by Peter Roderick

Augustino Araujo emigrated from the Cape Verde Island of Fogo with just a change of clothes, a few bucks in his pockets, a dream, a stone and a promise. He lived his life believing in only three things: the church, hard work and the importance of being an American citizen. The only surviving member of his family is a nephew, Santiago (Tiago) a first generation American. Tiago, unlike his uncle, views life differently. He values his family as the most important thing in his life. In the last year of his life, Augustino feels abandoned by God, robbed of his hard work and betrayed by all that he had come to honor and respect. 'Just promise me this,' he asked of Tiago, 'don't bury me in this goddamn country.' A promise Tiago feels obliged to keep.but by his own lights. Araujo's Stone is a story about duty and devotion.to others and to oneself.