Coming Up In The Village

By Sandra Anderson

Coming Up in the Valley is a family saga novel, very dramatic, slightly comical with a hint of mystery. The novel covers 20 years. The backdrop is Las Vegas Nevada. The novel gives a little history of Las Vegas. Its main focus is on the small community inside the Las Vegas Valley, known by its residents as the village. The characters do travel t

• Language: English
• Publisher: Empire Publishing
• Release date: Nov 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9781087853840

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Dedication

This novel is dedicated in loving memory of Danielle James 1/3/1985 to 1/26/2010 and Jamelle James 11/3/1986 to 8/10/2013.

Gone but never forgotten!

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my gratitude to many people. Starting with my daughters, Shantel and Shatema, who encouraged me from the very beginning. My editor Dan with WordSharp Editing for his great editing skills. Also, Dechelle, Stacey, Diana and Marion for their proofreading and critique. Additionally, Francesca at Empire Publishing for all her hard work.

A very special thank you to my family and friends who allowed me to use their names or something similar for my characters. The characters are totally fictional, but the names are true. I could go on and on; I had so many positive people in my life during the course of writing this novel. I ask for forgiveness from all those who have supported me throughout this course whose names I have failed to mention.

Last but not least, I thank my Creator, for everyday life and for creating us all with an imagination. I pray that everyone who reads this novel will enjoy it. However long it takes you to read this, you can escape the brutal reality of today’s world by joining the James girls in their victories and triumphs!

Prologue

Sensational! I’d never seen anything like this before. The crowd was still on its feet. The applause just kept going. All I could hear was the crowd screaming bravo and more, more, more! I could barely hear the announcer over the crowd saying, Can you believe this? And the games haven’t even started.

Fifteen minutes later, after the crowd seemed to have calmed down some, we heard the announcer saying, Welcome to the 2008 summer games. What a thrilling opening to our games.

Then I heard a different announcer say, During that awesome display of appreciation, we did some research on our opening act. It was performed by 22-year-old Ms. Danielle James, of Las Vegas, Nevada. It seems that Ms. James has been dancing since she was in pre-school and is currently in school at Juilliard. We have just learned that Ms. James’ younger sister, 20-year-old Ms. Jamelle James, is a member of the United States Olympic track and field team. Boy, are we in for a treat. If Jamelle is half as talented as her sister, this just might go down as the Olympics to remember!

Chapter 1

This story is about more than just two extraordinary sisters. It’s a story of how a whole community came together in support of one another.

Back in the 70s, there weren’t too many communities with these homeowner associations. Thank God or Sun Valley Homes would have been totally different. Sun Valley Homes didn’t have any statues or by-laws. It was all about the love of neighbors and the love of community. Our community was made up of working-class people. We had people who worked in the gaming industry, hospitality industry, culinary industry, medical, police and fire. We also had people who worked out at the Nevada test site, and the Timet plant in Henderson, as well as a few military personal. Yes, it was a different time, a time when neighbors all looked out for one another.

Most individuals have either read or heard of the Mob influence in Vegas, the slogan What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, and they are also aware of Vegas being the adult entertainment capital of the world. What they are not aware of is the heart and soul of the city, the people, and the natives. When I say natives, I’m talking two or more generations being born and raised here in Las Vegas, Nevada. The story takes place in North Las Vegas, a mere 14 miles from the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas strip.

In a community called Sun Valley Affordable Homes, built in 1975, over 40 years ago, at that time, the price range for a home in Sun Valley was from $80,000.00 to $160,000.00. It was long before the crash, so most residents in the Las Vegas Valley were doing quite well.

Sun Valley Community was home to 100 residences. In the middle of the community was a large community center called the Girls and Boys Club. Right next to it was the center for seniors. There were two community pools, a basketball court, a tennis court and a park with a beautiful pond.

The community was spread out over 65 acres of land. It was, and still is, a beautiful community. The community was located in the northeast area of town, only eight miles from the Nellis Airforce Base. Prior to this community being built, this area was zoned for horses and livestock. This was the only area in town where there wasn’t a 7-Eleven on every corner. So, the people in the neighborhood made their own adjustments. There was no school within two and a half miles, so all the children had to be bused to school. There were certain individuals in the community who you could never forget, such as:

Ms. Lillie, she was the matriarch of the community. Las Vegas was and still is not the type of town that preserves its history. Things were always being torn down and rebuilt. But Ms. Lillie had pictures and even some film of what things were like back in the 40s and beyond. Ms. Lillie knew the history of Clark County and how it all came into existence. Ms. Lillie often told us stories about Mr. Clark, the millionaire from New York City, how he bought up all the land and how the county was named after him. Apparently, Mr. Clark was still alive and well when Ms. Lillie and her husband, Henry Jackson, moved to Las Vegas in 1940.

Mr. Jackson was an electrician. When they moved to Las Vegas, the dam was completed, but there was still some work and upkeep that needed to be done out there. That was her husband’s first job. As a matter of fact, that’s what brought them to Nevada. During this time, Nevada was changing, particularly Las Vegas. The silver mines were closing, and legal brothels and gambling halls were opening up all over town. The Mob took notice of all of this. Vegas soon became home to large Mob families from both New York and Chicago. At that time, Vegas really was the Wild Wild West! The Mob was trying to find a way to lure more people here to come and gamble and to indulge in whatever else that they couldn’t do at home. That’s when they came up with the glitz and glamour. Not only did the people need to be glamorous. The buildings had to beckon you in. Ms. Lillie’s husband, Henry, who was now known by all his friends and business connections as Money, was instrumental in developing the neon lights that came to be Las Vegas’ signature look. Money died in 1980. He purchased Ms. Lillie her new home in Sun Valley in 1975, where she still lives today. Ms. Lillie is a tall, dark-skinned lady. She always wears her hair cut short. Her hair is naturally wavy. She never puts any kind of perm or color in her hair. She is medium built with long legs like a dancer. She has huge hazel eyes with very long lashes. She always looks as if she is made up, but she never wears any makeup. Ms. Lille was and still is a natural beauty. After Ms. Lillie’s husband died, she converted her garage into a small convenience store. There was not a 7-Eleven in walking distance, so to have Ms. Lillie right there was great for the kids as well as the adults.

…

We had Bobcat, the barber, who turned one of the bedrooms in his house into a barbershop. People would wait all day if they had to just to get Bobcat to cut their hair. He was known as a master barber, and his skills were exceptional. Bobcat was born and raised in Las Vegas. He graduated from Western High School in 1974. Right out of high school, Bobcat married his high school sweetheart and enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served for 12 years. Bobcat was a truck driver and warehouseman while in the service. Bobcat and his wife decided they no longer wanted a military life. They retired and moved back to Vegas. Bobcat went on to be a professional barber.

Bob started off by renting a space at Hair Unlimited. Then, he opened his own barbershop called House of Fades. Bobcat was doing really well until his wife was diagnosed with cancer. Bobcat did not want to work while someone else took care of his wife. So, he closed his shop and worked out of this house when he could. His wife, Annette, fought a good fight, but she succumbed to cancer in 1995. Bob-cat never remarried. He is still a resident of Sun Valley. He works full time out of his home. He also works part time and mentors kids at the Boys and Girls Club. Bobcat is a tall, slender built man with beautiful caramel-colored skin. He wears a nice faded haircut. Women find him very attractive, but he always says he can’t settle, not when he’s had the best for him.

…

Then, we have hair by Shantel, who was a fully licensed cosmetologist and certified in every area of hair and beauty. After her mother died, Shantel converted her garage into a beauty shop. Shantel’s birth mother, Earline, was a wonderful person. She was originally from Gary, Indiana. Earline advised us all that the steel mills were closing in Gary, so she and her fiancé, Randy, decided to move to Vegas. Shortly after moving to Vegas, Earline gave birth to Shantel in 1978. Shantel was her one and only child. Randy was in the Army Reserve. He signed up just to make a few extra dollars. Never once did he think he would be deployed. He was shipped off to the Persian Gulf and killed in the war. Earline was devasted, but she managed. Shantel was only three years old, so she never really knew her father. Earline took the money that Randy left her and bought herself and Shantel a home in Sun Valley. Earline was a strong, prideful woman. She never asked anyone for anything. She worked at the Stardust Resort and Casino in housekeeping. Earline was drop-dead gorgeous. Earline told us that her father was Cherokee, which was part of the reason why she was so stunning. Earlene had long, straight, jet-black hair. Her skin was as smooth as silk. She had big beautiful round eyes. I heard one of the neighbors describe her as being absolutely beautiful. And she really was. Not only did she have the outer appearance, but she also had a heart made of gold. Her daughter, Shantel, looked a lot like her. People who didn’t know them thought they were sisters. Shantel was built just like her mother. Earline had adjusted well to being a single parent. She worked full time, and she was at all of Shantel’s school functions.

I remember this like it was yesterday. Earline fell. Shantel called me. I ran across the street to their house. Earline was on the floor. We called the paramedics. They rushed her to the hospital. It was too late. They pronounced her dead-on-arrival. She suffered from an aneurysm. It was heartbreaking. This beautiful 16-year-old girl was left all alone. We all wanted her. Everybody in the community wanted to take Shantel in. But Jackie said, No. She’s coming to my house.

Jackie assisted Shantel in becoming emancipated, but she wouldn’t let her move out until after she graduated from high school. Jackie took care of her house. Earline’s insurance paid the house off, but Jackie paid the taxes, and she kept all the utilities on. Jackie had someone to come over and service the lawn twice a month. Also, Jackie let the girls go over and watch television during the day. Jackie didn’t want the house to just sit there empty. She wanted to make sure everything was in working condition when Shantel got ready to move in. Years later, Shantel told us all that although it was very painful losing her mother, she never felt alone. She always felt safe and that she was a part of a family. Shantel still has the home that her birth mother bought for her.

…

Slick Ricky, another neighbor, has to be the most unforgettable person in the neighbor. He was born and raised in Las Vegas. Born in 1960, he graduated from Eldorado High School in 1978. Slick Ricky worked has a bellman on the strip and a bouncer at a few of the high-end night clubs. Slick Ricky loved telling stories about his childhood. He would say things were so different back then. No one had a pool in their backyard other than the rich and the famous.

Slick Ricky would always say we had two options if we wanted to go swimming: either Doolittle Community Center or the city pool downtown. The city pool was usually out of the question because we had to walk. So, all the kids from the west side would be at Doolittle, trying to beat the heat. It was a miracle that any of us learned how to swim.

He also loved talking about Helldorado Days in Las Vegas. It’s an annual festival that hosts a rodeo, parade and carnival. It all started in 1934. Back in 1946, the festival was so well known that Roy Rogers and Dale Evans filmed a movie in Las Vegas with Helldorado as the backdrop. As Las Vegas grew, so did Helldorado. Slick Ricky shared what it was like for him as a kid celebrating Helldorado. Slick Ricky advised how all the kids got new clothes for this big event. And everyone in the neighborhood would barbeque. The festivities would start on Thursday. Every day, there would be a parade. Thursday would be the old-timer parade, which was his grandmother’s favorite. Saturday would be the kids’ parade. All the local schools and community centers would be involved. And they would have the battle of the bands. For years, Long Beach State would come to town and kick everybody’s butt. Sunday would be the beauty parade. The rodeo and the carnival were all four nights, as well. The corndogs at the carnival were one of a kind. Not only were they huge, but they also tasted like none other, and they were the same every year. All the food at the carnival and the rodeo was off the hook. Nearly 80 years and Helldorado is still celebrated in Vegas. Unfortunately, the whole city does not support this event as it once did in the past.

Being a bellman on the strip, Slick Ricky met high rollers from all over the world. And for years, he worked in upscale night clubs. Now he owns several jewelry kiosks in the malls throughout the valley. Slick Ricky has the best jewelry on the West Coast. It was rumored that the jewelry came from Asia, but no one knows for sure because every time you ask Slick Ricky, you get a different answer. Slick Ricky is what most women would call a pretty boy. He is medium height and build. Back in the day, he wore a huge afro, but today he keeps his hair cut short. He is still an attractive man. But more than anything, he is suave as far as the ladies go. He’s a good person. The women seem to all flock to him. If he ever slowed down, he would make someone a great husband.

…

The hottest spot in the neighborhood was Bennie Barbeque. Mr. Bennie was also a professional chef and welder. Mr. Bennie was the wisest person that I’d ever met. Mr. Bennie and his wife moved to Vegas from Chicago in 1945. He worked for Bugsy Siegel. He was the head chef at the Flamingo hotel. Mr. Bennie was there for the grand opening on December 26, 1946. It was the first luxury hotel on the strip. In 1950, he left the Flamingo to open the Silver Slipper casino. Mr. Bennie moved for the last time in his working career to the Tropicana County Club, which is now known as the Tropicana hotel and casino. Mr. Bennie was a great chef. He was well known on and off the strip. Mr. Bennie was also one of the