Family Secrets: A Short Story of Three Sisters

By S. Lynn Bryant

Family Secrets a novel of three young sisters Ambrie, LaTonya, and Monique Thomas, start their lives living with their grandparents. Beginning in the 80s with trendy clothing and hip hop phrases, where sent to their grandparents because their young mother Anita Thomas was void of life skills. The sisters are under the influence of an overbearing grandfather whose meticulous behavior and idiosyncrasies cause division among the three girls. Plagued by a family of lies, mess, cover ups, and generational curses, the three girls grow up repeating previous behaviors. These sisters resort to any means necessary for survival, even murder. Their lives change when a life coach is introduced, he attempts to teach the girls, as well as their mother, to make better life choices and get out of the curses that have followed this family in a vicious cycle. It is touching, riveting, and sends you on a roller coaster ride of emotions as you root for your favorite character while they are fending for themselves in this thing called family.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 27, 2010
• ISBN: 9781450071512

S. Lynn Bryant

Riki James is a Mother, Poet, and Entrepreneur. Who goes by the poet name Redrum. She is the youngest of the three siblings. LaNard Morrison is a Father, Barber, Poet, Author, Entrepreneur, and Founder of Nardo Entertainment. He is the second eldest child of the three. Who goes by the poet name Tone. S. Lynn Bryant is a Mother, Author, Poet, Entrepreneur, Socialite, Radio and TV Host. She is the Eldest of the three and goes by the poet name Freed’m. All three siblings live in Houston, Texas. They all feel blessed to come from a loving and talented family. They give God all the glory as they practice to live a life of gratitude.

Book preview

Copyright © 2010 by S.Lynn Bryant.

ISBN:                      Softcover                978-1-4500-7150-5

                              Ebook                      978-1-4500-7151-2

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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Contents

Acknowledgements

The Drug Dealing Klepto

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

The Confused Interloper

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Baby Girl the Dancer

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Thank You

I want to say thank you to everyone who took the time to invest in this book. Any questions or comments can be directed to me at

L’ Angel Productions c/o

S.Lynn Bryant

7721 A.W. Belfort P.M.B 347

Houston, Texas 77071

I’d love to hear from you. You are appreciated. Thank you so much.

Acknowledgements

I want to thank God for the many

blessings he has bestowed upon me. I thank Him for my second sight and discerning spirit. I thank Him for my dreams that lead me to so many places to meet so many people. I want to also thank those who did not want to see me succeed. Your lack of faith in me kept me focused on the many obstacles before me. I want to thank my loved ones who have remained in my life for the duration. Those who were honest with me even when it hurt and I didn’t understand at the time. There is a place, time, and season for everything. Knowing when for each moment, or the collection of those moments is more than a revelation, and could be a celebration. To know that everything was done to lead me to this very point and so much more, my trials were not in vane but served their purpose for my growth and inner strength. I am nothing without Him, and I am everything because of Him. I am thankful for my son Dominique Sells, Destahne Alfred my daughter; their trials have made me stronger. Much love to my father Johnny Morrison.

The Drug Dealing Klepto

Chapter 1

It was summer and all the grandchildren would be so happy to go visit Grandma’s. It was the only time all the children would get together and see each other. Grandma’s house was a quaint three bedroom, blue and white house with livestock in the back. The living room decorated with brown flowered furniture was the first thing you would see when you opened the front door. The walls were covered with pictures of grandchildren, uncles, and aunties. Grandma would sit in her open kitchen that had two large bay windows where she could see outside to the backyard, and watch all of her grandchildren play.

There was a long hallway that led to the only bathroom in the house. It was decorated in all yellow with cute decorative soaps and wall fixtures. Across from the bathroom, were the three bedrooms. One of the rooms was shared by the three girls, the one beside it was their grandparents room, and across from there was their auntie’s room. There were sheep, chickens, and a little pony all in the backyard. It was fun for the children who only came for the summer, but for the three sisters it was their home.

The three girls were Ambrie, LaTonya, and Monique Thomas. Their mom Anita had the girls at a young age of 17. Working a lot, partying and with only enough income to provide for self felt it would be best if they stayed with their grandparents. The grandparents became mom and dad to them. Each weekend their cousins would come over and play hide and seek, climb the enormous tree in the front yard, and would take turns riding the pony in the back. During those times it was never a problem when they would play down the street late at night, because all the neighbors new the house and the children so it was safe. Their grandfather would make fresh chicken by wringing the chicken’s neck right on the kitchen floor; there was always something gamey he would make for them. It was exciting for the children to watch after their Grandpa broke their necks, because it looked like the chickens were dancing. They were unaware that what they were watching was the dance of death.

The grandchildren would all sleep on the pull out bed and wake up to the sweet smell of maple bacon, and fresh scrambled eggs that Grandma cooked faithfully. The best part of breakfast was being able to sneak and drink Grandpa’s coffee that Grandma would make. He would always say, Woman, why ain’t my coffee filled to the brim? The children would just laugh, and run away before he would notice it was them drinking his coffee all along. Their grandfather, Vincent Thomas was a big man. He was red, with smooth skin, and stood 6'5, 380 lbs with coal black hair. The people on the street feared him. He had a reputation and was known to whoop plenty of men on the streets, and around the neighborhood. They called him Big Redd. He was a handsome man with a voice like thunder, and the ladies loved him. He always made sure he was clean from head to toe. Vincent dressed in loud colored suits with matching hats, and carried a wooden hooked cane with a knife concealed in it when he would go out. He was a peculiar man who commanded respect. Vincent was the breadwinner in the family, and he made sure his family never wanted for anything. He had a restaurant that served breakfast, he worked construction year round, on the weekends he sold barbeque plates from home, and at night you could always find him at his pool hall/night club. To top it all off Vincent was also a dope dealer.

Vincent’s idiosyncrasies ranged from having to have his drinks in clear glass cups, no plastic, to when he asked you to bring him bread, it must be on a napkin, or better yet bring the entire loaf, and he would touch his own bread. None of his food could touch on his plate. When he spoke, you better be quiet, listen, and do exactly as you were told. If he caught you in any violation, as he called it, he would beat you or throw the closest thing to him at you. He was nice to the visiting grandchildren. They never new the mean side of him and wouldn’t believe anyone that would try to tell them different.

Grandma was a medium build woman with brown smooth skin. She wore her shoulder length coal black hair in curls. She was a third percent Cherokee with high cheek bones, and full lips. She too would dress to the nine in her Guess jeans, with hoop earrings, and bangle accessories to match. When she wasn’t going around cleaning people’s homes, she took care of her own home, and Big Redd. Her name was Rosemary Thomas. She stood about 5'1, and weighed around 170lbs. She had sunken in brown eyes, and a soft voice. She fussed a lot at Big Redd. He would always reply, Get on your job woman! She would smile and go on about her business. She witnessed a lot going on in that blue and white house, but sat quiet as a mouse as if all was ok.

Vincent enjoyed the grandchildren’s visit every summer, and on Sundays. In fact it was a must that his children bring their children over every Sunday, or it would be a problem. Now Rosemary didn’t like having all those children over. They were too noisy for her, and they ate all the food. The children just took it as Grandma just likes to fuss. She never wanted the grandchildren over. Maybe because she had ten children of her own, and she was never really free of children.

Summer has ended, and the three girls were now going on with their daily routines of school, and homework. Ambrie was a round faced girl, short and stout. She stood 4'1, with dark chocolate skin, slanted eyes, short hair, thin lips, legs like a track star, and a fully developed figure. Ambrie was only twelve, but she had to help Vincent with counting his money, and sorting out rocks for the dope fiends in the neighborhood. She had a pretty smile, and commanded attention quite naturally. She was there to help Vincent with the many tasks he tended to throughout the day, when Rosemary would be out tending the other people’s homes.

She loved, and looked up to her grandfather. She thought he was very smart, and enjoyed the many things she had to do for him because it gave her a since of freedom. Vincent would yell out, Ambrie come here girl, Grandpa needs you! Yes sir, Grandpa here I come. Ambrie would count his money, and put it in a bundle with a rubber band. Vincent had her wear gloves so she could help him cut the rocks, and bag the weed for him to sell. How much money have you counted their Ambrie? I counted nine-hundred Grandpa. She looked at him and smiled, while she secretly put a one hundred dollar bill away in her pocket. Good girl, now go get pawpaw some wata’ and put some clothes on, I need ya’ to drive me somewhere. Vincent got his gun, and put it behind his back right under his shirt. Ok Grandpa. She ran and got him his cold water, in a glass of course, and went on to get dressed.

Vincent was already dressed in some grey slacks, a nice baby blue button down shirt, a Stacy Adams belt and shoes, a matching pimp hat, and gray and baby blue designer socks. Ambrie put on some jeans that showed off her body, a cute shirt that her mom bought, and some cute leather sandals. She combed her hair into a little ponytail, curled her swoop bang, and threw on some lipstick. She grabbed her purse where she put the money she stole, scooped up the keys, and they were off. Which way we going pawpaw? "Make a right at this street, and go on