The Suits

By Ray Jones

The Suits is a fictional tale that reveals reflective truths about family life. It is an enlightening story of four family members in pursuit of the "Suit-American Dream" who look for ways to make them happy along the way.

The father and mother are Charles and Vanessa Suit. And the chidren, a boy and a girl, are named Sally and Shawn. They are often referred to as The Suits and act a lot like like some American families.

Suit-American is a metaphor for what one wants out of life like a good job, a new car, a house in a prestigious neighborhood, money, health, or mental and emotional peace of mind.

The Dream is where the mind goes to think and plan about what one wants. The musing that occurs to entertain expectations, explain away the use of harmful substances and abusive actions, justify the demands placed on others, or to accept the lies one tells to self.

In the story, all family members are faced with two unexpected events that occur in one weekend. By the beginning of the following week, three of the four family members deals with the event successfully, and use a new-found commitment to help each other to reevaluate their reality and their lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Sep 2, 2010
• ISBN: 9781450256698

Ray Jones

Ray Jones is the author of more than 40 books. His award-winning Lighthouse Encyclopedia is considered the definitive treatment of the subject. Ray has also authored or coauthored several highly successful companion books for PBS.

Book preview

Contents

DEDICATION

INTRODUCTION

THE NIGHT BEFORE

EARLY MORNING PREP

THE JOURNEY IN

BEGINNINGS AND

ENDINGS — THE DAY

T.G.I.F.

(THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY)

THE WEEKEND

OH GOD IT’S MONDAY (O.G.I.M.)

FULL CIRCLE

GLOSSARY

DEDICATION

For the voices within us waiting to be heard, and the personalities we suppress, that knock at the doors of our minds. For all of us bubbling with hope and anticipation that today we might finally resurrect the desire to be ourselves. To all who have shed their outward disguises and proclaim: I’ve turned myself inside-out, and bear my mind, heart, and soul for all to see who have courage like me.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I am thankful to the higher power that fills me. I appreciate my children Rahfiya, Kolby, and Kisan, who have never hesitated loving me enough to express when I’ve done a good job and a not so good job. I have significant appreciation for the love and wisdom of my mother, Carmenita, and the support and commonality I share with my sisters, Roxanne and Renette, and brothers, Yaven and Rodney. They have contributed to the definition of who I am. I am also filled with tremendous gratitude to all my family, loved ones, and friends that gave of their selves so that I could evolve. I lovingly express appreciation to my editor, publisher, consultants, and all those who helped make this book possible.

Last, but certainly not least, I thank you the reader, for showing interest in my work!

INTRODUCTION

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Once upon a time there existed a fictional family whose primary mission was to uphold family values and to extend themselves as examples of the status quo. Their vision, simply stated, was to: reinforce and enforce Suit-American ideas, philosophies, and standards.

This is their story. The primary characters are Mr. Suit, his wife Mrs. Suit, and the children, Sally and Shawn. They are collectively referred to as The Suits. The events and characters of this story are meant to be entertaining, lending humor to unscrupulous behavior that most of us have witnessed or participated in during our life.

While reading, you may recognize situations that feel familiar. If this occurs, embrace the images the words have conjured for you. Then, after you have separated fiction from fantasy and fantasy from any truth that applies to you, delete what you need to, keep what you must – and move on!

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THE NIGHT BEFORE

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Hurry, hurry, hurry! Scurry, scurry, scurry! The Suits whirl into the house like Tasmanian devils, returning home after a late-night dinner at Meal-In-A-Minute Hot Wing Bistro. Usually, Mrs. Suit prepares a deluxe microwaveable, calorie-conscious, fat-free, lean-cuisine buffet. But today is special because Mr. Suit has been promoted to #3 Suit at XYZ, Inc., and the family is celebrating.

Over dinner, Mrs. Suit goes on and on about how proud she is of her husband’s past and present successes:

Why if it weren’t for all your tremendous accomplishments, we’d still be living in a one-bedroom apartment on Suit Lane, she exalts with vigorous excitement. Instead, we’re in a fabulous five-bedroom house, bumping elbows with the Suitzy Famous right here in uptown Suit Village, she exclaims.

The children, Sally and Shawn, hover over their food. They seem to care less about their Dad’s job or their Mom’s wabble-babble, which is what they call her knack for incessantly praising every big or miniscule accomplishment ever made by their father. Their mother’s constant praises truly exasperate them both. They gaze at their parents with glazed eyes and turn glaringly towards each other.

Suddenly a thought clicks in their heads. It is nothing less than amazing how each child has the same thought at the exact same time: promotion equals more money. Their brains sizzle with this idea and the collective energy inspires them. Simultaneously, they begin to talk about all the clothes, cars, entertainment money, audio/visuals, and other life-sustaining supplies they suddenly require, as they put it, to make life worth living. Of course, and in the same breath, the Suit children are also adamant about what they will not do in exchange for having these new needs met.

Both parents stare at their children as though they are someone else’s. Shawn interrupts the stupor his parents seem to be possessed by when he yawns and states in a low voice: after all, when parents earn more income, their children are supposed to reap the benefits. We didn’t ask to be born. You and Mom made that choice! Sally lazily bobbles