Story: ‘What Got Into Us,’ by Jacob Guajardo

Ursa Short Fiction

Deesha and Dawnie introduce “What Got Into Us,” a short story by Jacob Guajardo, performed by Vicki Valdeon.

The story is a candid look into queer adolescence, first loves, recklessness, and unbridled vulnerability. It was originally published in Passages North, and featured in The Best American Short Stories 2018.

Listen to the story, then stay tuned at the end for Guajardo in his own words, sharing how the story came together, and how he approaches the writing process.

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Reading List: Stories and Writers Mentioned

• The Best American Short Stories 2018 (edited by Roxane Gay)
• “I Only Did What Anyone Would Have Done” (Jacob Guajardo)
• “Moonmilk” (Jacob Guajardo)
• “Widowers” (Jacob Guajardo)
• “Good News Is Coming” (Jacob Guajardo)
• “The Seminar” (Jacob Guajardo)
• “Two Queens Walk Out Of A Bar” (Jacob Guajardo)
• Amy Hempel
• Ocean Vuong
• Garth Greenwell

About the Author

Jacob Guajardo lives and writes in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His fiction appears in The Best American Short Stories 2018 and Small Odysseys: Selected Shorts Presents 35 New Stories, among other publications. He is the recipient of the 2020 Robert Maxwell Fellowship from MacDowell. He works from home as a Narrative Designer.

More from Deesha Philyaw and Dawnie Walton:

• The Secret Lives of Church Ladies (Deesha Philyaw)
• The Final Revival of Opal & Nev (Dawnie Walton)

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Performed by Vicki Valdeon

Associate producers: Marina Leigh, Ashawnta Jackson

Executive producers: Dawnie Walton & Mark Armstrong

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