Fighting 4 Life

By Angelique Shephard

You would think a little girl's toughest battles would be fought on a playground not in her own home. Shouldn't every little princess have a loving mother and a caring father? Loving what? Caring who? Crystal Jones can only dream of such parents in her life. Instead, Crystal's life is no fairy tale and a playground brawl is a far off cry from the real life adventures in store for her. She does have the good fortune of having Brittany Pearl for a best friend but that relationship also adds rounds on the fight as Brit leaves the ring way too soon. Growing up, Crystal would have to put on her "big girl panties" and take her "grown woman pill" long before any little girl should. Survival of the fittest is the name of the game as Crystal endures a lack of maternal love and challenges which make for constant battles in, Fighting 4 Life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Angelique Shephard
• Release date: Aug 28, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310219313

Angelique Shephard

Angelique Shephard is a native of Trenton, NJ. Educated in the Trenton area, having attended both Trenton High and Notre Dame High School. She earned an Associates Degree from Mercer County College in the field of Culinary Arts. Her debut novel Fighting 4 Life is sure to be a huge hit and be sure to look out for her sophomore novel, The Not So Simple Truth, along with Fighting 4 Life Too!!!!

Book preview

Fighting 4 Life

A Novel by Angelique Shephard

Published by Angelique Shephard at Smashwords

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This work is a work of fiction. Names, characters, incidents and places are products of the author’s imagination and are purely fictional creations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

Copyright © 2013 by Angelique Shephard

Published at Smashwords

All rights reserved.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author

Printed in the United States of America

First Printing September 2013

www.angeliqueshephard.moonfruit.com

Cover Illustrated by REM Studios Yardville, NJ

Back Cover Photo by Shiobhan Fitchett

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, I would like to thank the Man Above, who's answers to my prays always moved mountains for brighter days.

To my Husband, Lorenzo who stepped into a world of havoc and craziness but never jumped ship.

To my children Brandin, Victoria, Shiobhan, Avery, and Rai-ya; you are the lights guiding me out of the darkness with the never ending laughter, love, joy and sometimes tears, only each of you can bring.

And a wonderful nephew/son (Cory), whom has never complained about any task I asked and has been a great joy in my life.

I can't forget the Grand babies, for keeping MAMA on my toes.

To my mother, brothers, and sisters whom in one way or another shaped me into the person I am today

One sister especially, Ursula, for seeing past our head on collision and being my crutch, sidekick, extra ear and so much more, always loving me for me

Cousin Gina for understanding, caring, and listening to me when I needed it the most

A special acknowledgement to my grandmother; the woman whose undying love and unconditional love helped me in more ways than one

And Henry D. for being the best father figure anyone could ask for. There aren't enough words to say thank you for all that you have done.

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this book to the future G.I.R.L.S (Greatness In Real Lovely Souls). I hope that this program will enlighten them with the knowledge, respect, and determination to avoid some of life's unforeseen obstacles. And the strength and guidance to choose their own destiny.

Forethoughts

I can’t believe it’s finally quiet. I never thought in a million years that this moment would come. Have you ever just wanted everything to STOP? Well I have. I have so many times I don’t think I can keep an accurate count. Stop the pain; Stop the suffering, and Stop the Mental abuse inflected by others and by self. Where do I begin how can I paint a picture of all the false mirages I have created for myself throughout my life. The mirages leading to all the stops, cause and effect, that’s what they call it; we call it life, go figure Things in life happen for a reason, so I’ve been told. Every experience is a learning one, but do we always understand the lesson. How many times must one suffer before they finally get something worth living for? Or do we live to suffer through our lessons, understanding that there is only living not anything worth living for and dying is the effect to all causes. Traveling through the mind and life of another person can sometimes help you to understand this spontaneous thought I have relished upon. Let’s take a journey and see if any sense can be made, conclusions drawn or pieces placed together, in this wild spinning tale of Fighting 4 Life.

Chapter 1

Memories:

When the confusion of your present

Takes you back to your past

Try to look into the future

For a day with greener grass.

Go to your fucking room, this is the last time you’ll ever disobey anything I’ve said to you.

As I make my way up to the room I have the same thoughts as before As soon as my punishment is over Bitch, I’m going to do it again. The words were spoken like a true 13 year old champ, weighing in at 115 lbs., about 5’4tall with shoulder length curly brown hair, light brown eyes and slightly caramel colored skin going by the name of Butterfly Jones" A.K.A Chrystal Lanae Jones. ‘Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a’, you know how the saying goes. That’s her motto at only 13 yrs. old. Nothing you could do to Peanut (Her nickname from best friend, Brit) could break her. She had so much on her plate since as far back as her memories could go, that one more minor occurrence could conceivably be the straw that broke the camel’s back. Sitting there waiting for the ass whopping of her life, once again, she was brought back to a memory from years before. The one that made that heart of hers turn black towards the woman everyone is supposed to love and cherish. Her Mother, The Bitch, a.k.a Jackie Marie Jones, weighing in at 140lbs, 5’5" tall, ass length straight black hair, dead black eyes and the complexion of the desert sand in the early morning.

Jackie’s favorite saying was, If it ain’t broke don’t fix it and if it’s fixed to any other directions other than mine, I’ll break the Hell out of it. Jackie has definitely lived up to that one.

Memory Age 6yrs. old

That’s when the nightmare began. Me and my ugly-ass brother Curtis were fighting again. Curtis was two years younger than I was, skinny as a toothpick with short curly hair and dark as the darkest night. He thinks he’s God’s gift to somebody, who I damn sure don’t know.

Stop touching my toys, Curtis said. They’re not just yours. I always hated it when he said ‘my’ something or the other. Everything we have was supposed to be both of ours, which is what mom said when she would bring in only one thing and give it to Curtis.

Share or I’ll tell mom, I scream loud enough to get her attention.

I don’t have to share if I don’t want to because they are all mine and with that Curtis give me a shove. Now this is unacceptable in my book, no one picks with the champ, so I hailed off and knocked him up side his big head. As with any good brother and sister fight, the receiver of the first blow has got to try and get at least one hit in but unfortunately for Curtis he wasn’t very good at anything but being a mom’s boy and a major pain in my ass. Curtis’ blow missed and I kicked the crap out of him in his you know what. What the Hell did I do that for? I quickly thought to myself. He went off screaming like a loon-a-tick and that was all she wrote. In record time, Jackie, I mean mom came flying full force and slapped the taste out of my mouth.

Trying to regain some type of composure under the circumstances, I stood up and said, "He started it. He’s always claiming everything is his and it’s not. I’m tired of you always giving things to him and saying they’re both of ours".

I tried not to cry but I was after all only six years old. The tears came anyway. Why can’t I get something sometimes? Who the Hell just said that? I know I didn’t, but before I could think about taking it back Jackie was on me. Slap Slap

"You know why you can’t get shit from me because you were a mistake. The words left her mouth slow and deliberate. You weren’t supposed to be here."

Now she done went and did it. I don’t care who she is, nobody talks to the champ like that. In the quietest voice possible I said," what did I do?"

With one eyebrow arched and the meanest look I had ever seen on Jackie’s evil face, she said, "You were born that’s what you did and I should have went ahead with the abortion like I started to. Now, get the fuck out of my face and don’t ever put your fucking hands on my son or his shit again". The words cut me with each syllable spoken. There it is, the road map to hell has been laid and with the one-way sign on the street, Chrystal Lanae Jones must try to coexist in a world with two people driving full force in the opposite direction. Let the ass whopping begin

***

After all good beatings you get a brief time out. Time to reflect on what you did, should have done, and why in the world did what you did. Every good fighter must train intensely before their next fight. My time to train was usually between 2-4 months.

Peanut when will you be out, girl? It’s been two weeks since you could come outside. What’s up? My best friend Brit screamed up.

Looking out the window of my room watching the rest of the world exist without me, I hadn’t even realized that much time had passed already. I was too busy planning my next move. Like a true champ you can’t let anyone win a battle without a good rematch. That’s what I had planned for Jackie.

Girl please mom is so pissed off who knows. That’s what I relayed to Brit. Brittany Pearl was my best friend and partner in crime and also the skinniest thing you’d ever want to see. Brittany was 4’8" and weighed about 90 lbs. soaking wet, sporting the latest in curly kits with short red hair, and a honey brown complexion. We had met 2 years prior when me and my family had moved to the neighborhood trying to escape Jackie’s last boyfriend, the one who turned out to be a total psychopath (surpassing the semi-psycho boyfriends of Christmas past).

Brit was the most passive aggressive person you could meet. Her voice and sweet nature could put a room full of screaming babies to sleep for the night. There was however a side to her that would make you scratch so deep you could scratch the black of a chalk board.

Girl I gotta go. Here comes crazy lady, I yelled down. Stop by tomorrow morning; hopefully she would have told me when this shit will be over. See ya I ran over to my bed fast as hell. I didn’t want mom to know I had been at the window that might mean more time in this prison called my room. I reached my bed in the nick of time

I hope you have learned something from all of this, my mom stated. You can’t just say hateful things to people and not expect something in return. Let this be a lesson, blah, blah, blah, Jackie rumbled on as I struggled to look as if I were paying attention. What in the world was she talking about? I didn’t say anything hateful she did. Now, this took the cake but you know what, Ms. Jackie Marie Jones, vengeance will be mine.

At this point I forgot about the heavyweight championship belt and went for my Oscar Yes I’ve learned my lesson. I will never purposely hurt anyone’s feelings anymore mommy.

Ok, tomorrow you can go back outside but remember what you learned. She said believing that she had taught me a valuable lesson.

OH I WILL OH I WILL I silently mused.

Chapter 2

How easily we forget

Lessons learned are soon forgot

When clouded vision invades the spot

Did you see that sexy nigga walk by? Brit was always on the prowl. I swear in her previous life she was a cat One that was always in heat and making that deranged noise to go get some. To be honest with you I don’t even think she’s had sex yet. She just likes to pretend, so she can feel important. Me, I’m still a virgin and intend to keep it that way for a while.

Girl please, that boy ain’t thinking bout you or me and truthfully he’s probably already got a girl somewhere. Brit jumps up and rings the bus bell.

"Stop the bus I need to get off. Stop The Bus " Brit screams.

See this is what I’m talking about you always gotta start something, Brit.

Shut up and bring your ugly ass, Brit screamed.

Whatever girl, I laughed. HAAAAYYYY Brit screams, as we exit the bus. It was moments like this that I scratched my head not quite believing her behavior or her sheer nerve. Here we go; this never ends in anything good. They usually call