Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

FOREWORD

SICK PIGEON

SICK PIGEON

ROB’S GUNS & AMMO

THE LONELIEST SOUND YOU’LL EVER HEAR

ALL THE GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL FORCES

MACARONI AND CHEESE

RAW MATERIAL

RAW MATERIAL

THE BRIGHT GYMNASIUM OF FUN

FISH

STUDIES SHOW / EXPERTS SAY

THE COMMA THREAT

THE LOCAL WOMEN ARE PERFORMING A TRADITIONAL DANCE

SCORE

THE CHILDREN DO NOT YET KNOW

ALTERED STATEMENTS

THUNDER SHOWERS IN BANGKOK

ALICE & STEIN

KRISTMAS KRAFT

ON HOLIDAY WITH GIANTS

GREEN PLASTIC BUDDHA

VACATION TIME

THERE IS A COMPETITION FOR THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE PEOPLE

WORD OF MOUTH

REFUSAL

WHAT’S TRUE, DARLING

DOROTHY PARKER’S DOG

CLOSING TIME AT BARBIE’S BOUTIQUE

JIGSAW

HALLOWE’EN SO FAR AWAY

BLAGUE MOUNTAIN

THE PARTY

ALL CHICKENS ARE SUCKS: NOTES FROM THE LITSHOW

DARWIN ALONE IN THE UNIVERSE

GIFTS

DOWN THE ROAD TO ETERNITY

POINT TEN

THE HEARTSPEAK WELLNESS RETREAT

BRAVE NEW DESIRES

DARWIN ALONE IN THE UNIVERSE

THE WHITE SATIRE

CHEERLEADING

THE AIR IS THICK WITH METAPHORS

THE BREAKDOWN SO FAR

NOW IS THE TIME

THE BREAKDOWN SO FAR

THE COMPASSIONATE SIDE OF NATURE

BUDGIE SUICIDE

FUNERAL

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

JESUS LOVES ME BUT HE CAN’T STAND YOU*

BECAUSE OF RUSSELL EDSON

SIXTY DEGREES

POOF

A LITTLE SOMETHING

SPRING IN NORTH AMERICA

FRIDGE MAGNET PEOPLE

PERPETUAL CODA

BREAKDOWN OF THE MONTH CALENDAR

BAD BOY

THE NORTH POLE

THE NORTH POLE

ADVICE OLD AND NEW

ARDENT SPIRIT

THE GNATS THAT BLUR OUR VISION

THE ACT IN ETERNITY

ANSWERING THE CHILDREN

THE GOD OF BANALITY

PLAY BUTTON

THE SECRET PILLARS OF THE UNIVERSE

EQUIPMENT FOR THE ENDURANCE OF LOVE

WHAT WE NEED

PULSE*

THE MENTOR

TO THE AUTHOR

TO BE CONTINUED

BURNING HER BRIDGES

MONUMENT

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

AFTERWORD