Jennie Dixianna and The Last Member of the Boela Tribe

Circus in Winter Reflection:

In the story Jennie Dixianna we learn about the character who performs the "spin of death." This act is one which leaves it's performer with a blood bracelet. The descriptions of Jennie throughout this story lead you to feel both pity and disgust.
She had a rough childhood growing up, which makes you feel sorry for her. But she buried her past and moved on....somewhat. She still uses people just like her father did. And in that sense it's hard to find any pity for her. She only wants what Wallace can do for her and nothing more. What she doesn't realize is that Wallace is the same way. He has as many ghosts which haunt him as she does.

The last member of the Boela Tribe goes through the family history of the Bowles family. Starting with Bascomb and ending with Chicky. This family is amazing in the fact that is mere happenstance that everything happens to them. Cathy Day does a brilliant job seemlessly joining the stories flowing from one generation to the next and making connections between them. This story is one of the "happier" Cathy Day stories that we've read so far, if there is such a thing...