Back in the World
The title of collection is found in the story “Soldier’s Joy.” It is a metaphor used by soldiers in Vietnam to describe life back in the civilian world of their home. It is a symbol of hope for life to return to normal and for all the dreams that getting back home inspires.
“Coming Attractions”
A conversation between characters in this story leads to an interesting metaphorical divide between people. Ever hear someone start a sentence with “there are two types of people” and then go to rather arbitrarily make a distinction of the entire human population relative to just one thing?
“That’s great, because you know how your dad is about bad news. He’s just not set up for it. He’s more of a good news person.”
“The Poor are Always with Us”
Two men flip a coin over possession of a car. The flip is not friendly, but the result of a conflict. From down the street a ways, a woman sits in the car watching, nervously. Following the flip she is approached by one of the men who reaches in, grabs the keys and tosses. The woman’s reaction is metaphorically described:
“She was thin and pale. She had liquid brown eyes like a deer’s eyes, and like a deer she looked restlessly around her as if unsure of everything.”
“Sister”
This strange story with its strangely out-of-sync tone and a few minutes in the life of its strangely offbeat protagonist reaches a climax when that woman is almost run down by a car sliding out of control after she has run to retrieve a Frisbee caught by a gust of wind. She avoids death or at least certain injury by literally inches and then turns around to see those who had been tossing the Frisbee staring at her.
“They were looking at her as if they had seen her naked, and that was how she felt—naked. She had nearly been killed and now she was an embarrassment, like someone in need.”
“The Missing Person”
Father Leo is musing about a girl he once loved, but didn’t especially like. A girl who seemed almost devastated when he told he was entering the priesthood, but whose emotions turned rather quickly to disinterest before marrying another man a few months later. The pensive father reflects metaphorically upon this memory:
“Vocation was a mystery, love was a mystery, and Father Leo supposed that hatred was a mystery.”
