Drowning in Gruel

Acclaimed short-story master George Singleton follows the lives and schemes of the citizens of fictitious Gruel South Carolina in search of glory seclusion money revenge and a meaningful existence. In these nineteen tales young Gruelites learn lessons when confronted with neighbors who might not be as blind as they appear dermatologists intent on eradicating birthmarks and fathers prone to driving on half-inflated tires in order to flirt with cashiers. Meanwhile the town's older citizens try to make sense out of dogs that heal wounds lawn-mowing dead men wives who don't appreciate gas masks for Valentine's Day and children who mix their mother's ashes with housepaint. Hilarious and tragic George Singleton's unforgettable characters try to overcome their limitations as best they can.<br>