Wild, funny, touching, and full of crackling dialogue, the stories in this collection turn the intensity of real life up a notch: A soap opera star turns a set into a real-life melodrama. A hot spring oasis is the source of a man's newfound sanity—or is it insanity? In Robert Garner McBrearty's talented hands, this exaggerated reality makes life seem much more hilarious and heartbreakingly real. Previously published in distinguished literary magazines, these stories are about people caught at the moment of life change. Each compelling character struggles with major issues: the struggle to hold down two jobs, hold on to love, or keep a grip on reality. And then there's the toughest tussle of all—the choice to be a responsible citizen or a heroic hellraiser who runs with the bulls. Written with wit and true grit, these stories take readers from the city to the open country, from Texas to California. But no matter where they are set, real people live there—out loud.