"I'm not being mysterious on purpose," Evers said apologetically. "It's just, it's a somewhat...special collection."

The collection of Victorian photographs that Russell Evers is offering sounds like a major find. Arriving at his house to assess the donation, Allan del Mar finds a cozy welcome, an unexpected rapport?and, among the solemn couples and amateur theatricals, some very interesting subject matter.

Contents include private historical photographs, detailed discussion of private historical photographs, and two academics bonding over a truly luscious coffee cake (and private historical photographs).

This 6,000-word short story was previously published in Shousetsu Bang*Bang.

M. Arbon writes stories, mostly queer, often sexy, about people who try hard not to be jerks. M. lives and works in Toronto, Canada. M.'s stories have appeared in the anthologies His Seed and Best Gay Stories 2017, as well as being published as stand-alone volumes.