Who is Celinda Grey?

By Aswad

Black. Business and Beauty!

Welcome to the wild world of Celinda Grey! From World Famous Super Model to High Powered Business Woman!

From the Projects to the Paris Runways!

Coming from the rough Projects of Washington DC to the Paris Runway is no easy journey.

Becoming a world famous Super Model, Celinda is thrown into the world of glamour and beauty that she always drea

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aswad
• Release date: Feb 6, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465758576

Aswad

I've seen a lot. Too much. How we treat each other as human beings seems to have fallen by the wayside as we gaze into our individual screens as we walk down the street. It seems more important to film somebody bleeding on the ground, than to help somebody bleeding on the ground. We are a society that puts locks on trash cans filled with food, and fines the unemployed and homeless for being unemployed and homeless. We attack and legislate against people who don't love, eat, dress or even sleep the same as we do. These are the types of stories I like to tell. These are the stories I think need to be told. I was gainfully employed until March 2009. I was the hardest working Temp in Portland, Or. from 2005 to 2009. Then I got "the call". Don't come back. No longer needed. Not going permanent. I spent all of the rest of the year and most of the next sending out resumes and going to the three interviews I got from them. No job. Then I go "the call" from the Unemployment Office. We can' renew you, you've been unemployed more than 99 weeks. After loosing my apartment, 95 % of everything I owned, 100% of my savings and my cat of 13 years (the only thing that mattered) I entered into a miasma of couch surfing and demeaning welfare appointments in Los Angeles. I asked myself; "Is this it? Is this what I worked all this time for?" I came in early, stayed late, wore a shirt and tie and my pants were pulled up! Why don't I have a job? I decided I wasn't taking this lying down. I'd written three ebooks, I could write more. I started an Internet Radio Show for the Unemployed; The New 99er on Blog Talk Radio. I will have a home again. I will have what I've always wanted. And what I've always wanted can't be outsourced. I don't do lazy.

Book preview

Who Is Celinda Grey?

By Aswad

Copyright 2012 Aswad

Published by Aswad at Smashwords

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of this author.

Chapter One

Damn it’s cold! she thought to herself as she stepped off the plane.

Having a private plane had its advantages, but Mother Nature doesn’t care how much money you have at two A.M. in the morning.

Welcome back, Ms.Grey.

Thank you, Jim. is the car ready?

Yes, Ma’am. This way.

Celinda pulled her grey mink cape closer around her slim neck to ward off the chill.

Reminds me of D.C. She thought to herself.

A slim, smoke-grey limousine glided smoothly to a stop. Jim jogged around to the passenger side to open the door for his mistress.

Home, Jim.

Yes, Ma’am

Celinda Nefertiti Grey removed her cape, her dark glasses and leaned back against the soft leather and sighed. She was exhausted. It had been a long trip back from Paris. It had been a long trip from the Projects.

***

Celinda! Celinda girl! Get your narrow behind in this house now!

But Mama! It’s still light out!

I don’t care, Missy! You get yourself in here and wash up for dinner! You here me?

Yes, Ma’am.

Even at sixteen years old, Celinda knew better than to argue with her mother. She’d been out on the stoop with the neighborhood girls all afternoon. Skipping rope. Telling stories and dreaming dreams.

Celinda was the biggest dreamer of them all.

Her mother was always telling her so. Her Mother was also telling her stop it.

Cain’t no dreams come true where we come from, Missy! So don’t you go gettin’ your hopes up! Yes, that’s what Mama used to say.

Mamma spoke from hard, bitter experience.

Lucinda Grey had given birth to two children. One in her own bed, in her own apartment, in the Sojourner Truth Projects in the early sixties.

She and Johnny Grey, her first and only husband, had been what Black folks called Po. They were so poor they couldn’t afford the other O and R.

Lucinda worked as a domestic for a white family in the better half of Washington, D.C. In the early sixties, the better half of town meant the white half of town.

Lucinda hated the work. It wasn’t that the Manning’s were a bad sort. It was just that Lucinda had better things in mind for herself and her family.

And besides, she was a stubborn woman.

Lucinda didn’t want to mop floors. She wanted to be an actress. Like Dorothy Dandridge or Leena Horne.

She wanted to be in Technicolor. She wanted to be on the Silver Screen ten feet tall, with her name in lights.

But that wasn’t going to happen. Her own mother had been a domestic up until her death. Scrubbing floors for white women while they had teas and pretended she

wasn’t in the room.

The Manning’s acted the same toward her. But at least they called her by her right name. Which was more than her Mother had gotten.

She actually had gone to a few auditions. But she didn’t have much self-esteem. The second time a Casting Director told her she was too dark, she ran away in tears.

Straight back to the Manning’s house. And her mop and broom. The dirty diapers. The shattered dreams.

There was no way she was going to let her Daughter go through all that.

Celinda was all she had left. Belinda had run off, God knows where. Never called. Never wrote.

Didn’t she know family was the most important thing in the world? Especially for Black folks?

She worried about her eldest Daughter constantly. Where was she? What was she doing?

Lucinda knew what the world was about. And she had no intentions of letting those things happen to her children. It made her very protective of Celinda. Maybe a little too much so.

Sit down, your dinners getting cold.

Yes, Ma’am Where’s daddy?

Working. Where do you think?

If there was one thing Johnston Johnny Grey was good for, it was bringing home the bacon.

Johnny was what you would call, a Good Church-goin’ man.

As a matter of fact, that’s where Johnny met Lucinda, at a Church social.

Johnston Grey had dreams too. He was the eldest of four boys. But fate, illness, and the streets conspired against him to crush his dreams early on.

His family had a house in the decent part of town.

Basically it was a subdivision of Black professionals that the evening news didn’t seem to know existed.

Doctors, Lawyers and Accountants could all be seen leaving their stylish homes at precisely the same time everyday. Johnny’s Father was a doctor.

Life was good for the Grey’s for a while. But then a pox seemed to settle on their house.

Johnny’s oldest brother, a gang member, shot down in the streets. The twins, Jim and Joshua, both succumbed to a strange form of cancer that seemed to run in the family. They both died on the same day.

The toll all this took on Johnny’s parents could not be fathomed.

One day Johnny woke up to find out that his Mother was gone. Just gone. She had taken not a blouse, not a toothbrush, not a suitcase. She was never heard from again.

Johnny’s Father, Johnston Senior, fell into a deep depression. It was really more than he could bear. Here he was a doctor and he couldn’t save his own family from illness.

And that left, Johnny. All alone.

After his part-time job at the Bus Station after school, he had no one to talk to. His Father would come home from the office and sit in front of the TV watching the Ed Sullivan Show, and drinking.

Johnny would go for long, lonely walks. He had no idea what he was going to do.

He thought of going into the Army. Many young Black men in the neighborhood were doing it. They said it was a great opportunity for Blacks and even paid for college.

He stopped in at a local Church Service and just cried.

The place felt safe. Warm. Welcoming. A place where he could share his feelings and not be ashamed.

He joined the Youth Committee and worked on Youth Outreach.

It was at one of these Youth Committee Church Socials that he met Lucinda. Some saw her as dumpy and plain. But to Johnny Grey, she was a vision.

She was a solidly built young woman, with the darkest smoothest skin he had ever seen. And a smile that could melt the coldest heart. He noticed her the minute she walked into the gym where the Social was being held.

He asked her to dance. She said no.

Lucinda felt that she was not attractive enough for this good-looking Church boy. But he was persistent.

During a slow dance, Johnny said, Girl, you the prettiest thing I seen in my life!

She immediately burst into tears. No man had told her that before. Not in her entire life. Not even her Father.

They danced the night away. Fast. Slow. Everything in-between.

Baby Love by Diana Ross and the Supremes became their song. He sang it to her. Every word. She laughed out loud. Johnny was a terrible singer!

Later he walked her home. He stumbled over his words at her front door. Not knowing what to say. She was the first girl he had ever had feelings for. It was all very new to him.

Well then. Uh. ‘Night!

And with that, he placed a brotherly peck on her cheek and dashed down the sidewalk before she had a chance to say anything.

Over the next three months there would be more Church Dances. Socials. Ice Cream. Long walks. And more ice cream. Lucinda protested that she as getting fat from all that ice cream.

Oh girl! Don’t you be worrin’ about that, now! I like my women healthy! Johnny would say, pinching her bottom

She giggled. He always knew how to make her laugh.

He proposed to her one fine Sunday afternoon after Church.

She looked pretty in pink and white.

He had taken the time to put a pink carnation in the lapel of his blue Sunday suit. They looked married already.

I… um. I was thinkin’ Ms. Lucinda, we been together now for a while, and I was thinkin’…

At the rate he was sweating his Sunday suit wouldn’t be his Sunday best much longer.

What is it your trying to say Johnny?

He wished this weren’t so hard. He had no idea how to do this. And then it came to him to just do it like the white guys did in the movies.

He got down on one knee and looked up at her imploringly. He took the little black velvet box from his pocket. He’d picked it up at Woolworth’s yesterday. It was only a little $5 Dime Store ring, but to her it looked like the Star of Africa.

Oh! Oh Johnny! Does this mean what I think it means?

Uh huh! Eloquent as ever.

She burst into tears and threw her arms around his neck and screamed, Yes! Yes! Yes! I’ll marry you!

Given both of their circumstances, their marriage was as plain as possible.

Lucinda treated herself to a beautiful white dress with lace trim, ivory gloves and matching hat.

Johnny wore his good blue Sunday suit. After a good airing out of course.

After the I do’s were said, Johnny convinced Lucinda to move in with him and his Father. She agreed of course. She had no reason not too. After a month, she wished she’d had thought twice.

Johnny’s Father treated Lucinda like a piece of furniture.

The day of their wedding, Johnny brought her home for introductions. His Father barely looked up from the TV and gave a rather non-committal grunt as a welcome.

I’m pleased to meet you Mr. Grey! Lucinda tried to sound chipper, but the man made her nervous. There was deadness to his eyes. She felt like she was talking to a ghost.

It’s Doctor Grey! And get me another drink! You’re going to make yourself useful around here Missy!

This had made her tremble. But she wanted to get along with her new Father-in-law, so she did as she was told.

As a matter-of-fact, she became the new woman of the house. She didn’t really have much choice.

Since Johnny’s Mother had left, and all his Father did was drink, the house keeping fell by the way side.

Johnny had finished school by the time of his marriage so he took a job as an apprentice mechanic at the bus depot. He was working on getting a job as a Driver. He liked the hours and the money was better. He wanted to move out of his Father’s house and into a place of his own where he and Lucinda could start their family.

His Father on the other hand, slipped deeper and deeper into despair.

He mortgaged the house, and sank all the money into a phony scheme for Black skin care products.

Unfortunately his business partner knew nothing about dermatology and everything about swindling.

A year later, all his savings were gone, and the bank was sending him foreclosure notices once a month.

Dr. Grey? Sir? Is everything all right?

Lucinda had kept her mouth shut for a year and a half now. She and Johnny’s Honeymoon had been brief to say the least. A weekend actually.

They’d driven to Maryland for crabs and dancing. They’d made love. They’d lay in bed almost an entire Sunday and planned their future life together.

Johnny had promised her the house to raise her babies in. His Father wouldn’t be around much longer, and he felt he deserved the house since after all; he had lived in it all his life.

No! Everything ain’t all right! Damn, you can be a dumb girl sometimes!

Dr. Grey had never once hit Lucinda in all the time she had known him. But he yelled and screamed at her relentlessly. Somehow she wished he’d just hit her and get it over with. The words he used hurt her more than any physical wound ever could.

Dr. Grey… it’s not that I mean to pry, it’s just that the mail has been piling up and you got a call from Mr. Whitman down to the bank again!

I don’t give a damn, girl! Why don’t you just stay out my business?

But this house is my business! Johnny and I are going to raise our babies here!

A look of incredulousness spread across the good doctor’s face. As if someone had just told him the sky was purple.

Oh is that right Missy? Oh is that the case now? You marry up with my boy, my last boy, and you expect to be dropping little babies around here like you own the place is that it?

Well no but…

But what, woman? You one of them new liberated types isn't ya? Ain’t ya?" He bellowed at her.

Lucinda could smell his breath. Rancid as usual. He’d been drinking since noon. He had less and less clients since no one wanted a drunk for a doctor.

She may not have been liberated but she was fast getting to know the difference between liberated and inebriated.

All I’m trying to say is that don’t you think you should get things in order? The man at the bank says if you just make one payment he can stop the foreclosure!

She was only trying to help, but this made him even more furious.

What? Whatcu'’ doin’ talkin’ to the bank? Thas’ my business!!

I wasn’t talkin’ to the man, I was taking a message! For you! Somebody has to since you damn sure don’t do nuthin’ round here but drink and watch that damn TV!

She knew she was going too far. into hallowed territory. But she was getting mad too. And she was scared. She had seen what happened to Black folks who had no houses and had wound up in the projects. All her other dreams had long since died; she wasn’t going to have this house follow them.

You are one dumb-assed girl! You know that? There ain’t nuthin’ can be done! Nothin!

What…? What do you mean?

I mean there ain’t no money left in this house girl! Only that little tinny ass paycheck that Johnny brings home every week. Thas’ it! Thas’ all! Don’t you get it?

But… you’re a doctor! Doctors have money…! Don’t they?

She realized how she sounded. She was beginning to actually feel like a dumb girl.

I had money, girl. I had money. It’s gone. Bastard swindled me out of it. Can’t believe I was taken by one of my own people. My own people...damn it!

Lucinda gasped. Maybe she was a dumb girl. She had never heard of a Black person swindling another Black person.

There was a long silence while Dr. Grey stewed over this revelation. While Lucinda fretted out loud.

But what about my babies…?

Girl, would you stop going on about your damned babies?  I don’t care if you have babies or puppies, cause this house is gone!

Lucinda just stood there dumb-founded while he ranted and raved.

And anyway, who would want to see your babies anyway? They wouldn’t be nuthin’ but a bunch more dark-ass little pickininnies. Jus’ like you.

Lucinda opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out.

All her life people had called her dark and ugly. As if there was anything she could do about it. Then she realized there was something she could do about it.

She walked into the room she shared with Johnny, laid down on the bed, and cried.

***

There’s a traffic jam up ahead Ms. Grey! Do you want me to go to surface streets?

Yes Jim. Take the scenic route. I love the city at this hour of the night.

Yes, Ms. Grey.

Celinda leaned back once again and watched the rainfall. The rain always brought back memories for Celinda. Both good and bad.

She reached into her purse and pulled out the Cable Gram again.

She couldn’t remember how many times she’d read it since it’s arrival at her Paris apartment.

We regret to inform you of the death of your parents in a fire at the Sojourner Truth Housing Projects. Please return to Washington to identify the remains. Our deepest apologies. Washington, DC. Police Department.

Damn those filthy projects! Celinda spat bitterly.

Jim didn’t turn around. He knew better than to interrupt his Mistress while she was thinking. She’d almost fired him the last time.

I can’t believe their gone. She thought to herself.

But then again, I lived there too. Why should I be surprised?

***

I can’t believe it. I just can’t believe it.

Lucinda held Johnny’s hand tight as they stood over the grave of Johnny’s Father.

The situation never had time to improve. No amount of assistance could have helped, even if it had been forthcoming.

Johnny worked his way up from apprentice to junior driver. He had gotten the raise he needed to take over the payments on the house. But it was too late. The bank foreclosed.

Dr. Grey had not made a payment in almost a year.

His Medical Practice was over. When word got around town about the woman he had accidentally cut with a scalpel while removing a growth while drunk, people stopped coming. His new full-time job became drinking and depression.

Two days before the Sheriff showed up with an eviction notice, he shot at them. They shot back.

I just can’t believe my whole family’s gone!

But your family isn’t all gone Johnny! I’m here. I’m always going to be here! And were going to have our own family! Our own babies! Everything’s going to turn out fine you’ll see!

So in January of 1963, Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Grey moved into the Sojourner Truth Housing projects. They planned to make their stay as short as possible.

But the best laid plans… as they say.

Lucinda didn’t know it but she was two months pregnant when they arrived at Sojourner Truth. With all that was going on in their lives, she had been ignoring the signals from her body. She thought she was upset and taxed from stress. Seven months later she gave birth to her first child, Belinda. Belinda was a big girl. Dark of skin and big of bone. But with a smile that would melt your heart and make you care for her the moment you met her. Lucinda wanted everything for her first child. But there was only so much she could give.

Johnny was now a full time driver for the Bus Company. He worked 15-hour days trying to save up the money to get his family out of the projects. But it wasn’t working.

The medical bills from Belinda’s birth still weren’t paid and he himself had had to have four rotten teeth removed. He had never been to the dentist a day in his life.

Things were… OK. But they weren’t getting any better.

They couldn’t save any money. Lucinda would have to take an outside job.

An outside job? Johnny, I don’t want to go out and get no job!

But you have to! If we’re ever going to get out of here, you have to! You can’t be telling’ me you like it here? Of course I don’t, but…

"But