A/VERY GOOD/MAN Kindle Edition

Set in Houston’s historic Fifth Ward in 1973, A VERY GOOD MAN is a poignant and lyrical exploration of legacy, identity, love, and responsibility within a community standing at the crossroads of change. The story unfolds inside Goodman’s Burgers, a worn but beloved neighborhood diner inherited by Avery Goodman, a thoughtful and introspective man struggling to reconcile his father’s legacy with his own uncertain future.Haunted by grief and burdened by financial strain, Avery wrestles with the possibility of selling the restaurant—a place that represents far more than a business. It is a sanctuary for the neighborhood, a gathering place where dreams, failures, and fragile hopes converge. Through his quiet mentorship of Possum Lee, a troubled young man searching for purpose, Avery becomes a teacher not only of mathematics but of resilience and self-worth. Their evolving relationship reflects the transformative power of belief and guidance in the face of systemic and personal limitations.Around Avery, a tapestry of vivid characters reveals the emotional and social complexities of the Fifth Ward. Bobby Lee, worn by sacrifice, carries the weight of family duty and resentment. Marcie Goodman, Avery’s brilliant and pragmatic sister, challenges his emotional attachment to the past while struggling with her own sense of obligation. Slick Pulla and Dynamite Ula embody the seductive yet destructive forces of survival on the margins, offering both philosophical insight and stark realism about the cost of endurance. Meanwhile, Avery’s unexpected connection with Linda Porter, a white schoolteacher, introduces themes of vulnerability, racial tension, and the fragile hope of human connection across social boundaries.As the neighborhood evolves and pressures mount, Avery must decide whether to preserve his father’s legacy or release himself from its shadow. His internal conflict mirrors the broader transformation of a community grappling with loss, identity, and the search for dignity in an unequal world. Through moments of humor, tenderness, and profound revelation, A VERY GOOD MAN examines what it truly means to inherit responsibility—not just to family or property, but to people.Ultimately, the play is a meditation on manhood, moral courage, and the quiet heroism found in everyday acts of care. Avery’s journey reveals that being “a very good man” is not defined by success or escape, but by the willingness to remain present, to nurture others, and to stand firmly in the space between past and possibility. Read more