The Greasy Lake (Symbolizes coming of age)
The characters in the short story 'Greasy Lake' are described as perilous growing up in the 1960s and 1970s. These characters are experimenting with everything, including abusing drugs, raping, and killings others. The author says that these characters branded themselves as 'dangerous guys' because of the kind of clothes to put on. One day while in Greasy Lake, they almost killed a guy and raped his girlfriend. However, it is deemed to their senses that they are wrong and need to reflect on their lives. After a long reflection, the decision to become a little wiser and mature. Therefore, the Greasy Lake emblems are coming of age because the characters are ready and willing to change their ways for the better.
The underground home (Symbolizes creativity)
The story of the underground home is narrated in the short story "The Underground Gardens." According to the story, the vicious nature of human beings is displayed when an immigrant is tricked into purchasing unproductive land in California. However, all is not lost for the immigrant because he comes up with a creative idea to develop an underground home, which later becomes the best underground palace. The symbol of the underground home encourages readers to trap opportunities where people see unproductiveness.
The Big Garage
The Big Garage epitomizes the specialization of labor in which every individual has a specific task or responsibility to solve a particular challenge affecting the world. For instance, the author refers to a car being towed to a garage serviced by a mechanic. The mysteries of a faulty car can only be solved by a mechanic but not a doctor. Therefore, every person in society has a specific duty that any other person cannot solve.
The Bloody Rain
The bloody rain is figurative because it presents life turbulences and hurdles. Life is a journey, and it entails good times and bad moments, and only those who persevere emerge victoriously. The story 'Bloodfall' is about seven young people living together happily before the bloody rainfalls. The blood rain brings disturbance because the seven people are forced to go separate ways to fight for their lives. The falling blood distorts everything, and people cannot even drive to get food from food stores because of poor visibility. Therefore, people have to fight for their survival individually.
Termination Dust
The 'Termination Dust' story symbolizes the objectification of women as the belongings of men. The author deals with the issue of gender discernment using the satire of men outnumbering women in Alaska. Over the years, women had no say, and they were under men in every aspect. Ironically, in this story, the author depicts women as a rare commodity that the highest bidder can afford. Down the line, the author implies that women are properties of men because they are taken for bidding.
