in Illinois
September 27th, 2003
I haven't been on this site for a while, but I keep up with things. What genuine frequenter of Kidpub doesn't
know who Nebeker or Boe is? Or elyse and Mary Kate? However, I would just like to admit to a little something.
I am actually a college student named R.A. Frumkin who has been posing as somebody your guys' age, (I
pretended to be thirteen), and has posted a story or two as a cover-up. It was a sleek disguise and slipped me
in unnoticed. Becuase I work on a Mac, probably pretty different from everyone else's computers, my stories
have appeared odd-looking, akin to this.
The reason I'm here? In my spare time, I am doing a project ragarding early adolescents and
their linguistic abilities for my degree. To put it plainly, a lot is going on in your minds at your age,
and some of the most interesting, heartfelt short stories are produced by kids like you. Since I am
earning a degree in literature and kid's development, I thought it would be interseting to
peruse your site.
Here is the news: I came here just to form a thesis and take notes, but I found such
unbeleivable relevance and amazing authenticity in a certain Kenneth's, (in San jose California) work that I
could not help but congratulate him. Kenneth, I came to this site for pure business and I leave posting a note to
you. Although I'm an undergraduate and no bigwig, I must say that I've read Chekhov, Tolkein and Joyce and
I can tell your imagination is already spreading across sophisticated and exciting territory. It is evident from your
ability already, Kenneth, that you will sprout into something great. I was amused and enchanted by your frog-
pillow soliloquy and found your sea poem very striking, especially the last line. Your lighter matter, like Yankee
Doodle, and The Boy Who Ate Herring caters to the agile and beautiful mind, and I found myself shaking my
head at your crazy wordplay. You are amazing, and always keep this in mind whatever you do.
I cannot disclose my entire name, and although Kenneth is an exceptional talent, I am sad to
say he has not won a contest but simply received a note of encouragement. This was very
impromptu and unsupervised, just a personal little note from me, and is not university-based.
Again, I found my eyes always looking for the new Kenneth story, like one might search for
the new Patterson, and was swept away in laughter, whimsy and reflection whenever I laid eyes
upon his words. They sprung from something pure, genuine, not pre-conceived, and I was always
refreshed after reading his work. Not to say nobody else on this site has talent, though. Every day, I
found myslef wowed and wooed by a new exceptional talent. You are all great.
A final note- As I have concluded my research, I will be conpletely disconnected from this site in
one week. You may or may not have noticed, but the few R.A. Frumkin stories have disappeared.
Hey Kenneth, if you want to acknowledge this note, go ahead and post a story titled R.A. Frumkin and I
will get it. No doubt I will love to read it. But do it within a week. I will no longer be able to receive
anything afterward. If you don't, that's fine. Should you do it, perhaps you can include a short
description of yourself, (I have glasses, brown hair, am tall, love to read etc.) and I may be able to mention you
in my thesis!
Good luck to all of you! It has been a pleasure being on KidPub!
-R.A. Frumkin
See more stories by R.A.