Gold Flake Hydrant

Matthews here continues the story of Burris Weems, the teenage protagonist he introduced in The Little Red Rooster. When last seen, Burris was trying to get his life together after a suicide attempt. This story takes place five months later, during the Christmas season. Burris has recovered physically, but his life is far from ideal. He has flunked out of high school and cannot find a job. His girlfriend is going out with someone else. His sister Loretta and her new husband plan to move out of town. Worst of all, Burris's mother Peggy has begun to drink heavily. Grappling with big questions here, like who is he and where is he going, Burris thinks he's found a kindred spirit in ``Lennie the Loop,'' a town character with a reputation for violence; but that relationship leads to more trouble. At story's end, Burris is no further along in his search for answers than at the beginning, but Matthews's gift for characterization, especially with the inventive though misguided Burris, continually entertains. (July)