Jakob Guanzon

This look at poverty was heartbreaking. Following two alternating narratives, the story shows the impact on Henry and his son. Henry is drives to a McDonalds, using a lot of gas, for his son’s birthday. This McDonald’s doesn’t have a bathroom requiring a key code to enter, so they can make an attempt at cleaning up. Junior gets to live it up for his birthday by ordering a full meal deal instead of a Happy Meal. Then its back to their home, Henry’s truck and off to Walmart for the night. Chapters are designated by how much cash they have. Beginning they have $89.34 but after Henry finds a quarter in the bathroom, it increases to $89.59. Yep, that’s how desperate they are. The other story focuses on how Henry got there. And that’s not pretty either. Henry’s dad’s violence, Henry’s selling oxy, and having to serve time in jail and then life in a singlewide trailer with Junior’s mother….and it keeps getting worse, bad luck and bad decisions but a determination to make a better life for Junior make this a compelling debut.… (more)