The Lamps

By Darries McCullough

Raised by his aunt and growing up listening to the story of how his parents died just days after his birth, Brandon Sr. was always a happy child.  He loved to travel and during one of his adventures, he met the woman of his dreams. The couple had a son named Brandon Jr. who, after his mother’s sudden death, was raised by his great aun

• Language: English
• Publisher: McCullough & Woods, Inc
• Release date: Apr 29, 2018
• ISBN: 9781732064713

Darries McCullough

Darries McCullough, Senior was born February 13, 1973 in Queens, New York. He was brought up with the nickname, Snoop, in a great home, raised by his grandparents. Darries always loved school, but his favorite time was when he was in high school in Charlotte, North Carolina. His best memory from being in school is when he would sing solos in the choir. As a child Darries' aunt, Sharon McCullough, was the most influential person in his life. She provided him with a roadmap and always kept it real, no matter what. After a while, Darries developed a family. He now has 5 children and loves them all very much. Darries' one goal for himself as their parent is to keep it real to them throughout every situation, because that's how Aunt Sharon kept it for him. Darries favorite job was driving trucks on the road. He drove for eleven years. During his time spent driving, Darries was able to get in a lot of reading and writing. He always stuck to writing and reading things around the genre of Sci-Fi. The Lamps is Darries' first published novel.

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Dedication

I dedicate my first published book, THE LAMPS to Sharon McCullough, who I cherished. My auntie helped raise me for years and helped mold me into the man I am today.  She was a loving mother to her children, as well as a devoted grandmother; but I also knew I had a special place in my Aunt Sharon’s heart. I will always hold her in my fondest memories… R.I.P.

Auntie Sharon.  I miss you…

Acknowledgements

My heartfelt appreciation goes to Daisy Taste. She pushed me to get this book published, and she also provided me with carefully considered feedback and very valuable comments.

Also, I owe a very important thank you to my daughter, Demetria McCullough for typing my entire book.

I have to send a huge acknowledgement out to Yvonne Rose and Quality Press for everything they did for me, their technical help and sincere encouragement.

Last but not least, I would like to express my gratitude to my family for their moral support and warm encouragement.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Author Biography

Chapter 1

On March 16, 1972, a son was born to two loving parents.  Jesse, his father, was part-owner of a small brokerage firm.  His mother, Renea, was a homemaker.  This was their first child after four years of marriage and Jesse had always wanted a son.  They named their first-born Brandon.  When Brandon was born, he was a peaceful and quiet baby.  After three days in the maternity ward of the hospital, it was time for the family to go home.

Renea bundled up their beautiful son as the nurse escorted them to the lobby to meet Jesse.  Outside, it poured rain, and thunder rumbled in the distance.  Jesse had made arrangements with his partner, Jared, to finish work early enough that afternoon to prepare for the ride to take his wife and son home.  The traffic had been very hectic.  Jesse stepped out of the car and into the front entrance of the hospital where his wife and son waited for him.  Brandon was wrapped so tightly in his blanket that Jesse could barely see his face.  Renea’s smile was just as warm, as she greeted her husband.  Jesse kissed his wife and helped them outside to the car, shielding them as best he could from the rain, beneath a black umbrella.

My sister, Maria, will be here Tuesday night, Jesse said, rain darkening the hem of his pants.  Jared is going to take care of the office, while I spend some time with you and Brandon before she arrives. 

Jesse took his baby boy in his arms and then helped Renea into the front seat, rain pelting the window as he shut it. Then, he placed Brandon in the car seat and buckled him in securely, even as the rain drenched his back. He ducked into the car, folding up the largely useless umbrella as he reached over and kissed his wife on the cheek.  As they began to head home the forecast was still the same.

It is going to be so good to finally sleep in my own bed, Renea said, sighing. The hospital staff was great, but I miss the comforts of home.

I have missed you, her husband said. 

Upon exiting the hospital entrance, Jesse quickly glanced in the back seat to check on his son.  Brandon was asleep.  As he proceeded to leave the hospital, he made a right turn at the green light onto Lakeville Road. He didn’t notice the white Ford pickup truck barreling off the hill at full speed.  The truck collided with the front driver’s side of Jesse’s 1970 Ford Torino and sent the car into a tailspin on the rain-slicked road. 

It all happened in a matter of seconds.  The Ford Torino was pushed 500 feet away from the entrance of the hospital and came to rest on the bank just on the side of the highway.  The pickup truck was cornered between the bank and the Yorkshire’s vehicle.  The driver of the truck, Cecil Hamilton, slumped over the steering wheel. 

Witnesses to the accident abandoned their vehicles to help the occupants of the two crashed vehicles.  Mark Wilkers reached the scene first and was able to open the door to the pickup truck and get Cecil out of the vehicle.  Cecil was stunned from the impact; his airbag had inflated and protected him from going through the front windscreen.  Cecil, still in tremendous pain, went to see if the driver and passengers in the car involved were ok.

Mark managed to get Renea out of the front passenger seat, as the paramedics pulled up to the scene.  Thank God, he thought, they were not far away from a hospital.  He had witnessed the accident as he traveled along Lakeville behind Cecil’s truck.  Cecil had managed to get Brandon out of the back seat, still secure in his car seat.  There were other people diligently working in the downpour of rain to get Jesse out of the driver’s seat. 

This does not look good, Mark murmured.

Cecil cradled Brandon in his arms to protect him from the rain.  His head was pounding as he apologized profusely for his reckless driving.  A nurse from the hospital that had just finished her shift and was leaving the hospital managed to reach Cecil and the baby with an umbrella.  Brandon was crying at the top of his lungs.  It was almost as if the little fellow knew that something had gone seriously wrong.

As quickly as it all happened, there were hospital staff, paramedics and firefighters on the scene to attend to the injured victims.  The firefighters finally managed to free Jesse from the debris of the car. 

Where are my wife and son? he screamed.  Did you get them out of the car? 

Renea was strapped to a paramedic’s board, unconscious. Renea! he shouted, but she could not hear him. Jesse was rushed into emergency surgery as an MRI determined that the impact of the collision had caused broken ribs and internal bleeding.  The old Ford Torino did not have airbags.  Jesse had inherited the vehicle from his great-grandfather. As they wheeled him into surgery, Jesse unconsciously remembered those rides in the front seat with great Grandpa Jack.  He was terrified and worried about his wife and son.

The doctors and nurses worked hard on Renea, who had suffered a broken neck and pelvic injuries.  This helpless mother had just given birth three days ago to a healthy baby boy and was now fighting for her life. 

Brandon, who had been pulled from the car by Cecil, had been attended to by the off-duty nurse Carmen Whitter.  It was a miracle that he had survived.  The car seat was safely secured, and the impact had not thrown him from the car.  He had been protected by bundles of blanket, suffering with only a little bump to his head.

While Cecil struggled to pull himself together in the hospital emergency area, the Marlon County Sheriff arrived to take him into custody.  His head was still pounding from the impact of the airbags, as he was put into handcuffs in the back seat of the police car. 

Several hours later, Renea died from traumatic injury and Jesse was on life support.  Baby Brandon was placed in the care of the children’s ward until hospital staff could contact the next of kin. 

Maria Yorkshire was Jesse’s younger sister.  Maria was a single, young executive working at a downtown law firm in Dallas, Texas.  She had been so excited when Jesse announced that Renea was expecting their first child.  She had already made arrangements with her boss to take a few days off to help Renea around the house with Brandon once she arrived home from the hospital, starting tomorrow. She’d planned to take a flight in the morning and arrive mid-afternoon.

Maria, I have an urgent call for you on line one, announced the receptionist.  Maria excused herself from the board meeting as she walked to the reception area to answer the telephone.

"Hello, Ms. Yorkshire?

Yes, this is she, answered Maria.

Ms. Yorkshire, this is Lakeville Medical Hospital, Dr. Hoyt calling.  I am sorry to have to call you with such bad news. Jesse, your brother, and his family have been in a terrible accident. We need you to get here as soon as possible.

Fear clenched her stomach. Accident?

Are they okay? Maria asked, worried.

I am sorry, Ms. Yorkshire. But, no, I’m afraid they’re not.  Your brother has suffered serious internal injuries and is now in emergency surgery, and your sister-in-law, Renea, did not survive the wreck.

The news hit Maria like a hard punch to the stomach. She couldn’t think. She couldn’t breathe. Jesse was in surgery? Renea was… dead? How could this be?

No, Maria screamed and began to cry uncontrollably. She sniffed, trying to pull herself together.  What about the baby?

Brandon is in the pediatric ward and seems to be doing fairly well.

Maria arrived at LAX on a red-eye flight from Dallas, Texas.  Exhausted, weary and teary, she managed to pull herself together and board the plane for California.  She didn’t know if she would be able to function after receiving the horrific news of her only brother, wife and newborn nephew.  She was devastated.  Maria arrived at Lakeview Medical Hospital and checked in at the reception desk.

The nurse on duty informed Maria that the doctor on duty would be with her as soon as he had completed his rounds.  It felt like hours as Maria sat and waited for Dr. Kitely.

Ms. Yorkshire, my name is Dr. Jon Kitely, he said as