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Informationen zum Autor Oasis is a craft expert and certified creative writing instructor. He is the author of Duplicity , White Heat , Eternal Flame , and Push Comes to Shove. Klappentext A fast-paced tale of greed— Push Comes to Shove examines the pitfalls and struggles that an honest family faces to survive the perils of financial woes. The bills are due again for Greg “GP” Patterson, but this time, they won’t get paid. He and his wife are facing robbery charges when a simple assault they committed goes bad. After a few days in jail, the Pattersons lose everything they own and risk losing their children forever. Luckily Aunty Jewels bails the Pattersons out, but GP must make some serious moves if he is to provide decent shelter for his family again. A visit to Squeeze, a villainous loan shark, leads to killer interest rates and a murderous default penalty. Nevertheless, GP accepts the terms. When GP gives Jewels the loan money to flip in a high-stakes credit card scheme, she gets robbed for every single dime. Now GP has to figure out how to pay his debt and gain the respect of his family again, but in the meantime, Jewels has already figured out how to make everybody pay. An entertaining, multicultural drama, Push Comes to Shove is a cautionary tale for today’s economically fraught times. CHAPTER 1 G P decided that tonight his family would eat good for a change. He eased the Renault Alliance to the order box; it stuttered and backfired every inch of the way. “Welcome to Wendy’s. May I take your order?” He shut the car off so that he could hear. “Excuse me…uh, could you run that by me again?” He could hear the cashier suck her teeth through the speaker, as if she was annoyed. “Good evening, how may I help you?” “Gimme six number sevens with large fries…and extra cheese. Make the sodas orange, no ice.” He thought about how Kitchie loved Dave’s chicken. “Uh, let me get two spicy chicken sandwiches and four baked potatoes with cheese. I guess that’ll be cool.” “Would you like to try our apple turnovers this evening?” Fuck it . “Yeah, why not? Gimme six and six large chocolate Frosties.” He waited a few seconds for her response. “That’ll be forty-eight twenty-three at the pickup window. Thank you for choosing Wendy’s.” GP tried to start the Renault. “Come on, baby, crank up for Daddy.” The engine strained but wouldn’t catch. He pumped the gas and rubbed the dashboard. “Come on, girl. I need you now more than ever.” He turned the key again. The engine backfired, then came to life. With three vehicles in front of GP, his order would be ready in a matter of minutes. His car sounded like a Harley Davidson outside of the pickup window. An attractive cashier rolled her cat-like eyes and shook her head. Derelict . She turned her lip up with attitude as she passed him three large bags and two drink-holder trays. “That’s forty-eight twenty-three.” She smirked and stared at GP. GP secured the drinks on the front passenger seat, then stomped the gas pedal. The Renault backfired. The cashier all but jumped out of her skin. With the power-steering pump broken, it was a difficult task for GP to make the sharp left turn. He jerked and tugged the rebellious steering wheel until he yanked the car onto Euclid Avenue. He stuck a fry in his mouth and smiled. GP knew that, on this April Fool’s Day, he would be the cause of three beautiful smiles. Four city blocks away from his home, the Renault had had enough. The engine light came on right before the car stalled. “Come on, baby, I thought you loved me.” He coasted to the curb. He tried to restart the engine but it refused; it only made a clicking sound. If he started his journey on foot now, he would make it home long before the food was cold. With a ...
