I Ain't Never Been Off This Street

Download or read book I Ain't Never Been Off This Street written by Vondolyn Wright and published by 31 Loft, Publishing Division. This book was released on 2022-06-22 with total page 124 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Second Edition I Ain’t Never Been Off This Street is a novel based on a salesman, Jake, who peddles insurance policies to lower income and working-class residents in a rundown apartment building at 8TH Street and 31ST Avenue. We meet and get a glimpse into the lives of several of the building's tenants as Jake, somewhat of a Southern charmer, shows up every month to collect premiums and solicit new customers. Handsome, sharp, and known for his salesmanship, there is still doubt as to whether or not he is a legitimate salesman; even amidst doubt, he is successful at selling the Peace of Mind that so many seek to validate their existence and importance in the world. On a recent visit to the apartment building, Jake is forced to learn more about the people behind the faces that he has replaced with dollar signs as he briefly steps out of his own privilege. An interaction with two fourteen year olds and the promise of money sets off a chain of events and regrets that can never be reversed as his eyes are opened to the day-to-day struggles in the lives of the people behind the dollar signs. On this day, Jake and those he comes into contact with are forced to come to terms with themselves, their plight, and their places in the world.