In the Test of Time

By Gladys Robinson

Gloria’s life and realities over shadowed emotions and beliefs. Never understanding purpose in life caused entrapment and devastation. She endeavored to advance in areas that she considered an improvement and quality of life. She went into negative situations denying the facts.

Gloria wanted good and evil to blend. There was no mistake about her behavior. Her actions testifi ed to what did or did not exist in her. The desires in her had to be satisfi ed. Those impulses could not come together equally in agreement, each one served its own purpose. One inclination was good and prosperous; the other was bad and destructive.

The repercussions in life made her aware of choices she made which were either good or bad.

Becoming consumed by evil surroundings Gloria desperately needed an escape. She found it and her life totally changed. The acquaintances, desires, habits, emotions, and lifestyle became different than ever imagined.

Negative thoughts accusations that change could not occur were found to be misleading. Thoughts of Gloria never being able to change her surroundings were misleading. Thoughts of everybody being the same and no way out were misleading. Thoughts that people who hated her cared for her were misleading. Thoughts that she could not succeed without the company she kept were misleading.

Choices are revealed In The Test of Time!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 12, 2009
• ISBN: 9781441575883

Book preview

54416-ROBI-layout.pdf

CHAPTER 1

(Kids At Play, Runaway Child, Sickness)

Gloria at the age of seven years had a friend whose name was the same. They became best friends. They met at the playground almost every day. Their personalities were alike. They complained to one another about kids not wanting to play with them. Gloria’s friend would see her sister Cynthia and brother Lewis at the playground on the swings or running around. Cynthia had no fear. She would swing very high in the air. One day she swung so high that she went all the way around the pole in the air. Some miraculous way she held on with a mild fall and scratch on her arm. Gloria asked her friend to make a promise never to play with Cynthia because she always took away her friends and left her with no one to play with. Her friend agreed as though she understood how she felt. Both of them suffered from inferiority complex. After several months her friend Gloria moved away and she had no one to play with at the playground. Gloria stopped going to the playground because Cynthia refused to allow her friends to play with her. She stayed home and played imaginary friends with her toys. Gloria often thought of her friend because she was special and Gloria believed that she was just as special to her friend.

Gloria’s brother Eric was the youngest. Eric was not content in the house. He always wanted to go out side to play but he was not allowed outside because he was only four years old.

Whenever their parents were away from home they were responsible for watching Eric. One day they were in the house playing cards and Eric slipped out of the house and walked to the corner. They looked and called Eric’s named around the house but they did not find Eric until they went outside to search for him. They grabbed Eric at the corner and took him back into the house. It was a big scare and they never told their parents.

Cynthia was a bully. Gloria kept her distance from her. All the kids were afraid and did what she told them to do.

Cynthia was precious in her dad Leroy’s eyes. He thought of her as an angel. However, Gloria thought her to be something else and it wasn’t nice. Their dad Leroy had a pet name for Cynthia. He called her Ding-Ding. Gloria resented that special treatment he gave her because she wanted to be the precious one in his eyes. Everything he did Gloria thought was great. Their dad Leroy would perform magic tricks with cards and cigarettes. During one of his demonstrations he told them to pick out one card from the deck. Their dad took the card and held it face up so everyone could see it in his hand. Their dad Leroy flipped the card and it disappeared. Afterwards, he waved his hands around and flipped the card out between his fingers. Than, he took a cigarette, lit it, put it through his ears, out the other and blew smoke out his mouth. Everyone was shock and could not figure out how he did that. Gloria thought he was the greatest magician in the world.

During Christmas, Santa Claus came into Gloria and Cynthia’s room while they slept. Gloria heard a noise, peeked and saw Santa Claus looking over them. She was slightly scared but felt comforted believing it was their dad Leroy and did not want to spoil his fun. When morning arrived, Gloria ran up to him pointing and saying, were you in our room last night? That was you, I know that was you before he could answer her mom said, no he wasn’t she knew that meant not to ask again.

Their mom Pauline was a solemn person. She was in a world of her own. She did not joke or conversant much. Their presence was enough for her. Nevertheless, they knew she was concerned about them. Their parents were in dissension. They argued and stayed uptight leaving her emotionally disturbed and him wanting to get out with his army buddies.

Their dad Leroy was humorist and liked by people. He would do crazy things like one time he wanted to get their mom Pauline’s attention because he really loved her. He wanted her love to be proven. With his creativeness, he put ketchup on his chest, laid underneath the rear of a parked car and told his buddies to act like he was ran over by a car. They screamed for her to come out of the house quickly. They said he was run over by a car. However, she knew he was starving for attention and refused to fall for another prank. She yelled out the kitchen window, stop playing your games and get up before something really happens. He failed at his attempt but everyone was tickled.

Cynthia became ill with a high body temperature and convulsions. Everyone was upset by her ill behavior. Her dad Leroy rushed her to the Army Hospital Emergency Room. Later that day he returned home explaining how Cynthia was very sick and would be hospitalized for testing. Dramatized, he explained how they diligently worked and laid her in cool ice water to stabilize her vital signs. Gloria and Lewis were afraid for Cynthia wondering how someone tough could get sick like she did. Her diagnose was appendicitis, which poisoned her system and tonsillitis. She underwent emergency surgery and stayed for several weeks before returning home.

Although Gloria’s dad Leroy was crazy about Cynthia they had conflicts. She would make remarks that offended him and he would complain. Cynthia was not afraid to speak out at him. However, he felt it was necessary to cheer her up to keep the peace.

Lewis was a very private person. He did not like anyone messing with his belonging. One day he decided that he was no longer going to tolerate the kids, messing with his stuff. Therefore, early one morning while everyone slept Lewis gathered, packed his important belongings, and was on his way. When every one awakened early in the morning their dad Leroy asked their mom Pauline where was Lewis. They asked the kids, where is Lewis. They said they were sleeping and had not seen Lewis. Their dad and mom began to panic as they ran around the house in circles. Also they ran outside around the house and down the street. They were yelling Lewis’s name out loud while searching. They ran over to the playground across and in front of the next block. Lewis was nowhere to be found. Their dad Leroy called the police and their mom gathered up Cynthia, Gloria and Eric to help search for Lewis. By than everyone figured that Lewis had run away like he threatened he would if his things weren’t left along. Hours of searching went pass and finally Eric was spotted at one of the runaway hangouts, which was the bus terminal. It was a happy ending to see and know Lewis was ok. All the kids understood and heard him loud and clear. Every since that time Lewis wishes were respected because they did not want him to run-away anymore. Lewis shared his adventure with the kids and said a nice old man had given him lots of candy while they sat and talked. They asked him where was he going and he said New York to live with Aunt Martha to become a cartoon artist. Lewis loved to draw cartoon characters. He collected cartoons and put in for best artist drawing contests, but he was never selected. However, he continued to draw cartoons and collect coins as a hobby.

Gloria used to sit for hours on the stairs looking into space daydreaming and most of the time that’s how her time was spent. She felt like a dreamer. She had many thoughts. She liked to dress up and look glamorous. Gloria would play dress up with Cynthia and her friends whenever Cynthia allowed her to. Their mom Pauline only allowed them to dress up around the house or in the front or backyard. Their neighbor was a glamorous dressing woman who moved away. She threw a lot of makeup into the trash. Cynthia and Gloria got permission from their mom Pauline to get makeup out the trash to play with. They rushed next door and raided the neighbor’s trash. They picked out all kinds of makeup to play glamour girls. They had eye shadows, foundations, massacres, blushes, and lipsticks. They had the full makeup line. First they put on their mom’s fancy dresses and hi heel shoes, stockings, earrings, and don’t forget the wigs. Then they put all the makeup on dance around acted cute, talked sophisticated, and switched their little booties around. After having a lot of fun playing dress up, they had to wash up and get prepared for dinner.

They had a babysitter who was a heavy-framed older woman. She would make them slimy oatmeal for breakfast. However, she was the only one finishing her plate. She would say repeatedly You better eat your oatmeal because it is good and healthy for you. They had a big rocking chair. The babysitter really loved that rocker. However, there was a big problem with the babysitter and the rocker. She would fall into a deep sleep with her legs wide open exposing herself. It was very funny that they cracked up laughing until their bellies ached or until the sitter finally woke up. Their parents got rid of her because she slept too much. The next babysitter was younger but very heavy in weight. They liked her because she made cola or root beer soda and ice cream floats. They thought she was great and missed her when she stopped babysitting.

CHAPTER 2

(Move Out Of Town, Birthday Party)

A couple years later they moved to a town forty minutes away after their dad Leroy retired from the Army. The town and house was nice. They liked not having joint housing anymore. However, the nightmare began after the first heavy downpour of rain. The street flooded with rainwater over their ankles. They went down in the basement to play. However, to their surprised it was flooded and the water level was almost up to their knees. They splashed and push around in the water but soon after they were put to work by their mom Pauline to help fill and empty buckets and buckets of water out of the basement. They hated when it rained because the basement would flood and that wasn’t fun anymore. In the street they splashed and swim with other neighborhood kids. Their mom Pauline would call them in the house to drain water out the basement. It became their worse nightmare after playing in the flooded street.

Gloria turned eleven years old and everybody loved the popular singers.

There was a fellow Tommy who looked like a famous singer and everyone had a crush on him. He liked Gloria for three days after she went to her girlfriend’s birthday party and was introduced to Tommy. However, the crush Tommy had on Gloria wore off fast. Tommy had to many fans to settle for one girl. Tommy was young and on the run with his famous singer impersonations charming all the girls.

Cynthia always wanted her way as though she was trying to get control of the household. Their mom and dad seemed to stay out of her way. Cynthia sassed back to their parents a lot. She argued with their parents and bullied Gloria and Lewis. Eric was only six years old so Gloria did not bother him. Cynthia was turning sixteen years old. Their dad allowed her to have a sweet sixteen-birthday party in the house to make her happy. Her dad Leroy figured Cynthia would have nice kids around her age at the party. Their dad Leroy would normally go to the bar, instead he hung around the house to help out. Cynthia’s party started at 8:00pm on Saturday until close to midnight. A steady flow of people was coming in the house for the party. The party was nice and going well.

Gloria had a big problem about Cynthia being allowed to have a party. It was the second birthday party given for her. The first party was by their mom Pauline and Grand-mom Ann. Cynthia was twelve years old while on family vacation. Gloria wondered if they would ever do that for her because Cynthia always got her way. She even asked herself; why everyone have to please her.

About 11:30pm different groups of people showed up. It was obvious they were adults. Their dad Leroy was upset that grown men and women came to party with the teens. Oh, yes they were coming to partying and intoxicated. Well their dad Leroy had a serious problem with those adults arriving in cars to party with his young daughter. He confronted them and told them to leave his house. He said his daughter was too young for them to party with. More adults arrived to party. Their dad Leroy became very angry, stopped the party and told everybody to leave. Cynthia became very angry and rebellious. She did not want the party to stop. He forced the people out of the house because they did not want to leave immediately.

The following day was horrible. Cynthia was not happy and their dad was upset that she did not appreciate him even allowing her to have a party. Gloria was very afraid for them because they were screaming at one another. Gloria stood between the kitchen and living room standing behind their dad Leroy but facing Cynthia as they faced one another arguing. They suddenly became physical because he grabbed her arm. Cynthia picked up a can of pork n beans and threw it at him. He saw the can and quickly ducked down. The can hit Gloria in her forehead. She became dizzy and stumbled backwards onto the sofa. Her forehead was sore with a scare and lump. Finally their mom Pauline came in and broke up the argument between Cynthia and their dad Leroy.

Often Gloria had no one to play with. Cynthia was very manipulating. She always stopped her friends from associating with Gloria. Lewis allowed Gloria to play with him and his friends. Separately, it was Cynthia and her girl friends playing and Gloria with Lewis and his friends playing. Gloria had to be tough like a tomboy to hang with her brother and his buddies. They always liked the rough and scary play.

Hanging with boys was a big task. Gloria always was in some dangerous situation. Lewis, Gloria and his buddies decided to go to the community lake to swim. Gloria had to do everything they did in order to keep up with them. She could not swim well at all. She only could doggie paddle. She could not even open her eyes under water. She started out following Lewis and his friends across the lake. Gloria had a good and strong start. Gloria could even hear her brother’s voice and his friends as they started out together. After she doggie paddled numerous times exhaustion set in. She became very tried while padding in the water. She felt weak, faint and could not continue across the lake with Lewis and his friends. She turned around in hopes to make it back to land. She did not hear any more voices around her and felt very alone. She felt surrounded by water and land seemed far away. Her paddling slowed as she desperately tried to reach land. She realized that she was going the wrong way because she should have at least felt the bottom by that time. She was afraid to open her eyes to see and was too weak to go any further. She panicked and forced open her eyes to see where she was. She found herself in the deep area of the lake and heading towards the dam mills. Gloria was not close to land at all. She could not push herself up anymore as she sunk. She managed to push up one last time and opened her eyes. She saw a man and woman pointing at her with their mouths moving as they twisted their bodies. She sunk into the water and moments later felt someone grab her. A person pulled her with force above the water and swimming away with her in his arms. Moments later she was pulled to safety. The lifeguard heard the couple as they screamed out to help Gloria. The lifeguard came to Gloria’s rescue as Lewis and his friends rushed over to help her. The feel of dry land and ground was the first feeling of such satisfaction she ever experienced. Gloria was full of fear that after she arrived home she kissed her mom. Gloria never mentioned to her what happened, but she knew her mom Pauline who got her on her knees every night at bedside to say a prayer and kissed her every morning, leaving a lipstick imprint on her cheek almost lost her.

Gloria’s brother Lewis was very adventurous and inquisitive. He liked to visit with his buddy’s haunted houses from the 1800th century far in the woods and roam through acres of deserted land. They went to wooden areas with high steep and sloping hills and rode bikes at hi speed. Also, they liked playing obstacle coarse. Especially they liked riding bikes through shopping center parking lots. One time the excitement elevated so high that Gloria failed to see a parked car crashed, flipped over it and survived with scrapes and bruises.

Gloria’s mom Pauline adopted a 5 years old male dog named Little One from an animal shelter. He was a poodle with black curly hair. He was short and cubby. Little One was diagnosed after a few years with asthma. Also, later diagnosed with diabetes. Little One had a lot of health problems but such a loving dog. When they talked to him he made sounds with his mouth while moving his head in response. They believed he thought he was human. Gloria, her brother, sister and mom gave Little One lots of love and pampered him like a baby. Gloria’s dad Leroy never assisted in the care of Little One. But her mom Pauline had that extra special tender love and care for him.

After Little One was diagnosed with asthma than diabetes, the doctor recommended that Little One be put to sleep. The family could not bare the thoughts of loosing their pet Little One. Gloria’s mom Pauline refused to put him to sleep. They took him everywhere with them. His daily diabetic and asthma medications consist of an inhaler, tablets, syringe for shots and vitamins. When necessary he was given pain relief medicine to relieve him of heat exhaustion during the summer months. His hair was cut short to keep him cool. Although Little One had sad looking eyes he had a joyous behavior.

Little One went to the beach with the family during vacation. He rested beneath the beach umbrella and was dipped into the water to keep him cool. During one trip Little One became hyperventilated from heat exhaustion, which triggered an asthma attack causing dehydrated from vomiting. Cared by Gloria’s mom, Little One was given a cool tub bath and rested in front of the fan. He was given chicken soup, raw eggs in cold milk, medication to lower his fever and massage to make him feel better. Gloria’s mom Pauline refused to see him suffer which took up a lot of her mom’s time and focus. She made the atmosphere unpleasant, when mourning, until Little One was well. Sometimes Gloria and the other kids resented the attention their mom Pauline gave him as if it was robbery. However, under the circumstances they felt it was better to give than to receive. Especially since it was understood that she was trying to keep him alive. Gloria noticed how her mom Pauline had a certain sense of satisfaction in caring for Little One.

At eleven years old, Little One developed chronic arthritics and could barely walk. Gloria’s mom bathed and rubbed his legs to ease the pain. It became obvious that Little One’s health was inevitably deteriorating. However, Gloria’s mom was determined to keep Little One alive and well. She never stopped helping, hoping and praying for him.

By the twelfth year, Little One became consumed with health issues. Gloria’s mom Pauline rushed him to the veterinarian. After he was examined the doctor required that Little One be put to sleep. There was absolutely nothing she could do for him anymore. Regretfully, she agreed and he was put to sleep. She told the doctor she wanted to be with him through the process. Little One was sad as though he knew he was departing. She rubbed and comforted him until he fell asleep. She left out the veterinarian crying and sorrowful. She told the kids when Little One died a part of her also died right there with him. Gloria and everyone felt helpless because that was an area in her where no one never been but Little One. It was an area in her where she could excel to heights of care where it would never come back to bite her and leave her in regret. However, it did leave her in sorrow.

Their mom Pauline discussed memories of Little One and how much of a burden it was trying to care for him. How she worried and saddened by his illnesses. She was determined and solely committed to keeping him alive. Their mom Pauline did not realize the depth of attachment until he died. The overwhelming feeling of lost was catastrophic that she became emotionally ill. Gloria tried to comfort her mom Pauline with reassurance that Little One was not suffering anymore. By knowing he was in a better place and not suffering