uninvited guest came. Like the other guests, she got a seat at the table. But there was no golden drawer with the cutlery for her. The old fairy got angry. One of the young fairies got worried, that the offended guest would give a bad gift to the newborn. She decided to hide in the princess' room. And she was right. The eighth guest told everybody that the princess would prick her hand on a spindle and die. But the young fairy appeared and promised that the princess wouldn’t die. She would only sleep for 100 years. Then a handsome prince will be able to wake her up.

It is one of the most popular Arabian fairytales, which is a part of the collection ‘The tales of the Arabian nights’. An evil magician desired to own a magic lamp. The lamp was in the cave in China. Unfortunately the magician couldn’t get it on his own. And only one special boy could help him. One day the magician met this boy at the market in China. The boy’s name was Aladdin. Aladdin was very poor and sold bread. The wizard suggested him an agreement. According to it, he would buy all Aladdin’s bread and the boy himself would go with him to some magic place, where the magic cave was... Aladdin’s mission was to go downstairs into the cave and find this magic lamp in the magic garden. But when Aladdin went down and found the lamp, he couldn’t come back. A big stone closed the passage.

This book tells us about the myth of Orpheus - the legendary singer and musician of ancient Greece. He was the son of Calliope - muse of the epic poetry and king Oeagrus. When Orpheus was born, his parents made a great celebration. All their relatives and friends came to congratulate the happy family with the gifts. The most welcome guest was Apollo - god of music and light. He prepared something special for the newborn. Apollo gave Orpheus the most valuable thing he had - his lyre. The god of music also predicted Orpheus' future. Kissing Orpheus' forehead, Apollo filled the baby's body by special power. This power gave the opportunity to combine father's music and mother's poetry. And the lyre would open people's hearts and exalt their souls. The masterpiece is adopted poetically and the narration will give real pleasure to the readers.

This is an Arabian folk tale, included in the "One Thousand and One Nights". One merchant had two sons. When the merchant died, the elder son got a heritage and a wealthy wife. The younger son Ali Baba got nothing and married to a poor woman. Ali Baba became a woodcutter. One day he was working in the forest, collecting the firewood. Suddenly he saw forty men in black on the black horses. They came to a huge stone and one of them said, 'Open Sesame'. Something incredible happened: the stone opened an entrance into a cave. Everybody went inside. Ali Baba did the same thing, after the men in black had left. He said the magic words, 'Open Sesame'. The stone obeyed him and he entered the cave. The woodcutter found many treasures there and decided to take something with him.

Monica was walking down the streets in Cairo. She came to a fantastic place. It was a shop selling the presents. It had an exciting decor creating an Asian dream, some kind of an Arabian fairytale. The shop was full of different colourful things and perfect good. Strange, but the shop was empty. There were no customers and even salesmen. Monica found a necklace with a blue stone among the goods. A woman in red appeared from nowhere. She told Monica about the stone, which turned out to be an Egyptian scarab. The woman took the girl to another place outside the shop. She treated Monica to a cup of tea and told her the story of the stone. It was used for making the gods statues so it has a mystical strength. Monica felt tired. She fall asleep and saw her late father in a dream.

Geoffrey Chaucer created this book in 1387. At that time the religion was the most important thing for European people. It was very popular to go on pilgrimages. It means travelling to famous Christian cities to be near to God. People said their prayers and asked for well-being or repented about something and supplicated for help. A group of people went on a pilgrimage to Canterbury, a town in England. Their aim was Canterbury Cathedral. At the beginning of their journey one member of the group suggested a game to entertain everybody. All of them had to tell one story. The best story would win a prize at the end of the journey. Everyone had something he wanted to share. The stories were very different. You'll hear much interesting from a Knight, a Clerk, a Merchant, a Franklin and a Pardoner.

Helping Hand is a place where people can get any help they need. Every Saturday morning a big group of teenagers gathers there and waits for tasks. They do different work: help in the garden, go shopping, walk with dogs, babysitting and so on. William works there one day in a week too. Now this organization has a new volunteer Kathy Watson. Today Kathy and William go to the old people's home. They deliver a trolley of books there and offer these books to the old. Kathy meets Miss Emily, who tells her a story about Lord Hampton's house. This house was famous by reach and well-known parties arranging there. Miss Emily worked there many years ago when she was young. In her memories the servants of Lord Hampton were always hungry. However he didn’t take any care of them.

In ancient times goddess Calypso lived on the Earth. She was incredibly gorgeous and owned all the waters of the planet. Her wanderings through the waters led her to a simple sailor Davy Jones. They fell in love with each other. One day Jones arranged a date with her but she didn't come. The man in love decided Calypso had betrayed him. He cut his heart out to relieve his suffering and put it into a chest. The sailor hid this chest on the unknown land. He became a bloodthirsty pirate and sailed on the ship "Flying Dutchman". He looked for the debtors. Captain Jack Sparrow became one of these debtors. Now he has to find out one hundred innocent souls in exchange for his one. These souls will be Davy Jones' slaves instead of Jack. Will Turner is an obstacle for Jack Sparrow's aim.

Florida is a large peninsula, washed by the Atlantic ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The story tells us about a small tourist town Montego Bay, located on the eastern coast of this peninsula. Montego Bay has an interesting history from the deep past. The pirates discovered this place and hid the stolen treasures here. Montego Bay used to be their port. Nowadays the town has many mysterious legends. These legends make people crazy and they become desperate treasure seekers. One of them is Peter O'Nell. He used to be a school teacher and the children loved him. He bought a boat and began to sail a lot. One day he didn't come back. The boat was found empty on the Bermuda Triangle area. The police couldn't solve this case. Peter O'Nell's pupils come to help the police with the teacher's faithful dog. Will they be able to find out the truth?

It's so great when our parents travel due to their work and take you to the unusual places. There are many interesting and useful things you can discover. Last time, for instance, the captain of a Spanish pirate ship wanted to turn the children's parents into his slaves. Only fortune helped them to escape this fate. The children were even able to steal a treasure map from the pirates-ghosts. And now the adventures are waiting for them on summer holidays. The parents take the children to Bodega Bay - a small town with the marine reserve. It is located on the northern coast of San Francisco. Except the rare species of animals, this place is also famous of its history. Long time ago it was a pirates' secret place. With the map the children will be able to find the hidden treasures. However, the map is too difficult to read and they have only one week to explore the coast.

Harminda really wants to get home at Christmas. She has not been at home for four years and the separation from her family was due to a big row. But now her father is dying and she wants to see him and try to make peace. But fate is doing everything possible that would not have time to Harminda to get home at Christmas time. It all begins with traffic jams in the airport, then it turns out that her flight is canceled and all tickets are purchased coming from the hustle and bustle of Christmas – everybody flies home. She wasted no time, so she went to the car rental and discovered that there was only one car that could not be divided by the two other girls. Harminda offered the girls to go on a journey together, at the same time save on the rent. The girls agreed and they immediately hit the road, but the one they didn’t know was that this car was reserved for the special customers…

Every year, the bank rewarded two of its employees. The two employees who had worked the hardest were given a reward. The bank gave the two employees and their families a holiday. This year, 1977, the reward was a holiday in Mauritius. Mauritius is a small island in the Indian Ocean. Many tourists visit Mauritius. And many of them enjoy water-sports and sea-fishing. Edna Murgatroyd had come to Mauritius with her husband. John Higgins was not married – he was travelling alone. The Murgatroyds had been married for twenty-five years and Edna was never happy about anything or anybody. The days passed quickly. Every day, the Murgatroyds did the same things. They sat on the beach. Edna sat under a sun umbrella and read romantic novels. Roger did what his wife told him to do. But at last days of their holiday something happened that changed things that were the same for many years.

Three friends Ami, Lisa and Claire decided to have a great holiday before entering the university. The friends had been planning this vacation for two years. They arrived in hot Australia from cold London in search of adventures and impressions. What could be better that a celebration of New Year on the beach in Sydney? During the party Lisa discovered that she had forgotten her purse. So she asked her friends to lend her some money. Instead of a not big sum she got many reproaches form Ami and Claire that she was always forgetting her money. Lisa got angry and joined another group which was also celebrating. The beach was full of people. After the party Ami and Claire didn't find Lisa. She wasn't in the room of the hostel where they stayed. She didn't come in the morning either. The girls started looking for her.

A heroine of this story is a Latin American girl from a poor American emigrant family. She reached the tops in the show business, cinema and garment business. It was thanks to her nature talent and enormous diligence. Nowadays Jennifer Lopez is a recognized queen of pop music who drives men crazy around the world with her bright beauty. Her impressive success sets a great example for women. Jennifer’s biography is a vivid example of how a simple woman from an indigent family can achieve her goal through faith and diligence. It is a definite proof that everything is possible. Your life is in your own hands. Your fate depends on you. This book will inspire the reader to follow his cherished dream and change life for the better.

What is honor and dignity for an officer? Perhaps it is the most important thing that he must cherish no matter what. In 1787 ship Bounty departs from the coast of England. Officer Christian Fletcher, a young fourteen-year-old assistant officer Peter Heywood, sailor John Adams and captain William Bligh are on the deck, parting with the shores of the homeland. The men are encouraged by the future journey, as they have to visit Tahiti. But they do not even guess what adventures are to happen to them. Not all of them will see their beloved England again. The ship has 33 sailors and 11 officers. The captain is very concerned as it is his first ship. He cares about the sailors but not about his assistant officers, to whom his demands are clearly overstated. The captain’s right hand and best friend in the past Christian suffers most form this demanding leadership. A year later, the ship leaves the coast of Tahiti. Christian decides to escape. Sailor John Adams stops him and proposes to solve the problem with the intolerable captain.

All mysterious and unexplained always hypnotizes us. We follow the traditions and believe in signs. The book "Mystery of Coniston Water" tells the readers about a shy and talented girl Julie, who faced the mysterious events at the camp. She was looking forward to a trip to the camp Holly How. Her friend asked her not to go there. The camp had a bad reputation because of the horrible events which happened there several years ago. Julie didn't trust in gossip. She dreamt to make a lot of friends and have fun before school starts. Instead of that, she met an odd girl Anna, who revealed to her, what Lake Coniston Water was hiding. The authors Terry Tomscha and Peggy Albers created a fascinating story. The admirers of mystery will like it.

Holmes worked for the French government so Dr. Watson saw less and less of his friend. One fine evening Sherlock Holmes managed to visit his precious friend. Holmes told Watson about one criminal world genius, who created a powerful criminal network throughout London. It was James Moriarty, a famous professor from London. It was a gifted man with phenomenal mathematical abilities. An insidious teacher developed criminal schemes but no one could prove the guilt of this clever mathematician. Sherlock Holmes firmly decided to end the monstrous plans of Moriarty. In response, the professor threatened his rival. In case of his death, Moriarty promised to take Holmes with him. The detective strongly refused to back off.

Everything happened in Alabama. Bill Driscoll and Old Hank thought they needed more money. They decided to kidnap a child. People in small towns love their children very much. In such places you can find lazy fat sheriffs who do not like investigating crimes. They found a boy in one of the courtyards. First thing the child threw a stone in the Bill’s eye. With great difficulty, they managed to grab the boy, even though he fought like a bear. The child was taken to a cave, not far from the town. There was already a small supply of food. When Bill returned to the cave, he saw a fire in front of it and the boy with feathers in his hair. Old Hank said they were playing Indians. And that was just the beginning. Bill realized that this child could cause more problems than any adult.

This is one of the detective stories of the famous English writer Charles Dickens. The main character is a smart and attentive man named Sampson. One day he sees a strange Mr. Julius Silton in his office. Sampson begins to suspect that this man is hiding something necessary from other people. This Mr. Silton appears in the life of the main character more often. Sampson understands that a crime is occurring and it must be stopped. Sampson turns into a real hunter of criminals. The writer once again demonstrates his talent: he perfectly describes the character and psychology of the people's behavior. Charles Dickens also gives a vivid imagery of the society of his time. The story is dynamic and the reader won't be bored.

In April 1912 a new British ship set sail for the first time. Her name was Titanic. She was big, fast and beautiful. The naval architects were very proud. They said the Titanic was the safest ship in the world. She was unsinkable. The passengers felt happy. Some of them enjoyed the luxury of the Titanic, others hoped to get to America and start a new life there. But their excitement was not to last long. Just in several days the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank to the bottom of the ocean. The tragedy took over 1,500 lives. People still wonder how this could happen to seemingly the safest ship in the world. This book is an attempt to give a detailed description of the disaster. It introduces us to the real passengers and crew members of the Titanic telling their stories and allowing us to go through the terror of that historic night.

Corrected version This story became widely known after its adaptation in movie. The literary original itself was written a long time ago. The protagonist of the story is Walter. He has a boring and ordinary life, like hundreds of thousands of other people. Walter goes to work he doesn't like; the weekend goes fast. The only feature of this person is a rich imagination. In his fantasies, he is transported far from the annoying routine. He becomes a fearless traveler, astronaut or real Casanova. In dreams, Walter achieves everything he wants. In real life he is in love with his colleague, but he cannot tell her about it. Soon something happens and changes Walter's monotonous life. He will have to go on a long journey not in his fantasies, but in reality.

Parents said goodbye to their children, wives kissed their husbands and friends shook hands with each other. They perfectly understood that they were seeing each other for the last time. The husband stayed on the ship but told his wife to get into the lifeboat. Titanic was not destined to return to the port from that voyage and many people died. But during this catastrophe many instances of courage and self-sacrifice were noticed. The night of April 14, 1912 is remembered by the whole world. The crew worked the whole night to save as many passengers as possible. But there were also such passengers who thought only of themselves and did not even try to help others. They pushed the women and children away to take their places in the lifeboats. People say that Titanic showed the real face of people - their best and worst sides.

This is a story from a world famous writer who wrote a book about the first vampire in the world. A young lawyer named John Moore comes to a small town to prepare for the exams in a relaxed atmosphere. After spending one night in a hotel, he firmly decides to rent a big beautiful mansion to live in it. The hostess of the hotel warns the young man that this mansion has a bad reputation. A cruel judge had lived there before. Nowadays some mysterious ghosts live in this house. It is a bad idea to rent it. But John doesn’t believe in ghosts, and the house seems very comfortable. The young man moves to a new place but it is not possible to live peacefully. Everything begins with a huge rat, that comes to him at night. And then the events start evolving rapidly.

How did the history of America begin? Did it start from the settlers who came to the Indian tribes? No, everything started much earlier. The Indians arrived from another land about 40 000 years ago! They crossed the sea and settled in America. The contacts with more civilized nations brought Indians weapons, new knowledge about agriculture and a lot of dangerous diseases from which the entire tribes died. Immerse yourself in this interesting time and learn more than can be seen in the films about the Wild West. In reality, everything was much more complicated. Find out the names of the most famous Indian leaders and ancient explorers, learn more about the key moments that have changed the history of the whole world.

Gail is a nurse in the casualty department. A man has been severely injured in a car crash. His face is unrecognizable, but there is information that he's a famous rock star Alex Hayle. The singer is supposed to be on concert tour worth10 million pounds. But instead of it he's in a coma and the doctors say his condition is serious. Gail is surprised by the strange behaviour of his manager Clarence Tucker. He doesn't allow the doctors to speak to the media about Alex's health. Then he even lies to the TV reporters that the singer is feeling much better and will perform soon. Despite the doctor's advice, Tucker decides to move Alex to a private hospital. In a few months, there is shocking news - Alex Hayle is ready to perform but with a new face, as he's had a plastic surgery. But is it really the same singer that was in a coma only several months ago? Gail is determined to find out the truth.

The courtroom is full of people. Everybody gathered for the sake of today's court case. Two young men Dan Smith and Simon Clark get up from the dock. The clerk strictly looks at them and asks: "Who killed Mary Jones?" They said: "We are not guilty. We did not do it." But this can be a lie. There is a possibility these young men are real killers. The police officers found a murder weapon in the stolen car. Later they found some traces of blood on Simon's head. If the jury decides they are guilty – Dan and Simon will be sentenced to prison up to a lot of years. Will the lawyers be able save young people and find out the truth? Each present man in that building also wants to know about the murder of that poor woman. The reader can learn everything too.

This book includes two stories written by the famous Irish author Oscar Wilde. Both tales are about kindness and self-sacrifice. The first story takes us to a big city. In the middle of the city, there is a statue of the Happy Prince. He is made of gold and decorated with some precious stones. He always looks happy. But in reality, he has a reason to be sad. The Prince asks a little Swallow for help. The Swallow faces a difficult choice, as his friends are waiting for him in Egypt. A Giant is the main character of the second story. He is the owner of a beautiful garden. The Giant is very selfish and he does not allow children to play near his house. That is why Spring never comes to his garden. Only one little boy manages to melt the Selfish Giant's heart and return beauty to the garden.

How do you live when you are a vocalist of a famous rock band? You're used to standing on the stage, watching your devoted fans. To feel the real glory, to create really high-quality music is your vocation. You can't imagine your life without all these things. The next big show is to start soon. The hall is full, the fans are excited and you see the bright light of the spotlights and hear the rich sound of an electric guitar. But shortly before the concert a policeman arrives. He warns: there will be a psychopathic killer in the hall. What should the band do? Cancel the show? Or risk everything and give the fans what they are waiting for? Cindy needs to make this choice, as she is the leader singer of "Strawberry and The Sensations".

The story takes place in medieval England. It was the period of the reign of King Henry the Fourth and the widely known bloody war between the Red and the White Roses. Richard Shelton is the main character of the story. He is the son of a famous English knight. The young man will have to face numerous ordeals. A messenger arrives in the village, which is owned by Sir Burkeley. He brings an urgent order for all men to go on the march immediately. At this time, a black arrow flies into the castle with a note in which a famous rogue tells, that he wans to kill Sir Burkeley. This is where the story begins. This is classic chivalrous prose at its best. This is a tale of sword battles, revenge for fathers and battles for restoring honor.

Everything happened in Alabama. Bill Driscoll and Old Hank thought they needed more money. They decided to kidnap a child. People in small towns love their children very much. In such places you can find lazy fat sheriffs who do not like investigating crimes. They found a boy in one of the courtyards. First thing the child threw a stone in the Bill's eye. With great difficulty, they managed to grab the boy, even though he fought like a bear. The child was taken to a cave, not far from the town. There was already a small supply of food. When Bill returned to the cave, he saw a fire in front of it and the boy with feathers in his hair. Old Hank said they were playing Indians. And that was just the beginning. Bill realized that this child could cause more problems than any adult.

The day did not foretell anything unusual. Police officer Harry Evans is driving along an abandoned country road in a private car and is thinking about some urgent matters. Everything is familiar and too boring. Suddenly a young man notices something very strange. It is a mysterious phenomenon. This thing obviously should not be in the usual suburb. It reminds of cosmic. It looks amazing, as if it came from another world. Is it really... a spaceship? Harry even closes his eyes in the hope of waking up from a ridiculous dream. He begins to hear strange music. Harry stops the car. He is going to learn what has happened here. At this point, the police officer still does not know that in a short time life will change greatly.

Although "The Wind in the Willows" was primarily written for a young audience, the book can be of great interest to both children and adults. It follows the adventures of wild animals living on the river bank. Mr. Toad is very rich and lives in a luxurious house called Toad Hall. Toad is a good animal, but he is extremely vain. Besides, he has a weird obsession with vehicles: boats, caravans, motorcars. His friends Mole, Rat and Badger are worried about him. They try to convince Toad to quit this hobby, but he doesn't listen. One day he goes too far and steals a car. Toad finds himself in jail, but he doesn't give up. He uses clever tricks to run away. When Toad finally gets home, he learns unpleasant news: Toad Hole has been taken by ferrets and weasels. Will Toad and his friends be able to get the house back?

Erin Brockovich is one of the widely known and successful roles of Julia Roberts. This is a film about the lif of an intelligent about the lif of an intelligent young American woman. She is raising up three young children alone. That movie has everything you need for a good story – a tenseplot and a happy ending. The story of Erin Brockovich is real. In real life everything was a little bit different. The woman had no job, no money and no husband. But three young children needed to be fed. She said firmly to herself, 'I will find a job'. Day after day, she looked for vacancies, but every time she got a refusal. In the end, Erin came to her lawyer with the words: 'I am smart and hardworking. Give me a job.' It was a strange way, but it worked. And this was the beginning of a new life phase for Erin.

Bill was born in the 1800's as the youngest child in the family. When he was two years old, his parents decided to move to the West of America. It seemed a good idea. The family loaded all their belongings into a covered trailer. A difficult journey began. They rode through hot plains, dense forests and mountains. The family saw a lot of interesting things and met a tribe of friendly Indians. Already in Texas, little Bill fell out of the trailer. No one noticed. Later everybody searched for him for a long time - in vain. Bill's relatives decided to continue the journey without their youngest child. The little baby was able to survive. He find a coyote cave. Some wild animals started protecting him. The boy lived with the predators for about twenty years.

Mr. Hall was a priest from a small village. One day he was working in the office when his servant entered. The woman was alarmed. She said that the squire died. Mr. Hall was surprised, because he had seen this man the day before. But soon the church bell rang, notifying the village of someone's death. It was true. People said that the squire suddenly got some terrible unusual disease. He passed away very quickly and they decided to bury him as soon as possible. The priest took his clothes and left the office to learn all the details. As it turned out, the squire said he did not want to be buried in the family crypt. He wished to be buried in an ordinary grave in a cemetery. The priest thought that the man was too ill to realize what he was talking about. But the last desire must be fulfilled.

Ana was born in the east of Cuba, in a small unremarkable town. She was a cheerful child and loved running from early childhood. Sport was important not only for her, but also for her family. The Cuban government was interested in good doctors, smart teachers and strong athletes. At the age of ten, Ana became a good runner. She won most of the competitions in running, some of them - barefoot. The girl was training every day. She worked hard and waited for that moment, when someone would notice her. In the end, she succeeded - the girl was invited to one sports school. Other children were tall and strong, and the girl herself began to lose speed. She was getting heavier and slower. But soon Ana met a man who helped her regain motivation. She obtained a new life goal.

This book presents another adventure of the world famous sailor and adventurer named Sinbad. It is the second tale out of seven. Sinbad was born in Baghdad. His life was full of exciting travelings. After the first voyage, he spent some time in comfort and tranquility. But very soon Sinbad got bored. The tireless sailor wanted to go into the open sea and raise the sail once more. He packed his belongings and set off for the port of Basra. There he found a good ship, ready for a long journey. Sinbad began his new long-awaited adventure. His fellow travelers were merchants who sold and bought things. Sinbad followed their example. The first several months were calm and monotonous. But then something interesting happened.

It was New Year in the city of Shiraz, Persia. Lots of people came to the central square. The king and his family were also present. There was music around and people were dancing. There were snake charmers, jugglers, a variety of drinks and delicious food. Suddenly a man with a beautiful ebony horse approached the king. He told the king that it was an unusual horse. If you pressed a button on its neck, this horse would be able to fly and bring the passenger to any place. The king got interested. He wanted to get such a magical horse. The man agreed to present it if the king allowed him to marry the princess. First the monarch ordered his son to test this horse. The prince pressed the button on its neck and disappeared in the clouds.

The storyline of the book takes place in the early twentieth century. The plot begins with a correspondence between two people. These are Mr. Karswell and Secretary Gayton. Mr. Karswell sends an article to the club. Mr. Karswell considers himself an alchemist. He is very rich - that's all people know about him. Most believe that this person either tells a lie, or believes in something that does not exist. And now Mr. Karswell wants to meet with the club secretary and discuss all questions personally. One day, the secretary dines with his wife and friends. One of the friends says that he had recently seen Mr. Karswell. He lives in the province and communicates very little with his neighbors. People think he is a strange man. No one knows what this man does in his free time.

Aung San Su was born in Burma in a rich respected family. Su's father was killed when the girl was only two years old. But despite this, her childhood was happy. When the girl was fifteen, the whole family mo moved to India. Su was a very smart girl and became interested in politics. This occupation was very easy for her. She got into Oxford, where she met one Englishman. It turned out to be her destiny. Later the couple married. Su and her husband lived happily, but Su did not forget her father. She remembered that he died for his country - Burma. Aung San Su did not choose the simple life of a quiet and inconspicuous housewife. Her youthful interest in politics was not in vain. It changed her life. And also other people's lives.

King of the Black Islands Mahmoud died. His young son inherited the throne. Soon he married his cousin. The young man loved his wife very much and thought it was mutual. But the girl was a bad wife. She had no tender feelings for her husband. And also she was a witch. The king and queen had lived together for five years. But this king's happiness was not to last any longer. One day the monarch happened to hear a conversation between two maids. They said it was very sad that the queen did not love her husband. Every night the sly witch poured the sleeping potion into the king's glass and went to her lover. The next night, the king decided not to drink wine. In despair he followed his unfaithful wife to the wood and killed her lover.

Everything happened in the city of Suffolk. The road went from the coast and climbed into the hills. A high mansion stood not far from the hill. It was built at the end of the eighteenth century. Behind the house there were other buildings and green gardens and in front of it there was a field of heather. Everybody could see the sea from it. Previously, this building was a popular hotel. And today it still accepts guests. Mr. Thomson came to this hotel. He was looking for a calm and pleasant environment to do his work. The man was the only guest, and the owner of the hotel and his wife kept the house clean. He was going to stay in the city for about a month: in the morning he would study, and in the evenings he would walk and communicate with the locals. During one of these walks, he saw something unusual.

Can you imagine how it is to lose a child? Most of people will not be able to. Most of people don't even want to think about such things, as they are really heartbreaking. Maggie has always been a brave and quick-witted girl. That's what everyone who knew her said. Everything happened during my driving test. I acted in a right way. I checked the mirrors and the belts. The traffic light turned green. Several pedestrians ahead: a woman and two children. The road ahead was thin and not very convenient. Hands on the wheel: for ten hours and two hours, as the instructor taught. I did everything right and recalled. Recently such things happened that it would be better to forget about them. Once and forever. Still it is impossible.

People can be courageous even in the most difficult times. The protagonist of this story also proves that he has great power. It was a warm August morning. Kenzaburo Oe got off the train. At such an early time, the city was still sleeping. Everything was unusually quiet. On a similar quiet August day, something fatal happened. The first American plane flew over Hiroshima and dropped a lethal bomb. It changed the familiar world forever. Lot of people say that this historical moment brought World War II to the long-awaited end. And it even saved hundreds of thousands of lives. But this bomb killed dozens of thousands of civilians. Even today, after sixty years, humanity feels the consequences of that awful tragedy.

Lieutenant Hermann Braille from Ohio was the best soldier in the regiment. No one knew him too closely, but the general treated Herman very well. Lieutenant Braille was a tall and handsome man. He had blue eyes and long blond hair. He always looked like a real gentleman. Even in battles he managed to wear a clean and tidy uniform. Herman was about thirty years old. He looked like a hero, which artists like painting on their pictures. In another battle, Hermann was just standing on the spot. The bullets and the shells were flying past. He did not make any movements, but nothing hurt him. After this incident, the other soldiers decided that the lieutenant was neither stupid nor immortal, but just a really very lucky man.

Strong people can easily take care of themselves. They are able to solve their own problems, and a little bit more - to help loved ones, and just people who need it. This is one of the nice possibilities of a really strong person. But what can the weak people do? What if it is a child, a sick person or an animal? And if it's just a small bird? Jan found this bird at the window of his bedroom, on a small ledge outside. The pigeon was wounded. It could not fly and clearly had to die. Ella offered Jan to give the bird to a person who had her own dovecote, but Jan refused. This is his bird and he must take care of it by himself. Ella did not understand him, but agreed. The pigeon felt worse than a week ago. Earlier it tried to fly, but now it was just lying without moving. But Jan was not going to change his mind.

At the end of the day, the young Goodman Brown went out into the streets of Salem Village. Then he returned to the house for a second, and his wife Vera kissed him. She desperately asked him to stay at home, but Goodman Brown answered, that he had to make this journey before dawn. Vera looked from the house and the wind started playing with her hair. The young man resolutely went down the road. When he looked back, he saw the figure of his spouse with the pink ribbons in her hair in the distance. The woman was standing on the threshold. Goodman was ashamed to make Vera sad. Still he kept going. It was getting dark and an Indian could be hiding behind every tree. But the man was going to meet his companion and he had to get there on time.

New York consists of numerous districts. In one of such districts there are small streets called "places". Lots of artists discovered these places and decided to live there. Cheap rentals and old lofts were the things they liked. Later this place was named Greenwich Village. Sue and Johnsy opened a studio on the top floor of one old building. The real name of Johnsy was Joana. She came from California. Sue was from Maine. Soon they became best friends. Suddenly a dangerous disease came to their house. Sue got pneumonia. The doctor examined her. He said that the girl had only one way to survive - she had to obtain a passion to life. She needed either a beloved person or a life goal. Johnsy decided to help her friend recover.

It was a quiet and sunny day in the early summer. Thor and Loki were strolling around Asgard. Thor was bored. Thor did not like to rest and laze, he adored only one thing - fighting with the giants. He told Loki about that. Loki tried to convince Thor that Asgard was the most beautiful place in the universe and it was a great opportunity just to relax and enjoy the views. All his words were for nothing. Thor was not very interested. He was ready to harness the goats into the cart and fly to fight with the giants. His soul demanded something militant. After all, the giants themselves could appear in the land of Gods at any time and cause a lot of problems. Loki was not too convincing and he had to go on this dangerous journey with Thor.

Everything happened in the summer. The protagonist of the book thought that it was very hot in the city. He wanted to take a walk in the forest, look at the mountains or the river, travel around the country and see it completely. The young man had a small red car and a good map. He went on a journey. Everything was great and he felt happy. The hot city was replaced by wide roads and green trees outside the car window. But one day the car broke down. The young man realized that he got lost in a completely unknown place. But then he saw a very beautiful long-haired girl in a dress. He decided to talk to her and got out of the car. He greeted this beautiful girl and said that he was lost. At first the girl was frightened by a stranger, but then she smiled and invited him to go with her to the village, where she would try to help.

Chico was well aware that the forest should be investigated carefully. So cautiously as the people of the forest did many years ago. The Amazon Forest is one of the most wonderful places on the planet. It is big, old and there are many animals and plants including rare species. Here is the larger part of the fresh water reserves on the planet. Chico was born in Brazil. There were no schools in the tropics, and he began to work hard at the age of ten. He did the same thing as the others. Everybody collected useful materials in the forest and sold them in the city. As a child, the boy did not think about the world outside the forest. But when he grew up, he realized, that the Earth is much larger than his beautiful tropical forest.

Brownville is a small provincial town in California. It is located between two hills covered with a dense forest. The air is fresh and clean here. Lots of people come to this town to relax. There is only one school in Brownville and the main character of the book works there as a teacher. He lives in a boarding house and the school is on the other side of the hill, about a mile and a half from there. There is another and shorter way- a forest path through the hill. The school can be reached in fifteen minutes. Late at night the teacher is walking through the forest. He sits down on a log to rest and suddenly hears voices. Someone is cursing and threatening to kill another. Then he hears one of these voices in the boarding house. The teacher begins to realize that the city is too quiet and safe.

Everything happened many years ago. In Odenwald, the south of Germany, the von Landshort Castle stood beside the river. The owner of this castle was a proud aristocrat. His father, a famous warrior, left him this castle. The Baron took care of his home as best as he could. Many other rich German families built comfortable modern houses in the valleys, abandoning traditional fortresses. The baron had another treasure - a very beautiful daughter. At the age of eighteen, she knew how to read, dance, play the guitar and sing beautiful love songs. Her skills were amazing. The girl never left the castle.The baron's daughter was raised by her aunts. They had always convinced her that she needed to be afraid of men and not to talk to them.

As the god of cunning and deception, Loki was very intelligent and treacherous. He had three children from different mothers. Jormungand was a giant snake that slept on the ocean floor, covering the whole earth with his rings. Hel was a girl whose one half of the face looked beautiful, and the second half was terrible, like death itself. Fenrir was a huge wolf. God Tyr loved to play with him when Fenrir was a cub. But he grew and became bigger and stronger. The gods realized that Fenrir was too dangerous and could kill all of them. They decided to tie the wolf so that he could not harm anyone. But which chain on earth would be able to hold such a monster? The gods went to the dwarves who made the hammer of Thor and lots of other incredible things.

A young pilot Cathy Fox has lost her job. She is said to be seriously ill. But Cathy tells a completely different story. Last year she flew a space-plane called "Space Bird One". Two other girls accompanied her. Helen was another astronaut and Mary was a journalist. The trip was very important and it was broadcast all over the world. The flight was going well until the girls saw a strange object. Mary wanted to discuss it on the TV, but the other girls did not let her. As the space-plane tried to move away from the object, the motors suddenly broke down. The plane went out of the Earth's orbit at the risk of never coming back. Fortunately, the pilots found a way out. What the girls saw on the dark side of the Moon changed their lives forever.

Mr. Brown's house is not far from the center of the city. But despite this, he has a nice small garden with lots of flowers. Mr. Brown likes sitting there for hours, resting after a long day. He would just sit and look at the bright flowers. His work is far from home, he has to go there by bus. Mr. Brown has almost no friends. He returns from the office and sits in his garden, lonely and sad. One day he decides to go home on foot: the day is hot. He wants to take a walk. On the way, Mr. Brown sees the store - old things are being sold there, and the man decides to stop by. He examines the goods and sees an old doll with a very sad face. Mr. Brown thinks this doll is as lonely as he is. He buys it, even though he is an adult who does not play with dolls.

It was a deep night. Eight people gathered in a small house. They were sitting around a simple wooden table. One man was reading a book under the light of an old desk lamp. There was also the ninth person - the owner of the house. He was laying under a white rag dead. It was quiet in the house. Only the birds were shouting outside the window. The men gathered in the house had an important job. They had to understand how the owner of the house died. It was up to them to reveal the truth. They were farmers with tanned faces and strong muscles from the work in the field. The man with the book was different from them. With a hat and a mustache, he looked like an important educated person. The coroner was reading a diary that belonged to the dead man.

Alvis was a dark elf. People did not like his folk. They believed that all the existing elves were greedy and unfriendly. But Alvis decided to change everything. He told many other elves they were as good as other people. He was going to prove it and marry the daughter of Thor. Of course, everyone was laughing at him. No one believed that an elf could come to terms with the formidable and powerful God of Thunder. Alvis waited for the night and crept over the Rainbow Bridge to Asgard. Soon he met a big and strong man with a red beard in the clothes of a farmer. He got into conversation with this man and said that he wanted to marry Thor's daughter. Elvis was convinced that the farmer could not be a god. He did not know that it was Thor himself.

Mr. Dileth saw an amazing dollhouse in one store. He wanted to buy it. He knew a good antique thing and understood that this house could be very old. Having bargained with the seller, he agreed on less than seventy-five pounds but more than fifty pounds. After this, the seller was relieved to tell his wife that somebody had finally bought the house. And Mr. Dilett was already examining this purchase in his own bedroom. The dollhouse was clearly made in the eighteenth century. It was large, wide, with four rooms and furniture. There were stained-glass windows, dolls and a clock with a bell inside. Mr. Dileth realized that it could be sold ten times more expensive. A wonderful deal! Still it turned out to be not so simple.

The main character of this story is a young man named Barr Lassiter. He lived near Carthage with his parents and older sister. The Lassiters were simple farmers. They were not wealthy enough to own a huge house or buy slaves. But they were never hungry. There was always enough food. Barr was twenty-two years old when the Civil War began. This event divided many families. Many children started opposing their parents. The people of the North did not support slavery, and the Southerners wanted to preserve the existing order of things at any cost. The Barr's family supported the Confederates. The young man was against it. In the end Barr was forced to leave home. The family did not try to stop him and did not even say goodbye.

Freya was the most beautiful out of all the gods and goddesses in Asgrad. She was tall and stately with long blond hair and bright blue eyes. She was a good woman. Still Freya had one fault - greed. She loved not food or weapon, but adored jewelry: pearls, gold, precious stones, rings and necklaces. The goddess had a lot of jewels. Despite this, she always wanted more. Her wish for these precious things turned into an obsession. She had the largest collection in Asgard. But those jewels from other worlds were an enormous temptation for her. Freya loved travelling to Midgard in search of countless new bracelets and necklaces. One day, Loki put on his cloak that made him invisible and followed the goddess to play another joke on her.

The protagonist of this story is a professional writer. He wrote and sold books. He writes them nowadays too, but people don't know about it. Once he decided to write a very big novel: he found a small room and thought that this was a very good place to write a book. He began his work and was very pleased. But later strange things started happening. One day he decided that he wanted a cup of coffee. The man left his pen on the table and went out. But when he returned - the pen was gone, even though he was trying to find it. And at night he woke up and realized that there was someone in the room, but nobody was visible. After this, the oddities continued. They became even more. But the writer wanted to finish the book and he stayed in this small strange room. Once he saw another person's face in a small mirror on the wall.

People, who know much about ghosts, can understand this story better, than somebody else. The main character lived for a long time in India and witnessed these events. Dumoise worked as a doctor in the north-west of India, in Punjab. Dumoise was a small, plump man and married a young woman, as round and unhurried as he himself was. For some time, the couple was happy. But their happiness was not to last long. A typhus epidemic began in the city. His wife also got sick. For several days, the doctor thought it was a normal fever and a lot of time was lost. The woman passed away. Dumoise returned to his usual life. The widower did not want to accept help from any friends. He thought that he would be able to cope with everything on his own.

The protagonist of this book spent his youth in eastern Africa. He was a good hunter. He loved his country and spent time on the plains, in many cozy valleys and loved walking at cold nights. But soon the war began. World War II overtook Europe. The man was preparing to become a pilot. Once he took a plane and flew to watch wild animals during maneuvering exercises in the sky. He damaged the wing of the plane, but was able to return to the airport. Soon he was again entrusted with the aircraft. But the next time the pilot was unlucky - the aircraft's engine died out and he had to make an emergency landing. This time it was without damage. He saw a small hut and went to her. There lived an old man who grew food. He warmly welcomed the pilot and allowed him to live in his hut.

In some distant northern lands there was a mountain, the top of which was hidden in a big ring of hot flames. The fire was so strong that the top could not be seen from the ground. One day a mighty and fearless warrior was riding a horse near this mountain. It was Sigurd. Certainly he became interested in this bright fire. The warrior immediately drove to the top. The horse was frightened, but Sigurd kept riding. When he got to the ring of flame, he realized that he needed to cross it to find out what was next. The horse submitted to its owner and jumped through the firewall. The flame was left behind and Sigurd saw a palace on the top of the mountain. It was a real mystery. He felt that he could not leave without learning what was inside.

The passenger who got off the boat looked like an ordinary man. He did not stand out among the others. It was difficult to guess that he had a gun in his pocket. It was even more difficult to assume that he was one of the smartest people in Europe. Valentine was one of the most famous detectives on the planet. He was also a French policeman. This man arrived in London to arrest an elusive villain. The police officers from three countries chased Flambeau, but no one could catch him. The culprit was smart and confident. He could change either appearance or clothes. The only thing that Flambeau could not change was his tall stature. This was Valentine's main lead. And he was sure only of the fact that the criminal did not sail with him on the boat. But he could be hiding in any other place and Valentine intended to find him at any cost.

Tom Smith is a usual polite and nice young man. He really wants to find a job, but he always fails. There are a lot of people around, but very few jobs. The young man has no money even for food and clothing. This upsets him very much. As a child, Tom dreamed of becoming a professional football player, because he really played well. He was also a good tennis player, but there were a lot of much better athletes around. Tom thought that he could go to work in a sports shop if he was not able to become a real athlete. Unfortunately, he failed. The days go by, but he still can't find a job. Until that moment, when Tom reads one announcement of the fair in the local newspaper. The next Saturday he goes there, spending the last money on the ticket.

Once the main character of this story received a letter from an old friend who lived in the East. He asked to visit one old man whose name was Mr. Wheeler. Simon Wheeler should have known something important that the friend wanted to learn. The young man decided to fulfill this request and went to the meeting. He saw the old man in the tavern. He was sleeping near the old stove. The young man woke Simon Wheeler up and started questioning about his childhood friend Leonidas. Simon readily told his story. It happened in 1849. A man who called himself Jim Smiley came to their camp. He was very lucky and loved to bet on what was going to happen. He always guessed what would happen in the camp of the miners. He also easily predicted the results of the horse racing or dog fighting.

This is the story by the famous writer Edgar Allan Poe. It is this author who is considered to be the progenitor of such a popular genre in literature as horror fiction. Even Howard Lovecraft was inspired by his books. This story was published in the collection at the end of the nineteenth century. The main character's name is Montezor. At the beginning of the story, he brags about how he got even with a mean nobleman, avenging for all bitter offences. He planned to commit a murder during the carnival: the people around would be drunk and cheerful, everyone would be dancing - no one would notice the real crime. Everyone would decide it as a part of the fun. He lured the foe into his mansion to show a collection of wines in the cellar. Further, Montezor thought up a particularly exquisite crime, which no one expected.

Once Thor woke up in his bedroom and did not find his hammer. Every day he would wake up and first of all take Mjolnir into his hands. This hammer helped him invoke thunder and lightning. It was even able to make Thor stronger than one hundred warriors. With the hammer the God of Thunder could defeat any rival. He fought the formidable giants, but no one could stop him when Thor was holding his hammer. But that strange morning there was no faithful weapon in the bedroom. Thor called Loki. He realized that when unpleasant or strange things happened - the God of liars had definitely something to do with it. Loki insisted that he knew nothing about the missing hammer. And this time he did not lie. Loki offered his help and the gods soon found out who had stolen the great weapon.

A small family restaurant is not the most famous or posh place in the city. Most clients are people who need an inexpensive but tasty food. Large portions for hungry men. The restaurant owner personally works in the hall and accepts money from guests. There are also two waitresses working there: a tall and beautiful woman and a low, fat partner who looks like a gnome. Mostly men visit the restaurant. Certainly, they love the tall beautiful girl more. They enjoy talking to her and just watching. She is able to support any conversation and to be pleasant and sweet. The young girl often receives expensive gifts from the customers. Nobody pays attention to the short fat waitress. Men do not want to talk to her and, of course, do not give gifts. She is just a good waitress, but that is not enough.

Jan Vlach was born in Czechoslovakia, but moved to England with his father many years ago. His mother died on Christmas Eve in 1957. Now Jan lives in England and teaches Czech at Oxford University. His wife Carol gets an offer to play in an orchestra in Prague this Christmas. She asks Jan and his father Josef to come with her. Carol flies there earlier as she has rehearsals. After the first rehearsal she goes Christmas shopping. All of a sudden Carol sees her husband in the street. But why has he already come to Prague? What is he doing here? She calls him. But he doesn't stop. He looks at her and then walks away. Carol is shocked. She runs to him but gets into an accident. The woman is taken to hospital. When Jan and Josef finally arrive in Prague, Josef explains everything. It turns out there's more to the story of what happened in 1957.

The protagonist of this book was sitting in the cockpit. Below him there were dense white clouds. He was firmly holding the steering wheel, the plane flying smoothly. He told himself that everything was fine. A little more time - and he would fly to the house. He was definitely able to do it. He would land the plane and ask for help out, because he had no leg. Everyone would think that this was such a joke, but this was true. The pilot looked below: the floor was covered with blood, and he had nothing below the knee. The bullets tore off part of the right leg, but there was no pain. He felt fine, was awake and was not going to faint. But gradually the pilot started to weaken. Holding his head was getting harder, and it fell on the chest. The plane was flying at the height of seven kilometers and it was not the best moment for passing out.

People usually said about the main character of this book that he was a brave man and he was never afraid of anything. They were wrong. He really was brave, but he knew what fear was, like other people. He had a very important job and even colleagues did not know what kind of man he had been before. In his youth, he was very shy and was afraid to talk to strangers. Especially if they were women. He was sure that they would laugh at him. But at that time the war began and he had to defend the country. He was afraid, like others. But he thought that the rest of the soldiers were very brave and laughed at him. He had no friends at all in those years, and he felt terrible. But one day he went home for a week and helped the old man cross the road when all the other people passed by. His life was changed after that.

Dunstan was planning a murder. A man was standing at the train station. There were thick trees around. Trains often passed there; it was very noisy. Dunstan's house was not far away hidden behind the trees. The whole setting was very comfortable. The man himself was very nervous. He could not sleep so he had to use drugs. Some blackmail did not let him live in peace. But it would be over soon. Dunstan was going to kill his offender. This whole story began a few years earlier. The man worked for a big company. He had enough money, although he was not rich. He loved a beautiful girl and wanted to marry her. But Dunstan did not have enough money to pay for the wedding, and he stole it from the company: he changed a few numbers in the forms and became the owner of thousands of pounds. This was the starting point.

From the window of Lynette's room, Broadway and many other theaters of this street were perfectly visible. She was an actress and wanted to perform, but there were few offers. Lynette's room was small, but it evoked good memories. On the walls there were photographs of people whom she knew and with whom she socialized in her youth. Professional actors very often stayed in this hotel between performances. There you could relax, and later - look for a job in another theater, when the season of performances started again. Lynette plunged into the memories of pleasant times when there was much more work and she shone on the stage like a real star. Many viewers loved her. But young actresses did not earn enough money for a comfortable life. It was a difficult profession, for those who love the scene.

The law is: a third person is a person who was involved in the situation by the first two people. Often, a third party is necessary for divorce. But there are other situations. And it is not always possible to immediately understand who the third person is. The two men agreed to meet at the bar at noon. One of them said that the other should recognize him. After all, his appearance was already told: he was tall with blond hair, which was just beginning to become grey. The other person was short, slouching, and wore glasses. The second man's name was Lairdman. The tall old man answered to Boland. The old man took out his wallet and offered to pay for the drinks. He took a stack of whiskey for himself and a glass of lemonade for another man. Boland took out a cigarette. Then he started the conversation.

Billy was going from London by a slow train. It was in the afternoon. By evening, he had reached his destination. It was dark around, and the air was very cold. Billy stopped a lonely passer-by and asked if there was a cheap hotel nearby. He was advised to go to the nearest pub. There he could rent a room. The pub was about a kilometer from here. Billy had never been to this city before; he had no acquaintances there. But he arrived upon the instructions of the chief. The chief ordered to find a house and report back after that. Billy was less than eighteen years old, but he tried to act like an adult. He wanted to become a successful businessman, and they are all serious and always peppy. When he got to the pub, he saw that it was a very cozy place. The fire was burning in the fireplace. A dog was sleeping on the floor.

In very old times a poor fisherman lived in one country. He was not successful and could not catch enough fish. His catch was small. It was not enough to buy other food or things. His family ate only fish. One day the poor fisherman caught only a dead horse. He thought it to be the worst day ever. Then he pulled out an old bag and threw it back. Next came an old jug, which turned green from the water. The fisherman washed it and decided to sell this find. The day was becoming more enjoyable. But first the fisherman dared open the jug. Some clouds of thick white smoke came from it. Suddenly a giant appeared. The poor fisherman understood that this was the beginning of an adventure, at the end of which he would receive either a reward or death.

The protagonist of the book worked as a lawyer. One day he said goodbye to his wife. Everything was as usual: they drank tea and the wife led her husband to the door and straightened his coat. She asked him to be careful. Lawyer's friend, the doctor, advised the hero to work less diligently. He was always much overstrained and risked his health. He began to suffer from amnesia, because the brain is a very delicate organ and it is easy to damage it. The man was sure that he rested enough and there was nothing to fear. But soon the man woke up in the train. He felt as if he had slept for a very long time. He realized that he did not remember his name. There were no documents in the pockets. There was only a large amount of cash. The doctor was right and the lawyer had serious health problems.

In ancient times, a poor man named Hans lived in one country. He had neither home nor money for buying food. He did not own any property. But the man felt quite happy. He was sure that one day he would definitely find his place under the sun. After a while Hans met an old woman who asked what he wanted. Hans decided that he wanted to have some money. The old woman gave him a present. It was amagical blue coat. She told Hans that he should go to one strange place where huge dogs were sitting. These animals protected chests full of gold, but if you put them on this coat - they would not attack. Hans would be able to take as much money as he needed. And the old woman herself needed a box of glass that her grandmother lost in that very place.

Luck is such a thing that you will not get for a long time. Sometimes it comes, quickly and unexpectedly. It disappears even faster. Some women dream of children, but cannot have them. Others have many children, but do not have enough money to feed and maintain them. Some families have children and love them, while other children will never see their parents. They are forced to live and grow in orphanages. But how to understand which of them are more fortunate? A lonely old man is sitting in a small room. He is silent. He is looking at the old wooden floor. A woman is sitting in the next room. She does not live in this house; she looks completely different. The smell of her expensive perfume does not fit this poor house. There is a scream. And in a few minutes the woman takes out the baby wrapped in a blanket from the room.

It was a good day. John decided that now he could definitely go home. It was the best day in recent years for Dr. Perry. He was extremely pleased. John's bag was filled with a huge variety of seashells. There was enough material to study for months. John took his bag and sat on the reef that connected the mainland with the island. The man wanted to watch the sunset. It was a very beautiful sight, which was worth a few valuable minutes. After that he went to the shore. It was quickly becoming dark around, and John went faster. The next minute he fell. There was water all around. It covered him over his head. He could not understand where he was and what was happening. It was difficult, but John finally managed to climb onto the sand.

One king had nine sons and a daughter. His wife died while giving birth to Eliza - the youngest child. The children were beautiful, smart and happy. Soon the king fell in love with another woman and married her. The new queen was a wicked and envious woman. She hated the king's children. But he always believed his wife. Love deprived his mind, as it happens to many people. Once the queen decided to get rid of the children. She took them outside the city wall and turned them into birds. The queen ordered them to fly to other lands and find a new home. The enchanted princes flew away and made nests in the trees near the sea. When Eliza found out about this - she ran away from home. The youngest sister firmly decided to find her brothers.

Childhood is a period when any person thinks he is the most important man in the world. Of course, everyone must fulfill his wishes, especially his parents. But Larry cannot make the parents behave as he wants. His father is a military man. He is hardly ever at home. Sometimes the child wakes up in the middle of the night and sees his father in military clothes standing near the bed. A man always comes into the house and leaves silently, early in the morning or late in the evening. He often smokes a pipe that smells unusual. When father comes home - he leaves interesting things there: cartridges or knives. Mom allows the child to play with these things. The war is a quiet time for this child. When he wakes up in the morning, the windows of the room look east and he sees the sunrise.

Henry and Phoebe loved each other. They were middle - aged people and lived together for many years. They were farmers. Their whole world was a field of harvest, fruit trees and a large yard with pets and birds. Everything else was far away, which meant it was not very important. The moon and the stars look beautiful, but they are so far away that they do not affect the life of an ordinary person. Henry and Phoebe lived happily. The spouses often quarreled, like any couple. The wife threatened to leave Henry, but he understood it was not serious. He was never afraid that Phoebe would leave. But he was afraid of death. Once Phoebe fell ill, and then died. She was buried in the spring. Henry was left alone. The neighbors invited him to live with them, but Henry did not want to go far from the place where his wife rested.

In olden times one far country was ruled by a lazy and greedy queen. She had a beautiful daughter. Many kings and princes wanted to marry her, but the queen always gave them difficult tasks. When the suitors for the princess were unable to cope with these ordeals - she killed them without mercy. This had been going on for a few years. She wanted her daughter to never get married. Prince Charles lived in a small poor country. When he heard about the princess, he told his father that he wanted to marry her. The king was against it. In the world there were many other beautiful women. And the evil queen killed every groom. But the young prince got upset. He could not sleep and eat. Finally the King let him go on this dangerous mission.

The main character of this book was sitting on Maddison Square and thinking about his sad future. He was looking on the horizon line, and dry yellow leaves were falling nearby. The autumn was ending and he needed to decide what he would do next. Recently, he was in prison: so he had a roof over his head, hot food and friends. This would be a good place to wait out the cold season. After all, sleeping on the street, trying to get warm with the newspapers was not a very pleasant activity. The man decided to return to prison. First he decided to go to an expensive restaurant, eat dinner and say that he had no money. They would call the police - that's all! Simple and effective plan. But the waiter saw his old clothes and brought him out. Then the man broke a shop window, but the policeman did not believe that he did it.

Sometimes life suddenly deteriorates. At one point, everything goes as usual, and then it collapses. A person can quarrel with friends, lose a lucrative job and even a house. He can be forced to live on the street. He starts drinking too much alcohol, stops bathing, shaving and looking after himself. Who would agree to give such a person a second chance? Very few. But Nan - the seller of fruit - is a woman like that. Sonny had an idea, but he wasn't sure that Nan would agree. He built a house - it was large enough for two families to live in it with complete comfort. He thought that he should let his ex-wife and two children live in this house. Nan was outraged, but Sonny tried to explain that it was necessary for the children. He was sure that his children should not live on the streets and sell drugs.

Children notice a lot. They see much more than their parents would like. They do not always understand what they see, but they have keen eyes and sensitive ears. They always understand when the problems start. The girl who lives in this house is not old enough to stop believing in Santa Claus. But she is ready to clash with her mother and does not want to obey her. Her father often takes her to interesting places. The man has a serious thigh injury and the daughter opens the gate for him. To get home, they must open the gate twice and drive through a narrow forest road. The gate must be closed; otherwise the sheep may run away. In this case they will have to be caught. The old car, as usual, is driving home this day. On Saturdays, the man chooses sheep at the market and buys the most beautiful and healthy ones.

Giovanni left his home lot of years ago. He decided to ride to the north of the country for study. He rented a small cheap room on the third floor of the old house which was musty and dark. The house itself was large and beautiful as a real palace. Previously, this house belonged to one ancient noble family. Today, there was only one old woman who earned a living by renting rooms to students. From a small dirty window in his room, Giovanni could see a large, beautiful garden in the courtyard. Once he asked an old woman if this garden belonged to her. But she replied that the owner of a garden was a famous man. His name was Rappaccini. He used plants from the garden in his research. This doctor lived in a small old brown house nearby.

If people live together for a long time - they begin to get used to each other. Spending time together, doing boring routine chores. Days become similar to each other. Bright events occur less and less. Ajayi and Ayo are the main characters of this book. They have lived together for twelve years. Ajayi wanted to marry a woman for a long time, but could not wait for the right moment. He liked such way of life, he felt comfort. One morning the man wakes up: he sits on the bed and looks at the small, cheap clock on the table. It is six in the morning and it is already light outside. The village is waking up, slowly preparing to open small shops. Women are already entering the market, talking loudly. Ajayi takes the usual cup of morning tea. The drink is without sugar and milk - everything, as he likes.

Corrected version Everything happened at Christmas, in the south of England. That night a bright white moon was illuminating the earth. Shepherds lived on these lands. They kept sheep and grazed them all year round. They had to be close to the herd all the time. Therefore people used small houses on wheels, where they could have a rest and warm themselves. At the same time, it was possible not to lose sight of the precious sheep. One of the huts stood between low trees. It was not so cold; the wind did not pester so much. The house had small windows through which its inhabitants could watch eight hundred sheep grazing nearby. Also it was easy to see ancient stones, built in the form of a doorway. No one already remembered who created this small monument. The locals called this place the Devil's Door.

The people of New Zealand have really a long history with lots of bright moments. Maori lived on this land for many centuries. And the heart of the culture of this nation is Whakapapa. She is remembered not only in old books, but also in folk stories, ethnic music and many other things. But in this story there are no books and music. There is only one tired old man who keeps in mind the culture of his people. Once the phone rang in the office. The man picked up the phone - it was his grandfather. He asked his grandson to take a week off at work. The man said that the boss would definitely not approve of this, but the old man said that it was important. The grandson realized that he would have to take a vacation and go to another country. The boss was not happy with such a request, but agreed. A new trip was waiting for the man.

Everything happens at the beginning of the twentieth century. Joey arrives in London from Ireland in January. January is a cold and windy month in England. Still he does not even have a place to stay. Joey thinks it is not too important. After all, luck will help him. Thanks to his luck, he will find a cozy and inexpensive room where he will rest after the road. Soon he will become a rich man, thanks to his good luck. After all, the real rich men always get lucky. He goes for a walk around the city and after a while finds a room. It is small, but very cheap. The young man likes it. From the window there is a beautiful view of the Tower Bridge. The guy does not have much time to find a job and pay for the next week. But Joey is sure that luck will not fail this time.

There are remote places in Ireland and few people know about them. Salty waves, cold air and picturesque nature. Random people do not come there. In one of these regions, a guy tells his grandmother a story about his life. He is a poor salesman who has to travel a lot to do for a living. But even in such work there are sometimes kind and pleasant people. At the beginning of the year, he travels about fifty miles: by a van, by a train, and just on foot. He walked to his grandmother's house, which was built on the top of a large rock at the very end of the village. The guy spent the whole winter there, helping his grandmother. But he was glad - it was always nice to miss school and stay in such a beautiful place. Strict parents, brothers and sisters - everybody stayed at home.

War is a terrible thing. In any country, city and at any time - it is bad anyway. There were no occasions when it made people happier. A person does not want to kill another person, but he has to do it. In Uganda, Dora and her friend are forced to fight at the war. They have reliable AK-47 assault rifles and heavy pistols. They had time to learn a lot about pain, death and murder. They are only twelve years old, still children. Their commander is called Mad Tiger. He is already fourteen. The cries of a little boy are getting fainter. The Tiger is screaming louder and louder. He orders to go on beating this boy. He shouts that they have to kill bad people, because they are soldiers and this is their job. Other commanders are smoking and smiling not far away.

Mrs. Foster was terrified of any delay. Either it was being late for a plane, a ship, a train or simply a curtain in a theater rising before she came to the auditorium. In all other matters, she was a calm and sensible woman, but as soon as she began to realize that she was late, she panicked and her eye started twitching. It was really weird. For some people, the simplest actions could turn into a real obsession, and Mrs. Foster was one of those people. The woman left the house half an hour earlier than needed to go the train station. She took the hat, the umbrella and the gloves. This was much better than sitting in a room and being nervous. But for Mr. Foster, his wife's behavior was annoying and he could not understand her.

Sonya French married Robert, despite the fact that he was older. She did not love her husband. The young woman was bored with that old man. But Robert did not care about that. He was only interested in books and jewelry. Soon Sonya had a lover - Charles Darrell. Some rumors started spreading about this, and Sonya realized that soon Robert would find out. She knew that her old husband would never give her a divorce. He was very rich. On the contrary Sonya and Charles did not have any money. They decided that killing Robert was a good idea. One police officer accidentally hinted them at this way out when he told them to be careful, because there were a lot of dangerous people around. The lovers figured out how to kill Robert. The plan was simple and fairly obvious, but the young people were not experienced criminals.

A poor African farmer has a very hard life. She has only one thin cow and is obliged to ensure that the cow is not ill and feels good. If it gets sick, she will have to call a vet for it. This will cost a lot of money. But the farmer still will have to call a vet, because the death of this cow will be a huge tragedy for a poor person. A few days after Christmas, the vet goes to the next call. The woman and her son are waiting for the doctor: their cow was to give birth to a calf two days ago, but this did not happen. So the doctor and the woman are driving along the broken roads to reach the farm on the outskirts of the town. They barely arrive at their destination place and get out of the car. Five minutes later, they walk out to the neat white house.

This item came from China. On the fabric there were a lot of beautiful images made with great skill. These were trees and mountains, the tops of which were hidden in the fog. There were waterfalls in the foam and birds with bright feathers. This fabric was too beautiful to wear or cut with scissors. It lay in the room and made it more beautiful by its presence. For many years it had been laying in a box, waiting for its time. And once the chance has come. In another autumn, Mr. Blackie fell ill. His wife understood - this was the end. They talked about this day many times and she was ready. Mrs. Blackie tried to take care of her husband until the last day. She tried to earn more to buy his favorite food and make his last days more enjoyable and comfortable.

South of England is a place with beautiful nature. The terrain there has not changed for hundreds of years, remaining still as beautiful. Only farmers live in these places. They keep and graze sheep. Also there are dozens of small wooden houses on these lands, where shepherds live. Fifty years ago there was not even a road. It was especially hard to get through when it was raining or snowing. One of the nights was particularly cold and wet. But inside of the house it was dry and warm. A big party was being held in the house - its owner invited close friends to have a drink. After all, the man recently had a new child in his family. About twenty people were sitting at the table. Young and older ones gathered there. Someone talked about love, someone recalled the old pleasant times.

Charlie's father died. The son is sure that he will receive all his wealth in inheritance. His father is a millionaire and this money would change the life of a young businessman. But this does not happen. Charlie's brother receives the money. It is unexpected, as Charlie did not even know about the existence of his brother. It seems to Charlie unfair. Charlie's brother is not like other people. He has autism and lives in a hospital for the mentally ill. The young man decides to take his brother from the hospital and convince to give half the money to him. Charlie's brother is a brilliant mathematician. At the same time, he has the mind of a small child. He lives in his fictional world and is terrified of flying airplanes. As a result, the brothers make a car trip through the whole country.

Pauline was an old woman. She turned seventy-two. But she looked much better at her age. And under a particularly successful light she could be taken for a young woman of thirty. She had beautiful features and a good figure. Only big sad eyes gave out this age. She left her husband many years ago. Pauline lived with her son Robert in a big house in the suburbs of London. Pauline's niece named Siss lived together with them. The girl was young and very modest. The three of them often had dinner by candlelight. Pauline loved candles, because by their light she looked especially young and beautiful. After that, they usually drank coffee in a cozy living room. There were a lot of expensive furniture and beautiful paintings. Pauline felt happy at such moments.