Rendered in a variety of registers, this collection of short stories by Venezuelan author Juan Carlos Méndez Guédez ranges from stark realism and poetic interludes, to forays into the fantastic, a nod to noir, and surprising flashes of humor. Titled after his late mother’s phone number, 69 38 78 is divided into three parts, each corresponding to a distinct space: the territory of childhood and adolescence, the mythical realm of the sacred Montaña de Sorte in Venezuela, and the European landscape of adulthood and migration. These perspectives converge on a shared vision: narration as an act of tenderness, as a quest to preserve the fleeting memories of individuals who refuse to be consumed by oblivion and the passage of time. A comprehensive exploration of one of the most captivating literary voices in contemporary Latin America.