The story "Flood Show" by Charles Baxter includes lots of descriptions of everyday life of a small city. The narration is full of allegories such as signs related to memories of the main character.
The plot tells about a man who almost drowns trying to cross a flooded river to reunite with his ex-wife. It takes ostensibly strange turns to get to his sentimental conclusions.
Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/95jun/flood.htm
The story «The Skylight Room» by O. Henry masterfully condemns human callousness, egoism, which is combined with the humiliation of human dignity.
The main character is the girl who lives on the very top of the house is in a stuffy, cramped attic with sloping bare walls, so reminiscent of a coffin, and a single window. Here live people who are not able to pay much money for rent.
This girl manages to find an outlet even in such a gloomy attic. An outlet that saved her even in the most difficult moments.
Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/o-henry/short-story/the-skylight-room
The story “The Gentleman from San Francisco'' by Ivan Buninthe begins since a ship landes safely in Naples.
The author does not name the rich main character from San Francisco. We only know that he is 58 years old. Why? Because this is a collective image.
Here he is rather as a symbol of the material world. He is used to living in luxury, he is self-confident, self-sufficient, and he makes grandiose plans.
The story can be divided for two parts: before and after it (something) happens.
Much of the story is allegorical, the author of course invented the whole plot, but how relevant it is! It makes us think about our priorities, the choices we make, and the overall meaning of our lives.
Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/ivan-bunin/short-story/the-gentleman-from-san-francisco
The main character of the story “The End of Something” by Ernest Hemingway returns to the village of his childhood. This village no longer exists. The sawmill was closed, and there was no longer any need for a settlement; everyone went elsewhere. Something is over.
The main character goes fishing with his girlfriend. Their behavior and conversations shows to readers that it is the end of their relationship: one still loves, but the other is already tired of everything.
Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/ernest-hemingway/short-story/the-end-of-something
The story “Sonny's Blues” by James Baldwin is about two brothers from Harlem who see the world in completely different views, but at the same time do not stop loving each other and hoping that brotherly love is stronger than any problems.
The author presents in the story poverty, and the desire for people to escape, and how innocent children choose a bad fate. But Baldwin has hope for the best, at least for someone.
Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~cinichol/CreativeWriting/323Online/SonnysBlues.pdf