The Incident on Merchant Alley

From renowned Group Therapist Louis R. Ormont comes this gripping novella recounting real events that took place in the lives of immigrant school children in 1930's Philadelphia. Kids whose parents had immigrated from Greece, Yugoslavia, Ireland, Russia, Poland, Israel, France, etc. and whose lanquages and opinions reflected their backgrounds were forced to put aside their prejudices and mad hatreds of each other when confronted by a more powerful, larger gang. With all odds stacked against them and with their ingrained determination to fight against each other rather than alongside each other, the kids from these extraordinarily different families learn that sticking together makes them stronger - they are safer when they support one another and focus on how they are the same. The children ring bells with their various dialects and refreshing, honest speech, as they experience rage, fighting, surprise, and love. It is only by coming together and working as a group, understanding each other and even giving each other a little help, that they manange to defeat their enemy. Ormont's passion for group therapy may have begun when he first observed this drama and realized the power of the group. This timely true story celebrates the power of teamwork and the overwhelming advantages of working to understand your comrade's thoughts and feelings as well as your own.