Another Good News Interruption

Hello, all! I hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday morning so far. Now I know this is a little last minute, but just in case anyone is interested I'll be updating my author's fb page periodically today with information about my novella (there may even be a little unexpected information). I'll be answering questions and reading comments through out the day so, if you have some free time and want to check out my posts, you can find my author fb page here:

https://www.facebook.com/NatashaLaneAuthor?ref=hl

Please, feel free to stop in any time and chat. I'll be looking forward to hearing from you all! In advance, thanks for the support and see ya on facebook. :)

P.S. If you were wondering, the picture in this post has nothing to do with the novel, but I think its pretty funny! My bestie is hilarious!

Throwback: My Apple Tree (pt 8)

  " Ginger Bread! Ginger Bread, where you at?" I heard my father's voice calling for me from the inside of his store. I had returned home form college for the summer and was sweeping the sidewalk when I turned and ran into the store with broom in hand. He was sitting behind the counter.
  " Yeah, Daddy," the words still seemed awkward on my tongue even after three years.
  " Can you go get a box for me from the attic? It's the one marked 'Apartment Storage'."
  I nodded, "Yes, Daddy." I turned and headed towards the attic. I went around the corner and reached to pull the attic stairs down. They creaked as I walked up them. As soon as my head poked through the small square my eyes stung from the dust. "How long has it been since he's been up here?" I thought as the dust then traveled down my wind pipe and I began to cough. After getting past the dust wall I finally stepped into the attic which was full of nothing, but boxes. I sighed and went on my search.

"Storage...storage...where is it? Aha!" I grabbed up the box labeled "Storage" and there was a thud as several other boxes fell. A small box nearby fell over scattering newspapers on the floor.I grunted and put the "Storage" box down. I bent down to pick up the newspapers. There was a picture of a woman on the front of a clipping. I stared at her, trying to figure out why she looked so familiar. Then, I realized she was my mother. Fifteen years. It had been fifteen years since I had last seen her. Fifteen years since I had seen her high cheek bones and bright eyes. Her slim shoulders and wide smile.

 I placed my hand on her face. The picture of her face, I mean but it was the closest I'd been to her in so long. I let my fingers run across the photo,trying to get some feeling from it. I felt nothing. "Mommy." I picked the clipping up and read the head line. I became numb. " Local Woman Found Dead In Alley." I snatched the clipping up and ran to my Father. "What is this?" I slammed it on the counter. He lowered his head and a shadow cast over his face. Guilt.

  "I was going to tell you, baby."
  "Tell me what? That my mother's dead! When? When were you going to tell me?" I could feel my breathing getting heavier.
   " I....I..your mother...she was sick. She had been hanging around the wrong people and-"
   "How was she sick? Was it..was it the flu or what?!"
   "The drugs made her sick." He looked up at me, waiting for a reaction but I was stoic. "Ya mother..she was...she was a crack addict."

Childhood memories of my mother flashed through my mind.A She was beautiful. She was bright with flawless skin, thick dark hair and eyes that could see me. Only me.

A few tears ran down his cheeks. I couldn't believe the words I was hearing.

"A crack head? My Mama....no..she......" My Dad tried to reach for me but I pulled back. "Is that what killed her? The drugs?"
 "No," he wiped a hand across his face.
"Then, what? Was she in an accident?"
He sighed and looked away from at the floor. " Somebody murdered ya mama, Ginger."
"What!" My voice came out in a shriek and my hand began to shake. "Who..why.....WHO KILLED MY MOTHER?"
 "They let him go."
"Who?" I repeated myself.
"He's a drug dealer from around here. Ya mother met him a few years back and...he got her hooked. She just went..she just...they call him JD-"
"Where can I find him?"
"Ginger Bread, no." He leapt from his chair and reached for my arm, but I would not be stopped. I ran out the store and though the sky was a light orange all I saw was red.

Throwback: My Apple Tree (pt7)

I sat at the kitchen table with my hands folded. The head of the house sat across from me. We were waiting on my teacher, Ms. Dawson. She said she wanted to speak to me and the head of the house immediately. Something about some news she wanted to deliver in person. My stomach was churning like butter and my palms were wetter than the Mississippi River.

 What news was so important she had to deliver it in person? Had I done something? Were they putting me out? I held in a sigh. I liked school. The teachers were nice and friendly. I learned something everyday and school opened my eyes to the world. Before I went to school I had only heard of places like Paris, Rome and India. In my mind they were dreams, far away places I could never reach, but going to school Ms. Dawson taught me that they weren't as far way as I thought. They were just in my reaching distance all I had to do is work hard to get there. I pictured myself sitting by the Eiffel Tower. A beauty and a beast.

 "Ms. Lewis," my teacher came through the door. She greeted the head of house and then turned to me with a smile, "Hello, Ginger. How are you?"
 "Fine," I replied simply. Ms. Lewis offered her a seat and she accepted. After being seated she shined her sparkling white teeth at me. " I have some good new to tell you."
"She ain't flunk out, did she?" Ms. Lewis questioned me with a weary eye.
 My teacher looked surprised. She shook her head, "No! The complete opposite actually. Ginger is doing fantastic. Haven't you've seen any of her report cards?"
 Ms. Lewis starred at the floor, " I think I may have misplaced them."
 Dawson nodded with a solemn face. She didn't believe a word the woman said. She turned back to me, " Ginger,do you remember the test you took about a month ago?" I nodded.
 She continued, " Well, we just got your scores back."
 "She failed." Lewis interjected.
 My teacher gave her a disapproving side glance, " You received a perfect score."
I could nearly see the delight oozing out of her. I just stared at her, " I guess that's good then?"
"Ginger, thats more than good. It's amazing! Do you know how many colleges you can get into now! They'll nearly be begging for you even if you come from a colored school. Just think from high school to college and from there to India, Paris, Rome and anywhere else you want to go!"
 Little tingles crawled up my toes to my legs and shot out across my body. Before I knew what I was doing, I had my arms wrapped around Ms. Dawson and we were both screaming and jumping around like the world was coming to an end. But we weren't scared. We were ecstatic.
 ":How she gonna pay for it?" the head of house rained on our parade. I could feel myself get soaked.
 My teacher turned to her, "There are scholarships and schools wouldn't mind paying for such a bright young girl."
 "And my Daddy can help too!" I said trying to dry off.
Ms. Lewis took a cigarette from her pocket and lit it. "Ya Daddy ain't got no college money."
She walked out of the kitchen,leaving me alone with Ms. Dawson. I felt a soft hand on my shoulder. Ms. Dawson looked down at me, " See, thats the problem with folks. If they down they want to drag everyone down with them. Ginger, you're going to college. I don't care if you're rich or poor. You're going because you worked hard for it and deserve it."

I spoke to my Father later that night. I told him everything my teacher had said. He just have me a few "Uh huhs" and "Rights". When I was done  I asked him, "So what do you think, Dad?" For a minute he was silent and I thought he was thinking I was a fool, but then he cleared his throat and said, " I told you you was smart like ya Mama. I'm going to send my baby girl to college." No sweeter words had ever been spoken.

A Good News Interruption

Hello, readers! Do you see that face? That is the face of a girl who is both scared and excited! Why? Because I am now a writer for the publishing house Book to Go Now (BTGN). They have decided to publish my novella "A Meeting at the Grocery Store" and when I thought of an image to express how I was feeling, this was the only one that came to mind.

I will continue to post on this blog because not only do I love writing on here, but I think you guys actually like what I write (or at least I hope). :) If you want to keep updated on my novella and the whole publication process, you can like my author facebook page. Here's the link:

https://www.facebook.com/NatashaLaneAuthor?ref=hl

I'll be posting about my book, the publication process and all the other craziness I expect, as I go on this journey. I hope you all will join me and thanks for the support!

P.S. Sorry for interrupting the short story and feel free to let me know what you think about it! Until next time!

Throwback: My Apple Tree (pt 6)

I placed my pencil aside and waited for my class mates to finish the test. There  wasn't anything to look at except the wall. It was cold, hard and blank. Just like me. After Thomas was taken to the local jail, he was charged, sentenced and transported to a prison farther up north. Word was that he was serving life.

My thoughts drifted to the last time I had seen Thomas. He was wide eyed, holding onto the bar windows and being taken away an innocent man though he would be charged as if he was already guilty. From that moment I knew I was never meant to be happy. Everything in my life had been taken away from me. Everyone I loved. My mother, my grandmother,my home, the apple tree, Charollette, Jeremy and now Thomas. My eyes stung with tears and I balled my fists trying to be strong,but I wasn't. I wasn't strong. I was weak and dead inside because what was the point of living when you had no one to care about? And when there was no one to care about you?

 The bell rang. I got up and left out of the class room,not really feeling the other kids as they pushed me aside. The warm spring sun hit my face, but that warmth did not warm my body. The school I attended was only a few blocks from home. The other girls wouldn't get home for a few hours. I didn't know where they went or what they did. One time I tried to follow them, but didn't have the courage to go all the way. All I saw was one girl, Courtney, kissing some boy. My first instinct was to run away, but I stayed. I watched as their lips felt one another.  As their soft light flesh melted together like butter and as they explored the others mouth. I had never been kissed by a boy until I met Thomas and when we kissed I didn't even get to enjoy it. How could a girl enjoy her first kiss when the boy she loved was behind bars? So close, but so far because she'd never be able to touch him?

I felt my lips," And I'll never get the chance to kiss him again." I said to myself. I looked up. The house was just coming into my sight. I'd go in, do my homework,eat dinner alone,probably suffer some teasing at the hands of the other girls and go to sleep with tears in my heart like I did every night. Life was becoming a schedule,a routine with no glimpses of happiness in it. "I must be cursed," I thought at the corner. " Everyone I care about....something bad happens to them. Is that why Mother left me?"

"Excuse me," said a voice from behind me. I turned around to come face to face with a man well into his forties. He was a good height with dark skin, soft eyes, broad shoulders and a thick head of hair. I took in a deep breath. He smelled like honey suckles.

 "Yes,Sir, " I said to him.
He smiled, "Well, I can tell you've been raised right."
"Thank you, Sir. Can I help you?"
"Young Lady, by any chance is your name Ginger?"
 I nodded , "Yes, Sir. May I ask who you are?"
 "Ginger A. Cooper?"
 " How do you know my name?"
 He grinned, "I'm your Daddy."

 "Mr. Cooper, you have to understand it will take a few months before the paper work can run through. After, it's all checked out then you may be able to take your daughter home." said the House Mistress.
 My Father nodded, " Alright, fine. I don't see why it should take that long? She's my kin after all and I gotta enough money to support her. My convenience store brings in more than enough."
The mistress put on a strained smile, " Of course,but your daughter just finished taking the SAT. We want to get her results back before she leaves. This is her senior year in high school, you know?"
 Daddy nodded, "Yeah, I know. I'm sure she got a perfect score! My girl's smart as a whip just like her Mama."
 My heart stopped. I turned to him, "Is Mama with you?" I could see the lines in his face sink.
" Naw. Mama's not with me."
 "Where is she?" I asked as if I didn't already know the answer.
 The excitement in his eyes died down, "I don't know. I saw her about a year or so ago. Came to the store, saying she wanted to get you back. I had been thinking 'bout it too so we talked for awhile and then she said she'd be right back. She left and...well, I haven't seen her since." Guilt ran through his face like a knife through butter.
 I had to ask him, " Why'd you leave Daddy? Mama never told me why. I thought you just didn't love us enough. Why'd you leave me and Mama to rot, Daddy?" I didn't even realize I was crying. He stared at me wide eyed, coughed and straightened his tie.
" I was scared, Ginger. I was young, dumb and scared. Now I know it's gonna be hard for you to forgive ya Daddy, but I want you to know that there wasn't a day that wen by that I ain't think about my little girl. Oh, Ginger.I saw you when you was born. You was so tiny...could barely open your little eyes. Ha! "He was quite for a moment. "But when you did...when you opened you eyes and I saw how big and bright they were....like stars....I knew, I knew I ain't deserve you." He covered his face with two big hands, but I could still see the salty liquid fall from his eyes. "I'm sorry, Ginger," he broke through his sobs, "I'm sorry,but I'm ready now. I probably still don't deserve you, but I'm ready to take care of you now. And I promise I ain't never gonna leave you again, Baby Girl."
I reacted on instinct. Something in me told me to hug this man. My father, a stranger. I needed to wrap my scrawny arms around his big body and let him know that I forgave him. He hugged me back and I don't think I have ever been so relieved to hug someone in my life. It was just from that moment I knew I wasn't going to be so alone in life anymore. I thanked God because it could only be him that gave me the gift of sharing life with another.

Throwback: My Apple Tree (pt 5)

 After that there wasn't a day that Thomas and I didn't meet. I'd be laying in the grass or resting on a tree when he'd come by the gate. For awhile we would sit and chat about little things like the weather, how our day was going or the group home.

 Thomas would come to see me after the other girls had gone in, but one day he came over early with a bag in hand. He came over expecting to see me, but I was nowhere to be found. He looked around the yard. There was a group of girls a bit farther down the gate. Thomas sneaked over to them and cleared his throat. The girls stared up at him.

He smiled, " How ya doing?" They nodded silently.
One of the girls spoke up and said, " I'm doing just fine. How about you?" She let her eyes twinkle and fluttered her lashes.
 Thomas gave her a nervous smile, "The same. I was wondering if you girls knew where Ginger was?"
 Their smiles faded. The girl spoke again. She said, "Why would you want to talk to her?"
 "Well, no disrespect girls, but I don't see how that's any of your business. Now would ya mind calling her over for me?"
 The girl shrugged, "Come on, y'all. Lets get the mute." The trio walked away while Thomas waited by the gate.
The girls appeared in the dining hall. Our eyes met and I waited for them to lay on their onslaught of insults. Instead, they marched up to me and said, "Some boy's outside looking for you."
I paused, wondering if this was a trick.
The leader rolled her eyes. "Well, what are you waiting for? Get outta here ya little mute."
I quickly finished my dishes and ran outside to meet Thomas.
 "Are you trying to kill me?" I questioned when he was in hearing distance.
 "What you talking 'bout, Ginger Bear?"
I sighed, "Look, I like talking to you, but those girls...they hate me. If they knew that...that we were friends then they'd tell the House Mother for sure. I'd be relocated and-"
 "Why they hate you?"
 I shrugged, " Don't seem like most people like me no matter where I go." My eyes fell to the floor and I clenched onto the fence. Realizations of oneself is never easy.
" Hey, look Ginger Bear. Look," his finger trailed across my face. I looked up. He smiled, "I like you. I like you a lot. Hell, you could even say I-" He stopped short the joy fading from his face.
I frowned, "Might say what, Thomas?"
 He shook his head, " Nothing. Look the reason I came over so early was to give you this. I know you probably thought I forgot your birthday, but I didn't so here ya go."
 He handed me a bag. The sweet aroma filled my nostrils and my heart.
" Cinnamon cookies and hazel doughnuts." I said with the sun in my eyes.
 "I came over early to give them to ya fresh. The baker only makes a few batches of them once a day. I wanted to get the first and fresh batch. Sorry, if I caused you any trouble."
 "No,no," I said, "Thank you, Thomas. It's been over a year since I've had these. I didn't mean to get mad I just don't want us to get into trouble."
 He nodded, "I know. I've gotta be getting back soon anyway. Will ya meet me when we come out?" I nodded. "Bye then,"he said.
 "Bye," I returned. I watched as Thomas walked away across the street. "I'll wait for you." I held the bag to her chest.

 I sat waiting for Thomas in our usual spot. I took a bit of the hazel doughnut and closed my eyes as the sugar glazed my tongue. I remembered my mother. How warm and loving she was. How she'd take me in her arms and hold me close. She would do all that and more until she left me, her daughter.
I opened my eyes, full of tears, only to discover two boys staring at me.
 "Are you Ginger?" they asked.
I stood up, "Who are you? Where's Thomas?"
"That's what we came to tell you,"one boy said, "Thomas can't meet you."
 My heart fell, "Why? Is he alright?"
"The Sheriff and deputy took him in for murder."
"Murdering who?" I launched myself at the gate, "Who did he kill?"
"They saying he killed some farmer's daughter when he went into town."
"Tom wouldn't do that," said the other boy.
 "They took him to the jail?" I asked. The boys nodded.
 "Alright then," I said. I moved from the tree and turned towards the group home to walk. When I was a few feet away from the fence I spun around on my heels and ran like the devil was right behind me. With a hard push from my foot, I was jumping into the air and leaping over the gate. The top edges of the fence ripped my dress, but the only thing that mattered was the thing that I was so close to losing forever.
Thomas.
Everything was a blur. I was running past the local diner when my mind went into shock. I looked to my right and saw a police wagon with Thomas in the back. I ran over to the car and jumped onto the back.
 "Thomas!" I hissed.
 "Ginger," he appeared from a dark corner of the van.
 "What are you doing here?"
 "I'm here to see you! I know you didn't kill that little girl. They made a mistake. We just gotta tell the Sheriff that-"
 Thomas shook his head, "I didn't kill anyone but they ain't going to believe that no matter what I or you say.  I'm going to be going away for a while, Ginger Bear."
 "No," I could feel the tears filling my throat, "no. You gottta stay Thomas. What am I suppose to do? You're my only friend. I'll talk to the Sheriff and tell him what you said. You're not a murderer! I know you're not.  I'll find the real murderer myself if I have to."
 "No," he growled, "Don't go getting yaself killed over me. Whoever murdered that girl I don't want you around them."
 "But, Thomas, what are we suppose to do? We can't just taking this sitting down. I'm not a coward and you ain't either. I can't-" His lips met mine. I could feel everything in my body go cold. Everything except my heart which was burning hotter than ever. I pulled away and looked at him, not sure what to say.
 "I love you, Ginger."
I searched his eyes for something. I wasn't sure what though.
 "Come on, Sheriff we gotta take this boy up."
 "Alright, I'm coming, Deputy." I watched as the Sheriff and Deputy left the diner. I gave Thomas a quick glance before dashing into a corner. They came and got in the truck. The engine started and the car drove off. I ran from my hiding spot and got one last look at Thomas as he was sped down the road and for the first time in my life, I cried.