by Michael Oren
And the arrow finds its mark. Straight in the head if not through the heart, its target emits snores, not sighs. Already you are reaching for your next shot, while I remain fixed to my pillow. Once again, you have carried the day, brave archer, and dispatched me gratefully into night.
Acknowledgments
There is only one thing scarier than facing an empty page, every writer knows, and that’s sending a completed page to readers. And as hard as writing can be, honestly criticizing that work is more difficult still. For that reason, I am singularly indebted to all those who read these stories and judged them candidly. I wish, then, to thank Jonathan Rosen, Stefanie Pearson, Jamie Gangel, Mark and Erica Gerson, Charles and Arielle Zeelof, Betsy Madway, Rachel Moore, Jeremy Herman, John Krivine, Orly Genger, Helen Katz, Gil Troy, Jason and Dianna Perkins, Alison Nager, Lisa Schoenberg, and David Ehrlrich, of blessed memory.
Sending stories to relatives is especially stressful, but my family members always came through. To my children, Noam, Lia, and Yoav Oren, and to my sisters, Aura and Karen, and their husbands, Fred and Arnie, thank you. And a special note of gratitude to my parents, Marilyn and Lester Bornstein, age 92 and 95, who read all these stories and assured me they liked them.
I am especially indebted to my editor, Adam Bellow, for his vision, courage, and friendship. Heather King, Managing Editor at Post Hill Press, was unswervingly dedicated and professional. My deepest appreciation goes, as always, to Leslie Meyers, without whom this collection, and the freedom it represents, would not be possible.