Fifteen stories about life in rural Ontario deal with adolescence, loneliness, broken hearts, an abandoned wife, family relations, blind dates, and an aspiring writer.

Walker Brothers cowboy -- The shining houses -- Images -- Thanks for the ride -- The office -- An ounce of cure -- The time of death -- Day of the butterfly -- Boys and girls -- Postcard -- Red dress, 1946 -- Sunday afternoon -- A trip to the coast -- The Peace of Utrecht -- Dance of the happy shades.