Set with the collapse of Lehman Brothers as the backdrop is the story of Jende, his wife Neni and their children. They are from Cameroon but are now living in NYC. Neni is on a student visa and attends college and has aspirations of becoming a pharmacist. Jende is trying to get asylum approved so he can get his green card.
When Jende gets a job driving for the Edwards family their lives become easier but oh so much harder. Clark Edwards, his wife Cindy, their two sons are what appears from the outside the perfect wealthy white family. Clark is a high paid big wig at Lehman Brothers and Cindy is a socialite housewife. But as is usually the case, not all is as it seems. Clark has a conscious and sees the trouble Lehman is heading into which isn't paying well with the higher ups. Cindy is trying to get over a damaged past and her fears about her husband's fidelity. Their oldest son Vince wants to "find himself" and their young son Mighty just wants his parents to be happy and love each other.
The story of Jende and Neni is one of struggle to fit in, what it means to be home in a country that isn't yours but you wish was and knowing when it is time to stop fighting and start living. It is also a reminder that we shouldn't assume anything based on appearances, there is always more beneath the surface and when we don't take the time to learn a person's story we are missing a rich and interesting and lesson filled experience.
(Finished August 7, 2017)
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