Publisher's Synopsis
Everything changed for young Nick that early morning as he prepared to serve at his local Church as an Altar Boy. Hearing from his parents that they were being called to live as Missionaries in Africa, caused Nick's life to spiral downward starting with his infamous mishap at Church and ultimately time in prison. While in jail, the news that Nick's parents were killed in Africa reached him, prompting his early release from prison. He now has to come to grips with his life after prison, while still harboring feelings of abandonment by his deceased parents. Nick also struggles with his own faith as he feels it was God that led his parents to their end. He now feels very alone and open to anything that will give meaning to his life again. Places such as the Cemetery, the Fish Market, the Half Way House and the local bus will become backdrops for his new life. This is where he meets the people that will reshape his life for better or for worse. At the cemetery, Nick meets Father Caleb who was friends of his parents and presided over their burial. But what does Father Caleb know about Nick's past and how will the priest affect his future. At the Fish Market, Nick is influenced by his co-worker Eduardo, who is a fisher of women and his bait is Sea Bass. Eduardo will later show Nick who he really is. The new residence for Nick is a Half Way house he is now assigned to by the State.The corner stone of his new friends is Bea Strong, an elderly, African American women who he looks upon as a Mother figure and his moral barometer. Nick will meet Ali-Ben, a Middle Eastern gentlemen (with a mysterious box) that is being watched by the Feds. He will also meet Patty who is a modern day temptress; Tarot anyone? And finally he meets his Faith, ah, Vanessa. She teaches him about "spiritual" poetry, shelter etiquette and most of all, about "the guys". All these relationships are intertwined...some even hold life and death in the balance. The local bus has also become an unexpected place where he finds that he is not alone. On his bus rides, he speaks to Jesus...and gets an answer, he uses the Old Testament to save the passengers and visits a dying baby in a far away place. In the end, loss is an old friend to Nick. It will take another great loss for him to ultimately find his...faith.
