“Two-Wheel Terrors” by John Carenen
In Two‑Wheel Terrors, a “big boy bike,” two scheming sisters, and one giant tree turn a simple lesson into a legendary childhood crash. A funny, tender slice of small‑town mischief from Gunpowder & Peonies.
coming‑of‑age vignette
“Quicksand!” By John Carenen
After seeing a man vanish into quicksand on TV, young John becomes convinced Iowa is riddled with deadly pits. A simple summer picnic turns into a comic showdown between childhood terror, sibling mischief, and questionable science.
“Her Name Was Eleanor” by John Carenen
A tender, humorous childhood vignette from John Carenen’s Gunpowder & Peonies, capturing a five‑year‑old’s earnest proposal and the wonder of small‑town Iowa.
