One Time in Paris

Wade Stevenson was an aggressive and adventurous young man. He did not let anything stop him on his quest to explore the world and all it had to offer. His own father could not diminish his spirits or his desires, even when he accused him of being “a loser.” Wade knew that one day he would achieve his goal and with that in mind, his journey began.

He was a lover of women and as such had a few close calls that almost led to sex, but it wasn’t in the cards back then. Once he had a crush on his college German teacher and when she didn’t acknowledge his eye contact, he walked out and quit school. Coming back home and again being subjected to his fathers ridicule. He wanted out, he wanted out so bad he would do anything to do it. Dreaming of the day he would get on a boat and head to France to fulfill his life-long dream. But that was not going to happen because his father had him committed. Thinking there was something seriously wrong with his son, Wade’s father had him put in an asylum for months, till he was cured. That just pushed him over the edge and when he was released to go home, he escaped. He got a job on a freighter and then eventually made his way toward his dream, France.

Arriving in France and not being too well versed in the native tongue, he found himself thrown out of a cab and left on his own. Fortunately for him, he meets a beautiful American girl, Cynthia, whom he had met many years ago. They become reacquainted and she moves in with him. Cynthia had already been in Paris for a while studying the flute. She spoke fluent French and was a great one to have around when out and about. As friends, Cynthia did not look to Wade as a sexual partner and whenever he tried to get close to her, she would always manage to stop him. This was very frustrating to a young and highly sexual Wade and as many times as he would make an attempt, that’s how many times she would shun his advances. Till that one faithful, rainy day in autumn.  (I’m not giving away what happened; I highly suggest you buy the book!)

“One Time in Paris” is a “tell all” memoir that is intimate, dramatic, and poignant. I gave it my A rating and thought it a well-written story and a very good read.

One Time in Paris
Wade Stevenson 
iUniverse (2008)
ISBN 9780595486588
Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (6/08)