Annie: A True Love Story

By Hazel M. Tate

Annie was written pertaining to all women who were and who are continuing to struggle with life enduring pain, trials, tribulations, embarrassment, insults, difficult times and rejections. With objections of being female, uneducated, living below the poverty level, rejected by her family and a divorcee. Her goal was to accomplish what she could with desire, dedication and determination. Being the mother of five sons was not an easy tasks with her objections.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Dec 12, 2013
• ISBN: 9781490720876

Hazel M. Tate

Hazel M. Tate was born in Little Rock, Arkansas and raised in Illinois. She then relocated to California with her six children. She was a college graduate with a degree in English literature. She retired as a Resident Coordinator. She was a mother, grandmother and great friend. Her hobbies included watching old classic movies, writing, reading great novels and traveling.

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© Copyright 2013 Hazel M. Tate.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

ISBN: 978-1-4907-2085-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4907-2086-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4907-2087-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013922313

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Contents

Acknowledgment

Dedication to MOMZ

Chapter 1   Introduction Of Annie

Chapter 2   Annie’ Struggles

Chapter 3   Donnie

Chapter 4   New Home

Chapter 5   Luke’s Rehabilitation

Chapter 6   Tom’s Death

Chapter 7   Thomas Decision

Chapter 8   New Love

Chapter 9   Engagement

Chapter 10 Will’s Relatives

Chapter 11 Ray’s Visit

Chapter 12 Billy’s Graduation

Chapter 13 The Wedding

Chapter 14 Cruise

Questions for Book Clubs or Group Discussions

Acknowledgment

F irst and foremost I would like to thank GOD, my creator and savior, for giving me the determination and willingness to finish the manuscript and guiding my hands and mind for great ideas.

I would like to thank all of the many people who listened and gave great ideas and thoughts. For my ace, Mildred and Gerard for purchasing, motivating and encouraging me to continue, no matter what, through all the aches and pains and being distracted. To everyone that purchase and read the book, I hope that you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Dedication to MOMZ

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O ur Darling Mother was one of a kind. She was very unique, remarkable & determined. She also raised us with her tough love. I’ll never forget our loving mother & I talk to her every day in heaven. She keeps me going.

Love Always, Your oldest daughter,

Janice

Mamma, pure & simple:

I love you and I miss you. Don’t worry about me,

I will be fine. Until we meet again, GOD bless you.

Your second daughter and third child.

Beverly

I will always remember you with a smile, you’re loving face, I hope to see again. Although the days have passed away, you’ll always be in my heart/always on my mind. Sleep in restful peace Mother. It’s time to take your rest. You’ll always be my guardian angel, watching from above, keeping me strong/focused. While there are still days of immense sadness/secret tears since you’ve gone away, I know that you are with the Father.

Marcedus

She’s gone, she’s gone forever. The late midnight talks of joy and bittersweet memories are gone. The joyous laughter and moody blues are gone. The look in her eyes after your acknowledge transgressions are gone. But the love and fondness I have for you will never go away. Momz, you are the memory of the one that lives inside my skin. You will never be forgotten, till the end of my days. But never to return.

Lennie

To my mother, best-friend, and soul-mate. I pray that you are resting in peace. There is not a day that goes by where I don’t think of our great times together, talking, laughing and just being with each other. Thank you for making me the strong, disciplined and loving woman I am today.

Mildred

Chapter 1

◊

Introduction Of Annie

A nnie a full figured woman, who looked to weigh two hundred pounds, was a pleasant person but in some aspects she was considered vulnerable when it pertained to the opposite sex. Besides being pleasant she was kind, gentle, caring and understanding and a devoted mother to her children. Despite her character she had many objectives against her, being black, female, poor, limited education, and living in the projects of Detroit, on welfare and below the poverty level. With all these objectives against her, life was not what some would call a comfortable one. Since she had limited education, domestic and manual labor was all she knew. Being a sensible woman she had no choice but to do what was necessary to survive, employed three days a week as a housekeeper and not reporting her earnings to the welfare department. She knew she was cheating the system, but being on welfare with herself and five sons to support, working three days a week still was not enough to make ends meet.

Annie was the youngest of five siblings, the eldest was Bill, an electrician by trade, married to a lovely woman Marilyn who’d been teaching advanced English for many years. They were the parents of two sons and a daughter Bill Junior, Johnny and Corraine. The next oldest and Annie’s only sister Lorraine was married to an older man Jeremiah; they owned several soul food restaurants throughout the city and the parents of a son Jeremiah Junior. Tom the third oldest was a war veteran and considered an alcoholic, he was divorced and the father of two beautiful daughters. Then there was Lance, the youngest of brothers, as far as Annie was concerned, he was her favorite. He was quiet and reserved, stood six feet four inches tall, slim built, a deep chocolate complexion with skin as smooth as silk, beautiful teeth and a smile that conquered the world. As well as being a kind giving person, he was employed as a construction supervisor, but never married nor showed interest in the opposite sex.

He and Annie’s complexions was as their fathers, but Bill, Lorraine and Tom were the complexion of their mother, a fair complexion. Bill was tall but muscular; Tom was just the opposite medium height and built. Annie and Lorraine were barely five feet tall, and Lorraine was the size of Annie, but would not admit it. It seemed Tom was the only one in the family that knew of Lance’s life style, and when he drank he talked. Often he told Annie that boy is my baby brother, I love him dearly but if mamma and papa were alive they would not approve of the way he is living. We all have faults, mine is drinking, if that’s the way he chooses to live, who is I to judge if that is what satisfies him. Many times Annie would ask questions of his statements, but he would either become silent or change the subject, so she never learned of him and Lance’s secret. Besides his drinking, Tom was a good person, but was not allowed near Bills or Lorraine’s abode. If so the law would be called and he would be escorted off to jail. Many times Lance had to bail him out. They said he was an embarrassment to them; they were trying to claim the society world with their clubs, parties and organizations.

They considered Tom not to be in their category, even though they drank as much as he or more, but called theirs sociable drinking. Annie was a divorcee, from an abusive spouse, Lucas Hamilton and the mother of five sons, from the oldest to the youngest was Luke, Leon, Thomas, Billy and Donnie. Luke and Leon were parented by her ex-husband, all the others had different fathers, something she was not proud of but that was her mistake.

Chapter 2

◊

Annie’ Struggles

L iving in the projects was horrific, every day it was polices, ambulances, family disturbances, shootings, stabbing and sometimes killings. Being employed three days a week as a housekeeper, Annie saved what she could, hoping someday she would get her family away, before they became lost in the scuffle. She was a trooper and did all she could to keep her family together, but trying to keep body and soul intact was very difficult with circumstances as they were. Sometimes she was ashamed of the work she did, but always thought of what her father told her and her siblings when they were small children. It’s not the kind of work you do; it is how well you do it as long as it’s good and honest work. At this time she had a goal to accomplish, trying to get her family away from the project to a better life, before it was too late. Her concern now was not what kind of work she did, as long as it assisted her in accomplishing her goal. Her siblings knowing she was below the poverty level, living on a fixed income and struggling, Lance and Tom were the only ones to offer assistance.

Every Friday evening as clockwork, Lance was there with food as well as currency, she appreciated his contributions and he seemed pleased to give it. Tom assisted when he could, but his only income was a small check he received every month from the war department. Bill and Lorraine was financially secured to assist but never offered, so Annie never asked, maybe because she was too proud. She and Tom were considered the black sheep of the family as far as Bill and Lorraine was concerned, Lance was their favorite. He were always invited to their parties and functions but never attended only if Annie and Tom were invited, which was never. It was very seldom Annie saw Bill, Lorraine or their families and that were at funerals of people they knew.

Chapter 3

◊

Donnie

H er youngest son Billy was three months shy of becoming five years old when she met Ray, Donnie’s father, the maintenance man of her building. He was six feet tall, very handsome, xanthous complexion with a beautiful smile but seemed to be shy and reserved. Annie was preparing dinner the evening he came to fix her furnace, commenting on how good the food smelled, she invited him to have a meal and he accepted. After eating a hearty meal, he thanked her, and then offered pay, naturally she declined, and as much as she needed it, she had no intentions of accepting his money. She was going to play a slow hand with this handsome man; she had plans in store for him. Before leaving he told her that food was delicious you cook as well as my mother. Then she remarked I always prepare a nice meal on Sundays, will you come and have dinner with us? It’s only the boys and I, it’s more than enough, and you are welcome. Hesitating for a moment he said, I cannot say for sure, I think I have plans for Sunday.

That Sunday it rained all day, Annie and her son’s had eaten when there was a loud knock on the door. Annie opened it to find Ray standing there smiling, handsome as ever and drenched. After giving him a towel to dry himself and hanging his coat she told him, I was doubtful if you were coming or not, but there is warm food on the stove. While eating she attempted to talk but he was not talkative at all. Then she thought why this man was so secretive, is there something he is trying to hide. The only information she obtained was his name that she knew, and then learned he was employed with the maintenance company for three years and lived on the north side of the city. That area was considered one of the nicer parts of the city, that’s where she was trying to go, but very expensive. He ate very well, two plates of food and two large bowls of Peach Cobbler as before. After finishing the meal Annie asked him to stay and chat, she even suggested they play a card game called spades but he was eager to leave. After thanking her for the fine meal he offered pay but again she declined. Then he said, Annie I am sorry, I would love to stay but the weather is so inclement I have to drive a distance before I get home.

It was two weeks before she saw him again, one evening he came by unexpected. He told her I was in the neighborhood thought of you and your son’s so I stopped by to say hello. He never sat down and only stayed a few minutes then left; she was becoming suspicious of him why he was always in a hurry. It was two weeks before she saw him again, that Saturday evening he came and stayed thirty-minutes that next Saturday night he came and stayed until almost dawn. That morning being Sunday, Annie pleaded with him to stay until later and promised to prepare him a breakfast fit for a king, naturally he refused. This time he told her If the neighbors do not see my car in the driveway they become concerned because they is used to seeing it parked there. This was a strange relationship; sometimes she would not see him for a month. She noticed he never asked her out for dinner, a movie or anything he always came to her apartment spend a few hours then leave before dawn. Then her thoughts began to soar was he involved in a relationship with someone else or was there a wife tucked away some place. This supposed to be relationship occurred for approximately seven months until she learned she was pregnant.

One Saturday night as they were sitting at her kitchen table she informed him of her pregnancy, after the shock he asks, Annie is you positive you are pregnant? Yes, very positive, I am almost three months. Then he asked an insulting as well as an embarrassing question Annie, how can you be sure this child is mine, it could be someone else’s you know. You know I am not the only one you have been dating, it is rumored in the neighborhood you have a reputation of lying with every handsome man you meet. Trying to convince him it was his child he said, I will see after it’s born. If this one is mine you do not have to worry, I take care of what is mine, my father taught me that. Sobbing she said Ray I know you love me and I definitely love you, so why not live together for a while, find a nice big house, get away from this project and be happy. Then later after the child is born maybe we could marry, I promise I will be a good wife or woman to you. Looking at her strange he said, "Annie do you think I am a fool, I would not live with you and definitely would not marry you, if I could I would not, Annie with your reputation you are considered a woman of damaged goods in some ways you are a dangerous woman.

My father warned me of women such as you, the kind that could get a man in serious trouble or worse. You are not the type of woman a man would be proud to call his wife or woman. Annie you are not trustworthy, furthermore I have a wife and two beautiful daughters I love dearly. I cannot believe you think I love you, as far as I’m concerned you are nothing but a good time woman, a man can have fun with. I must admit you are an excellent cook, immaculate housekeeper, and make me feel as a man should, but I do not love you, only what you had to offer. Why you think the other men got what they wanted and left, because they felt the same way I do. Annie do you think just because you lay with a man, it is love? Well animals lie with each other, do you think that is love; it is only for their satisfaction. Woman you need to use your head instead of your behind, then maybe you will accomplish something with the men. I think you have the two mixed up, I do not think you know one from the other when it comes to thinking. Now you are talking marriage, Annie you are not marrying material, I think you know it is your background and reputation".

At this time she was sobbing uncontrollably he continued, If this child is mine, I will support it. I would appreciate you not telling any of your friends, that you are caring a child that is supposed to be mine. I do not want it rumored around; the maintenance man fathered a child by a project woman; that would ruin my reputation, marriage and my employment. If I were you I would destroy it, because frankly speaking, you have enough unclaimed children as is, with different fathers. To be honest with you, I doubt if you know who the fathers of any of your children are. Then said, You think of what I said of using your head instead of your behind, I will see you after the baby is born then walked out the door. After he left she was numb, hurt, disappointed, ashamed and angry. She could not believe Ray had said this to, and of her as much as she loved and respected him. Of all the men in her life, he was the only one she loved because in her heart he was special. Now he was betraying her of being less than a woman, but time heals all wounds, she was strong and would survive. When her son was born, whom she named Donnie Ray, a month later his father came to see him.

He could not have denied him if he wanted to, that child was the spitting image of him, he looked as his twin. He told Annie, You were right, this child resembles me more than my own children. One week later she received a money order for fifty dollars, afterwards every week they were in the mail. His name was no place in sight only hers, but what a blessing, he kept his promise, now she could save more. He sent money faithfully, but never came to see Annie nor his son, in spite of what he said or done she missed and loved him. Now that she was receiving welfare, working five days a week and Donnie’s support checks, maybe she could save enough to get away from the projects and continue life. At this time that was an obsession with her, it seemed that was the only thing in her thoughts and dreams. Since Luke and Leon was unemployed and obtained no high school diploma, she assisted them with a few dollars every week to attend Donnie, and then keep Billy and Thomas out of trouble. That was rare for Billy but not Thomas, he was always in arguments or fights, and