The stories in this collection explore the relationships among men and women, women and women, and families—both conventional and unconventional.

Dulce -- His nor hers -- The real world -- Joy -- A matter of numbers -- One can of soup at a time -- A chair for George -- Seaweed and song -- Musical beds -- A migrant Christmas -- You cannot judge a pumpkin's happiness by the smile upon its face -- More than money -- The investment years -- A good kid in a troubled world -- Slogans -- The end of summer -- The pruning of the apple trees -- Inland passage -- Blessed are the dead -- Power failure -- Puzzle -- A biography of Jane Rule.