`Coming of Age,` the 2018 Anthology of Short Stories, published by Momaya Press, contains my story `From the Dining Room Table.` I feel honoured to be in the company of some excellent writers. The prize-winning stories, by Clare Reddaway and Ellis Logan are so good!
Not surprisingly I had ordered a few copies from the publisher. I was informed in a note that UPS, United Parcel Service tried to deliver the books last Friday, but – they informed me – I was out.
Actually, both I and my husband were in, at the time UPS claimed to have rung the bell, but never mind. To prevent further misunderstandings, I went online to arrange a delivery of the books to the nearest place, a `food and wine` shop.
Twice I visited the shop to be told there was no package relating to the reference number written on the slip UPS had left in my letterbox. Returning to their tracking website I was nevertheless assured the parcel had been delivered. Finally, calling Customer Services, I was given a completely different reference number. `Show this number to the shop,` I was told. `They will find your package.`
Question: Why does UPS not give customers the appropriate reference/tracking number?
At any rate, I am now enjoying the stories in the anthology. The `Coming of Age` theme certainly draws out a variety of versions of childhood and adolescent angst.
Getting hold of my package anchored me in a whole day of NOW – the frustrations of the world of the internet, globalisation. Happily, I have not found, so far, one mention of the internet in any of the colourful Coming of Age Stories. (During my adolescence we had two phones, attached and plugged in. One in the hall downstairs, one next to my parents` bed. )
Thinking of today`s young angst generation, I ask myself. Does living in the internet age make the intense experiences of adolescence easier to handle, or harder? Maybe neither. Maybe just different.
