Publisher's Synopsis
Prize-winning author Alana Asby Roberts presents a dozen meticulous stories. Absurd, amusing, and touching literary concoctions handle religion, sexuality, idiosyncrasy and unconscious narcissism with a light and indulgent touch. ...Polly and the Love-Talker: Because of her limp none of the boys will walk out with Polly. She blurts that she will step out with any man in the Valley - even the Love-Talker himself. Oops....You Were My Wife of Fate: Joseph is an infant when his mother publishes a story about his future self. As he grows up, a rumor spreads that the story is actually a prophecy....The Curse of the Spotted Fiend: Bernie and Oofie's marriage is known to be paradisiacal, probably because they had such a godly Courtship. So why won't Bernie take off her nightgown?...The Phantom of the Basement: Micky has a burden no fifteen-year-old girl should have to bear alone: she's secretly perfect. ...Eva The Avenger: It's Fine Arts Camp and the student body is divided into two factions. One preaches that non-artists are still decent people, with admirable characteristics of a coarser sort. The other argues for their total depravity. Eva thinks both factions are intolerably wrong and it's her calling to avenge the less gifted....It Happened in a Generic Japanese Garden: The Hero's righteous facial expression makes The Heroine swoon, people who stick gum under tables squirm, and purloiners run mad. Only Min The Antagonist is immune. ...The Alternative Affordable Counseling Agency: In this comedy of idiots, six penniless friends set up an unaccredited counseling agency in their basement and take on their neighbors' marital problems....The Courtship of Some Courtship People: Sara and Tom have done everything their parents required of them, yet their relationship is being consumed by anxiety due to the strictness of their Betrothal Contract. It's time for these mild-mannered twenty-somethings to stage a long-delayed teenaged rebellion....Getting Good At Bach: Every orchestra, it seems, is the same. There are too many violinists for anyone's comfort and the soloist is a stereotype on heels. The Second Violinist takes refuge in a little-known Bach Cantata transcribed for his instrument but he doesn't realize the music is making it difficult for his hearers to dissemble and deceive....Penetration: Gail fears men but experiences loneliness....Divine Commerce: A sojourn in the realm of Psyche....Baby Vegetable: Mother thinks she's doing a decent job homeschooling her older children in the most classical manner until her youngest is born already talking
