Salt Of The Earth

Cernes Abbas is labouring under the weight of centuries-old family legacies. An Abbas is a man to be respected. An Abbas is always first to put his hand in his pocket and stand the round. And for the last century, an Abbas has been the chairman of the allotment association. The name Abbas means something. Except, Cernes has never really been allowed to rebel. His mother and father died when he was comparatively young. He was brought up by his Quaker grandparents. Once Gran died, it was just him and his grandfather, who, now nearly ninety years of age, is becoming increasingly frail. Trouble looms in the guise of Crest Developments, which wants to take back the land that the Council is leasing to the allotment association, and build houses. The proposals are met with stiff and characteristic Abbas opposition led by Grandad and aided by Cernes. That is until Crest's CEO's trouble-shooter - Anthony - makes his appearance on the scene ... and suddenly, Cernes' latent rebellion has both a cause and, apparently, an ally. Or so it would seem. Torn between the past and the future, the dependable and the unknown, the safe and the dangerous, Cernes has to make a choice. Which is not nearly as difficult as choosing between Anthony and Oaky, his old flame, who has recently moved back to his childhood home. It is a choice in which he ultimately fails. However, in seeking redemption, he discovers both himself and what it truly means to be an Abbas.