June 23rd, 2025

Cecilia Baridon Gonnet, English teacher

As part of our advanced-level reading project, 2.º EMS CPE explored Three is a Lucky Number, a suspenseful short story by Margery Allingham. After reading and analysing the text, I challenged my students to engage creatively with the plot by writing their own alternative ending — but with a twist. In line with the growing trend of flash fiction, they had to rewrite the ending in exactly 100 words.

The aim was to foster creative thinking while encouraging students to practise precision, tone, and narrative impact. The constraint of a tight word limit pushed them to be selective and deliberate, making every word count. The result was a diverse collection of endings ―some chilling, some ironic, others surprisingly redemptive― each revealing a distinct voice and perspective.

To extend the experience, students read and reflected on their classmates’ pieces. They then voted on their favourites based on specific criteria, such as originality, coherence, and emotional effect. This added layer of peer feedback sparked meaningful discussion and critical appreciation of each other’s work.

I hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

Three is a Lucky Number is a story written by Margery Allingham (20 May 1904 – 30 June 1966), an English novelist. The story centers around Ronald Frederick Torbay, a meticulous and intelligent man who sees his wives as subjects in his murderous plans. He targets his third wife, Edyth, intending to make her death look accidental. The story explores themes of manipulation, intelligence, and the unexpected ways characters might defy expectations, particularly in the context of crime fiction.