The Moth The Moth Radio Hour: Not So Golden Rules
May 21, 2024
Rebellion against school's reading program, daring prom night escape from strict parents, nerds pull off a chemistry prank, poet laureate reflects on parenthood through poetry
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Beating A Reading Program To Read What You Want
- Stephen Michael Carr gamed his school's Accelerated Reader by always choosing books at the top of his allowed level to quickly advance reading tiers.
- He spent a month decoding Gulliver's Travels to reach the highest level and then read Stephen King freely as a "free man."
Girls Turn A Humiliating Tradition Into Victory
- Gabriela Quiroz and classmates resisted a ritual where boys tossed girls into freezing canals on the last day of school by ambushing the bully and throwing him into the water instead.
- The act transformed timid girls into confident, defiant peers and changed how they saw themselves.
Faking A Morning Run To Get Away With A Prom Night
- Caroline Connolly snuck out of her parents' strict house to attend a prom after-party, then faked a 6 a.m. jog to avoid punishment.
- She prepared sneakers and a running story, answered detailed questions about pace, and convinced her mother she had been out running.