Novelette by Margaret Atwood. A "big-boned", athletic Canadian university student becomes anxious but gains self-esteem when a creepy-looking “Oriental” student begins to stalk her. Other men who have previously shown little interest in her take notice. Wondering what he sees in her, they begin to ask her out.
Quick Read by John Updike. A professional baseball player tries to analyze why he is no longer hitting the ball as well as he used to. He identifies that the problem is psychological, and concludes that it is because he has lost his passion for the game
Grade 5-6 Story by Elizabeth Ellis. A twelve-year-old girl is unhappy about her complexion and tries freckle cream with disastrous results. Instead of hiding the freckles, she got more and they became darker. Her grandfather uses a flower to teach the girl that she had the wrong idea about beauty.
Short Story by Lao Khamhom. A Thai farmer must leave his dying son in the hands of faith-healers and herbalists to grovel in front of local officials for a 200 baht government handout. He gets the money but, contrary to what other villagers say, it’s not his lucky day.
Short Story by Ambrose Bierce. A grieving and possibly PTSD affected man shows no sign of traditional mourning over his wife’s death. His decision to shut himself off from the outside world could well result from a sense of shame and/or guilt over his part in her death.