Book excerpt: The stories in Progressive Push-Me-Ups, even the personal pieces, entertain, stimulate, and ask for more. As you enter the world of each tale, or the lived experience of others, you live vicariously in new situations. In this way you, even as a seasoned story reader, still expand your boundaries. Whether in work/study in secondary and post-secondary schools, or striving as achieving graduates, these Push-Me-Ups lead you from one environment to another, building momentum, leaving the tedium of the day, and coming into diversions that other, even imaginary, people offer. These shorts have the potential to make you smile, laugh, weep, and carry on.