These thirteen stories reflect different dimensions of the human spirit. Hugh in “The Moonshiner,” Maggie in “The Fight,” and George in “The Drunkard” show remarkable courage when facing physical danger. Myra Lu in “Dyin’ on Time” and John in “The Lost Summer” reveal admirable endurance when facing adversity. In “Talking to the Dead” and “The Strange Requests,” the Reverends Calahan and Hester struggle against superstition and disbelief. Zack in “The Chicken Thieves” discovers that crime doesn’t pay. And characters in “Grandma Excie’s Exit,” “Summer Porch Talk,” “The Prayers” and other stories confront life’s complexities of sadness, joy, humor, pain and death. The setting for these stories: southeastern North Carolina. The time: the depression decade of the thirties.