Bill Furlong is a coal merchant. He is married with five daughters living in a small town in Ireland. His mother was not married when he was born, but the Protestant women she worked for let her stay on at her job and helped to raise Bill. The week before Christmas in 1985, Bill delivers coal to the local convent. When he opens the shed door, he sees something that poses a moral dilemma for him.

Claire Keegan’s novella is a small gem. Beautifully written with a very human main character, Small Things Like These is based on true events that occurred in Ireland.