Just Saying eBook

"Just Saying" is a dramedy set in 2018 in a middle-class suburb of Lowell, Massachusetts. The story focuses on the relational dynamics between a sensitive and talented grandson, Michael "Smike" (early 30s), and his bitter, idiosyncratic grandfather, Sid "Paps" (late 70s). Circumstances beyond their control force them together.

Both characters are grappling with separate yet parallel emotional challenges. Smike is dealing with loss and grief, which are revealed through non-sequential episodic memories throughout the story. Paps, on the other hand, has a traumatic history stemming from his service in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. His experiences trigger increasingly disturbing dreams, often provoked by seemingly innocuous events, which strain his relationship with Smike.

As Smike and Paps discover more similarities than differences in their spirits and core selves, they are drawn together as they confront their own crippling vulnerabilities and emotional anguish. Humor is woven throughout the plot, adding depth and serving as a balancing force to this heartrending story.