Waltzing at the Piggly Wiggly
by Robert Dalby (G.P. Putnam's Sons, $21.95)

"The cramped little grocery store smelled of overripe fruit and other pungent produce. As soon as

Laurie entered, she was intercepted by Mr. Choppy Dunbar, the longtime owner and manager. 'I need to speak with you in my office, Miz Lepanto. Somethin' important I need to tell you today, if you'd be so kind as to give me just a few minutes of your time.'

Laurie was caught off-guard but dutifully followed him through the store to his small, cluttered office.

Mr. Choppy looked straight into her puzzled face and said: 'I'll get to the point. After nearly eight decades of the Dunbar family bein' in the hometown grocery business, this store has about three more months to live.'

Laurie let his pronouncement sink in. 'Are you certain?'

Mr. Choppy impatiently drummed the four remaining fingers of his right hand on the desk. 'It's gotten to the critical stage, I'm afraid. I can afford to keep my store open about three months longer—maybe four tops—and then it's gonna die a quiet little death, barrin' some sort of last-minute miracle.'

Laurie grimaced but was not totally surprised by the news. 'It's that MegaMart out on the Bypass, isn't it?' He nodded slowly. 'Afraid so.' "--excerpted from the book