Five-Day Pass

By Mike Windsor

In the heart of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, 1954, ten-year-old Gary's world is shattered when his father, Walter, passes away just before Christmas. Struggling with grief and loneliness, young Gary embarks on an emotional journey that reshapes his identity against the backdrop of post-war America. Fast forward to 1961, and a now seventeen-year-old Gary, disillusioned with school and burdened by the weight of his past, finds himself enlisting in the Navy, seeking escape through the vastness of the ocean.
As he endures the challenges of boot camp and acclimates to military life, Gary wrestles with the ghosts of his childhood. But when fate grants him a five-day pass to return home, the familiar streets of Black River Falls offer both comfort and consternation. Reuniting with his resilient mother, Frances, and protective older brother, Jack, he confronts the man he has become amid the quiet echoes of his father's absence.
In *FIVE-DAY PASS*, grief, rebellion, and self-discovery intertwine, revealing how a fleeting moment in the embrace of family can spark profound realizations about love, resilience, and the ties that bind us. Join Gary on this poignant journey as he learns that though the landscape of his hometown may remain unchanged, he has evolved in ways he never imagined. Will he find a way to reconcile his past with the promise of his future? Embark on this emotional voyage and discover the indomitable spirit of family amid life's heart-wrenching storms.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GQ2MBCWP
• ISBN13: 9798249078324
• Release Date: March 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.3" x 8.0"