by Clarke Fountain
synopsis
At seventeen, Zoli is the oldest of four unsettled youths, whose condition mirrors that of their nation, which has been cast adrift from the communist moorings which, however unpopular, gave structure to its life. Of the rest, Attila is the most committed to criminality; Laci would be a misfit anywhere; and Csoma knows how to get things done, though he is the youngest, just ten years old. Most of their schemes are harmless, from the usual window-washing scam to some petty larceny. The appearance of an exotic-looking Romanian girl on the scene inspires all the boys to exert themselves to impress her, though she soon becomes Zoli's special girl.
