"Smile" is a short story by Chicago-based writer Matt Pelkey. Set in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, it portrays a DIY bike shop at the intersection of big-city ambition and Rust Belt fatalism. Characters include art students, bike mechanics, drunks, and tennis players.
Dimensions: 5 x 7"
Materials: Softcover chapbook
Matt Pelkey
(Humboldt Park)
Matt Pelkey was born in Washington, D.C. He studied philosophy and music at Vassar College and received an MFA in creative writing from Notre Dame. His professional background includes regulatory analysis, journalism, and education. He lives in Chicago, where he writes fiction, plays music, and works as a digital content creator.
