Dracaena Marginata

­Set in colorful, culturally diverse Youngstown, Ohio, Donald Greco's Dracaena Marginata chronicles two boys' dynamic friendship from childhood to adulthood. Sandy grows up in a loving, nurturing environment. His best friend, Rigley, has a neurotic, hypochondriac mother and a drunken father.Rigley also is mentally handicapped, but Sandy doesn't even notice. They enjoy the unbridled friendship of typical boys in the 1950s. As teenagers, Sandy and Rigley's bond meets its first obstacles, as Sandy begins to realize Rigley's challenges. But Sandy vows that their friendship will withstand anything life throws at them.However, growing up brings unforeseen complications: among them, Sandy going to college, serving in Vietnam, and falling love. Meanwhile, Rigley's mind deteriorates, and Sandy must dig deep to find it in his heart to stay true to his vow of lifelong friendship.