In "Failure" by Susan Tepper, a young woman named Maureen, recently forced by her father to sign on the dole, struggles with feelings of shame and entrapment. As she battles the flames of her smoking thatched roof, she also fights the stigma of failure that haunts her. A conversation with Patrick offers a glimmer of escape, but Maureen remains torn between her harsh reality and the distant hope of a better life.
In "Hiding" by Susan Tepper, a woman lingers in a London hotel, entranced by the city and its timeless charm, yet trapped in a cycle of disrupted plans and elusive memories. As she drifts through days without direction, she grapples with her strained marriage and the quiet sadness of winter. Amidst the antique clocks and the cozy corners of the hotel, she contemplates the passage of time, the possibility of new desires, and the art of simply being.
In "Poodles" by Susan Tepper, a woman reflects on her contrasting life while dining with a man who thrives in the glamorous world of rock bands. As they sit in a French restaurant, a well-mannered poodle at a nearby table highlights the cultural differences between them. Her thoughts drift to her own less glamorous work, cleaning planes and filling in during strikes. The story captures her quiet resignation and the unspoken divide between their worlds.
In "Next to Rock" by Susan Isla Tepper, a woman grapples with an encroaching darkness that seeps into her life, manifesting in the blue shadows on her floor and the chill in her hands. As she shares a fire with Petrov, his laughter contrasts her internal descent into despair. The story captures her struggle with looming insanity, the coldness of reality, and the desire for an elusive comfort.
In "I" by Susan Tepper, a woman reflects on the sacrifices she makes to maintain a relationship, relentlessly molding herself to meet her partner's expectations. She changes her appearance, endures tedious routines, and even overlooks infidelity, gradually losing herself in the process. The story poignantly captures her descent into emotional blindness, as she chooses to ignore the pain until she is consumed by it.