From KCRW and KCRW.com, I'm Bob Carlson, and this is Unfictional.

Unfictional is KCRW's program of stories and original documentaries.

It's part of KCRW's independent producer project,

a laboratory for independent radio producers, writers, and performers.

And today on the program, a special for this beginning of the holiday season

a compilation of family stories from the first year of this program.

Three perplexing, hilarious, and heartbreaking stories from three great storytellers during this time of year when we all spend a lot of time around our own families.

Beginning with this story from David Ellis Dickerson. You've heard his work on

this American life and elsewhere. Plus he's written a book called House of

Cards, but here un unfictional he's going to tell us about his mission of mercy to save his family from themselves.

When I was 28 years old, I came back home for the first time in six years, fully aware that I was the black sheep.

I had rejected the faith.

I had rejected Tucson, Arizona.

I was the only one in the family who wasn't married.

And I was sitting with my dad in a booth at a diner

and it should have been just this kind of innocent thing

where we're just, I'm visiting, you know,

after six years and it's nice to catch up, but it wasn't like that.

We were facing each other.

We both had, as it happens, Cowboy has some cowboy boots.

And I remember thinking, this is a showdown because my dad and I were at war.

My dad didn't know this. I was at war with him. I was at war with all Christians.

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