Josip Novakovich, who immigrated to the United States from Croatia when he was twenty, is the author of the novel April Fool’s Day, two essay collections, and three story collections, and his work has been anthologized in Best American Poetry, The Pushcart Prize, and Prize Stories: The O. Henry Awards. A recipient of the Whiting Writers’ Award, the Ingram Merrill Award, and an American Book Award, Novakovich teaches at Concordia University in Montreal.

Acorns

A Story

by Josip Novakovich

While the JFK Terminal One loudspeakers announced the last call for the nonstop to Frankfurt, John hugged his wife, Mara Tadic. “Are you really sure you want to go?” he said. “Dozens of journalists have been killed there.”

“No interpreters, as far as I know.”

His parting kiss slipped past her mouth and brushed her downy cheek.

Mara slid out of his embrace. “Don’t forget tuna for Leo!”

On the plane Mara sat next to a Baptist missionary on her way to join her husband in Tirana.

“You want to convert them?” Mara said. “Most Albanians are Muslim.”

“There are quite a few Christians among them. Are you trying to convert me into not converting people?”

“Touché.”

People on couch
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