The Collapse of the Mink Jacket by Joan Gillman

This story is about a very special date Joan had in Chicago where she decides to wear a mink jacket (a family heirloom). The jacket falls apart before Joan ever arrives at the restaurant. It describes her attempts to fix it and her self-realizations. The point of the story is “heed your own heart.”

Did You Hear What I Intended? by Joan Gillman

Joan accompanies her mother on a 14-day tour of Hong Kong, China, and Japan. At the airport in Shanghai, Joan asks a question of a tour group member, which, by his facial expressions, she knows he misinterprets. Consequently, she becomes embarrassed and self-conscious. The point of the story is “carefully choose your words.”