• In the story set in the present time period, Anna is able to use present day technology (cell phone) to find her project partner, and they are able to resolve the conflict.

50 years in the past:

Anna and Joaquin are supposed to meet up in the library to work on a history project together. Anna waits for Joaquin for thirty minutes, but he does not show up. She leaves the library to look for him, asking around if people have seen him. When she cannot find him, she goes home.

• In the story set in the past time period, Anna does not have access to a cellphone, so she cannot easily contact Joaquin. She has to search for him on her own and is unsuccessful, so the conflict is not resolved.

• In the United States, there is a widespread belief that the number thirteen is unlucky in some way. In the example, the character chooses to ward off his misfortune by using good luck charms common to the country: four-leaf clovers and horseshoes.

A story set in Japan:

Kai believes himself to be cursed after all of his belongings are marked with the number four. As unfortunate circumstances continue to befall him, he buys an omamori, a lucky talisman, from his local Shinto shrine.

• In Japan, the number four (shi) is pronounced the same way as the word for death (shi), which is why it is considered unlucky. In this example, the character chooses to go to a Shinto shrine to buy a lucky talisman. This references a religion (Shintoism) and a cultural object (omamori) that are common in Japan, but not in America.