Hot Dogs & Hamburgers

An expected dad plans on his wife delivering the perfect baby. To his surprise, his beautiful son is wired a little differently than the other kids. Scared daddy runs and hides in the closet. Literally. For almost four years he watches from the sidelines as Oliver struggles and by the end of fourth grade, he's barely reading at a kindergarden level. Eventually, Daddy Dearest decides to jump in the deep end and starts taking a course on how to become a reading tutor. His students are all adult African Americans in their 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's. These grown-ups no longer see life through rose-colored glasses and aren't looking for Cinderella endings. They're realistic about their goals and their futures. They no longer want to be President or CEO's of Fortune 500 Companies. They now dream these things for their grandchildren. Instead, they simply want to be able to enjoy People Magazine. Read a menu. Fill out a job application. Understand the instructions on medicine bottles. Help their sons and daughters with their homework. Using unusual and unorthodox methods like the Bible, fortune cookies, horoscopes and Motown song lyrics, the adults miraculously start reading. Soon, he's ready to attack the very reason that brought him to the Literacy Center in the first place. On a diving board at a park pool on a boiling July morning, it finally sticks. In the end, an unplanned event causes the unexpected connection between this twelve year old little boy and a classroom filled with these grown-up strangers. Together, they complete something incredible.