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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781490750118 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Trafford Publishing |
| Publication date: | 10/31/2014 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 134 |
| File size: | 258 KB |
Read an Excerpt
And in Time
By Lavern Moore-Bishop
Trafford Publishing
Copyright © 2014 Lavern Moore-BishopAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4907-5012-5
CHAPTER 1
Angelic was in her room pacing up and down like a caged tiger. She had called a family meeting. Angelic hated these family meetings, always had. She felt that if she had a problem that she could not resolve, then her parents should be the only persons involved in the solution—not her twin brother and sister whom she liked to refer to as Dr. Jekyll and Miss Hyde. Angel, as she was called by her family and close friends, felt the family meetings were unnecessary and stupid. Angel, being educated, highly intelligent, and self-reliant, felt the meetings were just not for her.
Angelic stopped pacing to take a look at herself in the mirror. Looking back at her was a beautiful young lady of nineteen years old, with the prettiest piercing gray eyes that changed colors to complement or match whatever outfit she happened to be wearing at the time. She had a head full of beautiful thick, silky sun-blush hair.
Angelic was beautiful both inside and out, but she never thought of herself as beautiful like her sister Jennifer.
"Oh well, I guess I can't hole up in here any longer," she said out loud as she headed out the door.
Everyone was already gathered in the den when Angelic entered. All eyes were upon her as she took the seat that was reserved for the family member who called the meeting.
Andriana looked at her youngest daughter with love and concern. Since Angelic rarely called a family meeting and hated to attend when meetings were called, she could not imagine what this was about. Richard Broughton's eyes were twinkling with amusement as they met his favorite child's eyes. He was thinking, What a sweet child she is. She is our Angel. I know parents are not supposed to have favorites among their children, but when they are so different, what do you do? You love them all, but ... He vowed to himself, Whatever this meeting is about, whatever she wants, if it is in my power, I will see to it that she gets it.
Jennifer was staring at her sister with her "want to be anywhere but here" look.
She had her father's blue eyes, but the love and happiness that shone in her father's eyes were absent in Jennifer's eyes. Her eyes were ice cold. She had beautiful blonde hair, which she wore long. Jennifer was beautiful, tall, and slim with a body other young girls would die for. However, Jennifer was the epitome of the dumb blonde stigma.
And then there was Jason, who was being himself. He was having a meaningless telephone conversation with someone.
He had his hands behind his head and both feet on the table. Jason's eyes were also blue like their father's; unfortunately, he also had his father's mousy brown hair. His eyes were his best feature. He had dancing eyes, and he used them to his advantage.
Angelic wondered who Jason was talking with and if it was important. Jason's conversation did not appear to be ending soon, so Angelic said softly, "Jason." Jason grinned up at her and said into the telephone, "Gotta go," and hung up.
Angelic had been back in her room lying in her bed, staring up at the ceiling for thirty minutes. Her face was still red from her performance during the family meeting. She had acted out so badly until she was ashamed of herself. She knew she should not have requested a family meeting. She knew better. She had only herself to blame. But it was the only way to get to Chicago and to Charles, and she would do anything for him.
The meeting had been one disaster after another. Angelic had smiled at everyone as she took her seat. "All of you are well aware that I have wanted to be a doctor since I was a little girl," she began.
Jennifer stated in her voice she used when she is bored, "One has to care what you have wanted to do since you were a little girl. I don't care."
Angelic looked at her parents, pleading, "Dad, Mom, can we just have this meeting between us?"
Andriana smiled sadly at Angelic, "No, darling, you know the rules. A family meeting means everyone."
She glanced at her father for help. He only mouthed the word no.
Angelic began again. "Lately I have been inquiring at several colleges in Chicago because of their great medical program. Today I received a letter of acceptance from the University of Chicago. It is one of the best colleges, and it has one of the best medical departments, I believe, in the world." She had no idea if this was true or not.
Everyone appeared to be stunned. They were all staring at Angelic, but no one said anything. Andriana was the first to speak. "Angel, no, you don't mean Chicago, Illinois."
"Yes, Mom, I do." Angelic was the only one of Andriana's children to call her Mom; both Jason and Jennifer called her Mother.
"Oh but, darling, why in heaven's name would you want to go to Chicago? It is not a safe place. Certainly not for a young lady living alone without the protection of her parents. And why would you contact this college behind my back? I don't understand you, Angelic. You did so well this past year at college here, in fact, you did excellent.
You made the Dean's List every semester. Now you come up with this nonsense of going away, and of all places, Chicago. I don't want you to go away. I just don't."
The temper that Angelic worked so hard to control flared when her mother made the statement about her contacting the college behind her back. Her gray eyes flashed with anger as she looked at her mother. Any nasty statement that she was going to make died on her lips when she looked at her mother. Andriana's eyes were bright with tears that she was trying desperately to keep from falling. One tear rolled slowly down her cheek. She looked so sad until Angelic, being the kindhearted, affectionate person that she was, got up and went to her mother and wrapped her arms around her.
"Mom, you know I love you with all my heart. And you make me feel so special, so wanted, and so loved. That makes me feel good. But you must remember, Mom, I am a mature, grown woman now, and I need to make my own decisions that will affect my life and my future." Angelic kissed her mother on each cheek and added with a smile, "It is no disrespect to you or Dad, but I need to do this. And as Hattie always says, the chicken has to fly the coop someday." Angelic laughed out loud. She had a beautiful laugh, and her eyes turned bluish gray when she was tickled. She gave her mother a squeeze and said with a raised eyebrow, "Don't you think?" Angelic loved to quote other people whether they were famous or just a maid.
Andriana pulled away from Angelic and spoke harshly to her, "I am not interested in any of Hattie's old adages right now, Angelic. And as for you going to Chicago, I can tell you right now, you can--"
"So what else," interrupted her father firmly, "does that letter have to say, Red?"
Angelic turned eagerly to her father. She loved it when he called her Red. It meant he was not angry with her and was open to her request. Angelic loved her father very much. He was so understanding and patient with all his children. Angelic had the letter with her. She gave it to her father. Her father read the letter and folded it, but he did not give it back to Angelic. He smiled at her and stated, "This is a very impressive letter. Your mother and I will discuss this and will let you know our decision."
"Angelic," her mother said softly as she stood up and faced Angelic, "understand me now, no there will be no misunderstanding later. You are not going to Chicago. You will attend college here." Angelic's temper flared. She stood up and faced her mother. Gray eyes clashed with hazel ones. Angelic's eyes reflected anger only. However, in Andriana's eyes there was fear and anger. Angelic said, "I am going to Chicago, and neither you nor anyone else is going to stop me. I want you to understand that now so there will be no misunderstanding later." Tears were rolling down Angelic's cheeks because she knew what she was fighting for. However, she did a double take when she looked into her mother's eyes; they were filled with tears as well.
Andriana turned away. She stated as she started to walk away, "The decision is already made. You are not going to Chicago."
Angelic put her hand on her mother's arm to forestall her. She could feel herself getting out of control. She took a deep breath and tried to speak calmly. "This is very important to me, Mom. You have no right to stand in my way. There is absolutely nothing that is unusual about my wanting to attend college in Chicago." She looked first at her father then her mother. Her mother did not look as if she was going to give in. At this point, Angelic lost it. She became hysterical. She began to cry uncontrollably, moving her head from side to side. "You are refusing to understand my point of view. No! No!" she screamed. "I will not let you do this to me. I am going to Chicago." It was as if she had forgotten anyone else was in the room until she got in her mother's face and screamed, "And you or no one else is going to stop me. Do you hear meeeee!" she screamed. That is when her mother slapped her.
Angelic stared at her mother in shock. No one was as shocked as Andriana.
Richard looked at his wife in astonishment. Jennifer and Jason stared at their mother in total surprise. She never hit them, even when they were growing up and needed to be spanked.
"Ouch," Jason said.
"Shut up, Jason," Angelic said as she ran out of the room.
"Angelic." Andriana caught her daughter's arm. Angelic shook her hand off and kept running without acknowledging her.
After remembering the disastrous family meeting, Angelic had to smile. I know I acted like a fool, but what about Mom? I wonder what she was all about. Angelic couldn't stay angry long. She chuckled as she turned her thoughts to two years ago when Charles had kissed her for the first and only time. Now that she knew where he was, she was going to Chicago and get him and no one was going to stop her. Not her mother. Not that fiancée. Her body got hot all over as she thought of Charles. "I have loved him so much for so long," she said softly as she wrapped her arms around herself.
"Come in," Angelic called when she heard a knock at her door. She had been expecting her mother to come and apologize. But it was Jason who entered.
"How is your cheek, Angel?" She stared hard at him to see if he came to tease her or to make jokes. She wasn't in the mood. But he had a frown on his face and he was serious.
"I'm fine, but don't expect me to turn the other cheek anytime soon." Her eyes were shining with laughter.
Jason sat down in the only chair in Angelic's bedroom. "You know, I don't know what happened in there with Mother or you, for that matter. It appeared to me that both of you had hidden agendas. You are not telling the real reason why you want to go to Chicago. And Mother is not telling why she is so against the idea. You want to share with me why."
Angelic wasn't about to share with Jason the real reason she had to go to Chicago.
Instead she said, "Jason, there is nothing so unusual about my wanting to go away to college. Half of my class went away their first year of college. I stayed here. Now I want to go away. Maybe I should have gone away my first year. What I don't understand is why Mom is so out of control about it."
"Well anyway, you certainly have made my big news small," Jason said.
"What big news? Are you planning on going away too?"
"Well, yes. I have found a place in Los Angeles, and I am planning on moving at the end of the month. By my staying here for so long and working, not paying for my expenses, I have enough money saved until I find a job there. I was planning on having a family meeting Friday night to let everyone know."
"Oh, Jason, that is wonderful news. I think Mom is just against my going away and, for some reason, Chicago in particular. I wish I knew why. But why do you have to have a family meeting? Just tell all of us at dinner. Those family meetings never work out for anyone, especially me." Angelic and Jason were laughing when there was a tap on the door and their mother walked in.
"Talk with you later," Jason said as he stood up and left out of the door their mother had left open.
Andriana went to her youngest daughter and took her in her arms and kissed the same cheek that she had slapped a few minutes earlier. "You know I don't condone bad behavior any time, and you were out of control. I love you very much, sweetheart. But you already know that. Maybe you are right about what Hattie say about the chicken coop flying away or something," she said with a half-smile. "Your dad and I have been talking, and he has almost convinced me that this is right for you right now. I want to apologize for overreacting, And, darling, can you forgive me for slapping you? It's just that Chicago is not one of my favorite cities."
Angelic gave her mother one of her squeeze hugs. "That smack you gave me is already forgotten. I think maybe I needed it. I was out of control, and it brought me to my senses. I want to apologize for screaming all in your face." As she was hugging her mom, Angelic was trying to remember who was it that once said, "Forgiveness is the sweetest revenge."
After her mother left, Angelic thought about what Jason had shared. Her heart ached for him. Angelic knew that Jason was homosexual. She has known for a while.
She often wondered why her parents or his friends didn't know.
When she was about fourteen years old, she had followed Jason into the woods because he was acting so strange, looking around and ducking behind trees. She thought he had spotted her and was having fun with her, so she started hiding from him. He went deep into the woods in an area that they rarely went. A man was sitting on the ground with his back against a tree. He stood up when Jason stopped in front of him. He was taller than Jason and very handsome. He took Jason in his arms and started kissing him. Angelic knew she should leave, but she couldn't move. She had never encountered anything like this. She had never seen two men kissing. And then they did other things with each other that she didn't want to think about. She never told Jason or anyone what she had seen that day. But one thing she confirmed for herself that day was that Jason was gay.
She guessed he was off to California to get some of the pressure off him about dating. When she first started to realize he was gay, she tried to do some research about fraternal (dizygotic) twins and homosexuality. But she didn't find what she was looking for. She had read somewhere that a study showed that in 65 percent of twins, one and sometimes both are homosexual. However, there was more general data and research about identical twins. But since genetically fraternal twins are no closer to each other than common brothers, etc.... She didn't bother to finish reading the article.
Angelic's thoughts turned to Charles and the day she first met him.
CHAPTER 2It was a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon in June when Andriana's maid Hattie Jones's two sons, Bobby and John, and another boy who Andriana did not know came by to see if Jason wanted to go with them to pick blackberries and plums. Three-year-old Angelic and seven-year-old Jennifer were playing outside chasing butterflies. Angelic saw the boys first, and her curiosity got the best of her because there was a stranger with them. Angelic ran to the door where the boys were talking with Andriana. "So Hattie is going to bake pies for everyone," she was saying. Angelic pushed her way past the boys to wrap her arms around her mother's legs.
"Yes, she is," answered Bobby the oldest of the two. He was also two years older than Jason. "Mommy said the more of us that goes, the more berries we would pick, that way the more pies she could make. And she said if any berries are left, she is going to make blackberry jam, and you know how Jason loves jam. So she told us to come get him. She said he may not fill up his pail, but what little he picks would help, that is, if he doesn't eat them all." They all started to laugh.
Andriana smiled. "I see. Well, let me get Jason. He is in his room."
All the while Andriana was talking with the boys, Angelic was smiling and waving to the older boy. He winked at her—first one eye then the other. She tried to wink back at him, but she could only manage to close and open her eyes. She was still flirting with him when her mother returned with Jason.
Jason did not hesitate but went on outside with the boys and was getting ready to go when Angelic decided she wanted to go as well. She looked up at her mother with a pleading look in her eyes. "I want to go and pick bwerry."
"No, baby, you can't go. It's only the boys, so there is no one to look after you." Angelic started to cry. The other boy who was with Bobby and John spoke up.
"We can look after her if you don't mind her going. I will see to it."
(Continues...)
Excerpted from And in Time by Lavern Moore-Bishop. Copyright © 2014 Lavern Moore-Bishop. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing.
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