Playgrounds and Battlegrounds

Four novellas: 1) Nighttime Euphoria and the Field of Reeds, or One Can Get Away with What One DaresPerry and his new friend Akila (met in Puerto Rico and visiting from Egypt) are awaiting a cab shortly before midnight: he feels honor-bound to ensure her first New York City night is highly adventurous. Nor will he avoid the office come morning--he's looking forward to reporting to work riding the adrenaline of all-night escapades. Many supposedly serious situations can be turned into games.2) Playgrounds and BattlegroundsRandomly wandering New York City's streets at night--emotionally flung hither and thither, hungering for he's unsure what--Steve finds himself doing things he never imagined himself capable of, thrilling to every moment. On a whim he purchases a switchblade from a street vendor. Possession of a weapon instantly alters his perceptions and reactions, induces a blur of fascination and fear.3) Idleness And UnrestIdleness at the advertising agency leads to unrest, so Alex enjoys hooking up with his unhappily married friend, Hilaria, on company time. The trick's to score a job that yields a great deal of fulfilling downtime and refuse to be robbed of it via promotion. Indulging in under-the-radar employer-financed recreation is wholesome healthy fun. Playacting and technology facilitate success.4) Excitation and Oblivion, or Kaleidoscopic San JuanAdrenaline surges upon Steve's arrival before dawn in Puerto Rico, regardless of absence of sleep. High surf, salsa dancing under the stars, random encounters in San Juan's post-midnight streets, tantalizing/teasing recollections of what he may or may not have done. Vacations are an opportunity to be swept into personality-altering adventures, shove habitual inhibitions aside, become someone else.