A Lesson in Red Beans and Rice

"A Lesson in Red Beans and Rice" is a contemporary high concept novel about life's do's and don'ts as one struggles to make transition from being a child to becoming an adult. It boldly addresses the tough decision each human being has to make as to when and how the invisible line separating the child from woman or man is crossed. Written in form of fiction, the book opens with a conversation between two best friends two weeks before their Junior Prom. The friends, two sixteen-year-girls, have shared almost every first experience in their lives. These include: their first birthday party at the nursery they attended; first Christmas in their yards next door to one another and first grammar, middle and high school days. Also, they attended their same church services and took their first religious training and oaths together. However, as the story begins, there's a sharp division between them on if, when and how another first event should be shared. Marie, the carefree adventurous one, is convinced that Junior Prom night is when they should share their first lovemaking session with their boyfriends with whom each girl is madly in love. Lisa, more serious, is set on them saving themselves until marriage in accordance with the pledges they made to God. Alone with only themselves present, Lisa looks on in surprise as Marie boldly proclaim, "If you really love him and he loves you, then you owe it to each other to share your love. Humph! Girl, you had better wise up and stop all that old timing stuff." In response, Lisa cocks her head to the side and echoes Marie's statements followed with a profound questions when she said, "Old-timing stuff? Since when do you call having good morals "old-timing stuff", my friend?" From those statements, the girls continue to speak openly and honestly about their hopes, fears, and desires for love and happiness. Within the confines of that room, they present an entertaining conversation