Woman of the Baths Woman of the Baths is a novella about atonement. It is September 1945. The war in the Pacific theater has been won. To humiliate his industrialist father for supporting the war, pacifist Ogden Fike has a Japanese war victim shipped to him, with forged papers saying she is the bride of Captain Ricky Virostik. Wagner Fike has little choice but to accept the responsibility forced on him of caring for Yukiko and, in doing so, develops a deep affection for her. But nothing he tries breaks Yukikos stony silence. When Captain Virostik shows up, Mr. Fike wonders if there is some validity to his sons hoax after all. Ricky, himself a casualty of war, lost crew and plane in the March 9 fire-bombing raid over Tokyo, was forced to jump into the inferno where he encountered Yukiko, and was captured to suffer a brutal six-month imprisonment. His only hope to defuse his haunting memories is to see Yukiko again. Mr. Fike accommodates his wishes, but when he hears Yukiko speak to Ricky, he is consumed with jealousy and desperate to learn what bond the two share. His attempts to find out award him a sobering glimpse into the horrors of war, which Yukiko herself cannot express.
Kitty, 91, and Chester, 89, are trying to get themselves up to an assisted-living community while they can still walk, but without getting married, because as Kitty explains to Kathryn, her 55-year-old daughter, we dont want to, get married, that is. However, the greatest obstacle turns out to be financial: Kitty cannot afford the community's monthly service charges if she continues to support Kathryn. And she insists on doing that. She has always supported her daughter and will not let her down now. Chester tries talking sense to Kittygently, but firmlyand gets a glimpse into a peculiar family dependency that, on second glance, looks downright unsavory.
Freedom of the press and free enterprise clash in Warbler, Oklahoma when Rudy Serling, new owner of the modest Warbler newspaper, finds a newspaper very similar to his own in racks all over town just as he is getting ready to send his first edition to press. Turning the town shopper into a subscription newspaper was kept very quiet as Rudy was buying the established paper. Now, when he attempts to sue, his lawyer informs him he has no legal way out except to compete with his brash competition. Ill beat that bastard and run him out. Even though I hate this town, Ill teach them what journalism is, Rudy confides to his brother, also a newspaperman. Itll have to be so obvious hes just publishing trash. His brother raises the critical question: And if they want trash? The rivalry puts the papers at their worst, with the townspeople suddenly all-important voters Rudy has to court despite his disgust with the town and his lot. And, yes, they do seem to want trash. Until the battle pitches from unsavory to murderous, and Warbler citizens are forced to ponder the struggles core issue: the difference between a gossip sheet and news thats fit to print.
After a long series of professional failures, the last one costly, Louise Christys life is finally on track with the sudden success of her newly established business, a very special perfume shop. But within weeks, her triumph is stubbed out by her brother, who informs her that her spectacular turnover is due to something else: Her favorite shop clerk, the extraordinary Toko, is exhibiting herself in the shop windows mornings when she has the shop to herself. Unable to believe the outrageous news and incapable of spying on her favorite girl to verify it, Louise hires homely, slow-moving Jane, not to be shop manager as her ad indicates, but scarecrow: Posted in the shop mornings, Jane is to ward off illicit conduct that could be damaging to Ms Christys yields. For her part, Jane is determined to do everything she can to establish credibility with her new employer and secure her cushy, do-nothing job in the glamorous business world. The circumstances spell near disaster for the well-meaning proprietress.
Rodge McCullough returns home to finish his Ph.D., gets his degree three years later, and settles in to take a well-earned breather. Reed and Gertrude don't dare interfere as their son pursues his lofty scholar-athlete life at their expense; he is, after all, only engaging in activities they've always encouraged. But after eight years, the activities don't seem so lofty. In fact, they suspect Rodge has become a slouch and a slob. When they discover he is also a thief, they coordinate strategies to dislodge him. But Rodge is resolute: He won't listen, he won't change, and he won't go. Cover art by Karin van de Walle, with her kind permission.
Rodge McCullough returns home to finish his Ph.D., gets his degree three years later, and settles in to take a well-earned breather. Reed and Gertrude don’t dare interfere as their son pursues his lofty scholar-athlete life at their expense; he is, after all, only engaging in activities they’ve always encouraged. But after eight years, the activities don’t seem so lofty. In fact, they suspect Rodge has become a slouch and a slob. When they discover he is also a thief, they coordinate strategies to dislodge him. But Rodge is resolute: He won’t listen, he won’t change, and he won’t go. Cover art by Karin van de Walle, with her kind permission.
Freedom of the press and free enterprise clash in Warbler, Oklahoma when Rudy Serling, new owner of the modest Warbler newspaper, finds a newspaper very similar to his own in racks all over town just as he is getting ready to send his first edition to press. Turning the town shopper into a subscription newspaper was kept very quiet as Rudy was buying the established paper. Now, when he attempts to sue, his lawyer informs him he has no legal way out except to compete with his brash competition. Ill beat that bastard and run him out. Even though I hate this town, Ill teach them what journalism is, Rudy confides to his brother, also a newspaperman. Itll have to be so obvious hes just publishing trash. His brother raises the critical question: And if they want trash? The rivalry puts the papers at their worst, with the townspeople suddenly all-important voters Rudy has to court despite his disgust with the town and his lot. And, yes, they do seem to want trash. Until the battle pitches from unsavory to murderous, and Warbler citizens are forced to ponder the struggles core issue: the difference between a gossip sheet and news thats fit to print.
Woman of the Baths Woman of the Baths is a novella about atonement. It is September 1945. The war in the Pacific theater has been won. To humiliate his industrialist father for supporting the war, pacifist Ogden Fike has a Japanese war victim shipped to him, with forged papers saying she is the bride of Captain Ricky Virostik. Wagner Fike has little choice but to accept the responsibility forced on him of caring for Yukiko and, in doing so, develops a deep affection for her. But nothing he tries breaks Yukikos stony silence. When Captain Virostik shows up, Mr. Fike wonders if there is some validity to his sons hoax after all. Ricky, himself a casualty of war, lost crew and plane in the March 9 fire-bombing raid over Tokyo, was forced to jump into the inferno where he encountered Yukiko, and was captured to suffer a brutal six-month imprisonment. His only hope to defuse his haunting memories is to see Yukiko again. Mr. Fike accommodates his wishes, but when he hears Yukiko speak to Ricky, he is consumed with jealousy and desperate to learn what bond the two share. His attempts to find out award him a sobering glimpse into the horrors of war, which Yukiko herself cannot express.
After a long series of professional failures, the last one costly, Louise Christys life is finally on track with the sudden success of her newly established business, a very special perfume shop. But within weeks, her triumph is stubbed out by her brother, who informs her that her spectacular turnover is due to something else: Her favorite shop clerk, the extraordinary Toko, is exhibiting herself in the shop windows mornings when she has the shop to herself. Unable to believe the outrageous news and incapable of spying on her favorite girl to verify it, Louise hires homely, slow-moving Jane, not to be shop manager as her ad indicates, but scarecrow: Posted in the shop mornings, Jane is to ward off illicit conduct that could be damaging to Ms Christys yields. For her part, Jane is determined to do everything she can to establish credibility with her new employer and secure her cushy, do-nothing job in the glamorous business world. The circumstances spell near disaster for the well-meaning proprietress.
Kitty, 91, and Chester, 89, are trying to get themselves up to an assisted-living community while they can still walk, but without getting married, because as Kitty explains to Kathryn, her 55-year-old daughter, we dont want to, get married, that is. However, the greatest obstacle turns out to be financial: Kitty cannot afford the community's monthly service charges if she continues to support Kathryn. And she insists on doing that. She has always supported her daughter and will not let her down now. Chester tries talking sense to Kittygently, but firmlyand gets a glimpse into a peculiar family dependency that, on second glance, looks downright unsavory.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Thank you for visiting our website. Would you like to provide feedback on how we could improve your experience?
This site does not use any third party cookies with one exception — it uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and to analyze traffic.Learn More.