The Dad Who Stayed and other stories

In The Dad Who Stayed Joey Robinson and his mom live in part of a house, in an early-1970s progressive university town. He never met his dad, who left before Joey was born. When he was old enough to wonder about not having a dad, his mom said it was okay.

But when his kindergarten teacher disapproves, and Joey uses his dad as an excuse to run away too, his mom invites a man named Jack into their life. Now Joey wonders: Will he have to start calling this man Dad-and does he even want to?
Other stories in this collection explore friendship, family, love, memory, and loss in ordinary lives scattered from middle school to old age.