Billy and the Big Stick

In the bustling streets of Port‑au‑Prince, a foreign electric company’s ambition collides with a newly assertive Haitian government, and only one man holds the city's lights in his hands. Billy Barlow, a plain‑spoken New Englander with a reputation for hard work, finds himself appointed the nation’s chief electrician after the president nationalizes the power plant. Armed with pliers, determination, and an uncanny knack for bargaining, Billy discovers that controlling the flow of electricity can be as powerful as any weapon.

As he navigates the colorful, chaotic world of Haitian politics, Billy must balance his modest salary against the whims of a president who seldom pays anyone. He learns to use his technical expertise to negotiate, sometimes threatening to plunge the capital into darkness to secure what he’s owed. The story follows his clever, often humorous attempts to keep the lights on while staying true to his New England conscience in a land where every deal is a delicate dance.