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Anything Is Possible, Elizabeth Strout

Finished the first story.  Return to the Lucy Barton story.  MC has his barn burn down.  He loses everything and becomes school janitor.  Meets up with young Barton girl, befriends her (sort of). Now she is a successful author, though back then she was a battered child.  MC goes out to visit her brother. He learns that perhaps the elder Barton burned down his barn, killed his cows, etc. out of spite for having been caught masturbating, and also out of PTSS from WWII concentration camps.  MC has never told anyone that he felt God spoke to him on the night of the fire, telling him to value his family and people over all. Now he tells Barton this . . . and is immediately doubted.  O'Henry ending, almost.  For years he wouldn't tell anyone of his religious experience; it was his secret. Now he has told his wife and the Barton son about it . . . but he no longer believes that God spoke to him.  His lack of faith becomes his new secret.

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