This story by Patricia Grace paints a poignant picture of an elderly widow who has lived alone for fifteen years. She comforts herself by imagining her deceased husband as a star that, along with the stars of other loved ones who have died, watches over her at night. She has given away most of her belongings and lives a spartan but contented life, ever watchful for visitors who never come and listening for a telephone that never rings. As the story ends, she “wakes” to find herself surrounded by dancing stars. Themes include independence, ageing with grace, contentment, loneliness.

The major theme of this story from Patricia Grace is casual racism: the habit of using a racial descriptor (in this case the terms Maori and Pakeha) in a way that infers all members of an ethnic or cultural group share the same characteristics. Set in New Zealand, an indigenous university student visiting her home town for her sister’s wedding teaches the older girl a new “way of talking” when confronted with discriminatory or racist language. Other themes: cultural and individual identity; education as a force for social change; the courage to speak out, even if standing alone.