Small Displacements

These stories examine what can happen when people leave their habitual environments and venture into uncharted territory, whether physically or in the mind. While they may not journey far and the ensuing displacements may be comparatively small, the consequences are often unforeseen and considerable. They may be displaced by distance, by discontent, by deceit, or by death. Some move on through these displacements, while some are reluctant to face what has happened. All are caught in situations that alter their comfortable landscapes.

In the title story, an elderly woman faces handing over her beloved house to her son and moving to an extension in the garden. In "The Clinic," fourteen-year-old Madeleine must confront the straits to which pregnancy has brought her. And in "A Nice Day Out," the actuality of the day doesn't quite live up to the expectations of the eager Mr. Whitby. Other stories concern marital discord, the nature of grief, or the results of characters finding themselves on untested ground.