Beggar's Gift

Thoughts, words, and deeds have consequences, good and bad. These stories reflect people's actions in various situations--prejudice, poverty, fear, looking different, and the helpless elderly. One may recognize a bit of Aesop's Fables, Ten Commandments, Beatitudes, and the Golden Rule. The Beggar's Gift: an ironic tale about paying attention to the things in life that really matter. David: a humorous fantasy on mores, its elements plausible in a well-thought-out way. Saving Myself: A teenage couple is faced with parental religious bigotry. Picture Man: a suspenseful story that builds on fear that leads to a revelation followed by a surprising conclusion. The Guardians: an elderly woman hides her life savings as her daughter threatens to place her in a Home if she doesn't give it to her.