This collection of stories ranges in time, theme and place. Elements of childhood innocence, love and loss, wrong judgement, family tragedy, friendship and kindness pervade the work. Come out to Play' shows fifteen stories with the main themes, as the writer sees it, listed alongside the word count. There is no one intended thread in the stories but rather a set of diverse tales, with various settings (Italy, Africa, Australia), different points of view and different tones, e.g. a child's voice morphing into an adult in the story of the title; a widow's voice in The Falls; a braggart in another; and an alcoholic's in yet another. Two common themes could be described as family and the loss/gain nature of living. The stories are entitled: The Butcher Shop; Come out to Play, Kissing Cousins; The Girl Next Door; Carol; The Falls; Joe; Other People's Lives; Juanita; Africa; Desolation; Enchanted; Family Favourites; Lingua Franca and Storm.