in journalism "the new york times" and montclair times every story whether it is front page, sports page from a life style falls into one of three categories to maturity from here to there, search for treasure or love story. this book, "step out on nothing," is a journey story. it's a journey of the way from east baltimore, me. [laughter] my mother had her first child of 16. she had me before she finished high school. i didn't learn to read until i was 12 and i stuttered until i was 20. the book is about the journey from held as a boy from east baltimore in that circumstance in up on 60 minutes. when i was diagnosed as functionally illiterate like could not read. one of the therapists my family took me to told my mother who says i'm sorry but it is my diagnosis your son, byron, is mentally retarded and you should have him institutionalized. well my mother at that time had about a tenth grade education. she went back to morgan state university and got her degree in sociology and became a social worker to help others mostly single women raising families. but that day with her tenth grade e