About a month back, I heard author Richard Bausch read one of his short stories on the Valentine’s Day episode of This American Life, the best radio program ever. Originally published in the New Yorker in October 1989, “Letter to the Lady of the House” is a beautiful story of an aging man recalling a visit to his cousin’s house and witnessing a loving moment between the newlyweds.

I’ve since bought The Stories of Richard Bausch and can’t put it down. Yesterday, Kottke posted about the “Chekhov’s Gun” writing technique and I immediately thought through the Bausch stories I’ve read recently. In one of my favorites, “The Man Who Knew Belle Starr,” Bausch introduces the female character and a mysterious paper bag. As the story unravels, the reader can’t stop thinking about the contents of that bag and when the contents will be revealed. It’s incredible.