An assortment of twelve stories that begin in the gritty depths of rural noir and slide down the literary spectrum into the tragedy and triumph that is contemporary realism; then shuffle through small-town America where carnivals and psychedelic awakenings are experienced, and finally, the last three stories take a detour into the strange and surreal.
In DOWN ON THE FARM, Army veteran Lyle Mullins loses his farm to the bank and is now being forced to leave. But for Lyle, cowering to the bank's orders will not be an option.
In MY BROTHER'S FLAG, Jake McGee carries an abundance of grief for the loss of his little brother, which also hinders his ability to coexist with his grandfather who has come to visit for the summer.
In ARCADE MONEY, two boys go door-to-door swindling people in the neighborhood for a quick dollar to spend down at the arcade, but their cheating ways are met with unforeseen consequences.
In the Americana flavored CARNIVAL FUN, Preston Monroe sets out to see his favorite wrestler at the town carnival, but his course is rerouted by fistfights, barking carnies, freak show mermaids, and lizard people.
In PAINTED SMILES, a young boy gets to know his grandmother and finds comfort in an unorthodox family tradition.
In WHERE THE GRAVEL LANE ENDS, a brother and sister go on a strange school bus journey that takes them to see their deceased father.
These are only some of the stories to be found in this entertaining collection. Discover pain and sorrow, love and joy, and the strange and off-kilter throughout this entire mixture of tantalizing tales.