The Best American Short Stories 2005

"In "Until Gwen," Dennis Lehane offers a narrative experiment and a haunting picture of a father and son. Tom Perrotta's "The Smile on Happy Chang's Face" explores a Little League umpire's attempt to cope with his biggest personal regret and the inability to make a decisive call on the field. Thomas McGuane's "Old Friends" examines the intersection of shared history and obligation, while Joyce Carol Oates meditates on the inescapable bonds of family in "Cousins." In "Stone Animals," Kelly Link takes a chilling look at a family spiraling beyond control in the surreal landscape of their new home. By turns humorous, poignant, and profound, the stories of 2005 add up to an eclectic installment of this anthology."--Jacket.