Abscond

To abscond is to depart secretly and hide oneself. Wouldn’t that be just like Ravi’s father? A jokester who loved making people smile, he might once have delighted in vanishing just long enough to surprise everyone. But Ravi knows this disappearance is different. His father has died, leaving the young tennis phenom with a mother whose grief wakes her screaming in the night and an uncertain future as a 13-year-old trying to step into the man-of-the-house role. Ravi must come to terms with that loss and with the new shape of his family without the one person he has always counted on: his father.

Abraham Verghese’s short story Abscond is a beautiful meditation on grief, tradition, and the moment childhood begins to give way to responsibility. Though brief, the story showcases Verghese’s remarkable ability to create fully realized characters and forge an immediate emotional connection with readers. By the final pages, it is difficult not to be moved.

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I give Abscond 5 out of 5 stars. Verghese presents family traditions and religious rites that may be unfamiliar to many readers in a way that deepens our connection to Ravi and his confusion. The story crosses barriers of culture and heritage both on the page and in the act of reading, doing what books do best: opening a window onto parts of the world we might not otherwise see. While many coming-of-age stories focus on first loves, friendships, or school drama, Abscond takes a more introspective approach. Its heart lies in the quiet realization that there comes a time when we must step beyond the shelter of our parents’ dreams and expectations to find our own path. Thoughtful, poignant, and deeply human, it is a memorable exploration of what it means to grow up.

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At just 38 pages, Abscond is a true short story, ideal for readers looking for something meaningful they can finish in about an hour. Because parental loss is central to the story, it may not be the right choice for every reader, but I would recommend it widely to those drawn to quiet, emotionally resonant coming-of-age fiction. Fans of Fredrik Backman may find this a compelling introduction to Verghese’s work.

Abscond was my choice for the Read With Lindsey 2026 Reading Challenge prompt, “Coming of Age.” What are you reading this week?.

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What I’m Reading

• Current print book: Killing Lincoln, Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard
• Current audio book: The Incredible Winston Browne, Sean Dietrich
• Book I’m most looking forward to: The Magic of Chamomile Cottage, Heather Webber