on a mid-October day in South Bun, there lived a beautiful

young burger named Rose, and a brave young fellow named John. Everyday during the sum-

mer, the two young ones would go in Rose’s fancy white car to buy ice cream.

When John didn’t have any pocket money to spend, they would take walks in the park

instead. And that, my friends, is how they quickly fell in love.

Rose always told John about her dream to someday live a big house, with a loving hus-

band, and a cute baby girl. So John told himself that someday, he will buy a big house just

for him and Rose.

One day as they were strolling through the park, John told Rose that he was going to

move far away to North Bun, to find a good job. Rose became very, very sad. North Bun was

far away, and they might never see each other again. Rose begged her parents to let her

move to North Bun with John, but they wouldn’t allow it.

On the day John drove to North Bun, Rose chased and chased his car until she couldn’t

chase it any longer. She crumpled to the ground and cried and cried. As months passed by,

she would often read the farewell letter John wrote for her and hoped that he would come

back to see her. But he didn’t come back.

Rose’s mother and father couldn’t bear to see her sad all the time, so they introduced

her to a handsome burger named Bobby. Bobby’s parents and Rose’s parents were good

friends and quickly arranged a marriage between Bobby and Rose.

On the night before their wedding, Bobby found Rose sitting in her bed sobbing, with a

letter in one hand and a 2 lb. chocolate bar in the other. He didn’t understand her sadness,

but decided to cheer her up. He had prepared a beautiful pearl necklace for the wedding the

next day, but he decided to give it to her now.

Rose saw the pearl necklace and was immediately blinded by the beauty and expense of

it. In her eyes, she knew it would be no good to be sad all the time and said to Bobby,

“Bobby. Tomorrow, I will marry you.”

Indeed, the next day the whole town celebrated the marriage of Bobby and Rose. They

even made it to the newspapers! It was a joyous day for both of them.

Five years later, Rose lived the life she’s always dreamed of. She lived in a big house

with John, her husband, and a darling baby girl. Before tucking her baby girl into bed each

night, Rose would say to her, “Remember Lily, rich burgers don’t marry poor burgers!”

*

...

John does come back, and there is a man named F. Scott Fitzgerald that tells

about John in a book called The Great Gatsby. That’s the where Rose: A Ham-

burgian Story is based upon. We’ll even give you a hint, John’s real name is

actually Jay Gatsby, and he lives in West Egg.

Story Themes: Money & Wealth, Love & Happiness and The American Dream

Project by Veeda Baradar,

Joyce Chen and Belen Balangero