Two cultures, embodied in Alma, a troubled ex-nun, and Carmelo, a newly arrived young man from Puerto Rico, hit head-on in this 80's era story about language and obsession.

A Short Joy for Alma Hedman begins as Alma leaves her convent for an uncertain outside world. She brings with her a handmade cross, made out of her convent napkin ring, which she wears around her neck. Based on her experience teaching English as a nun, she gets a job teaching ESL at the city community college. At the same time, Carmelo discovers that he can't get a job fixing diesel motors without learning better English. He enrolls in her class and the two meet. Both are outsiders, and each has much to learn from the other.