Little Criminals with Big Hearts

By Luella Thomas

LITTLE CRIMINALS WITH BIG HEARTS was written by author Luella Thomas. She was inspired to write this book based on her personal and professional experiences working as a Youth Counselor through her church organization in Southwest Michigan. It tells the story about a teenage boy who is arrested and placed in a juvenile detention center for fighting. While there, he crosses paths with kids whove been abused, abandoned, neglected, and have ran away from home. Others are there for fighting, domestic violence, violating court orders, using drugs or alcohol, and for committing crimes. It will undoubtedly change his life forever.
The story demonstrates how kids will embrace self-respect and respect for others, when raised or placed, in an environment that provides discipline, structure, and guidance. Additionally, it homes in on the power of love, lies, loyalty, influence, and truth. Although some characters in this story will go on to live productive and successful lives, others will not be so lucky. They will unfortunately be sent to jail or prison, and others will die at an early age.
Some incidents in this story are based on true events, while others are fictional. The names were created through the authors mind in an effort to bring the story together. A local book-club in Austin, Texas, states Little Criminals with Big Hearts is a heart-felt romantic-drama that will make you smile, cry, and empathize with its characters. Although this story was written to entertain, it was also written to enlighten parents and all adults about the importance of improving their relationships with children, starting with their own.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 13, 2015
• ISBN: 9781496952547

Luella Thomas

Luella Thomas, author of the book Flirting with the Truth, was inspired by the children she currently teaches, mentors, and tutors to write the book From Minnows to Men. The motivation came through a dream. Ms. Thomas states, “One night while sleeping, the phrase ‘from minnows to men’ appeared before me in big bold letters. I awakened the next morning and immediately wrote those words on a sheet of paper, and I laid it aside for quite some time. I had no clue of what it meant, but I knew that it had a purpose. It was approximately six months later when a light bulb popped on inside my head, and it became very clear that it would be the title for my next book. I quickly searched and found the piece of paper that I had scribbled the words on, and when I read the words again, the content of the book slowly unraveled itself inside my mind, and that is when I started to write it. However, after two months into writing, I decided that I wanted to include a qualified male’s perspective, ideas, and opinions. So I approached longtime friend, and now coauthor, Ricky Hill, whom I work with and have known for many years, and asked him if he would join me in writing this book. He humbly accepted my invitation, and not long afterward, though challenging, From Minnows to Men was completed.” As a stepmother of two, a godmother, mentor, and teacher of several teenage children, Ms. Thomas shares her experiences, ideas, and opinions on raising and working with children of all ages and from all walks of life. She believes that in order to save our children and to prepare them for the future, it will take a collective effort on everyone’s part; and by providing discipline, structure, and guidance in the home, along with a whole lot of love and support, we can help today’s children transition from minnows to men. Ricky George Hill, coauthor of the book From Minnows to Men, was born and raised in southwest Michigan, in a small town ninety miles east of Chicago, Illinois. He is a father of six fully grown children and was married for thirty years to first wife, the mother of his children, who passed away in 2006 due to cancer. He has since remarried and has been with his current wife for eight years. He received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and currently works with children. Hill’s other accomplishments include being city commissioner, a 4-H basketball coach, a photographer, and an active leader in his community. He’s a man of integrity and loyalty, with true care and concern for all children and people. Though well educated, his down-to-earth approach toward people is priceless. “To my mother, whom I love dearly, and my wife (my better half), I thank you both for loving me. I am proud to say that this book, From Minnows to Men, is my first book. I hope and pray that it will help, inspire, and motivate everyone who reads it. I also, with much love, truly thank Ms. Luella Thomas for choosing me to help her write this much-needed and wonderful book. Ms. Thomas, you are the best writer I know, and again, I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to voice my experiences, ideas, and opinions. For your wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and patience, I sincerely appreciate you. Real talk! For more information about Ms. Thomas or Mr. Hill and the books From Minnows to Men and Flirting with the Truth, please visit http://www.t-ellacreations.com. To contact Ms. Thomas and Mr. Hill for a book signing, speaking engagement, fund-raiser, or special event, they can be reached at: T-ELLA Creations 717 St. Joseph Dr., Suite #138 St. Joseph, Michigan 49085-2428 E-mail: [e-mail]

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2015 Luella Thomas. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 01/12/2015

ISBN: 978-1-4969-5255-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-5256-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-5254-7 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Poems

Written by Luella Thomas for T-Ella Creations

A Cry for Help from the Mind of a Child

Growing Pains

A Flower with No Name

The Future of Our Children

God, Please Save My Children!

About the Author

Chapter 1

My son, Christian Jonathan Gold, was in trouble again for fighting at school, and this time, he was taken to the local jail to be fingerprinted and transported to Bunker County Juvenile Center. It all happened on the day of his sixteenth birthday, and I was devastated when I heard the news. I’d arrived at work after dropping Christian off at school that day when my cell phone rang. I could see on my caller ID that it was Principal Dave McKenny of Snowyville High School. He informed me that CJ, which is Christian’s nickname, was involved in a fight and might have seriously injured a kid.

He said that CJ knocked the kid unconscious; the kid was then transported by paramedics to the nearest hospital with a possible head injury. He also said that it was a very serious matter and that CJ could be charged with attempted murder, assuming the kid lived, or murder, if he died. The principal suggested that I come by the school to further discuss the matter with him; the kid’s father was an attorney and there could be legal trouble.

After hanging up, I checked my work phone messages and noticed that I had received two, and one was marked Urgent. It was Detective Harvey Mason from the Snowyville Township police department, informing me of CJ’s arrest. He left his name, address, and phone number, and asked that I contact him as soon as possible regarding CJ’s arrest.

I was very upset after hearing his message and I practically died right there in my tracks—the reality of it all had sunk in and scared me senseless. CJ was my only child, and the thought of losing him frightened me to no end. He had gotten in trouble before for fighting at his previous schools in Los Angeles, but he wasn’t arrested. Something bad had to have happened for CJ to knock the kid out, I thought. And after praying a silent prayer, I managed to pull myself together and quickly gathered up my personal items to leave. I informed my boss of the situation and then headed to the local police station to assist CJ.

Chapter 2

On my way there, various thoughts raced through my mind, and while it was difficult to concentrate on any particular one, I thought of how CJ had gone through a lot, prior to transferring to Snowyville High School just two years ago. Our move from West Covina, California, to Snowyville, Michigan, a small town outside of Detroit, was not an easy task for me, let alone my fourteen-year-old son who was taken away from his friends and the state that he loved. Sunny California, as CJ called it, was his favorite place to live (even though he’d never lived anywhere else), and he vowed that one day he would return, with or without me.

Naturally, he was angered by our move to Michigan, but I figured that he’d eventually adjust, like any kid. CJ had made a lot of new friends and was recently named captain of his hockey team. And according to him, he had started dating a cheerleader; her name was Angel, and I was certain that he liked her a great deal. As I continued to drive, reflections and memories from the past filled the corners of my mind, and before long, I became totally engulfed in the memory of CJ’s birth, and I relived that moment.

Oh my God, it hurts, I had thought, and then I felt the most excruciating pain ever, and out he came. He was the most beautiful brown-haired, green-eyed boy that I’d ever seen, and I loved him instantly. I must’ve gotten caught up in the memory, as I didn’t recall stopping at a red light, but suddenly I could hear several horns honking, which quickly brought me back to reality. I was a bundle of nerves when the light signaled green.

My heart pounded, and my body shook all over as I quickly drove through the intersection. My mind was preoccupied with CJ’s situation, and I should not have been driving anywhere. So I pulled over to the curb to let the hurried drivers go by and to compose myself. As the cars passed, their drivers glared and stared at me, and if looks could kill, I would’ve been dead, but luckily they all kept on going.

Fear and embarrassment overcame me, and before long, I felt the tears run down my face.

What a mess I’ve made for CJ, I thought, and I have only myself to blame. My child has already suffered enough for my wrongdoings, and only God knows the challenges that lie ahead. As I continued driving, I thought, CJ is my pride and joy and he is a good kid, too. And regardless of what others may think, he would never hurt anyone intentionally.

He was easygoing with a laid-back temperament, and a person would have to strike him first before he’d fight them, which would be considered self-defense. I could only hope that this was the case, as murder or attempted murder would not to be taken lightly, even with a teenager.

I took a deep breath, and after drying my eyes, I resumed driving to rescue my son.

While deep in thought, my intuition forced me to stop by CJ’s school first. I felt that I might learn a bit more about what truly happened with CJ and that kid. After arriving at the school, I met with Principal McKenny and spoke with several of the kids who knew CJ and had witnessed the fight. I learned that CJ had defended himself, and the kid (named Roger Perez) was a bully.

They all told me that Roger punched CJ for no reason. They also said that Roger had been picking on CJ for quite some time, especially after CJ was made captain of the hockey team. The kids said that Roger called CJ a white nigger and said that I was a slut and a gold digger, but CJ did not respond to his insults.

However, they said, It was only after Roger punched CJ in the stomach and pushed him into the wall that CJ knocked his lights out with one punch. It was exactly as I had suspected—CJ was provoked into fighting and forced to defend himself. The kids also told me that Roger’s father donated ten thousand dollars’ worth of equipment and uniforms to their school, and Roger felt that because of it, he should’ve been made captain of the hockey team.

The kids also gave me their names and telephone numbers, and they assured me they would testify under oath, if necessary. It was very clear that they liked CJ—he was their number-one hockey player and captain of their team, which might have carried a bit of weight. CJ was very handsome and book smart, and rumor had it all the girls loved him.

Speaking of being handsome, CJ was tall with sandy-brown hair and hazel-green eyes. His body frame was relatively large, especially for his age. He was my only son and I loved him dearly, despite the trouble he was in. Shortly after I left the school and continued on my way to the police station, it dawned on me that it was CJ’s birthday, and I started to cry once again.

Then I thought it’s not CJ’s fault that he was born a half-breed or a white nigger, as Roger and many of the kids from his previous schools referred to him, and I certainly am no gold-digger. I may not be the ideal mother according to society, since I’m single and unmarried, but I truly do love my child. I raised him with dignity and self-respect, and I taught him to have respect for others, regardless of their color. When he was born, I knew that he would face many challenges, being a child of an interracial relationship, but I never knew that it would come to this: black people mistreating him because he wasn’t black enough and white people mistreating him because he wasn’t