In one mode, it is a room in which I sit. It is a room where my mother sits and works, surrounded by piles of papers. It was once my father's study. Much has changed since he occupied it. Much hasn't. It is dynamic, a country with different regions.

In the other mode, however, I see it but do not occupy it. It is an image, at times as still as a photo. More often, it's a movie. And this movie stars my mother, who sits in her chair accompanied by her array of toys and funny stuffed animals who come trotting into view to the delight of my children. This room is the backdrop to our video conferences. They used to take place Sunday morning. Now they occur Saturday morning.

On my mother's end it is a still shot -- the camera on her iMac is unmoving. She has accompanied us for hours. Her stamina in these video conferences is incredible. At times I feel like she is a virtual baby sitter. She is so inventive! The monkey, Flamingo, Duckie, I could go on. And music. If there is one shortcoming it is her limited mastery of the computer.

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"A certain New York specificity can be found in Thomas Beller's tales of Alex Fader, who grows up on Riverside Drive, celebrates birthdays at the Russian Tea Room and has the kind of classmate whose parents 'for a fee equal to about two years' school tuition for their son,' hold a bar mitzvah reception at Windows on the World." --New York Times

Listen to this exclusive recording of Thomas Beller reading his story Falling Water, recently recorded live at New York's KGB Bar.

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