The Mayors of Santa Rosa

The main character, Dean Thulen, is stumbling through life. He has a domestic violence arrest but not convicted. He has been sober for weeks but is starting to drink again. A chance conversation with tourists, a man and wife, at the checkout counter makes Dean recall the advice of his Aunt: "You will meet Jesus someday." Dean's idea of meeting Jesus is not the TV evangelist with bad hair. Dean asks questions. The man answers the best he can. The conversation involves misunderstanding but Dean finds these folks unique and declares he has met Jesus. He knows from his aunt life will be better after this milestone. At home Dean recalls the encounter with his wife. Just as the conversation turns to Dean not ever drinking again, a policeman makes a follow up visit on the domestic violence arrest. After a long exchange the officer declares Dean has indeed met Jesus. He relates this to his wife during a lunch date. She is a TV reporter. She finds the tourists and does the interview of her career. All this in the first four chapters! Twenty-four to go with much more of the same. No reader would ever predict Dean's eventual career or how a reporter's one interview could change hers. This book is not really about Santa Rosa or Mayors. It could be any city and any mayors!