True KinRanging from the clay roads of Central Florida to the American Desert Southwest, the stories of True Kin foreground a cast of recurring characters engaged in battles both public and private, epic and mundane. The lead-off story, "Independence Day, 1983," winner of an AWP Intro Award, introduces a lakeside family barbeque, where class tensions and long-held grudges threaten to burst forth with dangerous consequences. In "Making Weight," a jumbo-sized high school wrestler struggles against his unpredictable body to lose six very important pounds. In "Release Statement," a troubled young woman attempts to make sense of her longtime obsession with Bob Barker of The Price Is Right fame. An unsuspecting adjunct professor, in "Hurricane Party, 2002," finds himself thrust suddenly into a violent confrontation with his former student. Rendered in meticulously crafted prose, these nine stories and one novella are grounded soundly in the dramatic moment, while probing deeply into the larger mysteries of the human condition. Seekers all, Jahna's characters brave the often absurd trials of contemporary life in an ongoing search for community, meaning, and love. |
Contents
KEROUACS GHOST | 16 |
A MORNING RUN | 32 |
HURRICANE PARTY 2002 | 47 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
Afrin ain't Aunt Louise beer Blake Bob Barker breath called Captain Lou Catherine chest cigarette Claire says Claire's Coach cold Cybil dark door drink eyes face feel Feldman says fingers Freddy says Freddy thinks Freddy's front fucking Gina hair hand hard head hushpuppies inside kids lake laughs Lenore Linda says Littlepaul living room look Marcus Megan Mike says mother move Myrna never night Nile perch nods okay play Poppy Price Is Right pull quiet Ramsey remember Ridgedale Riley Ron Ramsey Ron says Ron's Ronnie seemed shakes shoulder smell smiles sorry Spaghettios sparkler stands stares stood stops sure sweat talking tell There's thick thing thought Toby says tries turned Uncle Jubal Uncle Paul Valdosta varsity line voice waiting walked warm watch Winn-Dixie Wolf wrestlers Yeah yelled