"No pretty little thoughts, no fake faith-restoratives — just hard solid craftsmanship and style." — The New York Times (An Outstanding Book of the Year) From the author of Hard Rain Falling and Blade of Light come these two novellas and eight shorter pieces that explore racial conflict and the agonies of loneliness and heartbreak: "The Crossroader," in which a Black drifter outfoxes an all-white crew of small-town hustlers; "Blue Eyes," the story of an aging half-Indian prostitute and her increasingly respectable white lover; "One of Those Big-City Girls," concerning a woman in her forties drawn to younger men; and more, including the title tale, a moving narrative of a boy's first love. "Carpenter shows his versatility and ability to handle strong themes with cool precision...a consistently interesting craftsman." — Kirkus Reviews "Don Carpenter is a particular favorite of mine." — Jonathan Lethem "Don Carpenter could be hilarious, and he could break your heart, and he could write about ego and frailty as well as anyone on earth. I loved him like crazy." — Anne Lamott