Even though I'm finished with 50 Bible Inspired Short Stories, vol. 1-3. I need editing.
I can't do it myself and finding a reasonable priced editor is a challenge.
I just have to build more capital for my dream of exploding this series.
Volume 4 will be completed soon, but I have so much to do and raising my children is top priority.
Doing Volumes 5 through 20 will not be hard, because these stories pop in my mind like if they'd already been there for years.
Happy Writing
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
I FINISHED RE-DOING MY FIRST MANUSCRIPT
I am do excited that I could scream. I just finished re-doing my very first manuscript. Now it is 35,000 words.
The name of the book is "Demon Possession, It can happen to you".
A woman's Testimony and Recovery.
It is non-fiction and its about me. Later next month, I will share some sample chapters, there are 20 in all.
The name of the book is "Demon Possession, It can happen to you".
A woman's Testimony and Recovery.
It is non-fiction and its about me. Later next month, I will share some sample chapters, there are 20 in all.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Getting my 2nd Proposal Ready
My second proposal is easier then my first. I really know how to work it this time.
As I prepare it, I visualize getting a book contract that will start my journey to bigger things.
I ask that you visualize your dreams and don't stop hoping for the best.
As I prepare it, I visualize getting a book contract that will start my journey to bigger things.
I ask that you visualize your dreams and don't stop hoping for the best.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Underground Railroad Tour Burlington NJ Historic District
Underground Railroad Tour Burlington NJ Historic District: "Underground Railroad Tour
Slavery was, and is, a crime against humanity. This tour visits historic sites of undeniable interest to African Americans, and all who would show solidarity with the brave resistance. Of moderate length (1 1/4 to 1 3/4 miles, from 1 to 1 1/2 hours), with recognized sites.
Take a walk back in time and engage your mind with Self-Guided Tours of historic sites in the City of Burlington. Available year-round, these are especially fun when taken during one of our special annual events (see Events Calendar). The Site Numbers (in circles: ) below may appear out of order, but the sites are arranged in order of best walking route. Tour offers as an option one Registered site beyond the Historic District, the Allen School. To help you find your way, print out a copy of our Historic District Map. Or, request a FREE Map Brochure– by or call (609) 386-3993. Supplies are limited. Some sites may contain stairs. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
S E L F - G U I D E D
Grand History Tour Half-a-Tour The Other Half-a-Tour Sandwich a Tour
Tour Underground Railroad Tour for Education Graveyard Shift"
Slavery was, and is, a crime against humanity. This tour visits historic sites of undeniable interest to African Americans, and all who would show solidarity with the brave resistance. Of moderate length (1 1/4 to 1 3/4 miles, from 1 to 1 1/2 hours), with recognized sites.
Take a walk back in time and engage your mind with Self-Guided Tours of historic sites in the City of Burlington. Available year-round, these are especially fun when taken during one of our special annual events (see Events Calendar). The Site Numbers (in circles: ) below may appear out of order, but the sites are arranged in order of best walking route. Tour offers as an option one Registered site beyond the Historic District, the Allen School. To help you find your way, print out a copy of our Historic District Map. Or, request a FREE Map Brochure– by or call (609) 386-3993. Supplies are limited. Some sites may contain stairs. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
S E L F - G U I D E D
Grand History Tour Half-a-Tour The Other Half-a-Tour Sandwich a Tour
Tour Underground Railroad Tour for Education Graveyard Shift"
Friday, February 5, 2010
Short Story from Volume 4
God’s Ways
Boom! Two cars collided on a busy highway. Jennifer Hummel was on her cell phone and Charley Mosley didn’t signal while passing her lane. This scene stopped rush hour traffic for 2 hours. Neither one of them had serious injuries, but their cars were banged up pretty bad. Both of them were taken to the same hospital.
On her cell phone, Jennifer talks to her boyfriend about her accident and how it was the man’s fault. Charley was also on his cell phone talking to his mother and telling her how it was the woman’s fault. Both were discharged and sent home not knowing that they were going to cross paths again.
Jennifer arrived home with a few scratches and a stitched up leg. Her boyfriend and mother helped her to the couch.
“I guess you’re not going to work for a couple of days,” said her mother Julia.
“I don’t have a problem with that. I need the rest.”
Her mother then retreated to her room. Jennifer asked her boyfriend if he could make her a sandwich and give her a can of soda.
“You’re not sick, get up and get it yourself.”
Then he sat down on the couch next to her. He took the remote out of her hand and began to click the channels. Jennifer thought that he wasn’t being sympatric and she looked around to see if her mother was looking on, because she felt embarrassed that she was staying with a man who didn’t respect her.
Her mother was up in her room on the phone talking to her friends about the car accident.
When Jennifer was finished making her sandwich, she hopped back to the living room to find that her boyfriend Jalil was not there.
“Thank God,” said Jennifer.
Then she felt a slap on the back of her neck.
“I’m not taking this from you any more.”
“See I was just hiding. If you want me to leave I’ll leave, but remember there is no one else but me in your life and it’ll never be anyone else,” said Jalil in a nasty and weird voice that made Jennifer cringe.
Jalil left the house and slammed the front door. Jennifer’s mother heard it and yelled from her room.
“What was that all about?”
“Dummy left mom, that’s all.”
“He’s no dummy, he’s a good man.”
“Whatever.”
Charley Mosley lived across town. He was getting care from his two teenage daughters named Carrie and Lou.
“Was that lady mean to you dad?” asked his older daughter Carrie.
“No, she was just shaken up. I hope she’s alright. Since we both were in the wrong and were ticketed, we won’t be seeing each other in court. Our auto insurance companies will be dealing with this.”
Lou, his youngest, was putting ice on her father’s swollen knee cap.
The phone ringed and it was his estranged wife Christina. She wanted to see the girls that day. Charley told her what happened and she didn’t seem to care, she just wanted to see her daughters. She felt since he was hurt, he needed time to rest, and the girls didn’t need to rest with him.
“If they want to see you, you can see them. But not with out supervised visits. If not…you loose.”
Charley put the phone down and asked his daughters if they wanted to see their mother. They both said they would, but only if their father came, and they knew he wasn’t up for moving around. Charley got back on the phone and told Christina that she had to see them another time, because the girls didn’t want to see her by themselves and he couldn’t move around. Christina starting yelling and Charley instantly hung up the phone. During the next hour, he just let it ring without finding out who was on the other line.
When Christina finally gave up trying to call Charley, she called her friend Alford. She told him to enforce his duty as an officer, and go over to where her children were, so he could talk some sense into their father.
“If they were mine, I would. I’m not going to abuse my right as an officer of the law for you. We just became good friends. I think you need to calm down and stop being so angry. You know what the bible says about that. Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath. We all make mistakes and when you go back to court maybe everything will be in your favor, but you must be patient.”
Christina cried over the realness of her situation. She just wanted her children back. Her dysfunctional childhood led up to her being an abusive parent. Her husband couldn’t take anymore, so he left her and had custody of their daughters for 6 months now.
Over at Jennifer’s house, her mother was helping her get around and talking to her about the high insurance premiums that she may get.
“Mom I’m not thinking about that. Right now I just want to relax and sort out my life. I have a good job, but I’m thirty and living with my mother. It seems like life is passing me by. I don’t know what to do.”
“You have a good man by your side. Maybe you and him can find a place and move in together.”
Jennifer didn’t want to tell her mother about their rocky relationship, but what’s
done in the dark must come to light.
The next day after the children went off to school, Charley went to answer a knock at the front door. It was Christina begging to talk to him. He opened the door and let her in.
“What is it Christina? I don’t have time for drama, so what do you have to say that you couldn’t say over the phone?”
“I want you to come to court with me and tell them that I’m a good mother and that I would never hit my children again. I took classes and everything. Please, can I see them today?”
“You don’t have to prove anything to me; it’s the court house that makes these decisions. I’m protecting mines, since you didn’t. When they come home from school I’ll ask them if they want to see you.”
Christina started to cry and then she asked Charley if they could pray.
“You know I’m not much for praying. I love God, but I’m not right. When I get well I’m going to take the girls back to their roots, because they truly love the Lord.”
Then he looked in Christina’s watery eyes and said softly,
“Sorry but you have to leave now.”
Christiana sobbed and prayed on the way home. She wanted the Lord to save her marriage, but it seemed like Charley was through with her.
That same day Jalil was headed back to Jennifer’s house with a bad attitude as always. He wanted to know why she wasn’t picking up the phone last night. He banged on the door.
To his knowledge her mother wasn’t home, because her vehicle wasn’t parked in front of the house, but she was home. Jalil banged again, and Jennifer’s mother opened the door and shouted,
“What is your problem? Are you crazy?”
“Sorry mame, I just want to see Jennifer.”
“Well she’s not here. She went to the store, and you’d better show some manners the next time you come to my house.”
“Yes mame,” said Jalil.
He was fuming by the time he got to his car and sped away doing 15 miles over the speed limit.
In the meantime, Jennifer went to buy some food from the grocery store. She got a call on her cell phone from the auto repair shop that had her car. They said it was totaled, and if she had close to ten thousand dollars they would fix it. Jennifer declined and said that she would just buy a kick around for now.
Across town, Charley decided to leave the house to get a little air. He didn’t like to be cooped up in the house for the full week that he was off from work, so he got inside of the only car that he had. It was small and not to his liking, but he had decided to keep it until his daughter was ready to drive.
On his way to the local grocery store, he stopped at a red light. In his rear view he noticed a car that wouldn’t come to a stop. It was moving behind him at a fast rate. With Charley’s quick thinking, he inched up little by little so the car wouldn’t hit him, but it was too late. Jalil, the driver of the other vehicle, hit the back of Charley’s car with such force that his car went into the traffic headed in the other direction, where motorists were making their turns. Charley got hit again by two other cars.
When the smoke cleared, there were two fatalities; Jalil and Charley.
Jennifer found out and was saddened, but relieved at the same time. When Christiana found out about Charley, she began to work harder to get her children back.
At Jalil’s funeral Jennifer cried very little. When she heard of driver that was killed because of her boyfriend Jalil, Jennifer thought of nothing more then to go the funeral which was held at his church.
Once there, she heard all the comments on how great Charley was. When Christina spoke, she talked about salvation and how her faith has gotten her to believe that God is able to help you through the storms of life. Jennifer never went to church before, but she felt like God was speaking to her. At the end of the funeral there was a call to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
Upon exiting the church, she looked to see the picture of Charley Mosley and she gasped. Her thoughts on how real God was, reined in her mind. That’s when she began her Christian journey in the Lord. Beginning at Charley’s church.
Boom! Two cars collided on a busy highway. Jennifer Hummel was on her cell phone and Charley Mosley didn’t signal while passing her lane. This scene stopped rush hour traffic for 2 hours. Neither one of them had serious injuries, but their cars were banged up pretty bad. Both of them were taken to the same hospital.
On her cell phone, Jennifer talks to her boyfriend about her accident and how it was the man’s fault. Charley was also on his cell phone talking to his mother and telling her how it was the woman’s fault. Both were discharged and sent home not knowing that they were going to cross paths again.
Jennifer arrived home with a few scratches and a stitched up leg. Her boyfriend and mother helped her to the couch.
“I guess you’re not going to work for a couple of days,” said her mother Julia.
“I don’t have a problem with that. I need the rest.”
Her mother then retreated to her room. Jennifer asked her boyfriend if he could make her a sandwich and give her a can of soda.
“You’re not sick, get up and get it yourself.”
Then he sat down on the couch next to her. He took the remote out of her hand and began to click the channels. Jennifer thought that he wasn’t being sympatric and she looked around to see if her mother was looking on, because she felt embarrassed that she was staying with a man who didn’t respect her.
Her mother was up in her room on the phone talking to her friends about the car accident.
When Jennifer was finished making her sandwich, she hopped back to the living room to find that her boyfriend Jalil was not there.
“Thank God,” said Jennifer.
Then she felt a slap on the back of her neck.
“I’m not taking this from you any more.”
“See I was just hiding. If you want me to leave I’ll leave, but remember there is no one else but me in your life and it’ll never be anyone else,” said Jalil in a nasty and weird voice that made Jennifer cringe.
Jalil left the house and slammed the front door. Jennifer’s mother heard it and yelled from her room.
“What was that all about?”
“Dummy left mom, that’s all.”
“He’s no dummy, he’s a good man.”
“Whatever.”
Charley Mosley lived across town. He was getting care from his two teenage daughters named Carrie and Lou.
“Was that lady mean to you dad?” asked his older daughter Carrie.
“No, she was just shaken up. I hope she’s alright. Since we both were in the wrong and were ticketed, we won’t be seeing each other in court. Our auto insurance companies will be dealing with this.”
Lou, his youngest, was putting ice on her father’s swollen knee cap.
The phone ringed and it was his estranged wife Christina. She wanted to see the girls that day. Charley told her what happened and she didn’t seem to care, she just wanted to see her daughters. She felt since he was hurt, he needed time to rest, and the girls didn’t need to rest with him.
“If they want to see you, you can see them. But not with out supervised visits. If not…you loose.”
Charley put the phone down and asked his daughters if they wanted to see their mother. They both said they would, but only if their father came, and they knew he wasn’t up for moving around. Charley got back on the phone and told Christina that she had to see them another time, because the girls didn’t want to see her by themselves and he couldn’t move around. Christina starting yelling and Charley instantly hung up the phone. During the next hour, he just let it ring without finding out who was on the other line.
When Christina finally gave up trying to call Charley, she called her friend Alford. She told him to enforce his duty as an officer, and go over to where her children were, so he could talk some sense into their father.
“If they were mine, I would. I’m not going to abuse my right as an officer of the law for you. We just became good friends. I think you need to calm down and stop being so angry. You know what the bible says about that. Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath. We all make mistakes and when you go back to court maybe everything will be in your favor, but you must be patient.”
Christina cried over the realness of her situation. She just wanted her children back. Her dysfunctional childhood led up to her being an abusive parent. Her husband couldn’t take anymore, so he left her and had custody of their daughters for 6 months now.
Over at Jennifer’s house, her mother was helping her get around and talking to her about the high insurance premiums that she may get.
“Mom I’m not thinking about that. Right now I just want to relax and sort out my life. I have a good job, but I’m thirty and living with my mother. It seems like life is passing me by. I don’t know what to do.”
“You have a good man by your side. Maybe you and him can find a place and move in together.”
Jennifer didn’t want to tell her mother about their rocky relationship, but what’s
done in the dark must come to light.
The next day after the children went off to school, Charley went to answer a knock at the front door. It was Christina begging to talk to him. He opened the door and let her in.
“What is it Christina? I don’t have time for drama, so what do you have to say that you couldn’t say over the phone?”
“I want you to come to court with me and tell them that I’m a good mother and that I would never hit my children again. I took classes and everything. Please, can I see them today?”
“You don’t have to prove anything to me; it’s the court house that makes these decisions. I’m protecting mines, since you didn’t. When they come home from school I’ll ask them if they want to see you.”
Christina started to cry and then she asked Charley if they could pray.
“You know I’m not much for praying. I love God, but I’m not right. When I get well I’m going to take the girls back to their roots, because they truly love the Lord.”
Then he looked in Christina’s watery eyes and said softly,
“Sorry but you have to leave now.”
Christiana sobbed and prayed on the way home. She wanted the Lord to save her marriage, but it seemed like Charley was through with her.
That same day Jalil was headed back to Jennifer’s house with a bad attitude as always. He wanted to know why she wasn’t picking up the phone last night. He banged on the door.
To his knowledge her mother wasn’t home, because her vehicle wasn’t parked in front of the house, but she was home. Jalil banged again, and Jennifer’s mother opened the door and shouted,
“What is your problem? Are you crazy?”
“Sorry mame, I just want to see Jennifer.”
“Well she’s not here. She went to the store, and you’d better show some manners the next time you come to my house.”
“Yes mame,” said Jalil.
He was fuming by the time he got to his car and sped away doing 15 miles over the speed limit.
In the meantime, Jennifer went to buy some food from the grocery store. She got a call on her cell phone from the auto repair shop that had her car. They said it was totaled, and if she had close to ten thousand dollars they would fix it. Jennifer declined and said that she would just buy a kick around for now.
Across town, Charley decided to leave the house to get a little air. He didn’t like to be cooped up in the house for the full week that he was off from work, so he got inside of the only car that he had. It was small and not to his liking, but he had decided to keep it until his daughter was ready to drive.
On his way to the local grocery store, he stopped at a red light. In his rear view he noticed a car that wouldn’t come to a stop. It was moving behind him at a fast rate. With Charley’s quick thinking, he inched up little by little so the car wouldn’t hit him, but it was too late. Jalil, the driver of the other vehicle, hit the back of Charley’s car with such force that his car went into the traffic headed in the other direction, where motorists were making their turns. Charley got hit again by two other cars.
When the smoke cleared, there were two fatalities; Jalil and Charley.
Jennifer found out and was saddened, but relieved at the same time. When Christiana found out about Charley, she began to work harder to get her children back.
At Jalil’s funeral Jennifer cried very little. When she heard of driver that was killed because of her boyfriend Jalil, Jennifer thought of nothing more then to go the funeral which was held at his church.
Once there, she heard all the comments on how great Charley was. When Christina spoke, she talked about salvation and how her faith has gotten her to believe that God is able to help you through the storms of life. Jennifer never went to church before, but she felt like God was speaking to her. At the end of the funeral there was a call to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
Upon exiting the church, she looked to see the picture of Charley Mosley and she gasped. Her thoughts on how real God was, reined in her mind. That’s when she began her Christian journey in the Lord. Beginning at Charley’s church.
Short Story from Volume 3
Raising them right
“Watch me catch that ball,” said 10 year old Ty, to his 13 year old brother Kayden.
“I bet you can’t.”
He then threw the ball to Ty. Instead of catching the ball, it went over his head and hit a stranger on the arm. Ty and Kayden ran towards their house with the stranger in pursuit. Instead of going into their house, they split up. Ty went down an alley and Kayden went inside of a crowded store.
When he peeked from behind a store shelf, he saw the stranger run pass the store. Then Kayden sneaked out of the store to see where the stranger was headed. He then spotted the stranger looking around at the corner of the block. The stranger then looked towards the store and saw Kayden. The stranger ran towards him and Kayden froze and said a silent prayer.
The woman grabbed him by his shirt.
“Why did you hit me?”
“I was throwing it to my brother. I didn’t mean to hit you.”
“Why did you run then?”
Kayden didn’t want to ask any more questions. He just wanted this huge lady to let him go.
While she was still holding him, one of the customers told her to let him go and she told him to mind his business.
Then Kayden’s Aunt came into the store.
“Can you please take your hands off of my nephew?”
“Oh hi Lexy,” said the huge woman with a smile as she was releasing her grips on Kayden.
She told Lexy what happened. His Aunt then told Kayden to say he was sorry.
“Sorry? But I said I didn’t mean it,” said Kayden.
“I didn’t ask you to say all that smart mouth. Go home now before I tell your mother that you don’t know how to throw a straight ball and you’re hitting strangers.”
Kayden left the store to go look for Ty. He walked from block to block calling him and after a while thought that he had went home.
When he got home his mother told him that she wanted him to go to the store for her. As she was getting the money out of her pocket book she asked him where Ty was.
“I’m looking for him mom.”
“Looking? He’s supposed to be with you. Go and get your brother then go to the store.”
Kayden rushed back downstairs to find Ty coming upstairs.
“Ty where were you? I was about to look for you again.”
“I was hiding from that big woman, did she find you?”
“Everything is cool. I’m going to the store for mom. She wants to see you, so go inside the house,” said Kayden running down the steps.
Ty went inside and his mother was so happy to see him.
“Come here boy and sit down.”
Ty sat on a chair in the kitchen and looked straight in his mother’s face.
“Why did you get lost? You know the streets aren’t safe.”
“But Jesus is watching me mom and He’s always protecting us.”
“Don’t temp the Lord Ty. Stay close to your brother and don’t wander off again.”
“I didn’t. Some big woman was chasing us, because Kayden hit her with the ball when we were playing. It was a mistake.”
“A big woman?”
His mother began to worry.
She knew how bad the streets were to her children, but they couldn’t stay cooped up inside of the house. If only her husband was around, she thought.
While putting on her sweater, she told Ty to come with her to point this woman out.
“You don’t want to mess with her momma, she’s huge.”
“Remember, God is protecting us. We’ll be alright.”
His mother was getting ready to go out the house when she heard Kayden come through the door.
“Praise the Lord. What happened?”
“Ty told me about some lady chasing you and him.”
“Everything is ok ma…that was Aunt Lexy’s friend. She stopped the woman from pounding on me because they knew each other.”
“Aunt Lexy huh”
Aunt Lexy was her ex-husband’s sister that hung around in the streets. So his mother had a good idea on what the woman looked like.
“You guys are in for today. Tomorrow is a new day.”
The next day the boys were playing in the park again and since it was Saturday, they couldn’t stay out late, because they had to go to church.
While they were playing, a much older boy came to them and asked them if he could play. Kayden and Ty didn’t like the looks of the boy and told him no. The boy then took the ball and walked away. Kayden looked at Ty and then seen his Aunt’s friend walking past.
“Ask her,” said Ty.
Kayden then waved to her and she came towards them.
“What’s up little man?”
“That boy just took my ball.”
Looking around Aunt Lexy’s friend spotted the young man.
“Who Damien, my son?”
“Yeah” said Kayden and Ty in unison.
The women called to her son and gestured him to come to her. When he got closer she told him to give the boys back their ball while slapping him upside his head.
“Don’t bother them again. Now get on out of here.”
Damien walked away rubbing his head.
“Thank you mamme,” said Kayden.
“Mamme? Don’t call me that, call me Dre.”
“Dre?” That’s a boys’ name said Ty”
“And…”
Ty was confused but Kayden wasn’t. He tapped Ty on the arm and told him to let it go.
“Thanks Dre’,” said Kayden.
She walked away telling him if he sees his Aunt to let her know, because she’ll be around the block for a while.
The boys went home early and their mother helped them get their Sunday suits ready. At bed time, the boys said their prayers and went fast asleep.
In the morning after their mother finished cooking breakfast, she went to their rooms.
“Get up boys; it’s time to get up.”
They heard their mother say those words 6 days a week, except on Saturday. Ty bounced out of bed, while Kayden dragged and oozed his body down to the floor.
“Get up Kayden, don’t you smell those pancakes,” said Ty.
Kayden bounced up and headed out the bedroom.
At the breakfast table their mother cooked pancakes, eggs and grits.
“These are good mom,” said Kayden.
“Well you and Ty deserve the best. You’re good boys that make me proud to be a mother. I also made the pancakes special today, because I want to hear you sing in the choir, instead of me hearing everyone else, you hear me.”
“Yes Mamme,” said Kayden.
On their way to church with their mother, the boys saw Damien standing on the corner bouncing a ball.
“Hey man, you want to come with us?” said Kayden.
“Yeah”
“Do you know where we’re going?”
“Of course, I wasn’t born yesterday. I go to church when I can.”
Damien looked at his clothes and then at Kayden and Ty’s mother.
“You look fine the way you are. If you come with us more, I’ll buy you a suit,” said their mother.”
“For Sure,” said Damien excitedly.
She smiled and nodded
Damien was overjoyed and more than happy to go to church now.
After service, Damien told Kayden and Ty’s mother that he will come again. Damien kept his promise and got his suit.
His mother Dre’ saw his suit one day and asked him who gave it to him. He told her Kayden and Ty’s mother bought it for him.
“So she’s dressing you now?”
“It’s only for church mom, stop tripping.”
“That’s fine, but don’t come in here telling me I’m wrong. I do me and you do you, understand.”
“Yes mom.”
Damien was 18 years old and had one more year of high school when he had met the boys. Now he had graduated and was away at college. His church instilled values in him that he never received at home. He was now a child of the King.
Damien always prayed for his family and kept in touch with Kayden and Ty’s mother, who he often called mom.
He became a role model for Kayden and Ty and they told people that he was their older brother.
“Watch me catch that ball,” said 10 year old Ty, to his 13 year old brother Kayden.
“I bet you can’t.”
He then threw the ball to Ty. Instead of catching the ball, it went over his head and hit a stranger on the arm. Ty and Kayden ran towards their house with the stranger in pursuit. Instead of going into their house, they split up. Ty went down an alley and Kayden went inside of a crowded store.
When he peeked from behind a store shelf, he saw the stranger run pass the store. Then Kayden sneaked out of the store to see where the stranger was headed. He then spotted the stranger looking around at the corner of the block. The stranger then looked towards the store and saw Kayden. The stranger ran towards him and Kayden froze and said a silent prayer.
The woman grabbed him by his shirt.
“Why did you hit me?”
“I was throwing it to my brother. I didn’t mean to hit you.”
“Why did you run then?”
Kayden didn’t want to ask any more questions. He just wanted this huge lady to let him go.
While she was still holding him, one of the customers told her to let him go and she told him to mind his business.
Then Kayden’s Aunt came into the store.
“Can you please take your hands off of my nephew?”
“Oh hi Lexy,” said the huge woman with a smile as she was releasing her grips on Kayden.
She told Lexy what happened. His Aunt then told Kayden to say he was sorry.
“Sorry? But I said I didn’t mean it,” said Kayden.
“I didn’t ask you to say all that smart mouth. Go home now before I tell your mother that you don’t know how to throw a straight ball and you’re hitting strangers.”
Kayden left the store to go look for Ty. He walked from block to block calling him and after a while thought that he had went home.
When he got home his mother told him that she wanted him to go to the store for her. As she was getting the money out of her pocket book she asked him where Ty was.
“I’m looking for him mom.”
“Looking? He’s supposed to be with you. Go and get your brother then go to the store.”
Kayden rushed back downstairs to find Ty coming upstairs.
“Ty where were you? I was about to look for you again.”
“I was hiding from that big woman, did she find you?”
“Everything is cool. I’m going to the store for mom. She wants to see you, so go inside the house,” said Kayden running down the steps.
Ty went inside and his mother was so happy to see him.
“Come here boy and sit down.”
Ty sat on a chair in the kitchen and looked straight in his mother’s face.
“Why did you get lost? You know the streets aren’t safe.”
“But Jesus is watching me mom and He’s always protecting us.”
“Don’t temp the Lord Ty. Stay close to your brother and don’t wander off again.”
“I didn’t. Some big woman was chasing us, because Kayden hit her with the ball when we were playing. It was a mistake.”
“A big woman?”
His mother began to worry.
She knew how bad the streets were to her children, but they couldn’t stay cooped up inside of the house. If only her husband was around, she thought.
While putting on her sweater, she told Ty to come with her to point this woman out.
“You don’t want to mess with her momma, she’s huge.”
“Remember, God is protecting us. We’ll be alright.”
His mother was getting ready to go out the house when she heard Kayden come through the door.
“Praise the Lord. What happened?”
“Ty told me about some lady chasing you and him.”
“Everything is ok ma…that was Aunt Lexy’s friend. She stopped the woman from pounding on me because they knew each other.”
“Aunt Lexy huh”
Aunt Lexy was her ex-husband’s sister that hung around in the streets. So his mother had a good idea on what the woman looked like.
“You guys are in for today. Tomorrow is a new day.”
The next day the boys were playing in the park again and since it was Saturday, they couldn’t stay out late, because they had to go to church.
While they were playing, a much older boy came to them and asked them if he could play. Kayden and Ty didn’t like the looks of the boy and told him no. The boy then took the ball and walked away. Kayden looked at Ty and then seen his Aunt’s friend walking past.
“Ask her,” said Ty.
Kayden then waved to her and she came towards them.
“What’s up little man?”
“That boy just took my ball.”
Looking around Aunt Lexy’s friend spotted the young man.
“Who Damien, my son?”
“Yeah” said Kayden and Ty in unison.
The women called to her son and gestured him to come to her. When he got closer she told him to give the boys back their ball while slapping him upside his head.
“Don’t bother them again. Now get on out of here.”
Damien walked away rubbing his head.
“Thank you mamme,” said Kayden.
“Mamme? Don’t call me that, call me Dre.”
“Dre?” That’s a boys’ name said Ty”
“And…”
Ty was confused but Kayden wasn’t. He tapped Ty on the arm and told him to let it go.
“Thanks Dre’,” said Kayden.
She walked away telling him if he sees his Aunt to let her know, because she’ll be around the block for a while.
The boys went home early and their mother helped them get their Sunday suits ready. At bed time, the boys said their prayers and went fast asleep.
In the morning after their mother finished cooking breakfast, she went to their rooms.
“Get up boys; it’s time to get up.”
They heard their mother say those words 6 days a week, except on Saturday. Ty bounced out of bed, while Kayden dragged and oozed his body down to the floor.
“Get up Kayden, don’t you smell those pancakes,” said Ty.
Kayden bounced up and headed out the bedroom.
At the breakfast table their mother cooked pancakes, eggs and grits.
“These are good mom,” said Kayden.
“Well you and Ty deserve the best. You’re good boys that make me proud to be a mother. I also made the pancakes special today, because I want to hear you sing in the choir, instead of me hearing everyone else, you hear me.”
“Yes Mamme,” said Kayden.
On their way to church with their mother, the boys saw Damien standing on the corner bouncing a ball.
“Hey man, you want to come with us?” said Kayden.
“Yeah”
“Do you know where we’re going?”
“Of course, I wasn’t born yesterday. I go to church when I can.”
Damien looked at his clothes and then at Kayden and Ty’s mother.
“You look fine the way you are. If you come with us more, I’ll buy you a suit,” said their mother.”
“For Sure,” said Damien excitedly.
She smiled and nodded
Damien was overjoyed and more than happy to go to church now.
After service, Damien told Kayden and Ty’s mother that he will come again. Damien kept his promise and got his suit.
His mother Dre’ saw his suit one day and asked him who gave it to him. He told her Kayden and Ty’s mother bought it for him.
“So she’s dressing you now?”
“It’s only for church mom, stop tripping.”
“That’s fine, but don’t come in here telling me I’m wrong. I do me and you do you, understand.”
“Yes mom.”
Damien was 18 years old and had one more year of high school when he had met the boys. Now he had graduated and was away at college. His church instilled values in him that he never received at home. He was now a child of the King.
Damien always prayed for his family and kept in touch with Kayden and Ty’s mother, who he often called mom.
He became a role model for Kayden and Ty and they told people that he was their older brother.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)