'Sistah's Prodigal

By Ricardo L. Williams

Within the pages of this book, you will be introduced to three young ladies: Vanetta Scott, Ruth Hazelwood, and Keli Ramirez. They will share with you their life stories and the cards that they were dealt. Each card is laden with pain, tears, and disgrace, not to mention the shame and pangs of hunger.

Their story will also show you how God has everything under control and that he has a designated time and place for all things, realizing dreams do not have to be deferred.

You will journey with these ladies who have lived at their lowest of lows only to be lifted to an ultimate high. This story is intended to inspire and stir the souls of those who subjectively believed that all is lost and there is no hope.

As you embrace Vanetta, Ruth, and Keli, they will have you believe, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that all is never lost because of God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Sep 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496931436

Ricardo L. Williams

Through this story, it is the author’s attempt to bring hope to those who have lost their way and are trying to survive in the streets. The situations presented in this story are real and are happening every day. Within the pages of this book, the author offers his readers a breath of fresh air and to make you believe that all things are possible especially when we put God first. ‘Sistah’s Prodigal was born from a neighborhood stage production entitled Vanetta, written, produced, and directed by Ricardo Leonard Williams.

Book preview

‘Sistah’s Prodigal

Ricardo L. Williams

43002.png

AuthorHouse™ LLC

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2014 Ricardo L. Williams. 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.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Published by AuthorHouse 08/29/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-3144-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-3143-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014914993

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 One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Acknowledgments

To my wife Sandy

I could never thank you enough for your push, encouragement and unyielding support of this project. This book is all about believing. You made me believe because you believed in me. So again and again I thank you for looking over my shoulder. Thank you for ‘being there’. Thank you for being my wife.

To my Mom ‘Helen’

"Dearest Mom, My primary goal in this life was to always make you proud. I pray that I’ve done so. Often times it’s of family where you’ll get your least support because they feel that they ‘know you’ therefore never taking you seriously. I thank you for opening the doors of life that enabled me to experience so much therefore providing me with the tools to complete this project. Thank you for your love, guidance and believing in me throughout this project.

Foreword

This story was written for those who can still believe, but it was especially written for those who were down-trodden, be it the causes of life itself or the cause of one person or a few.

This is a story for those who thought they never had a chance, that by some cruel twist of fate they were dealt an ugly hand and were forced to play the game.

Within the pages of this book you will be introduced to three young ladies, Vanetta Scott, Ruth Hazelwood and Keli Ramirez. They will share with you their life stories and the cards they were dealt; each card laden with pain, tears and disgrace not to mention the shame, need and pangs of hunger.

Ahhh, but their story will also show you that God has everything under control and that He has a designated time and place for everything and all dreams do not have to be deferred.

You will journey with these three ladies who lived at their lowest of lows then only to be lifted to their highest of highs. The story is intended to inspire and stir the souls of those who believe that all is lost and that there is no hope.

As you read this story, embrace Vanetta, Keli and Ruth and let’s not forget Hannah. For they will embrace you and make you believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that all is never lost because there is a God!

Ricardo Leonard Williams

Chapter One

It was a hot summer day in June of nineteen sixty-five. It was even hotter at the home of Mattie Hazelwood where another one of her famous house parties was underway. Hot musical hits of that day boomed from the stereo speakers sending everyone on the living room floor to shake whatever they had. This was only one of many such parties thrown by a very intoxicated and very pregnant Martha Hazelwood, better known as ‘Mattie’. In her younger years, Mattie’s wild and suggestive dancing was the sight and talk of any party. Now age and alcohol has taken their toll and her dancing wasn’t sexy anymore. Her guests were beginning to feel very uncomfortable while Mattie showed no regard for her condition. Some of the guests were afraid that the baby could drop out at any minute and none of them were interested in becoming midwives. So as a result, they all began to leave. She begged a few of the stragglers to stay but they were not hearing it.

Mattie bid her last guest a drunken farewell then twirled away from the door, supporting her belly with one hand and clutching her bourbon in the other. Losing her balance, her body collapses over the high back of a lounge chair, the contents of the glass spilling onto the chair. Mattie’s eyes rolled back in her head just before she would pass out.

Having no knowledge of elapsed time, Mattie regained some consciousness and found herself on a stretcher watching fluorescent lights streak over her head. She could hear voices calling out her name but no voice or face was recognizable.

Mattie’s water did break and she was hemorrhaging profusely.

Though in a semi-conscious state, Mattie did hear and understand all too well the term ‘caesarian.’ The very thought of it briefly brought her back to life as she sat straight up, but the movement was too sudden and again her eyes rolled back in her head as her body crashed back down onto the gurney.

"As soon as it looked like I was getting my life together, Mattie had to start with her mess. Well kid, I sure hope your Aunt Hannah can help us because if she can’t, we got a real problem."

Those were the mumblings and concerns of Mrs. Sarah Moore as she pulled up to her destination. Sarah is the younger sister of Mattie Hazelwood and her passenger is an infant that is crying its heart out. Arriving at her destination, Sarah climbed the three wooden steps leading to Hannah’s front door, holding the infant snuggly in her arm. She rings the doorbell and waits patiently. Their eyes met when Hannah Scott slightly pulled the curtain back. They both smiled at each other as Hannah hurriedly opened the door to greet Sarah.

"Well do Jesus! Look who it is! Sarah! Girl, where yah been? I aint seen yah in a long while. Come on in." Hannah greeted as the two embraced.

Hey Hannah.

Come on in child. Yah gotta excuse dis house. I aint had a chance tah clean nuthin’ today. Netta been sick all night and I aint done nuthin’ but tend tah her.

In support of her embarrassment, Hannah begins straightening and adjusting things in the living room.

"So now here you are wit yo’ little one. Lawd, Lawd let me see who it look like. Yeah, das sho nuff you alright! Heh-heh, sho nuff!"

"But this aint my child Hannah."

Oh?

"This is Mattie’s baby and that’s what I come to talk to you about."

Hannah’s whole facial expression changed as she reclined back in her favorite chair and prepared to hear the story.

"Lawd, what done happen now? Yah know, come tah think of it, I thought I heard talk about Mattie. What I heard wasn’t none too good either. Lawd, what she done got herself intah now?"

Well, like I said. This is Mattie’s baby. Her name is Ruthie. Poor thing almost didn’t make it in this world. Neither did Mattie.

Lawd Jesus. What on earth happened?

Well you know how Mattie is with that liquor?

Yeah, I do.

Well, Junebug called me one day all upset. He said he tried to call you but he thought he had a wrong number ’cause he couldn’t get through. Anyway, he said he was at a party over Mattie’s. He said Mattie got real drunk and really started acting crazy. The people started to leave and he did too. He said he got half way home before he realized he’d forgot his hat, so he went back to get it. When he got there, he knocked and knocked at the door but no one answered. He said he peeped through the window and saw Mattie slumped over a chair and at her feet was a big puddle of what looked like blood. He got scared and kicked the door open and then called the ambulance and then he called me.

My Lawd, my Lawd.

"Both of them almost died. They had to take this baby outta Mattie in order to save it, Mattie being so drunk and all. They kept the baby in the hospital a week and a half for observation. I still think there’s something wrong with her. This baby did nothing but cry all the way up here."

So where’s Mattie now?

In a rehab somewhere. I tried to find out where but nobody’s telling me anything. They say it’s got something to do with confidentiality or something.

Well where’s the baby’s father?

"Where and who is the big question. The way Mattie ran around, I doubt if she even knows who the father is. When the doctor told me that the baby was ready to come home, my question was come home to where? I knew if I didn’t take her they would have turned her over to the state. I couldn’t see that happening. Now I’m stuck because I really can’t keep her. I just got a new job with an airline which means I’ll be traveling all the time. This baby needs a good home and…"

"And dats where I come in, right?"

Hannah, this whole thing is rotten and I know it, but what else could I do?

Sarah could sense Hannah’s negativity building.

Awh, I knew this was a bad idea anyway.

In frustration, Sarah hurriedly gathered her things along with the baby and headed for the door.

Girl, put dat baby down! Yah can’t go runnin’ round askin’ people tah take care of a child - possibly a sick one at dat.

I know that. That’s why I…

Yeah, I know.

The clearer the picture, the more disgusted Hannah became. Sarah found it necessary to shorten her visit.

Hannah, I really hate to rush but I really gotta go.

"Hmmm, I bet you do."

Now see Hannah, that’s not fair!

That was enough to light Hannah’s fuse.

"Fair? Did you say fair? Girl, how could yah part yah lips tah say the word? I have my child. I got Netta layin’ asleep right there in the next room. Is it fair dat I get another child dropped on me like dis? Lawd, Lawd! I know Johnny’s gonna raise de roof when he gets home. I couldn’t blame ’em! We hardly makin’ it as it is."

Hannah, I know, and I do understand. But it just didn’t feel right to leave the baby with the state knowing that she’s family. I couldn’t live with myself if I did that.

Just then, the baby starts to cry and make a fuss. Sarah cuddles the baby closer to her chest and begins to pace the floor with a bewildered facial expression that asked; what do I do now? Hannah saw this and just slowly nodded her head from side to side realizing that Sarah didn’t know a diaper from a bib.

"Well it’s gonna take mo’ den dat little dance you doing. Dat’s fo sho! Child, hand dat baby ovah tah me. You don’t know whatcha doing. The po’ child is probably wet and need changing. Dat’s why she’s cryin’. Hand me one of Netta’s diapers from