Astrid Hoder

Ritardando

Rumbling in the distance. Concentrated harp playing. A barricaded apartment. David does his best to shut out the rest of the world so he can practice in peace. A neighbor knocks his door and wants him to seek safety in the basement, but David is not interested. He believes in art, not war.

Manhood

A story about an 11-year-old boy who experiences a childhood very unlike any other children at his age. There is no safe and loving home. Silas lives with his mother and there is no father figure to be found. This causes Silas to have a distorted view of what it means to be a man. His mother is a prostitute and has costumers at home, around the clock. Silas, unfortunately, sees a lot of things a child his age should not be exposed to. 'Manhood' is the story about Silas' fight to become a man and win his mother's heart and attention.