The Quiet Man

My name is Stephen Garvey. Born and raised in San Francisco, I have spent a good portion of my adult life working with children. Through a program called Kidstock, Inc., I've taught kids to sing and dance and act for over 35 years. At St. Brigid Academy, a San Francisco grammar school, I've directed the last three drama productions- 'Alice in Wonderland', 'Cinderella' and a Christmas pageant featuring 'A Christmas Carol', and the cutest version of 'T'was the Night Before Christmas' anyone has ever seen in the history of the world… a fact verified by the parents of the kindergarteners who performed it. I can't wait for the next one. I chose to write under the pen name Khalo Stephen because 'Khalo' is what my nephews call me. It is an Arabic term meaning 'Mother's Brother', a role that traditionally holds a greater significance and responsibility in the family, and a role that I have embraced whole-heartedly and strived to live up to from the moment my Sister told me I was going to be an Uncle (the term 'Khalo' came a few weeks later). I wanted to honor my Nephews and their Palestinian ancestry, but also respect the fact that they, and they alone, call me Khalo; hence 'Khalo Stephen'.