The Promise of RestScribner, 1995 - 353 pages In the spring of 1993, after nine years as an architect in New York City, Wade Mayfield returns to North Carolina. This is no ordinary move; for Wade, at the age of thirty-three, has come back to his father's house to die of AIDS. Against the backdrop of the ongoing AIDS pandemic, The Promise of Rest explores such timeless matters as love, family loyalty and suffering, race, freedom, and duty. Wade's parents, Hutch and Ann, have recently separated; but for the remaining months of their only child's life, they and their friends come together in steady care for Wade and in the knowledge and sustenance they gain from his patience and his undaunted determination to die as himself. When death comes, they are slowly amazed to learn of the ongoing mystery Wade has arranged to reveal after his departure - a mystery that not only initiates a possible reunion for his parents but also promises to continue the proud vitality of a complex, multiracial family that had seemed destined for extinction. |
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answer anyhow asked better Boat body child dark dead death don't door Emily eyes face fact father feel felt finally gave give gone Grainger half hand hard he'd head hear heard held hope hour human Hutch Ivory knew known late laughed least leave light live looked Mait Mayfield mean meant mind minutes months morning mother moved nearly never night once past poem question Raven reached rest seemed seen showed shut sight silent smiled sound speak stand stayed steps stood stopped Straw strong sure talk tell thanks thing thought told tonight took touched tried turned voice Wade Wade's waited walked watched weeks whole Wyatt you're young