An idealistic Russian teenager emigrates to Britain to teach the natives about the greatest Russian playwright, Shekspeare. The British are not as receptive as Olga had expected, so, dazed and disappointed, the young girl brings her warmly hilarious voice to America. Who cares if the language that she teaches is probably a hoax? Olga could read the phone book and be fascinating to listen to. In "Canada Died?" the nation of Canada, as a final act, announces its demise by sending memorial nickels across the American border. This essay examines how unappreciative our country was toward our northern neighbor, proposes some theories on the cause of the Canadian Armageddon, and confronts the consequences of the death of Canada for America and the rest of the world. If a country as reasonable, healthy, and generous as Canada has vanished, what hope is there for humankind? This same question resonates throughout "11/11/11." The two most powerful political entities on Earth lock horns in a decisive battle, with startling consequences. The last line of this book of short stories details the never-before-imagined possibility for the future of civilization.