I lived in Brazil for four years, between 1997 and 2001, and like every other americano who has ever gone through that experience, was powerfully affected by the people, the culture and the land. After three years I finally became fluent enough to teach in Portuguese without a translator present. Before then I was somewhat terrified to venture off the grounds of my organizer into downtown Säo Paulo. I offer here the two pieces of fiction that came out of that period. Maybe they will give you a taste of Brazil. The opening event in The White Dog actually happened, but the odyssey that the storyteller in Walkin' in the Night relates was only in his imagination.