Marvin Tige 1983 Marvin, a heavy drinking widower who has seen better days and now ekes out a living at odd jobs, meets Tige, an 11 year old black boy about to kill himself because his mother has just died With nowhere else to stay, Tige moves in with Marvin and they develop a close if sometimes stormy relationship which is good for both of them Marvin wants to adopt Tige but knows that he is too poor to give him a good home, as becomes painfully clear when Tige catches pneumonia Then he discovers who Tiges father is a rich suburbanite who doesnt even know that Tige exists Should he, and can he, give up the boy he loves, and who loves him, in favor of a stranger with the right genes and bank balance but who doesnt care