"I grabbed a magazine during the wait and also to keep from having to look at people who walked by my general area. It felt like every eye in that wing of the building was on me. They knew I didn't work there so I had to be visiting for the other reason. Indeed, I was making more out of it because whenever I glanced up, people were minding their own business, not even realizing I was there. What I was feeling was my own sense of paranoia. Surely, I was experiencing my own type of illusion of grandeur. I was reading some issue in Ebony about how Mo'Nique was on the come-up. I was so enrapt in the article that I hadn't realized that Judge was standing at the door, holding it open, trying to get my attention. 'Bernard!'" "I entered and the door closed behind me. I followed him into his office, and he gave further instructions. I sat down and just observed my surroundings. To the left were a race track, some Lego pieces, building blocks, and other toys. Sadly, his clientele obviously included other little boys who hadn't managed to escape this harsh reality. I started to tear up a little because of this, but thank goodness Judge was one of those whose job it was to intervene and help them gain some sense of normalcy back." A small, quaint house in North Carolina blends in with its environment as typical American homes do. Neighbors speak. Dogs bark. Children play. The Dillard name is highly respected within the local community, and all appears to be well on the home front. Within the four walls of this home, however, a war zone exists, and Bernard discovers that he unwillingly must prepare for battle and transform into a soldier at an early age. Although he has taught himself how to smile through it, no one has a clue what he and his siblings are quietly enduring each night in their tiny, little world. With no manual for this exhausting role, he is forced to learn quickly the art of survival throughout his childhood, his teens, and his young adult years, relying on help from extended family, teachers, and coaches.Winner of the Global eBook Award, Lemonade chronicles this gripping, coming-of-age story of Bernard L. Dillard, highlighting his perseverance, faith, and triumph as he stumbles through the maze of life.As he navigates through adulthood, the reader witnesses how Dillard seeks to maintain a steady social, professional, and spiritual beat while attempting to lay to rest the experiences that have disappointed him in his past. Through vulnerability and candor, Dillard exposes wounds that he has held close to the vest for years. Using modern-day, pop-culture references and sidesplitting humor, he confronts serious issues at the forefront of national discussion, including absentee fatherhood, drug addiction, and sexual abuse. His odyssey, with all of its ebbs and flows, highs and lows, successes and failures, proves to be challenging yet rewarding. Even so, Bernard courageously opens his hands and unveils what he has done with the lemons of life that he found himself holding.Simply put, Lemonade is a story about the youth of today and their struggle to become the successful men and women of tomorrow.(May not be suitable for those under 18.)
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