FRUIT FROM THIS TREE: Episode 1
It is a typical holiday season at chaotic Chicago O’Hare when a few members of the large Alexander family waited to board flights—one to South Carolina and the other to Washington, DC. At the same time, a member of the Montgomery clan from the Pennsylvania mountains also waited for a delayed flight. Little did either family know or suspect, the effects from this first meeting would last forever.
Family is everything to the Alexanders and the Montgomerys. Although they both come from farm backgrounds, they didn’t know each other or the histories involved. However, these two divergent clans would come together and change the lives of so many—and maybe even the world. As their lives play out and intertwine in surprising ways, they face a challenging future and marshal their forces to work for the better good of all.
Fruit from different trees makes the juice of life that much sweeter.
ISBN: 978-1-941603-83-3
5.5 x 8.5 | 254 pages | $15.95
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Excerpt from FRUIT FROM THIS TREE, Episode 1
The Principles
“You taught me I don’t have to prove who I am to anyone but myself, K.J., but …”
“No buts, Vivian Lynn. We all have to remember what our ancestors tried to teach us—all of us.” Kenneth looked from face to face. He laid Aretha on the blanket and then stood with arms akimbo. “Donald. First principle.”
Donald sighed and stood beside Kenneth. “We strive for and maintain unity in the family, in our communities, in our nation, and in the human race.”
“Benny. Second principle.”
Benny stood next to Donald. “We define ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.”
“Gregory. Third principle.”
Gregory stood next to Benny. “We build and maintain our communities together, make our sisters’ and brothers’ problems our problems, and we solve those problems together.”
“James. Fourth principle.”
James stood up next to Gregory. “We build and maintain our careers, stores, and industries and profit from them together.”
“Vivian. Fifth principle.”
Vivian stood up next to James. “We use our collective vocations to build and develop our communities in order to continue our ancestors’ traditions of love, peace, and harmony.”
“James. Sixth principle.”
“We leave our communities more beautiful and financially sound than when we inherited them.”
“Donald. Seventh principle.”
“We believe in our family, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the necessity to improve ourselves to reach higher levels of understanding.”
“Benny. Eighth principle.”
“We honor ourselves and treat everyone with love, kindness, and respect, always learning to appreciate another point of view.”
“Gregory. Ninth principle.”
“We will each wear a never-ending gold chain as a reminder of what this family stands for and what we are challenged to achieve.”
“James. Tenth principle.”
“We honor and acknowledge our ancestors’ struggles, which make a good life possible for all of us.”
“Vivian. Eleventh principle.”
“We stand for something or we’ll fall for anything. Those who have fallen, we will collectively lift up.”
“Donald. Twelfth Principle.”
“We are the links to an unbroken chain stretching back through the ages to the beginning. We will never falter or fail.”
“No matter what we do in life, we are united. We are the fruit from a single, family tree.”
These are laudable principles that should become a mantra throughout the years for our young people and us.