Nothing Like an Ocean: Stories

178 Pages·2009·1.03 MB·English

by  Jim Tomlinson

Nothing Like An Ocean
Kentucky Voices
Miss America Kissed Caleb
Billy C. Clark
The Total Light Process: New and Selected Poems
James Baker Hall
With a Hammer for My Heart: A Novel
George Ella Lyon
Famous People I Have Known
Ed McClanahan
Sue Mundy: A Novel of the Civil War
Richard Taylor
At The Breakers: A Novel
Mary Ann Taylor-Hall
Buffalo Dance: The Journey of York
Frank X Walker
When Winter Come: The Ascension of York
Frank X Walker
The Cave
Robert Penn Warren
Nothing Like
An Ocean
Stories
Jim Tomlinson
The University Press of Kentucky
Copyright © 2009 by Jim Tomlinson
Several stories in this collection were previously published, some in slightly dif-
ferent form. “Nothing Like An Ocean” appeared in Shenandoah 57, no. 1 (Spring
2007). “Birds of Providence” was serialized in Velocity Weekly, November 1–29,
2006. A modified version of “Berliner” appeared in Oasis Journal 2005 (Imago
Press). “Rose” appeared in Opium Magazine, no. 6 (Spring 2008). “A Male Influ-
ence in the House” appeared in Sou’wester 37, no. 1 (Fall 2008).
The University Press of Kentucky
Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth, serving Bellarmine University,
Berea College, Centre College of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University,
The Filson Historical Society, Georgetown College, Kentucky Historical
Society, Kentucky State University, Morehead State University, Murray State
University, Northern Kentucky University, Transylvania University,
University of Kentucky, University of Louisville,and Western Kentucky
University.
All rights reserved.
Editorial and Sales Offices: The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40508–4008
www.kentuckypress.com
13 12 11 10 09 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Tomlinson, Jim, 1941-
Nothing like an ocean : stories / Jim Tomlinson.
p. cm. — (Kentucky voices)
ISBN 978-0-8131-2540-4 (hardcover : alk. paper)
1. City and town life—Kentucky—Fiction. 2. Kentucky—Fiction.
I. Title.
PS3620.O575N67 2009
813'.6—dc22
2008049851
This book is printed on acid-free recycled paper meeting
the requirements of the American National Standard
for Permanence in Paper for Printed Library Materials.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
Member of the Association of
American University Presses
For Bernie and Betty

Storms approached, sent the ocean
rolling like a procession of ridges,
on and on until I believed I stood
on the mountain where my kin slept,
the wrinkled ridge and valley blue,
purpled, and frothy with dogwood.
—Jane Hicks, “Paradise Regained”

Contents
Acknowledgments xi
Nothing Like An Ocean 1
Angel, His Rabbit, and Kyle McKell 17
A Male Influence in the House 38
Singing Second Part 63
Overburden 81
So Exotic 99
Rose 111
Birds of Providence 112
The Persistence of Ice 125
Shadow Flag 135
Berliner 153