His Eyes Are on the Sparrow

By Antoinette R. Davis

HIS EYES ARE ON THE SPARROW

In 1972 Veronica Smith is arrested for murdering her fiancé just one week before their lavish wedding. At just eleven years old Alexandria Smith has just witnessed the horrid crime committed by her mother. Veronica tries to maintain a level of sanity in an insane environment and sanity comes with a price that Veronica does not want to pay. Both Veronica and her daughter face tumultuous obstacles to rise above the torment they've endured as children, one will lean on her faith as the other loses sight of her faith.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ARD Writing with you in Mind
• Release date: Sep 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393059165

Antoinette R. Davis

An Entertaining and Compelling Fiction Author From Baltimore  In today’s fast-paced world where everyone is always busy and technology is king, sometimes it just feels good to sit back, take a break, and read a good novel. Hi, I am Antoinette Davis, and I am a fiction author that aims to spread the magic of reading in the world. At ARD Writing, I do my best to keep the world of books alive by writing wonderful fiction stories. To make sure that people enjoy my works, I always write with my audience in mind. By incorporating my thoughts and imagination with what my readers want, I am able to create beautiful and thought-provoking narratives that keep them entertained and compelled to read more.

Book preview

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Introduction

Veronica Smith, a successful realtor, is planning for one of the most significant events of her life, her wedding.  She has finally met that special man, Arthur McCrae, a successful lawyer with his private practice. Since the day they met when she sold him his fabulous home in Baltimore County, he has been wonderful to her and the love of her life; her ten-year-old daughter Alexandria. 

Veronica has had a full day of wedding shopping and planning with her mother, Hazel Smith. Now Veronica is finally on her way home.  She pulls up to her luxurious home in Edmondson Village as she walks up to her door she stops to take in the peace and serenity that surrounds her. It’s the beginning of April 1972 and her neighbors are sitting outside on their porches and working in their yards.  Veronica stops to speak and wave before dashing in the house to hide her wedding gown from her soon to be husband.   Veronica gently sticks her key in the door.

Alexandria is probably in her room playing with her dolls and Arthur is probably in the basement watching the basketball game, Veronica says to herself.

Veronica tiptoes in the house and up the steps with all of her bags and her wedding dress.  She walks past her daughter’s room and what she sees when she looks down the hallway, freezes her for a split second.

Veronica runs down the hallway, dropping her wedding dress. Alexandria! screams Veronica as she runs toward her daughter’s bedroom.

Arthur jumps up off of Alexandria, startled by Veronica’s voice.  Arthur turns around and tries to explain, but Veronica ignores him.

Veronica grabs Alexandria off the bed,

Alexandria run, run get out of here, Screams Veronica.

Arthur tries to pull himself together.

Veronica has raged in her eyes as she looks around for a weapon.

Veronica grabs a lamp from Alexandria’s dresser with one hand and lunges toward Arthur; she hits him repeatedly in the face. He tries to take the lamp from her but she has a grip on the lamp with both hands so tight and her attack on him is so forceful that it prevents him from holding his balance.  Finally, Veronica is able to knock him down to the floor.   She stands over his motionless body for a few seconds; she’s breathing hard, and she can’t think straight,  then she runs to her bedroom when she re-enters her daughter’s bedroom again Arthur has managed to bring himself to.  Veronica starts to kick him and then she takes the gun in her hand and places it to Arthur’s head. 

Arthur begs Veronica not to shoot him, Veronica, please, please don’t do this.  It’s not what you think, says Arthur as he pleads for his life.

Veronica’s mind has snapped.  She stares at him, never saying a word.  Then she fires her gun three times straight into his skull.

The neighbors hear the commotion and see Alexandria outside half-dressed and someone calls the police. Veronica sits in Alexandria’s room in the fetal position crying with Arthur’s blood all over her.  The police finally arrive and Veronica looks up at the police officer and the officers look at Veronica holding the murder weapon in her hand. 

As they place the handcuffs on Veronica, she can hear her daughter outside screaming for her.

Mommy, mommy, mommy!!! screams Alexandria as she stands with the next-door neighbors. 

I did it for you! I did it for you! yells Veronica as the officer drags her to the police car.

Alexandria watches as the police place her mother in the patrol car.  She continues to scream.

Mommy, mommy, please don’t take my mommy, screams Alexandria. 

This will be a memory in Alexandria’s mind that she will never forget. Says Veronica to herself

Alexandria breaks away from the next-door neighbor and runs over to the police car grabbing at the door handles.  A female police officer tries to console her and get some information about the next of kin.

Veronica keeps her head down because she does not want to see her daughter’s face as they drive her away in the police car.

This quiet and peaceful neighborhood is now a crime scene investigation.  Yellow tape is up and around Veronica’s home and the news media descends on the community and Veronica’s neighbors with questions.  The news media is looking for answers to this tragedy.

It’s now June 1972 a time when Veronica should be enjoying her few months of matrimony, but instead, she’s sharing a cell at the women’s lock-up awaiting her trial.

It’s the first day of court and the news media have lined the streets in front of the courthouse on Charles Street; all of the news stations want to be the first to report the breaking news.  The death of Arthur McCrae shocked the City of Baltimore because he was well-respected in the community and in the Law profession but what people didn’t know was he had a dark side and that’s what Veronica’s lawyer wants the jury to hear.

The state’s attorney and the news media have named this trial the The Furious Fiancée. 

The trial has been going on for three weeks now and day after day in the hot courtroom the jury and the spectators listen to the case.  The state believes they have a clear-cut case however so does the defense attorney.

It’s now week four and the last day of the trial and Veronica’s attorney feels he has no chance of winning unless he puts Alexandria on the stand.  He can tell by looking at the twelve jurors that Veronica does not stand a chance.

Mr. Salters Veronica’s Attorney looks at Veronica. Veronica we need to put your daughter on the stand to testify if you want to win this case.

Veronica shakes her head from side to side, no. she says

Veronica look at me if you want to win this you have got to let me put her on the stand. Says Mr. Salters

No, I said.  I will not make her re-live the horrible stuff he did to her!  Not to mention I don’t want to hear it myself, Veronica yells while appearing distraught.

Veronica hasn’t slept since all of this happened.  She is worried to death about Alexandria.

Veronica you have to put her on the stand; if not you’re going to spend of your life in prison.  Do you want that, asks her attorney?

Veronica remains silent.

Veronica’s attorney stands up, Your honor the defense rest the case.  Veronica’s Lawyer feels like he has lost the case.

Now Veronica’s fate rests in the hands of the jury.  While the jury deliberates, they take Veronica back to the holding cell.  Veronica says a prayer, God your will, nothing more, nothing less and nothing else.

It takes the Jury forty-five minutes to deliberate.  They bring Veronica back into the courtroom.  Mrs. Hazel and Veronica’s brother Vernon say a prayer.

All rise! says the bailiff. The judge enters the courtroom.   The twelve jurors are ready to give Veronica her verdict.

Veronica stands up nervously alongside her well-paid attorney and she takes a deep breath; she glances back at her mother and her brother sitting directly behind her. 

Mrs. Hazel and Vernon have been in the courtroom for throughout the trial supporting Veronica.   

Arthur’s family and friends have also been in the courtroom, eagerly awaiting a guilty verdict.

How do you find the defendant? asked Judge Galliano

We the jury find the defendant GUILTY of first-degree murder, says the foreperson. 

Veronica bursts into tears along with her mother and brother.

The judge quickly hands down the sentence.  Veronica Smith you are hereby sentenced to Jessup Women’s prison for twenty years to life and you will be eligible for parole in 1982.

You can hear Veronica’s mother scream, Oh Lord no, please don’t take my baby! screams Mrs. Hazel." 

The officers quickly take Veronica out of the courtroom after the verdict and sentencing is read.  Veronica sits in the holding cell with fifteen other women in a complete daze. 

"How did I get here? I’m not supposed to be here.  

Veronica Smith, Furious Fiancée convicted for Murder is posted on the front of the Sun Paper.

Home away from home a year later

Inmate Smith, you have a visitor, yells the officer to Veronica.

Veronica quickly cleans herself up.  After lying around in her cell all day she needs to freshen up for her visit.

Veronica loves it when her mother and daughter come to visit her.  She tries to hurry and get herself ready to look as decent as possible. I’ll be right there, I just need to brush my hair back and change my clothes officer, says Veronica.

Veronica was used to looking her best for all occasions.  She went to the beauty salon every week along with her daughter.  Now the only beauty salon she can visit is the penitentiary salon.

Ok make it quick you’re not going to a beauty pageant. Says the female officer laughing

Veronica ignores the officer’s sarcasm.  Her only focus is on seeing her family.

Veronica walks into the visiting room and gives her mother a quick hug but notices Alexandria is not with her and that quickly dampens her sprits.

Hazel where is my baby, why didn’t Alexandria come with you?  Is she ok? ask Veronica not even giving her mother time to answer each question.

Mrs. Hazel looks into Veronica’s sad eyes.  She didn’t want to tell her that Alexandria no longer wants to come to see her anymore.

Veronica she is fine, I asked her if she wanted to come but she said no.  You know she’s trying so hard to adjust to all of this and it bothers her to come here and see you like this Veronica.  So I told her she didn’t have to come if she didn’t want to, says Mrs. Hazel

Veronica puts her head down and slams her fist on the table and tears start to fall from her eyes. She’s ashamed of me, isn’t she?  I need to talk to her I don’t want her to forget about me.

I know baby but right now I’m trying to get her to adjust to all of this.  It’s been hard for her too.  The kids and grown-ups are looking at her funny and I’m just trying to give her a normal life. explains Mrs. Hazel I need you to stay focused and stay out of trouble in here.  How are they treating you in here?  I heard if you stay out of trouble you can go up for parole in ten years, you may not have to do all of the twenty years.

Stop it, stop, Hazel, yells Veronica as she puts her hand up in the air. How do you think they’re treating me in here?  Do you think I’m in Atlantic City at the Tropicana?  Hell no they tell me when to bathe, when to eat, and when I can come out of my cell.  I live in a four by four box along with a hundred other women in here Hazel!

Mrs. Hazel sits back in the chair, Just keep on praying Veronica you know prayer changes things baby. Says Mrs. Hazel

Veronica looks at her mother with a disgusted look. No, I’m not praying, I stop doing that.  You can get on your knees and bow your head to what?  I don’t know but I see no use in that. Says Veronica

Mrs. Hazel leans toward Veronica, Did I hear you correctly you stop praying? Girl, what in the devil is wrong with you?  You need to be prayed up with everything you do and say says Mrs. Hazel with a stern voice.

No I don’t there is no reason for me to waste my time praying to a God that does not exist and that’s all I’m going to say about that. Says Veronica

Veronica listen to me, I raised you upright to love God and to trust God.   Don’t you let what has happened to you take your faith away, says Mrs. Hazel.

Veronica laughs half-heartedly I’m not going to speak on this subject anymore.  Let’s move on to something else, says Veronica as she is unconcerned by her mother’s facial expression.

An officer walks over and points at the clock on the wall. Excuse me, you have ten more minutes.

Mrs. Hazel looks at her daughter, You know I love you and if I could trade places with you in here I would.  I hate it when I have to leave you in this awful place.  The family says hello and Uncle William is in an out of the hospital.  Your Aunt Hattie says they think he has cancer but we all are praying for him.

Veronica looks at her mother with uncaring eyes about her uncle’s situation, I hope he dies.

Mrs. Hazel’s eyes pop out, she can’t believe Veronica just said that.

Veronica stands up when she sees the officer walking back toward them. Tell Alexandria that I love her and I hope she comes with you next time.

Mrs. Hazel can’t believe what she just heard Veronica say about her uncle.

Veronica sits in the holding unit waiting for the officer to walk her back to her cell. The officer strikes up a conversation with Veronica How was your visit,    ask Officer Robinson?

It was horrible I just want to get home to my daughter before she forgets about me. I guess this is hard on her too.

Try not to let it get you down;  just keep your nose clean in here and get yourself a little job, take some classes go to the chapel and you will make parole in no time, says Officer Robinson.

Veronica wasn’t interested in any of what Officer Robinson had to say she wanted to crawl back into her cell and block out her surroundings.

Once Veronica is back on the tier one of her new friends is sitting out on the tier.

Hey Veronica, how was your visit? yells Gail as she sits on the prison tier outside of her cell taking in the view from a large window covered with bars.

It was horrible.  My daughter didn’t want to come to see me today. Says Veronica as she tries to fight back her tears.

Veronica goes in her cell and stares at Alexandria’s baby pictures. She tries to remember holding her baby in her arms. The thought of them being apart never crossed Veronica’s mind when she gave birth to her. I love you so much more than you will ever know Alexandria. Says Veronica as she sits on her small bunk in her four by four cell in an orange state-issued jumpsuit.

Finally, the lights go out for the night Veronica can feel the coldness around her, she can hear each little noise distinctively and she smells the stench of the rodents in prison.  The only escape was her pictures of her daughter and her memories of their life together.

Chapter    Two

It’s been over a year since Veronica’s incarceration but Mrs. Hazel is trying to make Alexandria’s life as normal as possible taking in the circumstances.  Mrs. Hazel never saw herself raising her grandchild as a single widowed woman.

Grandmother, do I have to go take piano lessons today because I would rather stay in my room and watch television, says Alexandria.

Yes you have to go it’s important that a black person be well rounded so they can make something of themselves in this world. When you go to those fancy schools, I want you to know as much as those white children do, says Mrs. Hazel as she adjusts her glasses on her face.

Grandma, what difference does it make what the color of my skin is?  I am smart and that’s all that should really matter is what’s in my brain, says Alexandria as she stands in front of her grandmother looking innocent.

Mrs. Hazel looks at her beautiful granddaughter with adoring eyes.  Alexandria has her mother’s caramel complexion and her father’s thick black hair. Alexandria I wish that was all that matters but unfortunately there are people out there who won’t care that you are smart and talented they will only see the color of your skin and they will judge you by that.  So you must have special talents.

Grandma, I think I know what you mean but by the time I am an adult, things like that would have changed.  I will be judged by the content of my character and not by the color of my skin; besides that I got Jesus. Alexandria prances around the room like