Summary

Matt, the main character of the story “The False Moon” by Shirley Golden, is a teenager who lives with his mother, who is most likely an alcoholic. The story begins with Mark sneaking out of the house at night and wishing for his mother to pay attention to him. On his way, Matt watches the street lamps and remembers his mother once told him that insects steer in the direction of lamps, as they consider them similar to the moon. Matt comes across some abandoned railway tunnels in which he discovers the beginning of a graffiti painting. He decides to continue the painting, which represents the silhouette of a woman, but he does not have the necessary tools.

The next day, Matt spends his lunch money on paint, takes brushes out of the house, and...