Exuberant, poignant, perceptive, and full of grace, these sixteen stories by Kathleen Collins explore deep, far-reaching issues--relating to race, gender, family, and sexuality--that shape the ordinary moments in our lives. Collins's work blends the quotidian and the profound, masterfully, in a way that is personal and intimate, integrating the African American experience into her characters' lives and creating rich and devastatingly familiar characters who transcend symbolism. In "The uncle," a young girl who idolizes her handsome uncle and his beautiful wife makes a haunting discovery about their lives. In "Only Once," a woman reminisces about her charming daredevil of a lover and his act of foolishness that is ultimate and final. And in the title story, a recent college graduate realizes the limits of the civil rights movement; and the consequences it holds for her, personally and romantically.