R K Smith

The Toll Of Being the Little Man R K Smith

"The Toll of Being the Little Man," tells the hardships of three friends named Matt, Jake, and Timothy, who grow up in a small town without a father in the home and endure multiple family struggles. They cherish each opportunity to recapture their youth, but those moments are quickly forgotten when having to deal with life's difficulties. The term "Little Man" describes a young boy who is coerced into adulthood before coming of age, a boy who believes he has a special purpose in his family, dynamic and does everything to live up to his mother's epitome of a man. Unfortunately, the praises of his mother are often based upon merit, causing him to fail at learning the most important lessons about manhood along the way. The blurred path that he travels; ultimately leads to chaos and destruction. Tensions are often on the rise in the home. No matter how hard the "Little Man" tries to prove his manhood, the mother continues to see the father whom she resents in him. The task to deflect the verbal and physical abuse becomes increasingly difficult to deal with. The burden of his responsibilities outweighs the freedoms of his childhood and often leaves him with shame, bitterness, confusion and emptiness. Along the journey, some lessons will be learned while others will prove hopeless and shape their lives forever.