Michael’s story continues from A Reservoir Man (2022) where we find him teaching at a university ready to retire. He unexpectedly meets a young man named Ron who becomes his protégé and journeys with him in a haphazard adventure throughout America and Europe. In Michael’s final journey in life, each twist and turn of the road brings unexpected adventures. The journey taken is one of joy, friendship, and discovery.

Excerpt

“As the ferry entered the river, one would barely know they were sailing. The breeze brushed against his face; he saw the water pass him just as life had. He looked at the stern of the ferry seeing all his relationships, career, and spirituality disappear in an endless stream of the river, moving them away but not forgotten. Michael felt as if the bow moving upriver was pushing towards his future with the thrust of a young man stealing second base.

“From the corner of his eyes, he saw a well-built, nice looking young man, nerdy, longish dirty blonde hair that either needed cutting or a ponytail. He was talking to himself, no, Michael thought, “he is talking on the phone.” But no, the young man was actually talking to himself, or a bird. Suddenly, the young man saw Michael and flashed a small smile.

“Oh no I have been here too many times; those moments are up the river,” thought Michael. The young man approached Michael asking if he knew him.
“I could not imagine how,” said Michael, in disbelief.
“Yes,” the young man said, “in the park near the university. You were always reading on that same bench. I remember when the pigeons shit on your book and once on your jacket; the whole bench was full of shit,” the young man said with a slight devilish smile.
“Right!” said Michael. “Are you getting off here?”
“In the middle of the river, how could I?”
“You could always try,” said Michael, with a slight but cold smile.”

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My Review

This was so emotional. I read and reviewed A Reservoir Man last year but it didn’t affect me like this. I think it’s partly because of Rhonda, so let me explain.

Rhonda is a dog. She’s a wire-haired Jack Russell. ‘She had a squatty little body with long hair and a mostly white body. Her little head was brown and there was a sad look in her eyes.’ Ron adopts her as a stray, shortly after meeting Michael. We’ve had two Jack Russells – Cookie who crossed the rainbow bridge eight years ago, and Pancake who we lost in September 2021, aged 17. I therefore fell in love with Rhonda from the first time she is introduced into the story.

Ron meets Michael on the ferry and tries to engage with him. He’s lost and doesn’t know which way to turn. Michael is understandably nervous – he’s in his late sixties and here is a young man who may pose a threat to him. He leaves him a couple of streets away from his house, but Ron finds him and knocks on his door. They talk. Michael realises that Ron isn’t a threat and their friendship blossoms.

Ron learns a lot about life from Michael, who becomes his mentor. Eventually he moves in with him and returns to college to finish his degree. It’s when he first moves in that he adopts Rhonda. Michael soon grows fond of the little dog – who wouldn’t.

Together they embark on a trip around America, visiting many cities, states and places of natural beauty. They go to Death Valley and Yosemite. Rhonda is always with them.

But Michael knows he is not well. He has always had stomach problems and acid reflux, but he knows this is something worse. His decline is gradual. He tells Ron that when his time comes, he wants him to leave the window open for a couple of hours so he can ‘leave’, and asks that Ron and Michael’s family prepare his body for burial.

Michael talks a lot about religion, and the part it plays in his life. ‘Religion is good.’ he says, ‘It makes us feel hopeful.’ Not organised religion though, but the spirit of Jesus as the embodiment of goodness. He also explains about the Reservoir Men.

‘They would dart into the bushes and disappear for a time,’ Michael continued,’ they lived in untruths. Lies to themselves and to their families. They were dangerous, they are dangerous, they want you, too, to hide your truth.’

This is a wonderful book, full of truth and love and friendship. Michael tells Ron to always forgive and not to hang on to hatred, because that’s how hatred wins. It shows us how love can be so much bigger than physical love – the love of friends and family and even of a dog. We are all part of something, we are one with each other.

Many thanks to Goddess Fish Promotions and the author for inviting me to be part of the review tour.

About the Author

Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at seven universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.

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