Four Stories. (Original writing)

The following thesis is an original work of fiction, consisting of four short stories linked by common characters and geographic location. They take place in a small New England lakeside town. My goal is to explore, as unifying themes, the characters' specific relationship to place and family. The first three stories deal exclusively with the McMahon family. In "The Stampede," the opening piece, eighteen year old Christopher comes to a last-minute understanding of his position in the family regarding his younger brother Daniel, whom he has taken care of for many years. Daniel's point of view regarding this dynamic--and its effects on him--are explored in the second story, "Rocks," in which he attempts a misguided break from the dependent relationship with Christopher. The final story about this family, "Aunt Jean," centers on the boys' aunt, a woman who is reluctantly drawn deeper into the family's lives because of her wealth. The last story of the thesis, "Steel Drums," is a piece about an older man who has lived on the lake for many years and is facing his approaching death.