The Treasure of St. Cloud - Thesis in partial fulfillment of an MLA from Harvard University Extension.

Abstract

The Treasure of St. Cloud is a braided tale of intrigue that explores generational trauma, family survival, and what wealth offers, and costs, a poor family. Miriam Aaronson, an American social worker living in St. Cloud, Minnesota, is called upon to pick up the Durrani family from the local airport upon their arrival from Kabul. This fateful meeting changes Miriam’s life. When Miriam learns that the Durranis arrive without their luggage, and that their baggage contained pieces of a priceless treasure, she must decide whether to become embroiled in a potentially perilous plot to help retrieve their lost valuables. The stakes are high; to back out would be to abandon her friends, but the alternative could be deadly. The Durrani’s story, and Miriam’s journey to help them reclaim their missing property, is an adventure in friendship, healing, and trust. Inspired by a real treasure, this work of historical fiction draws on rich Afghan cultural and religious conventions.