Mouth to Mouth

An unnamed journalist has a chance encounter at JFK Airport with Jeff Cook, an elegant man who had been in his class at UCLA. They scarcely knew each other in college, and 20 years have passed since they last saw each other, but when their flight is delayed Jeff invites the journalist to join him in the first-class lounge. As Jeff drinks cocktails and the journalist drinks nonalcoholic beer, Jeff relates the story of his complicated and serendipitous adult life, emphatically stating that he has never told anyone his story. After graduation Jeff was traumatized by a single event that changed the trajectory of his life. As he walked aimlessly on the beach, he saw a man vigorously swimming. Suddenly, the man was lying face down and being pushed by the waves. Jeff pulled him out of the water and gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, saving his life. The listener does not know where this story is going until the surprise ending. Edoardo Ballerini’s smooth reading of this puzzling and suspenseful novel will completely engage listeners.