When Harold is faced with an untimely retirement, his cautious life begins to unravel. His wife demands a chance to create a place for herself, while their peaceful neighborhood is thrust into a perilous struggle between racial groups. Harold retreats to his oasis, the gardens that has been his save haven and salvation since childhood. Shel Weissman is a writer who is compassionate and honest in revealing the tragedy of his characters, and their moral awakening. He has a unique intuition and subtlety about their character, and often astonished over their ability to take back their lives in the face of overwhelming odds. The collection of stories is poignant, entertaining, and refreshing.