Monica

Monica and Other Stories gathers twelve short stories that the author presents as a snapshot of America today. The title story follows Monica, who is determined to expose the dirty secrets of a hypocritical State Senator who voted against Roe. She is fighting for abortion rights and her freedom to choose, and the collection holds that sometimes everyone has to take a stand. Several stories deal with race, work and community. In 7 O'Clock, a young man confronts White silence head on and must make a decision that will change his life forever. In The Line, an executive at a prominent restaurant franchise finds a creative way to teach a racist manager a lesson in fairness. In LaBrea, a podcast gets heated when the subject of CRT comes up. In Cherokee Wings, an old Native American takes the kids in his trailer park on the ride of their lives. Others are closer to home. GI Blues follows a homeless man whose greatest desire is to be a Marine, though it is unclear whether he is mentally fit. In The Watch, a career police officer must face the damage fentanyl does in a very personal way. In Randie's Free Library, a police officer uses his people skills to calm a worrisome neighbor. In The New Store in Town, a place where the kids are in total control, a mother ends up in court after taking a few quarters from her son's piggy bank. The remaining stories are gentler. In Love at Any Age, a dating service for seniors makes a successful match. In Tell Him I'm Sorry, an elderly woman in a nursing home tells the staff about her past secrets. In Heaven, two teenagers discover themselves in more ways than one.