Then Sings My Soul Page 22
"Donald!" Hazel drew in her breath. She felt as if she'd been punched in the stomach.
"What did you say, Momma?" Shanell asked.
"Nothing." It's over she whispered to herself as she said a silent prayer for him. Tomorrow, I'll take this envelope to the police and tell them everything I know.
Chapter 49 -Tricia - Graduation Day
I can't believe it! It's finally over. I mean over. This is the beginning and ending of something. What I mean to say is I'm done with high school - that's the ending. It's also the beginning. I called that number Kanisha gave me. I auditioned for a record producer and would you believe, I get to make a demo next week? I've decided that even if I do make it in the music business, I'm seriously thinking about going to college in the fall. Maybe I'll major in fashion design. It's just a thought. And Darien; He's out there sitting with Momma, her boyfriend Kevin, Shanell and Ma’dear. He wants to take me out after the program.
Ma’dear's gotten a lot better; well enough to come to my graduation. Uncle Melvin and his wife bought a house and want Ma’dear to come and stay with them. Momma told them Ma’dear's staying with us. Whatever the problem was between them, it was resolved. Would you believe Shanell had a hand in it? It seems that Nell read Ma’dear's diary and showed it to Momma. At first Momma was angry at her for reading Ma'dear's diary, but then she said she felt relieved and ashamed for all she'd put her mother through. When I asked her about it, she just said she'd tell me one day. I guess I'll never learn the details.
Oh yes, that business with Donald is over. We thought he'd been killed in a car crash, but about a week later, after Momma had gone to the police with the papers he'd given her, the senator was arrested for murder. Momma got this long distance collect call from Ghana and who should it be but Donald. He said he'd faked the crash to get the senator off his back. As far as everyone is concerned, he's dead and he wants it to stay that way. He's off on another hair brain scheme—this time in Africa. He told Momma she could keep the money. Thank goodness because she'll need it until she finds another job.
As far as that black book is concerned, Momma told us the book contained names of prominent business men and politicians, dates and phone numbers, and money paid to call girls. All in code. Sounds like a bad B movie. Anyway, Donald's partner Mr. Foster had set up an escort service and when it fell through, he started blackmailing some of the clients. Somehow the book disappeared along with $10,000. Donald stole it from his partner, of course. Before anyone could pay him off, Mr. Foster was murdered and Donald, the jerk, disappeared leaving Momma holding the bag. And then...
"Tricia, stop daydreaming, you're on."
"Now for a special treat. One of our most talented students, Tricia Porter, will sing a song she wrote for the graduating class."
About the Author
Anna Christian was born in New York but has spent most of her adult life in California. A retired high school and community college instructor, her first book, Meet it, Greet it, an Defeat it, The Biography of Frances E. Williams, Actress/Activist, was published in 1999. It was Mrs. Williams' inspiring life and her motto "Just Do It!" which motivated the author to keep this unsung hero's memory alive. She has since written and published five more books, Daniel's Wife, fiction/contemporary women; Mrs. Griffin is Missing and Other Stories, and The Newcomer, Bobby and Sonny Mystery Series for preteens; The Big Table, a children's picture book; Then Sings My Soul is her latest novel. Christian is the recipient of the 1999 Research and Status of Black Women in the Arts award from the Southern California Conference Branch, Women's Missionary society of the AME Church. She loves to travel and has visited Canada, Mexico, Africa, Caribbean, China, Thailand, Central and South America, and Australia and the South Pacific Islands.
Contact Information:
Anna Christian
P.O. Box 1266
Moreno Valley, Ca. 92556-1266
email: anadoodlin@yahoo.com
Websites: http://anachristian.com
http://francesplace.org