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Will lives a fairly simple life. A widower and former teacher and principal, his days are spent working as a consultant for proficiency and organization with school staff. His life is routine and habitual, that is, until driving home one evening he finds seventeen year old Paul curled in a fetal position by the side of the highway. Waves of fear cross Will's mind as he decides what he should do–stop and help the potential victim or call for help and let someone else handle it. He ultimately decides to help the stranded Paul, who was merely resting from his traveling journey on foot. Paul is without any money, food, or water. With nothing but the clothes on him and the bag he carries, Will offers Paul shelter in his home and a place to sleep. This chance soon meeting changes Will in a way he never thought possible when he discovers Paul's ordeal as a victim of abuse. The young Paul suffers from nightmares and fears his abuser, Tim, will soon find him. But Will becomes Paul's protector, gradually and carefully working with Paul to help him process his thoughts and learn how to defend himself. Together, they confront Paul's abuser and lift the burden of this terrible shadow. Through their journey of healing and self-discovery, they form a relationship that deeply impacts them both and become life-long friends.
In the "Setting the Stage" section at the beginning of the novel, Will Kalinke explains that he does not offer a "moral to this story" and that he imagined the relationship of Paul and Tim to be like that of a "roadside-kill victim lying on the side of the road, and of massive vultures circling overhead awaiting the moment for their prey to stop breathing to begin their descent to start picking the carcass clean." A gruesome thought, yes, but it is appropriate when you consider how Paul is tormented and hunted by the vulture-like predator in the form of Tim. While the story deals with very mature themes and may not resonate or appeal to some readers, it does make you appreciate the few guardian angels, like Will, that we have in this world. Without the mental and physical support from Will, Paul may have suffered for many years without any chance of recovery. Kalinke certainly makes a good effort with this tale of abuse that highlights a dilemma that is all too common in today's world. At times the dialogue is a bit awkward and there is a tendency of too much detail, but overall, we can acknowledge Kalinke's attempt to give us a glimmer of hope in a sometimes dark world.