This is the writer's voice, New Fiction from the New Yorker, and Debra Treesman, Fiction

Editor at the New Yorker.

On this episode of the writer's voice, we'll hear David Gilbert read his story, Come

Softly to Me, which appeared in the October 17th, 2022 issue of the magazine.

Gilbert is the author of the story collection, remote feed, and two novels, and sons, and

the normals.

Now here's David Gilbert.

Come Softly to Me.

Upstairs, the sisters prepared by putting on their dresses, while down in the yard everyone

drank moths, apple juice, and snacked on rich crackers, squared with cheddar.

In other words, they'd have a proper meal.

Lily had brought six pies, Eleanor, pasta salad, and lentils with sweet potatoes.

Louise's son Charlie would man the grill.

There'd be enough to drink that was for sure, and maybe something to smoke thanks to the

dispensaries nearby Great Barrington.

Come night, Jasper, Lily's grandson, would play guitar, and Lewis, the son of Benjamin,

the sister's cousin, would light the bonfire, once his father's job.

Oh, Benjamin, he'd been cremated with his healing crystals still clenched in his hands.

The bonfire nowadays was confined to the copper fire pit at Louise's house, but they'd

managed to get the flames up high.

Then they'd shoot Roman candles and bottle rockets, brought by whoever had traveled from

or through a firework state.

...