Garol Schands's once-promising future as an NFL-bound quarterback, as well as all other plans for his future, was sidelined by an injury and the death of his fiance. Soon his days are defined by alcoholism, anxiety and depression. Garol, now 34 years old with a stagnant career as a furniture salesman, awakens one morning to find himself in a full body cast and living in a town populated by endearing individuals that seem determined to break him out of his "shell." Although Garol has a heavy predicament in life, "The Weight" is filled with upbeat and laugh-out-loud moments. While living in a town with a kooky psychiatrist, a mysterious chess master (whose ongoing game seems to parallel, or portend, the moves Garol makes in his life), a seductive neighbor and other truly unique characters, Garol is able to find new meaning to his future. "The Weight" is about one man's journey to discovering how to look at situations and people in a new light, and to finding happiness. For the reader, it's hilarious, imaginative, and filled with relevant wisdom to break free from burdens that can weigh us down. From the Novel Just then a variation of a cuckoo clock announced the time. Instead of a cuckoo bird, a kookoo patient in a straightjacket trumpeted, "Session's over, take your problems elsewhere. Session's over, deal with it. Sessions's over, get a life." Garol looked at the clock with disbelief then with wide eyes at the doctor, "What does that mean?" "Session's over," the psychiatrist responded. "So, what happens now?" "You leave, hopefully."