Where Are You Now?

A friendship develops between a grieving widower and an asylum seeker on a garden bench, but Walter learns that Osama is not who he claims to be.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 28 April 2023
Publisher: Book Guild Publishing Ltd

This is not the Garden of Eden, but it is my patch of heaven. Steal my apples. Come and get them.

When an asylum seeker is discovered sleeping rough at an allotment site, the plot-holders are alarmed and hostile. However, in secret, Walter begins to leave out food for Osama. Thus, a friendship begins on a garden bench, between a grieving widower and an asylum seeker on the run from the authorities.

Walter is rooted in his home city; Osama belongs nowhere. Walter has a safe and routine life; Osama's life is uncertain, risky, and vulnerable. Walter feels powerless to help him, while at the same time, he struggles to understand his own daughters and their lives.

Then, one day, Walter discovers Osama is not who he says he is. He is a terrorist, on the run from the authorities, and he has a plan to bomb the allotment site. Walter is torn between his loyalty to his country and his friendship with Osama. He knows that if he helps Osama, he will be risking his own life and the lives of his family.

However, Walter cannot stand by and let Osama carry out his plan. He knows that it is wrong and that it will only cause more harm. He decides to turn Osama in to the authorities.

The day of the bombings arrives, and Walter is filled with dread. He knows that he has made the right decision, but he also knows that it will be a difficult one. He watches as the bomb explodes, destroying the allotment site and killing many people.

Walter is left with a sense of guilt and regret. He knows that he has lost his friend, but he also knows that he has saved many lives. He is proud of himself for standing up for what is right, even though it was a difficult decision.

In the aftermath of the bombings, Walter is hailed as a hero. He is awarded a medal for his bravery and dedication to his country. He is also given a new allotment site, where he can start over and build a new life.

Walter is grateful for the opportunity to start over, but he will never forget the lessons he learned from his friendship with Osama. He knows that there is always a balance between loyalty to one's country and friendship with others, and that it is important to always stand up for what is right, even when it is difficult.

As Walter works on his new allotment site, he reflects on the importance of compassion and understanding. He knows that not everyone has had the same opportunities as him, and that it is his responsibility to help those in need. He begins to volunteer at a local charity, helping to feed and shelter homeless people.

Walter's new life is not without its challenges, but he is determined to make the most of it. He knows that he has been given a second chance, and he is grateful for it. He is proud of himself for standing up for what is right, and he is determined to live his life with purpose and meaning.

In the end, Walter's story is a testament to the power of friendship and the importance of standing up for what is right. He may have lost his friend, but he gained a sense of purpose and a new understanding of the world. He is a hero, not only for his actions on that fateful day, but for the way that he lived his life afterward.

Weight: 284g
Dimension: 127 x 199 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781915603487