Introduction

The challenges that face a single mother raising a son can be met in very different ways and have greatly varying results. Single mothers Dorothy O''Connor and Philbertha Canton view education as a way out of abject poverty; meanwhile their friend Velma Jacob resigns herself to her lot and does nothing to improve her quality of life or that of her son, Joshua.

Kendal O''Connor, Dorothy''s son, follows his mother''s direction regarding honesty, foresight, courage, and perseverance and is well on the road to success. His love for his childhood sweetheart, Henrietta Riggs, is challenged by her indiscretions and his own poor judgment. Can they survive these challenging times and find solid ground for their romance?

Sydney Canton, Philbertha''s son, becomes a model student at Mayaro High School and is scholastically well ahead of others his age. His cousin, Joshua Jacob, a.k.a. JJ, who seems destined to be wayward, almost loses his life to a vicious machete attack by two vagabond truants in the Mafeking community, where he lives with his mother and grandmother. Can he overcome this set-back and find a better life?

The River Lime: A Gathering of Friends explores the lives of three young men and their mothers, sharing a narrative of hardships, daily struggles, passionate love, jealousy, and indiscretions.