Short stories that translate into hope

Adversity can teach as well as torment. It forces us to become introspective. It tests the length and breadth of our will, our inventive spirit, and our drive to thrive. It is the clay that shapes character.

With the hope of illuminating a thoughtful way forward, here are nine short stories that offer a glimpse into the lives of diverse characters navigating their way through loss, health issues, heartache, separation, and much more.

• “Memphis in May,” focuses on a father who longs to reunite with his estranged daughter. When he gets help from a running club whose members hail from India and the US, his chances improve dramatically.

• “The Gab Gift” entails the trials of a handicapped boy wishing for a silver tongue. Instead, he finds a more golden gift on Christmas day.
• “Doubling Down,” deals with an individual who learns that his brother’s life, though fraught with complex issues, held redeemable value.

• “Rite of Passage” features a young man who fears his maturation process is being stunted. He finally pushes toward the threshold of adulthood amid a key moment of truth.

• “If Only” involves a married couple coping with the loss of their daughter. In the end they find a way to rekindle the ardent love that marked their courtship.

• “Blades of Grass” offers a dystopian view of what life might look like in 2050.  Are we headed toward such a world?

In this volume of short tales, individuals and families who must deal with tests of their strength of character find something rich – a light that translates into hope.