Perfectly Flawed

By Shakeerah Oatis

Perfectly Flawed is a book based on not being perfect and living up to societies standards of waking up flawless. Society paints this picture that we have to be perfect and without blemish. Especially in the African American Community where to have a flaw like mental illness, rape and incest. Family secrets are only to be kept within the household because its taboo to talk about these things. While the perception of a perfect family is to be portrayed to the outside world. Keeping secrets only leads to emotional breakdown. Its ok to go to God and seek outside help. This book points out flaws and no one is perfect and the character realizes she is perfectly flawed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504965507

Shakeerah Oatis

SHAKEERAH OATIS is a New Jersey native, also a military veteran. She earned a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice and a MBA/organizational psychology and development. Also a single parent to two beautiful boys. Currently works with homeless veterans by placing them in employment. Volunteers in the Big Brother Big Sister Program.

Book preview

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Chapter 1

A s the doctor’s begin to tell Adrian to push, she thinks to herself I’m only seventeen years old. Adrian didn’t know anything about being anyone’s mother. The child’s father David is there for moral support and holds her hand through the pains. As obscenities are being thrown his way, he is feeling a bit intimidated and don’t know if he should stay or just block out being called everything but the child of God. As Adrian squeezes his hand he realizes he doesn’t want to be there in the first place. David is eighteen he is only at the hospital because he wants proof the child is or not. David’s family convinced him; Adrian was from the ghetto and probably sleeps around. His mother would often say I don’t believe that baby maybe yours anyway.

David just wanted to take one peek at this baby then he would know indeed if this was his child or not. The Sanders men had strong genes, so once he saw her that would be a good enough paternity test to ease his curiosity. Adrian figured if she had his baby; she would be Mrs. Sanders for sure. Little did she know David is a momma’s boy and a ladies’ man and was not ready to be a father. He really didn’t want to be Adrian’s man; she was too controlling for him and so dramatic. Adrian was used to getting her way and there was not a doubt in her mind they would be together forever. David was being nice just so she wouldn’t put his ass on child support.

Adrian was the youngest daughter out of seven children; some would say she was a spoiled rotten daddy’s girl. Her parents weren’t on good terms simply because she kept playing them against one another. Adrian was a very good manipulator and actress. If her mother told her no, daddy sure would tell his baby girl yes. Who could turn down a pretty light-skinned, long hair sickly child? Well Adrian had a way of convincing everyone she was a sickly child. One time she gotten very ill and realized she could get sympathy and attention, so from that day forward she used this to her advantaged. Her mother Caroline and her siblings weren’t too convinced and would often tell her she was selfish. Or one of the siblings would catch her placing the thermometer up to a lamp and just knew she was a masquerader.

As time went on Adrian knew how to use what she had, to get what she wanted. David exactly was one of those people she met and knew she wanted him, even if he was friends with her ex-boyfriend. She didn’t care if she hurt anyone’s feelings because it was all about her. David had a car and this was one of the things that attracted her to him. David’s best friend Adam always taken the bus and she was tired of walking, she felt a princess shouldn’t be on a bus around common folks. So she manipulated her way into David’s heart not realizing she was breaking up a fourteen year friendship, but when you living a life without God you feel invincible and nothing can ever happen to you.

Adrian also had her older sister Jackie aka baby Mike Tyson, she was over protective of her little sister and often her body guard. So being a manipulator and having a bodyguard was enough to scare a man into making a choice he may not wanted to make without the intimidation of big sister Jackie. When Jackie wasn’t available to play her little sister’s body guard, Adrian would often have a razor strategically hidden in her hair. She would carry this protection, because she was beautiful light-skinned, long flowing hair and a coca cola shape body. So girls around the neighborhood would try to jump her or slash her pretty face or make threat to cut her long flowing hair. Adrian would cut your ass first before you even have a chance to touch her face or hair.

During Adrian’s pregnancy, David’s ex-girlfriend tried to fight her, less than ten seconds after the confrontation that young lady looked like a cat gotten a hold of her entire face. However Adrian never broke a sweat, and still maintained to look beautiful. She didn’t play when it came to bringing out the razor to defend herself. Adrian also would have a razor in her mouth and has never once cut herself, she became a pro had slicing people, like playing a game of fruit ninja on someone’s face. So everyone in the hood knew Adrian was quick with the blades, they just never knew where the blades were coming from; she wanted to keep her opponents confused. You can bet your bottom dollar, not one of those heffas ever touched her face.

As pains of labor struck Adrian again, she immediately gotten out of her thoughts of being David’s wife and she bared down to push. The doctor says he notices a weird discharge coming from the birth canal and each time she push he notices the baby is in distress. Adrian begins to notice monitors began to beep and the nurses and doctors are running around calling out terms she didn’t understand. The baby’s heart beat takes a tremendously low dip and the concern on everyone’s face fill the room.

The doctor then begins to inform Adrian he would have to perform an emergency C-section. She stuttered what you mean I need a C-section? Due to signs of a STD unusual discharge is coming from the vagina area this maybe placing your baby being in distress, if you pushed her out, there is a possibility your child would be blind or other health problems. Also, the birth canal is too narrow to push her through, either way it’s a risk. The nurse will take a swap of the discharge and send it to the lab while we are in OR and when the results come back, we will let you know. It’s best to take a safe precaution and preform a C-section to avoid any health risk for the both of you. Adrian began to panic.

The Dr. instructed David to go into the waiting room. As the doctors in the room prep her for surgery, she began to think to herself I can’t believe this fool was sleeping around on me. I was a virgin when I laid with him, how could he do this to me? As the anesthesiologist placed the mask over her face, she drifted into dream land. This baby hasn’t made it into the world yet and there is so much chaos on the outside. However God has a plan for this baby even though all this mess she is about to be born in.

As the new mother was placed in recovery, the new father was summoned to the nursery by the nurses. He inspected his little girl to make sure she resembled him. At this time he carefully chooses his words in fear her sister. Jackie was there to make sure she didn’t have to whoop on David, if he gotten out of line. Jackie was the oldest of six children, she didn’t play. Adrian respected her older sister because she knew her sister would whoop on her if she crossed her wrong.

No one in her family truly cared for him, simply because they knew of all the women he had and how his mother felt about Adrian. When you’re young and in love no one can tell you a thing. Also when you do not know the Lord you begin to do what you want instead of waiting on him. If Adrian only knew her self-worth and knew she was far from equally yoked with David, life would be so much different for her and the broken environment their baby girl is about to enter.

Adrian and her baby girl stayed in the hospital for a few days to recover. Nurse Pam was caring for the both of them during her stay. Nurse Pam entered the room and instructed the new mother to continue her antibiotics for the Gonorrhea. Pam stated; baby you have to do better for yourself and especially that little girl. Lean on God to guide you through this, it will be hard but let him lead you. I notice your little girl has a veil over her face. Adrian stated I have never heard this before, what does this mean?

The nurse explained the birth caul or veil is a mask which covered the face of your baby, this is rare and it holds a spiritual significance for your child. God will use your child to do great things. Your child may also be able to see visions as long as she uses it for the Lord. This advice went in one ear and out the other. Adrian was more focused on the fact she hid having and STD from her sister, in fear of David getting the ass whooping of his life. Jackie intervened and asked her sister why are you taking an antibiotic? Nervously, she answered due to me having a C-section the doctor want to make sure I do not get an infection.

Nurse Pam left and told them she would be back with paperwork and discharge instructions. The nurse turned around and said what will you name your daughter? Adrian was puzzled and had no answer. Pam replied I will bring in the birth certificate upon my return. In a dictator’s voice Jackie stated, her name will be Aaliyah. David felt her name should be Josie.

As the Nurse returned, the two sisters looked at him like he had two heads. Jackie cursed him and called him everything but the child of God. You will not name my niece after one of your whores you are screwing. So as the two go back and forth David knew what buttons not to push because he knows if he said the wrong words he would end up in a matching hospital gown right next to his baby mother. The nurse interrupted the argument and said well who ever grabs the birth certificate will be the one who gets to name this child.

Low and behold, Jackie snatched that paper so quickly David did not have a chance. Especially if he knew what was good for him. Jackie would have gotten that paper regardless. Jackie was known around the hood for beating up grown men. Jackie knocked a grown man out cold for touching Adrian’s booty. No one messed with any of Jackie’s six siblings. As Jackie begin to write on the certificate, she said out loud to piss David off, on this 13th day of June 1978 Aaliyah Ciara Jones was born. As mother and child stared into one another’s eyes little did anyone know what the future would hold for the both of them?

A couple days went by and Adrian taken brought her new baby home, but she knew the guilt and shame she would feel returning home. Back in the 70’s if a young girl had a baby out of wedlock; it was like wearing a scarlet letter. This means she would lose friends she once had. Parents would consider Adrian too grown to hang out with their children. Even churches frowned upon young unwed mothers. Old school church mothers did not bite their tongues. Things would be said like, you’re going to hell, where’s your husband at? Or Ms. So and so’s daughter sure is fast. Comments like that would truly make you feel crucified and would keep any one from returning to church. Adrian thought it was a shame, because most hypocrites were church folks. Especially the pastor himself, she would often see him hanging at the local bars she would frequent with her girlfriends. The pastor even hit on her in the club until he realized she was Ms. Caroline’s daughter.

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Chapter 2

T he first night home, Caroline, notice a couple of times her daughter seemed a bit withdrawn from her new baby. Aaliyah would scream for hours and Adrian would be sleeping, not taking into consideration there were others in the house as well. So Caroline took charge and begins to become more acquainted with her granddaughter. Caroline didn’t have much of a good upbringing, simply because her mother passed away while given birth to her. Caroline was raised by her father and step mother Peggy and she was Lucifer’s right hand woman.

Peggy, was this suck up woman from the south, Caroline’s father was smitten by this woman. Peggy did not have any children, she inherited four children once she married Caroline’s father Mr. Johnny. Mr. Johnny owned a popular clothing shop and every woman wanted him once Caroline’s mother passed. Ms. Peggy captured this man’s heart. Ms. Peggy was extremely hard on Caroline and made many attempts to make her a step-ford wife. Caroline only rebelled against her, because her stepmother only talked down to her. Peggy was jealous of how Caroline had her daddy’s heart and she taken her frustrations out on her step daughter.

Caroline despised her step mother for putting her down and telling her she was worthless and she only was only created to be a wife and obey her husband. Also as a child she was often reminded a child was seen and not heard, so Caroline kept this very tradition going in her household as well. Caroline never spoke to her children about sex, because during the 1950’s -1960’s this was taboo you only worried about it on your wedding night behind clothes doors. So this is why her three daughters were all teenage mothers because the responsibilities of sex were never explained to them. She also never explained what having a period was to her daughter because well, it was never explained to her. One of her children gotten their period and called her to the bathroom screaming because they put the pad on sticky side up. So no one ever talked about something as little as that.

Caroline, was a small petite woman that was from the south and migrated up North when she was a teenager. Caroline came from a wealthy family, her father owned several clothing stores around the state of New Jersey. Caroline went to charm school and was brought up like a step ford wife. The kind of wife that should set the dinner table with the correct settings like where the salad fork should go and be sure to make sure it has the finest of linens. She was groomed by her surly stepmother who felt she wasn’t doing enough to catch the right husband. Caroline was to marry a distinguished man a doctor or even a lawyer, with whom she would bare his perfect children and live in the perfect house with the white picket fence and the tire swing that would be swinging from the perfect oak