5 Miles to Empty: A Story of Friendship

by Jarold Imes

When Franklin Dell lived in Denver Colorado he and his group of friends sold candy in their middle school, fought gang violence and enjoyed a nearly peaceful seventh grade year. Franklin has always bragged about Winston-Salem, North Carolina was his dream home. He enjoyed the predominantly African American city and wants nothing more than to leave the thuggish, ruggish gangster ways of Denver behind. Upon arriving in Winston-Salem, he finds that the city is nothing how he imagined it being from his summer visits from Denver. He can't get a long with anyone at Hanes Middle School except for Mike Lane, a fourteen year old bad ass who happens to be gay. As Franklin and Mike grow up, they find that friendship is important and help each other face discrimination, sexual trials, fatherhood and off to college they go. But when something happens to potentially end one of their lives and their friendship, will these young men be able to face their challenges together?

154 pages, Paperback

First published June 19, 2007