Date of Award

2009

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts in Writing

Department

Creative Writing

First Advisor

Michael Castro

Second Advisor

Charlene Engleking

Abstract

This project will focus on the dilemmas one faces in life. The main character in this project is Brandon Miller. Brandon has obstacles placed in his life because of choices that were made prior to his birth. Brandon's mother Angela was a young single parent when she made the decision to forgo school to raise a child in a very challenging environment. The neighborhood where Brandon and his mother live is filled with criminals and down on their luck individuals that choose methods of crime and drugs to get ahead rather than hard work and education. Despite the obstacles, Brandon's mother refuses to let Brandon continue in the cycle. She encourages him to go to school and get an education. Angela sees a football scholarship as a means out of the community. Angela doesn't know any other people in the neighborhood that got ahead by hard work. Brandon's father left them before Brandon was born to pursue a foot ball scholarship. He never returned. Angela always imagined that Brandon's father excelled in life because he had the opportunity to go to college.

Life would not be easy for Brandon. The fears of not having friends and/or respect in the neighborhood led him to choose a life of crime and drugs with his friends.

On a night that would change Brandon's life forever, he decided to have on more night out with his friends prior to leaving the area for good and going to college.

Brandon was set up by his friends. Instead of going to college, Brandon was charged with a crime that he didn't commit. However, Brandon had a praying mother. In exchange for her life she received a deal where Brandon could get a second chance. Brandon's mother accepted the deal. Later Brandon would also accept the deal. In exchange for the deal, Brandon had to give up ten years of his life and agree to help others in need.

As the story goes forward, the "deal" would be passed along to others in an interesting twist. If the story line were to continue indefinitely each person would pass along the opportunity for the "deal" to the next person who was in need.

The facilitator of the "deal" is Father Lam. Father Lam finds himself involved in all of the characters' lives.

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