Willie’s Market
by Michael R. Lane

Abraham and Winona Stone are owners of a corner grocery store in a small urban community known as East Liberty, a safe but not so restful place. Amongst their friends and neighbors personal battles are being waged. They include: Theresa Peoples, a beautician during the week and nude dancer on weekends, whose only desire is to raise her teenage son and be accepted as part of the community. Jessie Wilkerson, a mysterious, easygoing, self-appointed neighborhood philosopher searching for a place to finally call home. The Widow Powell, a long time community fixture clinging hard to the past. Reverend Embry Wilshire, a man determined to redeem lost souls, his own being the most challenging. Virginia Lovejoy, a beautiful, seductive, shrewd woman of questionable virtues, devoted to stealing Abe Stone from his wife. Wallace Hickman, a steel mill worker, devout family man and one of Abe s closest friends, whose only sin is he works too much. Darius X, a young Muslim seeking his own truths while obsessed with helping his brethren remove their societal shackles.