Ed Mason, whose family has lived in Burlington for generations, has polio. By 1958, when he is in his teens, he is weak, walks with a limp, and wears thick-lens eyeglasses. And when Ed, who is white, is beaten by four black boys, he cannot defend himself-but someone else can.
Burt Mason, a black teen, steps in and rescues Ed. Burt shares more than Ed's last name. He himself was in a similar situation a year ago: kidnapped by two white men, he was saved from certain death by two other white men, Ed's grandfathers. Although Burt's family was grateful for his safe return, they refused to report the matter to the police. When Burt asked why, he learned about the Burlington Agreement and his family's pivotal role in honoring it.
Now it is Ed's turn to discover the Burlington Agreement-and his relationship to Burt. But Ed is resigned to living with polio. Without the physicality needed to dominate confrontational adversaries, he doubts his ability to uphold this historical compact. When his mother explains the agreement and the history of the town, though, Ed knows he cannot remain silent.
About the Author: M. Douglas Mann spent his childhood in Burlington, Ohio. After a career in law that took him to Atlanta, Georgia, he retired and moved to the mountains of Virginia near the Blue Ridge Parkway. He lives with his wife, Lorrie, and his German shepherd, Rommell.
