"It's so very hard to die in little pieces." A collection of four short stories: Shock: Written in the first person. An idyllic day of rest on the beach is shattered by tragedy which leads to a phantasmagoric travel through time and history. A dream-like experience yields tangible proofs. It ends where it started but with a twisted, horrific conclusion. It is as if it never was. Abused: Do the child victims of abuse grow to be abusers or only to be abused yet again? Five-year-old Andy is born to an abusive father and a loving mother. His life follows the tragic script leading to the ultimate loss and repeated foster home placements. His aggressive, depressive spiral is interrupted by the girl of his dreams, even fantasies. His determination to change the course of his life is directed and supported by her persistence. The return of his father from prison sends Andy into a murderous, trance-like state. Is it possible to execute a five-year-old? Letters to Jesus From the Grave: The self-righteous, abused, enslaved, privileged, soldier plead their case from the grave. The Minister: A child with a severe facial disfigurement gives the appearance of avoiding reality which is hurtful to his mother and confuses his father. A secret life is lived in the open.