A Rare Thing

&nbsp&nbsp<i>A Rare Thing</i> is a story of redemption and forgiveness. In the small New Mexico town of San Carlos in the 1950s and 60s a motherless Chicano youngster Javier Jimen��z finds himself forced into an early manhood. The boy's father Nicol��s a Korean War veteran drinks himself into the depths of alcoholism struggling through life wallowing in self-pity. Javier tries his best to cope not only with his own loneliness but the day-to-day hardships of living with an alcoholic father.<br><br> &nbsp&nbspInto this setting enters Deborah Perkins. She moves into Javier's neighborhood. Javier and Deborah eventually fall in love much to the chagrin of Deborah's mother who doesn't' share her husband's fascination for Southwestern culture and believes her daughter can do much better than what Javier has to offer.<br><br> &nbsp&nbspTragedy strikes and Javier moves to California to live with an aunt and uncle. Deborah and he struggle to continue their relationship despite the distance and Deborah's mother's prejudices. Confused and unsure of his future Javier leaves college to join the Army and ends up in Vietnam where he sees his fellow soldiers dying every day.<br><br> &nbsp&nbspReminiscing about his father he must face his own mortality as he grapples with his own identity. Nicol��s's spirit appears at a critical moment with words to give Javier strength. Contemplating the real possibility of his death he reconciles with himself gaining strength from visions of his father as a good man who had his share of bad luck. Javier comes to grips with whether he has forgiven him for his frailties and failure as a parent.<br>