A Dozen Palms

A Tale in Thirteen Stories

Somewhere on the edge of a small Texas town, Daddy stands in his red, silk underwear, pistol in hand, insulting the school superintendent, dancing through the night, and making another batch of moonshine in the garage. Peacocks get drunk; trees get stolen out of the ground, and naked neighbors appear from the darkness, even as an artificial star is hoisted to the heavens.

A Dozen Palms is a remembrance of a time, told in thirteen short stories, yet every story stands stands alone. The stories are presented in chronological order, set in a not-so-distant past. These are tales of a large, colorful family—Daddy, ruler of the roost, the mother, T, Glo, the oldest, responsible daughter, Tessie, the rebellious next in line, Junior, the middle child, and Pete and Mary, the twins. Through the years, each faces their own fears, disappointments, and hopes, as they and the world around them inevitably change.

©2024 Ray Blackburn (P)2024 Ray Blackburn