J.T. Dossett sets the stage for an up close and personal take on the lives of numerous people and places; A small town in Illinois, where the ghostly laughter of children echoes in the hallways of an old school; Two children of the low country hunt a Snapping Turtle in the marsh; A massage therapist finds meaning in the hedonistic culture of a luxury hotel in the Arizona desert; Two white boys spend an evening with James Brown; A legendary witch that sold her soul to the devil roams the swamp; A German girl contends with the trials of living under occupation after WWII; A trapper's offer of sustenance to Indigenous people leads to their demise; Divorce weakens the bonds of beloved family; Wokeism is born in a small industry; A newspaper boy tries to discern the meaning of murmuring voices in his head as he makes early morning deliveries; A factory worker, fresh out of the service finds acclimating to the hierarchy on the assembly line to be difficult; A young man fends off the stigma of ADHD with the assistance of his brilliant younger brother and relies on his inner gifts to succeed in life; A man fights against the ramifications of a Home Owners Association and the onslaught of devious people; A retired Army nurse travels to Western North Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, soothing victims with her expertise and her good heart; A diverse group of people board a ship bound for a surprise destination.