This collection of stories explores the backroads and unexpected destinations and outcomes of the journey we call life. From the unexpected visitor who joins four friends eating breakfast at Cracker Barrel to a beloved grandfather sharing a long-held secret with his grandson to a desperate single mother with two small children who meets a used car salesman, these and other stories examine the crossroads of hope and despair--where mercy and justice often meet.

Michael Braswell is professor emeritus at East Tennessee State University and a former prison psychologist. He has published books on ethics, human relations, justice issues, and the spiritual journey. His books include Interview with Joab, The Memory of Grace, and Teaching Justice.