The Last Cheng Beng Gift by Jaymee Goh

A rather interesting story about the afterlife.

Mrs. Lim has been dead for years but is still very interested in her children.  Every year gifts are made to the dead and Mrs. Lim is often unhappy with the offering from her daughter, Hong Yin.

An interesting exploration of the afterlife is made and how decisions can be made to influence the world of the living.

It was a charming story where understanding is discovered.

I liked it very much.

Jaymee Goh

You Will Always Have a Family : A Triptych by Kathleen Kayembe

This was an interesting story about love, betrayal, revenge and discovery.

It revolved around a complicated family relationship after the mother dies.  The father blames a son and betrays his love.

Choices are made that only require forgiveness or contrition to resolve.

It was at once a horrifying story that changed with each perspective switch.  Highly original and well told.  I was glad it was so much more than just a ghost story.

There is a lot to unpack here.  Let yourself take a breath at the end of each section and trust the author to bring you to an original conclusion.

Well told.

Kathleen Kayembe's website - https://www.kathleenkayembe.com/

Kathleen Kayembe

Driving a Bargain by Robert J Sawyer

You know, I kept thinking this felt like a movie Steven Spielberg would direct.  In that it was a very American suburban story.

A young man worked hard all summer so he could buy himself a car before the start of the school year.  All he wants is to turn heads and impress the girl he has a crush on.

But there is something odd about the person he bought the car from and there is something odd about the car itself too.

There was a paranormal story.  I instantly liked the protagonist.

Well done.

Originally published here.