Robert Flanagan

"A number of stories in this collection of seven are genuinely funny" and "for their humor, pathos, wisdom and Flanagan's fine inventiveness with language, these are stories worth reading." -- Columbus Dispatch

CONTENTS
All Alone And Blue
The Bear’s Wife’s Husband's Tale
Winter Term
Self-Defense
The Apprentice
Loving Power
By Available Light

Of the stories five appeared in the literary magazines Bird Effort, Cornfield Review, Confluence, Fiction, and Gumbo 17.

"In LOVING POWER Flanagan displays a gift for dialogue and great wit. All in all, Flanagan's stories offer a refreshing vehemence, touched by the occasional balm of forgiveness." -- Ohio Writer

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THE OPENING OF THE STORY
"BY AVAILABLE LIGHT"

Kristina knew all the reasons why she should not want to build a new room onto their old house. As Uwe pointed out, since two of the three bedrooms were empty now, it made sense to turn one of them into a studio. Karl and Lara, no longer children, could use the other room on their visits.

What he failed to recognize, she said, was that their son and daughter, conservative in more than their politics, wished their rooms to remain their rooms, whether or not they ever returned to them. She bit back a remark that it appeared that he too wanted her to serve as curator of the family museum. No, she said, she wanted a place of her own to paint.

They were eating their dinner in the dining room. Kristina had set two white candles in silver holders on the table, and Uwe's face was hidden from her by the little tongues of flame. She knew though that he would be pursing his lips as he did when he gave a matter his serious consideration, or wished to give that impression.