Set against the urban landscape of Manhattan in the 1980s, it begins with William Parker, the narrator, leaving Jackson Hole, Wyoming, desperate to escape the provincialism of his small town upbringing. He is shy, afflicted with a stutter and he is trying to come to terms with his sexual desires. He's been afraid of New York City all his life. By moving there, he hopes to directly confront his fears. For the first time in his life, he finds himself surrounded by people who understand and celebrate his quirks and his character flaws.
Tensions rise between the police and squatters in a local park.
A riot results, providing Will with the opportunity for an heroic, transcendent act that repays the city for all it has taught him. Spanbauer lives in Portland, Oregon. For those who collect this work, Cruse's anthology is a keepsake. He sets out looking for sex with randy local Arab men and he doesn't mind if he has to pay. But these guys don't accept traveler's checks.