Get Behind Me, Shadow

The story is about Simon's struggle for recognition as an artist and also his desire to leave home to get away from his manipulative father and strike out on his own.

He knows it will be difficult to do this, especially since he has never held down a real job and has always relied on his father to pay his bills.  At 25 he realizes that it is time for him to make his own way in the world, but at the same time he knows that the only way he can do this is to paint portraits.

Then as it turns out his father is about to go on trial and his father's lawyers expect Simon to lie under oath to protect him. Simon knows that he'll never be able to do this, so he comes up with a plan to escape from the house undetected and secretly make his way to Paris.

Life is difficult at first due to the stiff competition from other artists.  Then one day a woman that has often watched him painting commissions him to paint a picture for her.  When the project has been completed she invites him to lunch and reveals that she is his mother, whom he has not seen since he wa four years old.

Simon's life immediately takes a turn for the better and since she is also an artist, she introduces him to people that can help him to set up a gallery where he can show his work.

There is also a love theme that runs throughout the story, which eventually changes Simon's life completely. Part  of his love life is a sad story, but when he meets someone else she makes him happy.