Stepping Into Traffic

Sebastian’s life has been a series of bad foster experiences that have left him numb to the memories of his dead parents, and poor in his judgement of how to fit in. When we meet him, he is already taking risks and putting himself in harm’s way as he and a couple of his friends carry out a failed break and enter and are arrested. Much of his foster care has been damaging to his self-esteem and moral codes. He is not strong and his fears begin to mount.

Awaiting his court appearance, Seb is placed in his eighth foster home in seven years in the company of Mrs. Ford, a foster home caregiver, whom Seb finds familiar and comforting. Memories of his early home life flood him and he begins to find a sense of well-being and trust. However, Seb’s troubles soon reappear in the form of wealthy, manipulative drug dealer Donny Malner. Lured by Donny’s social power and blind to his ruthlessness, Seb is soon entwined in a drug-dealing world where violence and lies dominate. Though Mrs. Ford continues to stand by him, he knows he is betraying her trust. Soon Seb is caught up in a wave of violent circumstance that neither Mrs. Ford nor his unusual mentor, Mr. Frogly the school janitor, can help him out of.

Seb’s dilemma is as great as the fear he faces: engage in the revenge he seeks and lose the closest thing he has had to a home, or stand up to his mistakes, reveal his lies, and accept the consequences. Though he is not ready, Seb steps out into the traffic.