I have been fascinated with these short stories ever since Patrick started writing them. Together, they represent several different facets of his writing talent. The publication of the book means I can hold these stories in my hand and read them wherever and whenever I please, which would be anywhere and often.

This collection of short stories has something for every mood and every reader. My personal favorites include "Elephant," the furious, hilarious rant of a child whose sister got an *elephant* for a pet, to "Shoe Tree," because shoeing a tree over the course of a season makes almost as much sense as falling in love.

Patrick Cleary has put together a series of 26 clever short stories, all with an unexpected twist, many of which will send a shiver down your spine. Cleary's characters come alive in quirky, unexpected ways. The stories pack such a wallop that I could only read one story at a time, allowing time to fully absorb the implications before being able to move on to the next one.

Cleary is a playwright on his way up. I fully expect that it will only be a matter of time before his name is also recognized as a respected author.