The arrival of a mysterious hunchback in a small Southern town disrupts the solitary existence of a formidable woman, igniting a complex and destructive emotional triangle. Miss Amelia, the proprietor of a local café, finds her life irrevocably altered when Cousin Lymon, a hunchback, appears at her door. Her objective to maintain her independent, stoic life is challenged by the arrival of her former husband, Marvin Macy, who returns to town seeking vengeance. The narrative framework utilizes a detached, observational tone to explore the isolation and longing inherent in the characters' lives within the constraints of a rigid, rural Southern setting.

Readers frequently highlight the author's ability to render profound loneliness through sparse, evocative prose. Discussion often centers on the unsettling nature of the central love triangle and how it reflects the broader human condition. Critics often point to the balance between the stark, realistic setting and the almost fable-like quality of the narrative. The collection is widely regarded for its psychological depth and the consistency of its thematic focus on the complexities of human connection. Readers often note that the stories provide a window into the internal lives of marginalized figures in a traditional society.