Sea Oak

On one hand I enjoyed this story, on the other, it was the nastiest of nasty. The mixture of humor and general grossness makes for an interesting read. This story makes such a sad case for poverty in America. These characters show no actual motivation to change their situation-the girls half heartedly study for the GED while watching ridiculous day time television, and the narrator even finds no actual shame in his job, saying 'at least it's a job'. Only after Bernie (did it actually have to be Bernie? I mean, come one, who didn't think Weekend at Bernie's at least once during this story?!) comes back and warns them of Troy's future demise does anyone start looking towards any semblance of a structured future. And even then, we're left with the feeling that nothing will change.