Brooklyn, April 1948. Cousins Mike Burns and Sally-Boy Boccanera are born one-minute apart in the same hospital. Sally-Boy's mother dies in childbirth, but as they grow, it seems like they have everything else in common, including a rusty fire escape--their sanctuary. The nine stories in this volume are Mike's memories of their early years discovering Brooklyn, confronting challenges, and facing situations that shape their lives. Their experiences are funny, disturbing, and often touching as they try to make sense of themselves, the world...and the fact that , whether they like it or not, their paths seem headed in different directions.