Last Book

There are tragedies that also remind you of why you do what you do in life.

Back in January, I spoke at a senior apartment complex near our home, where my in-laws reside.  One of the women there bought a copy of IMMORAL as a gift after my remarks.

I didn't know it at the time, but the woman had lost a son to cancer -- and not long ago had discovered that a second son had terminal cancer, too, and had been confined to a hospice.  She bought the book for him.

My wife Marcia was at the apartment complex visiting her mother today.  The woman who bought the book saw her there and immediately came over.  She wanted us to know that her son had passed away.  IMMORAL turned out to be the last book he ever read, and she asked Marcia to tell me how much he had enjoyed it.

I couldn't help crying when I heard that news.  But as Marcia told me, it's the kind of story you remember at those times when you wonder if you ever make a difference in the world.