"The Color of My Coffee" Coffee, like life, can have a variety of shades and complexities, as young Steven Reilly is about to find out. He is a na#65533;ve teenager living in a white suburb of Los Angeles during the turbulent 1960's with his mentally disturbed mother, and his cold, unfeeling father. His sheltered life abruptly changes when he buys a small business from his brother that soon becomes a gathering place for colorful characters from all walks of life. The story focuses on the racial issues, cultural conflicts, and dangers, that transpire when Steven hires his soon to be best friend, Herb Jackson, an African-American man from the Deep South, to work for him at his car cleaning shop. Herb's old friend "Speedy" Dave Desoto, and Andy Calhoun, a man straight out of the hills of West Virginia, also hire on, and soon become Steven's second family. Jack, his peculiar friend from high school, and the evil bookie "The Roach," add to the mix of odd, but fascinating, characters. Will Herb's gambling addiction lead to his downfall, or will it lead to Steven's? Only Herb can decide who lives, and who dies.