On the corner....

That's where Maurice very often found himself.  After all, there was really nothing for him at "home," and he might come up with a few coins that would help him buy something to eat.

It was at this location that Laura Schroff passed one day.  The small boy panhandling was not an unusual sight on a New York street corner, and she walked on past.  Suddenly, in the middle of crossing the street, she turned around and came back.  Thus begins a relationship that has spanned almost three decades.

Laura takes Maurice for something to eat at McDonald's, and plans are made to meet the next week, on the same day, at the same location.  As the relationship develops, Laura eventually invites Maurice to her apartment for a meal, and even takes him to her sister's home for special holidays.

Maurice has not known a stable background, as there has been domestic violence as well as the involvement of family members in the drug culture.  Oddly, Maurice has not become a victim at the age of eleven, and the "invisible thread" that ties him to Laura and her influence.

Laura was a successful ad sales representative in Manhattan when she met Maurice.  Her days were busy with the kinds of activities one would imagine for someone in this position.  When  marriage brought about a move out of the area, the ability for her and Maurice to continue to meet was affected.  As the marriage progressed, it became apparent that Laura's husband could not fully embrace her interest in reaching out to Maurice. 

The move of Laura's sister to another state also removed the possibility of having Maurice participate in family celebrations. 

Through all this time, however, Maurice continues to be influenced by the compassion that Laura had shown to him, and the decisions he makes are colored by that friendship.

An Invisible Thread is written by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski.  It is one of the books that is mentioned on the United Methodist Women Reading List for 2014 in the Social Action category.  The copy I read was in large print, and I easily finished it in one afternoon!

I am linking today here for this fourth Friday book review.

Thank you for reading.  I appreciate your comments.