A Lesson in Red Beans and Rice (Electronic book text)

"A Lesson in Red Beans and Rice" is a contemporary high concept novel about life's do's and don'ts as one struggles to make transition from being a child to becoming an adult. It boldly addresses the tough decision each human being has to make as to when and how the invisible line separating the child from woman or man is crossed. Written in form of fiction, the book opens with a conversation between two best friends two weeks before their Junior Prom. The friends, two sixteen-year-girls, have shared almost every first experience in their lives. These include: their first birthday party at the nursery they attended; first Christmas in their yards next door to one another and first grammar, middle and high school days. Also, they attended their same church services and took their first religious training and oaths together. However, as the story begins, there's a sharp division between them on if, when and how another first event should be shared. Marie, the carefree adventurous one, is convinced that Junior Prom night is when they should share their first lovemaking session with their boyfriends with whom each girl is madly in love. Lisa, more serious, is set on them saving themselves until marriage in accordance with the pledges they made to God. Alone with only themselves present, Lisa looks on in surprise as Marie boldly proclaim, "If you really love him and he loves you, then you owe it to each other to share your love. Humph Girl, you had better wise up and stop all that old timing stuff." In response, Lisa cocks her head to the side and echoes Marie's statements followed with a profound questions when she said, "Old-timing stuff? Since when do you call having good morals "old-timing stuff," my friend?" From those statements, the girls continue to speak openly and honestly about their hopes, fears, and desires for love and happiness. Within the confines of that room, they present an entertaining conversation on when and how they should become sexually active, revealing of every facet of making this crucial universal decision. As the story goes on, while with their respective boyfriends they are also confronted with the issue of when and how to express their professed love. In the midst of trying to make the decision the week before the Prom, Lisa, Marie and their boyfriends have the opportunity to attend a youth lock-in at their church. A special coed seminar entitled "Everything You Have Ever Wanted to Ask About Alcohol, Drugs and Sex" is held they attend that allows for experiences that go far in helping them arrive at the right answer. A guest panelist at that seminar, in response to the planned question of the youth asked by their designee, answers their questions with a question about red beans and rice. Following that question, the youth's spontaneous answer and the startling explanation presented by the panelist, another special guest is bought in to speak to the youth that becomes the icing on the cake for their decision. All attendees come away greatly touched and forever changed by what they experience in that session. Of course time goes on and the date of their oh so important prom comes. Like so many other young people, Lisa, Marie, Leon and Edward have the night of their lives. Afterwards, they hail it as the best night of their lives. The book shows a through analysis of the experiences of solving conflicts between body, mind and spirit. It uniquely captures and addressed many basic issues facing young people today. The readers will be able to share in this special event that is so common to all of us.