In this humorous culture-clash tale, Thompson “Tom” Udoka, a spirited Nigerian-American boy, mistakenly unmasks a sacred masquerade during a festival in his father’s village, causing cultural outrage. His innocent action triggers a traditional raid on his grandfather’s homestead and a council dispute about restitution.

In "Away the Water Drains," Radiyah Nouman crafts a powerful coming-of-age tale set along a dying river in rural Pakistan. Through the eyes of Aasiya, a bright young girl turned weary woman, the story explores the slow erosion of dreams, identity, and livelihood under the weight of poverty, patriarchy, and loss. Lyrical, tender, and haunting, this multigenerational narrative is a sobering reflection on what remains when the water—and hope—run dry.