A picture left behind by the previous tenant in an empty apartment throws a writer completely off balance. A boy accepts a birthday invitation from a classmate because he has fallen in love with the classmate's mother. A famous movie star dreams of being able to wash his car in the driveway on a Saturday morning without being disturbed. A butcher tries to ease his guilty conscience by donating to the city animal shelter. Arne Nielsen's stories revolve around people confronted with unexpected hopes or unrecognized suffering. Often, they are outsiders trying to get their lives under control, or oddballs who do not want to lose control over others. Arne Nielsen tells his tales in a laconic and pointed manner, with great intensity and quirky humor. His stories are direct, compelling, and stay with you long after reading.