Angela fitted snugly in the leathered front seat and Screechy mewed appreciatively. It was a car that could make a singular impression. Yes, Angela thought, as she exited the car dealership, that’s smooth. On the radio, the announcer said we should be frightened, very frightened, and Angela looked at the sky: a fantastic scene of pinks and reds.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to the editors of the publications in which early versions of these stories first appeared – The Stinging Fly, the Dublin Review, Winter Papers and the White Review.

A debt of gratitude is owed to the Arts Council for their continued support. A special thanks to Annaghmakerrig and the Irish Cultural Centre in Paris, where two of these stories were written.

A huge thanks to Alexis Kirschbaum, Liese Mayer and the team at Bloomsbury.

To Colin Barrett and Tom Morris for their invaluable feedback and encouragement.

To the Wylie Agency, particularly Tracy Bohan, a kind and smart presence throughout the entire publication process.

To Declan Meade for his endless patience and support.

Finally to my family, my parents and sister, for everything.

Note on the Author

Note on the Author

Nicole Flattery’s stories have been published in the Irish Times, the Dublin Review, the White Review, Winter Papers, the Letters Page and The Stinging Fly. She is a recipient of a Next Generation Artists’ Award from the Arts Council of Ireland and the White Review Short Story Prize. She lives in Galway, Ireland.