New York

New York is both a city and a state in the Northeastern United States. It is the home city of many of the characters in the collection of short stories, all of whom leave New York for economic difficulties. New York is also the scene of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, noted in the short story “Refund”. New York is visited by Kim and Darla from Montreal in “Refund”. The attack claims Darla’s life, and throws Kim into crisis because Kim had suggested meeting up at the World Trade Center. Kim will be forever haunted by her trip to New York as a result.

North Carolina

North Carolina is state in the Southeastern United States. It is a very conservative state politically and religiously, and factors into many of the short stories in the novel. It is a place with an affordable, good standard of living...