Twenty-eight stories set in farms and small towns around Lake Huron. They include Dance of the Happy Shades, on a retired piano teacher, and Walker Brothers Cowboy, on two children making calls with their salesman father during the 1930s depression.

Walker brothers cowboy -- Dance of the happy shades -- Postcard -- Images -- Something I've been meaning to tell you -- The Ottawa Valley -- Material -- Royal beatings -- Wild swans -- The beggar maid -- Simon's luck -- Chaddeleys and Flemings -- Dulse -- The turkey season -- Labor Day dinner -- The moons of Jupiter -- The progress of love -- Lichen -- Miles City, Montana -- White dump -- Fits -- Friend of my youth -- Meneseteung -- Differently -- Carried away -- The Albanian virgin -- A wilderness station -- Vandals.