Echoes

Joshua Adams has always been a wild child. He graduated from reckless childhood accidents to girls and alcohol. By the time he was twenty-three he had three children and a failed marriage.

When he left his wife, he moved in with some Muslim guys he knew. Six months later he accepted Islam. He looked forward to starting a new life. But he was forced to confront the echoes of the past. A bitter ex-wife. Three children whom he abandoned. Strained relationships with his mother and two older brothers. And fears of inadequacy that threaten to destroy him.

Excerpts:

He is my son. Why do I hate him so much? Is it from all these years of trouble, or just his latest stunt? I don't know, but even the sight of him today made my blood boil. And what's all this business about 'being lost' and 'belonging'? I have stood by that boy through every problem he has ever gotten himself into. And he goes out and latches on to the first bunch of strangers who feed him a line. I wonder how long this Moslem thing will last.

I know I shouldn't, but sometimes I think it would have been better if Joshua had never been born. I would have gone to that reunion with Sam and we would have raised our two sons together. I wouldn't have had to worry about drugs or teen pregnancy or weird religions. My life would have been so much easier.

At least, there are the children. Heather's mother thinks it is scandalous, having three children so close together, especially in a marriage that was shaky from the beginning. In principle, I must agree with her. But I love those children, all three of them. That's the only thing Joshua has ever done right. Helping Heather conceive those three beautiful children.

***

She would deny it, but sometimes I think that my mother never really loved me. It wasn't my fault at first. It was Sam's fault. Sam, the man who never came around often enough or stayed around long enough for me to call him Dad.

Later, it was my fault. But I didn't mean to push her away. I don't know what I meant. At least when I got into trouble she stopped ignoring me.

Muslim Writers Publishing

Jamilah Kolocotronis
ISBN 0-9767861-9-2
Paperback 5.5 x 8.5
284 Pages
Price: $15.95