The stories in this book are tales of eleven people and eleven destinies. Vandelier has not had a drink in months. Something happens that throws him back into the old habituals. Cliff is sitting with his revolver in his hand in front of the TV, waiting for the evening to end. You have to live as you teach, or? Ella returns to her youth and experiences anguish before meeting her father again. Lucille is intimidated by violence and turns back to her bookkeeping.