A Light Chop in Protected Waters

The story follows J.P., a retired book lover returning to his Gulf Coast hometown after forty years, seeking to mend his fractured family ties and confront past injustices caused by his brother. As he attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter, who works at a nearby sea lab, he reflects on his life, including his foreign service career and the mysterious disappearance of his wife. His quest for reconciliation leads to unexpected consequences, culminating in a dramatic hijacking of a Mardi Gras pageant that challenges his expectations and beliefs.