A strange growth that will change a man.... People with open umbrellas when no rain is in sight.... An old suitcase with a haunting past and the man who decides to change its future.... A vengeful victim of a house fire.... A mattress that can bring a man hope in his dreams.... A mother so bent that she does the unthinkable to keep "her baby" from growing up.... These are only the catalysts.

Stories included in this collection:

Ghosts of a Catalyst
The Catalyst: Beginning the Dream
The Growth of Alan Ashley
Drawn In
Inquisitor, Inc.
You Make My Flesh Crawl
Kill -13-
Icarus Falling
Burned Out
Snow Day
The Umbrella People
Stray Cats
Old Nelly's High Price
Something in the Pipes
Fun Gus the Tap Dance Man
Mommy's Baby Don't Need to Grow Up