The Ruckus

Yesterday was Talk Like Shakespeare Day. After learning about the hundreds of common words and phrases that are attributed to the Bard, I think it might be harder to not talk like him. I wrote a short story to demonstrate just a tiny fraction of the ways William Shakespeare influenced our everyday language. Every word or phrase that is underlined was first written in his works.

The Ruckus

The schoolboys were playing leapfrog in the street. One boy elbowed another, and they began to scuffle, with neither rhyme nor reason.

As luck would have it, an ill-tempered, hunchbacked store manager stepped out on the sidewalk. “You rascally slugabeds!” the blusterer howled. “It’s disgraceful that a man can’t do an honest day’s work without all this silliness!” He was a bit jaded because he had not slept a wink the night before.

Across the street, a soft-hearted, rose-cheeked old lady had just come downstairs. “For goodness’ sake, Henry, you’re making much ado about nothing!”

“They’re doing it on purpose!” the stony-hearted man replied.

Just then, a nimble-footed puppy dog ran by, leading the boys in a madcap chase.

The spectacled lady with the heart of gold watched all the excitement with amazement.

“Good riddance!” Henry said, as the far-off noise subsided.

As she watched the man walk back into his store with noiseless footfalls, the old woman smiled and said, “All’s well that ends well.”