A three-legged man who worked in a sideshow for many years tries to negotiate his adult daughter's alcoholism, as well as her disapproval for an art show that will feature paintings of him naked. From Teresa Milbrodt's Bearded Women: Stories, this tale is one in a "phenomenal collection" (Asimov's Science Fiction) of short fiction about the so-called "freaks" trying negotiate a world that is quicker to stare than sympathize.

ChiZine Publications (CZP) curates the best of the bizarre, bringing you the most excitingly weird, subtle, dark, and disturbing literary fiction. Look for more titles in the ChiZine short stories collection to build your digital library.