A Light Between Darkness

By Darren Ramon

No one knows what occurs behind closed doors. There are many cries in the dark that no one can hear. Sometimes entire communities ignore what they see or accept outright abuse without lifting a finger. When family members or an entire town refuse to act, they are all guilty of negligence as reminders that abuse can only stop when people who have the ability to act do so. Terrible acts of violence can be prevented when individuals remove their blinders or ear plugs to provide help when needed. Jimmy, was such a victim and it could have been worse had it not been for his mother. She herself had experienced abuse and eventually scummed to a life of compliance. Faced with threats and physical abuse could make anyone fearful to run and hide. What saved Jimmy was more then his wit or character, it was his love of family. Her attempts to protect him when as far as placing him under the care of her parents at the farm for a few months at a time. The fact that he had an uncle, just a few years older than Jimmy, made Jimmy's stay at the farm the core of his humanity. Jimmy was not a perfect child but a kid with a good heart. Both Tommy and Jimmy never expected to hear the story of John the Dom but grandma had to tell it because time was running out for Jimmy. She had a way of telling the story that captivated Jimmy and mentally transported him to a far away place. Like Jimmy, John faced a difficult life, an orphan without parents. There was no one to help guide him but there was a system that was ready to destroy him. Yet, unlike Jimmy, his parents loved him. John was street wise, strong and fearless. He too had a good heart and was ready to forgive offenses. John lived in a world different than Jimmy's but with people who could be just as vicious as in Jimmy's world. Jimmy needed to conquer his fears of the dark, fears of his father, fears of being dislike and fears of the unknown. Grandma provided a light between the darkness of despair in a story she about a boy similar to Jimmy. He only had a short period of time to become a different person before he returned home to face the monster there. Mother wouldn't always be there to protect him but perhaps if the story was right, he could stand up against a tyrant and be the John Dom he could be. The world is very dark and very few lights to lead the way. When we find those lights, treasure them, protect them so that when the time comes we too can be the light between the darkness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Darren Ramon
• Release date: Dec 19, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370391646

Darren Ramon

Retired and ready to share wonderful experiences regarding events that shape our future. More is coming. Educated at RCC and OUP in business, accounting and Computer science. Originally from West Texas with ancestry in both European and native american heritage. Living in the beautiful city of Portland Oregon.

Book preview

A Light Between Darkness

By

Darren Ramon

Prelude

This is a story of a young boy who discover his history in a world full of anger and violence under the hot West Texas sun. Time was running out for this young fragile boy. Who will save him from his father’s unstable mind? The story occurs in the town of Peck and some where in between Peck and El Paso, lies the imaginary world of the Kingdom of Mon which no one has ever seen or return from, if they were fortunate enough to stumble upon it. It is there where the light resides for space is never truly empty when eyes are willing to see beyond the boundaries of our mind.

Danger exist in an unlikely form of a father where the home should be safe and it is there that Jimmy must somehow survive the physical attacks on his person. The story that Grandma tells Jimmy, plunges him into an altered world of imagination where another young person faces insurmountable obstacles, if not similar to what Jimmy has had to face but just as critical. Time is of the essence for John Dom for truly he is the only one that can help Jimmy deal with his problems, survive and learn to conquer them instead of giving up and becoming a victim himself.

The Characters:

Jimmy: The young boy that must face the hostilities of his Dad and find inner peace and security in the world that surrounds him.

Tom or Tommy: Jimmy's uncle who's closer to him than a brother and together they have the adventure of a life time. Tom is the support Jimmy needs to survive.

Father: A man driven by anger who doesn’t know why. Unaware of what it means to be a real father.

Mom: Jimmy's mother who is compassionate and does her best to help Jimmy through his terrible ordeal. Without her, Jimmy would have been dead a long time ago.

Grandma: Jimmy's Mom's, mom who lives at the farm in El Paso who try's to solve Jimmy's inner problems by providing the way out through a story that reaches into the very heart of the young boy. Her wisdom is evident by her ability to mesmerize her listeners by her wonderful way of telling stories.

Grandfather Gomez: a good man

John Dom: The fictional young man who comes to life in Jimmy's very existence and becomes a hero despite the tremendous odds facing him.

Wind Jammer: A bully who leads a group of kids to torment John Dmm because of his name and because he is an outsider.

Maria: A girl who befriends John but who disappears as quickly as she appears into his life.

Ms. Bindle: A fictional woman that sells John away so as to acquire his inheritance and forfeits they promise she made to John's parents.

Her children: Alexia and Joe

Ms. Julia(Owner of the orphanage)

The sheriff

The Elderly Teacher: From John school who tries to stop the senselessness of the mob.

George Throw the Mountain: A fictional young man that has the uncanny ability to flatten small mountains because of his size. He represents evil that lies underneath the surface thus deceiving unwary individuals.

Peter Throw the Pine: A fictional young man who also is a companion to George and also has the ability to throw pine trees down by merely leaning on them. He is the leader of the two and one that would even sell his Mom if given the opportunity to do so.

Golden Hair (Gate Keeper): The fictional creature that lives in Crystal Mountain and who waits for the unwary. None have ever gone there and returned, not even John's Dad.

King Mon: The fictional king of the Kingdom of the Eagle who reigns in the East. He is a good king.

The Princess Roc: The fictional young maiden who's beauty captures the heart of John but he must fight in-order to win her in the end.

Truck driver: Uncle Joe

Table of Contents:

The chapters:

Chapter 1: Cries in the Dark

Chapter 2: My Uncle Tommy

Chapter 3: The Story

Chapter 4: The Fight

Chapter 5: The Helping Hand

Chapter 6: The Love

Chapter 7: Pay or Else

Chapter 8: Back to Work

Chapter 9: Running Scared

Chapter 10: In The Night

Chapter 11: Friends

Chapter 12: The Light

Chapter 13: The False Contract

Chapter 14: All Alone

Chapter 15: Truce

Chapter 16: The Stranger

Chapter 17: The Pit

Chapter 18: I want to go Down

Chapter 19: Good Night for now

Chapter 20: The Cavern and The Princess

Chapter 21: The Game

Chapter 22: A strange Alliance

Chapter 23: The Impossible

Chapter 24: Farewell for now

Cries in the Dark

You have the dumbest kid in the world and I mean dumb. those were the words I heard coming from a nun that was speaking to my mother, while I set in the front seat of our car.

I remember the nun using the word Dumb and pointing to me with a smirk on her face. All my mother did was simply smile and that was the last time I went back to that catholic school. I did not understand why she had said that except that my family had taken me out of school for several months without the church’s permission. In time I learned what that word meant and would never forgot how it could affect affect a young person’s confidence. Today it remains in the deepest recesses of my mind like a scare that will not heal. It remains one of most hated word in my vocabulary. One day I will have to face it or become it.

One day, in the warm evening air of West Texas, the Milky-Way glittered in all its brilliance in late sixties. On this night, the stars were putting on quite a show for all the children of the earth. With such beauty no one could have ever suspected that even in the void of darkness, danger lurked in hidden places, ready to drain the life out of unsuspecting victims. If you would listen carefully, you might even be able to hear the faint sounds of despair. Yes, in the darkness, the sounds and muffles cries of a child can be faintly heard.

You can distinctly hear the words, Help me Mama, I’m sorry dad, I won’t do it again, ah! Followed by screams and cries of pain. They echoed loudly against the thin walls in the small two bedroom home.

Those were words of despair and sadness sprinkled with tears of anguish and fear.

With those sounds, in the background were the sharp resonating acoustics of a crackling leather belt as it repeatedly struck defenseless, unprotected skin. The boy is being held up by his left arm while the thick belt makes contact with his frail back. He is already bleeding from the nose, right ear and his limbs are already swollen from the belt buckle contact points. I'm that dumb boy that is being beaten. Like a rag doll, I shake every time the belt hits its mark. I am defenseless, who will save me?

Yes, this is the worst day of my life and I am that poor child. When it began all of a sudden, tears were already streaking across my face as I strained to stay ahead of the one pursuing me. My little legs were no match for the power that overshadowed my small frame. I ran as fast as I could, knowing that my Dad was about to catch me. It’s true, I started it when I threw the chair down because he was making a crunching noise as he ate potato chips. Later on in my life, I was diagnosed with a problem pertaining to noises but at that time, I admit, that I did something disrespectful but not one that deserved death or even a serious beating. When I turned around to see his face, all I saw was anger piercing from his eyes and a great big belt that I knew to well. His hand grab the  back of my shirt and with overpowering strength he held me tight when the first stinging crack of his belt struck my upper torso. But it got worse, the belt became the buckle that tore into my face, cutting the top portion of my right ear and leaving me scarred for life. I begged for forgiveness.

Dad I promise not to do that again, please don't hit me anymore! I begged him to stop.

I grew numb as he continually struck me across my entire body. My Mom was hysterical as she gallantly tried to stop the vicious beating. Eventually she found herself standing between me and my father.

My Mother yelled at him to stop. What's the matter with you, are you trying to kill him? She held me tight as she blocked any further blows from a seemingly mad man.

My father must have come to realize what he was doing because he quickly left the room. She had literally saved my life. With all her might she physically carried me to the restroom in order to clean my bloody face. It was the worse beating I had ever received and one I would never forget.

Oh Jimmy, you'll be all right now, my son, I'm so sorry. How are you feeling?

Everything is hurting!

I can still remember seeing tears coming from her eyes and streaming down her face. In my pitiful condition I tried to comfort her. Couple of other times, I had gotten beaten, in particular, on one occasion when I tried to stop him from beating her. At this moment, close to death, my body had grown weak from the beating to the point that I could barely walk.

My knees trembled with fear the whole night long and there were signs of bruises all over my entire body. There were black and blue patches that made me look like I had some sort of infection. I couldn't believe what had happen. There was no question that this would be my worst summer. It seemed as though it would be a matter of my survival instead of a glorious childhood experience. Oh, I had experienced terrible things before but this time, things had gotten out of control. My Dad had attacked me with a viciousness I had not seen before. I knew that if nothing was done soon to prevent any future occurrences, I would probably be killed if he lost control again. His anger had turned into a raving lunatic. In this house my Dad ruled with an iron fist of which meant that I was the one that usually bore the brunt of his fury. Even then I was too young to understand those deep emotions that made him blow