A BITTERSWEET LOVE STORY ABOUT BROKEN PROMISES AND SHATTERED DREAMS.

Little Italy, New York City. 1920.

A nine-year-old boy named Charlie draws a picture of chalk butterflies and a bright sun on the concrete pavement. He sign is, and announces to his eight-year-old special friend, “Fanny, this is for you.”

Soon, their friendship turns to puppy love. By the age of 20, they become soulmates, sharing unconditional hopes, dreams, and wishes. Despite the best of intentions, their lives take very different courses during the next 79 years.

The dashing, handsome Charlie became famous musician, then married the wrong woman, an alcoholic who commits suicide.

Despite battles with substance abuse, numerous trysts with other woman, and a nervous breakdown, his music career flourishes.

A disappointed Fanny eventually marries a seemingly successful businessman , Matty, who dies suddenly in his sleep at 60, leaving her a tangled web of bankruptcy and IRS demands for millions in back taxes.

Charlie, assuming Fanny’s is happily married, marries a second time to a kind, compassionate women who learns of Fanny.

Despite all the broken promises and shattered dreams, Fanny and Charlie find ways to remain connected until they die. Ultimately, they are buried in the same cemetery in New York City, not far from each other.

(To add texture and chronology, Save the Last Dance includes 53 highly personal pictures found by the author, who was Fanny’s son.)