Many of us live dual lives, as though we live in two worlds. This divergence is perhaps greatest for those embedded in what may be called «multiculturalism.» Multicultural people, with their unique life experiences, are migrating around the globe, carrying their own baggage while they face the demands of living in new and strange lands. The short stories in this collection look at the daily tests facing people, frequently in Africa, as they struggle to survive, often in a rapidly changing world....
As a young man, Michel van Leuven, the son of a hard-working Belgian stevedore, joined the church and followed his religious compass to the Abbey of the Brothers of Piety in Central Africa–thereafter being known to most as Brother 6Mike. Brother Mike found he had exceptional skills organizing things: the Abbey's businesses, personal relationships, and even others' lives. The story follows Brother Mike as he moves from one crisis to the next, whether it be securing food for the...
Ann may have been a product of her times–she was certainly, if possibly unwittingly, a product of her grandmother Isabelle. While Ann may have been molded by external forces, Isabelle was a force unto herself–a pacesetter, an indomitable woman of her times. Isabelle forged avenues that were often not taken by women of her day, even foreshadowing changes in perception that were still years away. Yet, in spite of her often avant-garde actions, her prejudices were unwavering and largely myopic....
Growing up spitting distance from the crashing and churning Pacific Ocean, Eddie Hall finds he has quite the talent for spotting agates. As his love for combing his favorite beaches grows, his eye and knowledge of nature sharpen. Despite his love for the shore, he feels a pull to find his course through life. As with most, it is a question of taking the lead or getting pushed from behind. Eddie is truly not sure where he wants to lead himself. But, through luck and hard work, he finds his way as...
