Life

Life is an important theme in the short story collection “Refund” by Karen E. Bender. Life never turns out the way people expect it. Sometimes it is better, sometimes it is worse. Life is full of changes as well, many of which, like death, cannot be avoided.

In “Reunion,” Anna realizes that all of her former high school classmates are changed people, including herself. Johnny, long obsessed with studying weather, goes crazy and shoots up the reunion. Beautiful Tyra Johnson is now horribly overweight, and childhood friend Laurie Stone is being indicted for embezzlement. Likewise, Warren Vance has transformed into a swindler. Anna, who expected a little more out of her own life, suddenly realizes her family is more than enough and is everything she ever truly wanted. Life happens. Life also happens to Ginger in “Theft.” Ginger, a swindler, expected a glorious and glamorous life...