1987 PEN/Discovery Prize Winner selected by Joyce Carol Oates. In the sizzling era of the New Edition, when icons like Prince and Michael Jackson reigned supreme, Hattiesburg, Mississippi was a picturesque, mostly crime-free town. But all that changed in the mid-1980s when the shadow of gangs and drugs descended upon its streets. Still, even in the midst of chaos, love can bloom. Meet Della, a young teenage girl whose heart becomes ensnared by a member of the infamous "Folks" gang, known as "Cheeseburger." However, Cheeseburger remains oblivious to Della's infatuation, while her schoolgirl innocence and boundless imagination lead her into a world of daydreams where they are madly in love. Yet, her imagined romance is as fickle as her emotions. On some days, she despises him, the gang, and the very ground they walk on, aligning herself with her mother's concerns. But, as she candidly puts it, "Then I saw Cheeseburger's arms and fell back in love with him." Embark on an emotional rollercoaster of unrequited love and hate as you follow Della's gripping journey. This poignant story, a 1987 PEN/Discovery Prize winner personally selected by the renowned Joyce Carol Oates, will immerse you in a world where love transcends the boundaries of circumstance and danger, ultimately revealing the profound impact it has on Della's life. Excerpt The week that I wasn't in love with Cheeseburger I called him and them other boys dogs, and Mama seemed happy with me. We talked about what a shame it was them thugs, from up north were comin' down south, bringin' that dope with 'em, and breakin' into people's houses. Everybody on the block was gettin' burglar bars and bad dogs. Hattiesburg was hirin' more police. It was just a shame, me and Mama agreed. Then I saw Cheeseburger's navel and fell back in love with him. And Mama started fussin' at me 'cause I was a girl and not a boy. She said I was drawin' them nigguhs to her fence like shit draws flies. My Mama said that to me. And no matter how much I looked like I was ignorin' those boys (I really was ignorin' ol' Polo Mack), she fussed more. Even when they didn't paint the moon and stars on her fence, she fussed. Please enjoy other stories included with this awarding winning piece.

a collection of stories about the mysterious nature of life

‘Balzac could not have done better’ —The Financial Express In this sparkling collection of stories, India’s best-known writer addresses some pertinent questions: Why do we believe in miracles? Can a horoscope guarantee the perfect wife? Is the Kamasutra a useful manual for newlyweds? Margaret Bloom arrives in Haridwar from New York to save her soul. But she soon discovers that there are temptations even on the banks of the holy Ganga. Madan Mohan Pandey, amateur astrologer and scholar of ancient Hindu texts, finds to his horror that his doe-like bride is not quite what he had expected. Pious Zora Singh, Pride of the Nation, rumoured to be a chaar sau bees and a womanizer, silences his detractors by earning the Bharat Ratna. Devi Lal makes his peace with a fickle God when his daughter-in-law delivers a son, following secret visits to the Peer Sahib’s tomb. And Vijay Lall, emboldened by his miraculous escape from death, decides to act upon his silent obsession with Karuna Chaudhury, which takes him to a shifty soothsayer behind the Khan Market loo. Khushwant Singh returns to the short story after decades to deliver a truly memorable collection—humorous, provocative, tongue-in-cheek, ribald and even, at times, tender.

Few writers can create worlds so rich and fully-realized the reader immediately feels at home, even when the concepts have not yet been fully laid out. Fewer still can do so with language so rich and lyrical it is a joy to read, with details so rooted in the human experience that one cannot help but be absorbed into the story. Gabriel de Anda is such a writer. Whether delineating the struggles of a law firm dealing with the demands of an ex-partner --- about as ex as one can get --- or the dichotomy of rich and poor spreading out among the galaxies or even musing on the irrelevance of a classic icon which somehow makes it seem more relevant than ever de Anda nails it. Readers, you are in for a treat.

Phil and Muriel move into a homeowners association-controlled community in Florida. Their one-eyed dog, Bennie, enables them to have the last laugh on an annoying committee. Widower George Wilson moves into an adult community in Florida where the widow-widower ratio is three to one. He also meets Adriana via his computer. Life is good for a widower at the Ocean Dunes, or is it? Captain Vince Sullivan takes R & R from Vietnam in Perth, Australia. There he meets a blue lady who changes his life. Regina Kelsie leaves the cold of Worcester, Mass, to experience spring break in Panama City, Florida. Fellow Worcesterite, Jim Rancourt, rescues her from hell; but things are not as they seem. Margie ORourke decides to cremate her deceased husband, but her plans for his ashes are bizarre, frighteningly bizarre. Little Adela spends her first of many nights in a harem when she is only five. Grandma is led to believe that her stool is self-combusting. That is quite disturbing information for Grandma. Barney and Herb, two octogenarians, discuss cisgender and transgender issues in Dunkin Donuts over coffee. It is quite the hilarious conversation. These are just a few of the tales that make the Committee and Other Stories so uniquely enjoyable. It is a journey into the depths of the human spirit, illustrating the importance of laughter and the miracle of love.

Introduction to Americana Poems can be reflective or reactionary. In a reflective mood, the poet comments on past events. His or her voice may be calm, wistful, and longing. They are preservers of the moment. When poets put on their reactionary mantle, they are more vocal and want to move themselves and others to action In this small collection, Harvey has both the reflective voice and the force of the reactionary. Viewing the Vietnam War, race relations, and the cultural renaissance of the 1960’s and 1970’s through the prism of a child’s eye shaped Harvey’s views and points of view. The poets Allen Ginsburg, Amiri Baraka, Langston Hughes, and Ai shaped his voice. Excerpt: New York! Herds of humanity Graze on street corner slop and ride in the bellies Of silver worms beneath city gutters Street people are ragged and unfashionably stinky. Everyone else is fashionably ragged. “Andy” sells me a beaded sweater off an old lady’s dead shoulders. A roguish Puerto Rican painter copies A Robert Colescott painting as his own black creation. Got all dressed up to go to the theatre in Harlem. Got there stinky and hot--Harlem, Who bombed it? Noise all night long in Brooklyn. No ugly people live in New York Everyone is Cafe' au lait. Tall boy with five inch hair Sits wide legged on the sub in baggy trousers. His throat is stiff with defiance, But his dark Eyes linger in mine for a moment. Everything is for sale in New York Even a hug from daddy long legs.

This collection of shorter works is a glimpse of gay & lesbian life in the 1980's. Characters of different walks of life, & nationalities. Some deal with substance abuse. Most deal with their love lives. Tales of struggle and lesbian strength.

Embark on an extraordinary voyage to Astroworld with Promise as your spirited guide. In this collection of tales, you'll witness the fascinating tapestry of humor and heartache woven into her epic journey towards a place of true happiness. These stories are just a glimpse of the incredible adventures awaiting you in "Promises Letters from the Road to Astroworld" and the enchanting novel "The Road to Astroworld." Prepare to be captivated by a world where laughter and tears dance in harmony, beckoning you to explore the full tapestry of Promise's extraordinary expedition.

With hard work and good luck, David "Big Nose" Calloway navigates Houston's Jim Crow era and civil rights achievements to become a member of the once segregated Walnut Grove Country Club. There, he meets Jonathan Knapp a fellow businessman. Jonathan tries hard to befriend David. However, David remains aloof and distant. Will Jonathan's anger at being rejected send him on a quest for revenge and expose a secret both men share? Excerpt: The leg was good luck to David. It kept him out of the army during WWII. Army Doctor smiled at the big black shirtless boy thick as a chifferobe. Then he smiled at David's bulging crotch. "That nigger is packing a sack of walnuts there!" David stood with his pants around his ankles. The doctor nodded at his left leg big as a phone post. However, the doctor's smile vanished, when he looked below David's right knee at what looked like a gnarled piece of hickory. Still, the Old southerner steeped in a belief that Negroes were workhorses, made David walk and jump. He squeezed the good leg with his hand, massaged the good strong calf and then the weak one. He measured the leg from crotch to ankle, wrote down the numbers on a chart, and studied the chart marked with other men's numbers. He sized up David's withered leg next to a scrawny white boy's good leg and told himself he didn't see much of a difference. Get it Now!

Warning! Despite the title The Last Supper, these are not religious poems. These poems embrace the intersection of the Sacred and the Profane. As readers know, at that intersection lies the forbidden. These poems are forbidden to you if you are easily offended, if you read the lines but not between the lines. If you cannot embrace shades of gray, you will not like these poems. The author apologizes in advance for the lack of roses and limericks in these poems. These poems are not for children, little old ladies, or Church Mothers. However the church is in these poems. You might get a whiff of the 80's in these verses. Ronald Reagan may be dead, but his legacy lives on. Nothing has changed much in corporate America. Greed rules. AIDS steals away our young men and women. From the poem's title, The Last Supper, came the mantra a young man recited as I fed him his last meal: A sip of water please/A little string beans/Wait now, you're rushing me. Don't rush through these poems. Take your time.