Hecametomefirstinadream,asacrippleddoganglingdownacountrylane,puzzledbyhissuddenage,hisbumpaw,thedrystickclampedbetweenhisteeth.I’dbeenexpectingthisdreamforaverylongtime,andIwokeupmoving....RitaRosariohasagift,awaywithpeople.Shelistenstothemandreallyseesthemforwhotheyare-wartsandall.Andsometimes,sheevenknowshowtoguidethemtowardanewbeginning.Women,evenmen,cometoRita’sbeautyshopforperms,towngossip,andthemakeoversoftheirverylives.JohnReedfirstappearstoRitainoneofherdreams.Whentheymeetatatowngatheringafewdayslater,sheimmediatelyoffershimahaircut,andherheart.Astheysharetheirstories,RitasensesshecanhelpJohnfillavoidbyreconnectinghimtohisonlyfamily-ayoungniecehenearlylostinaheartbreakingtragedy.WhileinspiringJohnonajourneyoutoflonelinessandintoreconciliation,Ritabeginstocometotermswitheventsinherpast...anddiscoversthingsaboutherselfsheneverrealized,includingherownintimateroleinJohn’sunfoldingstory.
