Royalty Is Fed Up!: The Power Of A Child's Voice.

By Misty Colbert, Krystal Atkinson and Jazelle Thomas

Royalty is fed up with the heartbreak she is experiencing from the decisions her parents are making and being teased at school. Royalty’s dream has her feeling like she can handle whatever challenges she is faced with today. She finds the courage to use her voice and speak up to the one girl who taunts her the most. Royalty has had enough of the mistreatment she receives from others. She has one mission today, and with the perfect outfit and her newfound confidence, she is going to be heard!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jazelle Thomas
• Release date: May 9, 2020
• ISBN: 9781734814712

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Mrs. Caroline Williams whose encouragement, inspiration, and feedback is appreciated. Mrs. Alaina Gilkey, Mr. Julius D. Bell, Mr. W.L. Harris, and Ms. BreAnn Gilkey, thank you for taking time out of your busy days to read, critique, and comment on the manuscript; I appreciate you. Krystal Atkinson, for taking time out of your busy schedule to edit the book, I thank and appreciate you for your expertise.

Chapter 1

The Dream

Royalty is eleven years old, tall for her age, and has long legs. She has soft, curly hair that is a nice length, hanging past her shoulders. Her cousins compliment her on her hair often. They say it is not as tightly curled as their hair and is easier to manage. All Royalty knows is that her cousins keep their hair looking nice when they leave the house anyway. Royalty’s cousins are always complimenting her. She likes it. It helps her feel pretty and smart. Most of the time, that is not how she feels. Her cousins do what they can to build up her self-esteem.

A lot of days Royalty is sad and lonely with no friends around. She does have her best friend Joy. If it were not for Joy, Royalty would not have anyone to talk to most days.

Royalty lives with her mom in a community full of old brick duplexes.

What they call home is a musty, two-bedroom that is never clean for more than two days at a time. Her mom has smooth skin, loves her long-haired wigs, and tight jeans. Royalty’s mom is also lonely with low self-esteem and is soft spoken.

This morning, Royalty feels powerful like the pretty hero she dreamed about. The woman had an afro, tall knee-high boots, and was a little on the thick side with big legs. The woman showed up for two children who needed their mothers, but their mothers were not there for them.

The little girl in Royalty’s dream went through the house calling for her mom and discovered that she was not home. The girl went outside. She looked down the street and saw a little boy playing in his yard. She sat down on the porch. Soon the boy came walking down the street.

Is your mom home? he asked.

No, she said, unsure about telling him. Is your mom home? the girl asked.

No, he responded as he sat down next to her.

The girl did not mind him staying, it kept her from being alone.

After what seemed like hours, this gorgeous woman rounded the dusty corner at the end of the block and was headed their way. Her hair was big and perfectly shaped, like some of the curly afros you see on men after they have patted their hair into shape. She looked good! They both were stuck in awe, eyes fixed on the pretty woman as she walked up the rocky driveway toward the little girl and boy. Her right arm swung as she walked. In her hand, she carried a bag that was folded over at the top.

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Her shirt was form fitting with short sleeves. Her jeans, a dark blue that looked like they would be soft and smooth to the touch, hugged her body. Her knee-high boots were a solid white that almost seemed to shine. They looked fresh out of the box. She had long, softly curled eye lashes that swooped above some of the prettiest big brown eyes, and she did not have on any make-up.

Royalty has noticed that many women she feels are gorgeous wear make-up, including her mom. The woman in her dream was naturally gorgeous, like how Royalty sees her cousins.

How are you doing? the woman asked, not directing the question specifically to the boy or girl.

Neither answered. They were speechless.

Are you okay, she asked with concern, looking from the boy to the girl.

I’m hungry, the little girl answered in a soft voice.

Is your mom home? the woman asked.

The little girl was afraid to answer, but she was hoping whatever the woman had in that small, brown paper bag that smelled so good, was enough to share. She answered, No.

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