A collection of stories includes "Home," a wryly whimsical account of a soldier's return from war; "Victory Lap," a tale about an inventive abduction attempt; and the title story, in which a suicidal cancer patient saves the life of a young misfit.

Victory lap -- Sticks -- Puppy -- Escape from Spiderhead -- Exhortation -- Al Roosten -- The Semplica girl diaries -- Home -- My chivalric fiasco -- Tenth of Dcember.