This story is remarkable because it evokes so much emotion without a trace of sentimentality. It prompts all the right questions: What makes a good parent? What's the difference between crazy and lost? Why do people stay in an abusive relationship, and better, what finally makes them break free?

Chris Savage's characters jump from the pages and paint a portrait of people most of us have known at one time or another - and prefer not to think about. That such a strong woman could become a victim of domestic violence pokes at our delicate underbelly, reminding us of the kismet factor involved in relationships and the fragility of our emotional security.

Thank you for participating in our short
story writing contest "Family Stories".

The Librarian