Jess: A Prequel

By Davina H. Sanders

Jessie Mae Smith, known to her husband as Honey and to her children as Mommy, was in deep thought. Morning worship was almost over at Pleasant Hill United Church, but her mind was already on Sunday dinner. She had pulled up her mental checklist and found that a short stop at the A&P was going to be necessary. Elder Belvedere was reminding everyone to drive safely and to remember to be kind to one another. May the Lord watch, he concluded, between me and thee, while we are absent, one from another, and all the people sing . . . The congregation sang, Amen.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503540217

Davina H. Sanders

Davina H. Sanders was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, to David L. and Jeanne H. (Porter) Sanders. She’s the oldest of seven children fondly referred to as the Magnificent Seven. She moved with her family to Los Angeles, California, and in 1959, she married, had two children: the late Tyshara G. Bural and Joseph H. Bural. She earned her associate degrees in accounting, commercial food service, and paralegal technology and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Martin University, Indianapolis, Indiana. She was part of the Alpha Kappa Alpha in 1993. She was widowed in 1997 and retired to the Atlanta, Georgia, Metroplex in 2008. This is here statement of belief: “I love God and I can’t make it without Him. I love my family. What brings me joy? Going to my church, my son, Joseph, my family, lending a hand in volunteerism, hanging out with family and friends, reading a good book, watching a funny movie, singing, writing, mahjongg, Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, Bold and the Beautiful, Young and the Restless, and teaching young people.”

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Dedications

• I dedicate this book to God, who loves me and gave me the idea for the book and series.

• To my Dad, Elder D. L. Sanders, who taught me how to read with expression when I was five.

• To my Mom, the Late First Lady Jeanne H. Sanders, whose signal of encouragement was always a smile and a ‘thumbs up’.

• To my seventh and eighth grade English teacher; Mrs. Mattie Alice Moore at IPS 41, the best elementary school in the world!

• To my siblings, the Magnificent Seven: Gerald, Terry, Sylvia, Yvonne, Dawn & the late David, Jr.

• To my late daughter, Tyshara Gsajuan

• To my ever faithful support, Son, Joseph and daughter-in-law Michele (who have their own Magnificent Seven)

• To my grandchildren and great-grands; my cheering section (two late grandchildren; Quishanna and David)

• Last, but not least, to my late husband; James, a constant reminder of how wonderful reciprocated love can be.

Chapter One

Jessie Mae Smith, known to her husband as ‘Honey’ and to her children as ‘Mommy’, was in deep thought. Morning worship was almost over at Pleasant Hill United Church, but her mind was already on Sunday dinner. She had pulled up her mental checklist and found that a short stop at the A&P was going to be necessary.

Elder Belvedere was reminding everyone to drive safely and to remember to be kind to one another. May the Lord watch, he concluded, between me and thee, while we are absent, one from another, and all the people sing … The congregation sang, Amen

Jess and JP shook hands with the couple sitting to Jess’s right; Mr. and Mrs. Edward Spritzer. JP picked up little Johnnie so that he wouldn’t get lost in the crowd.

They filed out of the pew, heading for the exit, where they would meet their other two children. Yvonne and Charles were in Children’s Church on the lower level. As the Smith’s approached their car, Mrs. Spritzer said to Jess, The boys all passed their bar exams! They received their notices Friday! "Wonderful! Congratulations to all three of them! I know that you and Ed are very proud of them!

Nine-year-old Vonnie and eight-year-old Charlie were waiting for their parents’ at the car and Vonnie immediately started talking about their service in the fellowship hall.

She complimented her brother on how well he read the Scripture of the Day. "He was really great! He read with so much expression! ‘…and GOD said, Let there be light….. and there was light’. It was so cool! Good job, Son, we’re proud of you!"

Thanks, Dad, Charlie replied. I read with expression because Vonnie taught me how."

Yeah, said Vonnie, and Daddy taught me how! Six-year-old Johnnie spoke up then and asked, "So who’s going to teach me how to read with expeshun? That’s expression Johnnie, and I’ll teach you, said Charlie. At that point they were pulling up in front of their house. Oh Lord, I intended to stop by the A&P for tomatoes, a head of lettuce and some Kool-Aid, said Jess. That’s okay, Honey, JP said. Vonnie and I will go to the store and get it for you. Can I go? ask Charlie. Johnnie, Charlie, help your mom and Vonnie can go with me this time. You guys can go next time. We’ll be right back.

Jess and the boys walked up the driveway and she instructed them to get out of their church clothes and shoes and put them away. As they entered the house, she took off her hat and set it on the corner of the sofa, on her way to the kitchen. Checking her mental list once more, she put the already baked chicken into the oven to warm up and put the pots of green beans and potatoes on the stove top, putting the burner settings at medium.

She dropped the loop of the apron over her neck, tying the strings. Opening the refrigerator, she extracted a cucumber and an already peeled onion. She sliced the vegetables for salad into her metal colander and put the finished product back into the refrigerator to await the tomatoes and lettuce. Jess set an iron skillet on the range and turned the setting to high. She put in enough Crisco, when melted would be more than adequate to cover the bottom of the skillet and enough to add to her cornbread mix.

She threw the corn meal, flour, salt, two eggs and some Clabber Girl Baking Powder into a medium mixing bowl. She added buttermilk and the melted contents of the skillet and stirred vigorously. Jess poured the mix from the bowl into the hot skillet, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl, making sure all the mix made it into the skillet. She opened the oven door and put the skillet on the top rack. She removed the chicken and set it on an unoccupied burner. She was reaching for the Kool-Aid pitcher when the doorbell rang. She wiped her hands on her apron and headed for the front door.

A Marion County Sheriff was standing on the porch. Jess opened the door and asked could she help him. The sheriff introduced himself as Officer Leon Jordan and informed her quickly that her husband and daughter had been in an automobile accident and both were being transported to Indianapolis City Hospital. She started asking questions, but the sheriff told her that he had no further information. She thanked him and turned away from the door to see that the boys had come downstairs and were already asking questions about their dad and big sister. She called Cynthia Wain¸ their next door neighbor and asked her to keep the boys while she went to the hospital to see about JP and Vonnie. She returned to the kitchen long enough to turn off the oven and put everything into the refrigerator.

She walked out the door, watching her sons as they crossed the yard¸ where Cynthia was waiting for them at the door. Cynthia told her that she and her husband were praying and had faith enough to believe that everything would be alright. She nodded her head and got in the station wagon and backed it out of the driveway. She stopped suddenly as her hands were shaking, so she began to pray. Lord, help us right now! We need you right now, Lord God to go into that emergency room and help JP and Vonnie. Keep them close to you Lord. Guide the hands of the doctors and nurses, Lord. Keep them safe Lord, I need them. Lord, preserve my family. You already know what’s wrong with them, how hurt they are and everything. I’m just asking you to fix it Lord. My husband and daughter are in your care and you are always in control. I thank you for all you do. I trust you Lord. I trust you with all. I love you Jesus and I’m not going to lean to my own understanding. I’m depending on you. I trust you and am acknowledging you. I ask that you continue to guide my footsteps and lead me into the way of everlasting. These and all other blessings I ask in Jesus’ name. Thank God. Amen.

Jess entered the freeway heading for Indianapolis Memorial Hospital, wondering how JP and Vonnie were doing. How did they get into an accident anyway? JP is such a good driver. Oh Lord, my boys could have been in the car too. Help us God! We need you right now!

She quickly accelerated and moved over a couple of lanes heading downtown.

Thoughts of her beautiful daughter ran through her mind, as she learned how to walk, skip rope, her musical giggle, and how she sounded when she sang her solo in the kindergarten chorus. Lord¸ protect my baby, please God! Jessie’s mind was in turmoil, worrying about her daughter and her husband. She finally reached her exit and hurriedly made her way across Eleventh Street into the emergency area parking lot.

She quickly parked and rushed inside. She approached the lady at the information desk, already asking questions. After establishing who Jess was, the clerk directed her to a partitioned area. She walked in and saw her husband being tended to by a nurse. Blood, blood, so much blood! She stood there, her feet riveted to the floor, holding her breath. She could hear JP moaning and coughing, and the nurse was talking to him as she attached a bottle of clear liquid to a tube. When Jess cleared her throat, the nurse turned and looked at her. Mrs. Smith? the nurse asked. Jess nodded her head and cautiously approached the stretcher.

She put her hand out and touched her husband’s leg. She called his name, but he didn’t respond. The nurse informed her that he was in shock and probably couldn’t hear her. The nurse gave her a diagnosis and tentative prognosis all at once. JP had suffered a concussion and had broken ribs and sundry cuts and bruises. He would probably be kept at least overnight, but ultimately would be alright. Jess asked about her daughter and was told she was in emergency surgery already.

Jess went back to the information desk and then into the elevator, punching the button for the surgical floor. When the doors parted, she stepped into a light green corridor, lined with doors to the right. To her left double doors loomed large. Above the doors the printing read, SURGERY. Jess approached the doors and looked long and hard for signs of her daughter. She saw people with green scrubs on, but no Vonnie.

She turned around and started walking down the corridor and suddenly she saw the sign that read FAMILY WAITING ROOM. She opened that door and walked in. There were several people in the room. An elderly gentleman was on the telephone and a Marion County Sheriff stood, looking out the window. There was an information desk near the entrance and Jess turned to the clerk to ask about Yvonne Marie Smith. The clerk instead asked her if she was the mother of Yvonne Marie Smith. Jess nodded her head and the clerk pointed her to the officer at the window. She informed Jess that Vonnie was in surgery and that she was in good hands and told Jess to try not to worry.

Jess nodded her head silently and turned to approach the sheriff, who said, You must be Vonnie’s Mommy! He noticed the apron still around her neck and stated, You were cooking dinner. Jess looked down at herself and grimaced as she untied the strings and took the apron from around her neck. Sheriff Deputy Greg Bright introduced himself and told her he had been a first responder to the accident. He explained that the big truck had run the light and had t-boned the family car on Vonnie’s side. The car had flipped over twice and had burst into flames. Vonnie was trapped by her seatbelt and JP was thrown from the vehicle. Officer Bright had talked to Vonnie as she was being loaded in the ambulance and had promised to tell her mommy that she’d be okay. Officer Bright said that Vonnie would not let his hand go until he promised and ‘pinkie swore’ that he would tell Jess all she said. He said she was burned badly