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Unexpected
Two natural disasters. Two young men worlds apart seeking their pathways in life, and their unlikely intersection.
When Buffalo, NY, language teacher Bryant Simmons goes online looking for a chat buddy, he stumbles onto a post by the young Moroccan Issam LeBeau, desperate to find a man to rescue him from the strict and conservative culture of his country. While Bryant has little interest in corresponding with Issam, he warns him about the dangers of having a post of this kind in his city of Marrakech. Issam agrees to remove it only if Bryant continues talking to him. And so ensues an extended discussion of lifestyles and cultural differences, the two men becoming ever closer.
In spite of Issam's prodding, Bryant isn't sure how far he wants to take the exchange beyond a friendship, at times feeling trapped by the demands of the young man. But fate takes the upper hand, drawing the two closer as one faces death in a freezing blizzard, the other in a terrible earthquake.
When Buffalo, NY, language teacher Bryant Simmons goes online looking for a chat buddy, he stumbles onto a post by the young Moroccan Issam LeBeau, desperate to find a man to rescue him from the strict and conservative culture of his country. While Bryant has little interest in corresponding with Issam, he warns him about the dangers of having a post of this kind in his city of Marrakech. Issam agrees to remove it only if Bryant continues talking to him. And so ensues an extended discussion of lifestyles and cultural differences, the two men becoming ever closer.
In spite of Issam's prodding, Bryant isn't sure how far he wants to take the exchange beyond a friendship, at times feeling trapped by the demands of the young man. But fate takes the upper hand, drawing the two closer as one faces death in a freezing blizzard, the other in a terrible earthquake.
204 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2024
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 12, 2026
I'm quite conflicted with this story. On one hand, there were several spots where it bored me to near sleep. On the other hand, it brought back many memories from my family's trip back in the 70s, where we visited most of the places mentioned in the story, and I could actually 'see' what Bryant was seeing at the moment. For that, thank you! That part of the story was magical.
I found Issam to be quite childish at times and thought their relationship went from 0 to 60 at the spin of a dime. Way too fast for my liking.
Overall, the story was okay.
An extra * for the memories ;)
I found Issam to be quite childish at times and thought their relationship went from 0 to 60 at the spin of a dime. Way too fast for my liking.
Overall, the story was okay.
An extra * for the memories ;)
Displaying 1 of 1 review