A Flamboyant Disarray of Dreams

By Joy Lee Rutter

     Joleen Cumberland works at Rivers Edge, a neuro-rehabilitation facility. But Joleen may have reached an edge of her own. Although she cares deeply about the patients at the center, she feels stifled by the administration, frustrated by other staff members, and unsure of her own ability to help the people under her care.

     While she tries to make a decision about her future, a new patient is admitted. Mitch Stevens was a successful author until he suffered severe head trauma from a fall off a second story balcony after a bout of heavy drinking. Joleen is drawn to him because she is an aspiring writer. Mitch's family is convinced that he is unresponsive and that the man they knew is gone for good. However, Jolene sees something different. She believes he is aware of his surroundings and that he is capable of communicating. Her assertions cause an eruption of anger from Mitch's brother, Geoff, and confusion from Mitch's wife, Rebecca. Joleen tries to balance her concern for Mitch with her desire to flee from the pressures at work and the antagonism that surrounds her.

     Another patient under her charge, Alex, also worries her. The boy's personality swings from moments of gentleness to severe fits of rage. Mitch seems drawn to the boy, and Alex is responding in kind. Is it possible that the two patients are reaching out to help each other? And could there be more to Alex's story than meets the eye?

     Author Joy Lee Rutter uses experiences gained from working at a neuro-rehabilitation center to bring a note of realism to A Flamboyant Disarray of Dreams. Rutter does a good job of presenting characters that readers care about while she takes us inside a fascinating world that most of us, thankfully, will never see.