We Are Family

By Miss Lolo

All emotions come out in this book. You will laugh, cry, cheer, and experience anger, sadness, joy, and surprise as families are divided, families are found, friends are left behind, and friends are found.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Oct 4, 2017
• ISBN: 9781546210498

Miss Lolo

Miss Lolo born and raised in Chicago I'll. sister to six siblings, mother of three and grandmother of six. Miss Lolo currently lives in GA. Her passion for books and reading started in early elementary school. Her interest are cooking, family time, vacations and writing.

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© 2017 MISS LOLO. 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  09/30/2017

ISBN: 978-1-5462-1050-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-1048-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-1049-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017914882

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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.

Princess Darnell’s on the phone, Susan McDonald called up to her oldest daughter. Coming mom, Princess McDonald called back from her room upstairs which she shared with her two younger sisters Priscilla and Porsha. The large attic was divided into three sections Porsha’s room was to the front of the house, and had the only window, Priscilla’s room was in the middle at the top of the stairs, and Princess’s room was at the back with the large closet, which all three girls shared. Princess McDonald and Darnell Smith had been dating for two years and Susan approved of him. All their friends at school even voted Darnell and Princess as best looking couple; Princess was a grade higher than Darnell. When Princess was a junior and Darnell a sophomore they talked about marriage after graduation. I think we should have eight kids Darnell said. How about two Princess said. Priscilla and Porsha was also crazy about Darnell they called him their big brother, the one they never had. Mr. McDonald the girl’s dad decided to leave them and Susan when their youngest daughter Porsha was only two years old for a twenty three year old. Which he married, and had three more daughters. Eight years later divorced and married another woman and had four more daughters. The judge ordered him to pay child support after every divorce, which he never did.

Susan and the girls got along just fine without him in their lives. Princess called from the den, mom Darnell wants to know if I can go to the movies tonight. Can I go too Porsha called from upstairs. No Princess said. Ok, but be home by eleven Susan said. Princess called her best friend La’Dawn to tell her she and Darnell was going to see that movie they both wanted to see that started Friday. I’m Jealous La’Dawn said you could have waited for me. Why don’t you come too Princess asked? No thanks’ you two go and have fun. Ok I’ll call you tomorrow Princess told her then hung up the phone and went upstairs to get dressed. She put red polish on her long nails and she decided on her new jeans she had bought with her allowance money and the Hard Rock tee-shirt Darnell bought her last summer, and then she curled her hair. When she came down Darnell was in the small den watching TV and laughing at one of the commercials. They still had thirty minutes before catching the 6:05 bus to the theater.

They hung out a lot that year, they went to every new movie that came out and was the hit at the skating rink on weekends. They would always draw a crowd doing their fancy turns and Darnell would flip Princess and everyone would watch and clap and they both loved the attention. They also went to parties with friends and window shopping at the mall.

When school was out for the summer after Darnell’s sophomore year he came to Princess’s house looking very sad, like he had been crying. What’s wrong with you Princess asked concerned. My mom just told me and my brothers that her and my dad will be getting a divorce. Darnell’s two younger brothers Miller and Albert had taken the news better than Darnell had. He had not stopped crying since she told him. Lillian his mom tried to keep him from leaving the house so upset but Darnell only pulled away from her and left the house, saying he was going to Princess’s. This time instead of taking the bus he decided to walk which took him two hours. Princess put her arms around Darnell’s neck and held him while he cried. Susan saw them on the front porch, all hugged up and Darnell’s shirt soaked with sweat and tears. Darnell was still crying and Susan decide to leave them alone, they will straighten it out themselves she said they always do. She didn’t like getting involved in their problems unless they asked her for advice. I’m never going back to school again Darnell said. Oh yes you are Princess said It’s not the end of the world, my dad NEVER comes to see us. You did say your dad said he still wanted to be in your life. But I can’t face the kids at school Darnell said. I’ll help you Princess said kissing his wet face.

Mom I’m going to La’Dawn Princess Yelled through the screen door. She and Darnell walked in silence, holding hands the two blocks down the street to La’Dawn’s house. At La’Dawns the three of them sat talking quietly on La’Dawns couch. At 8:00 Darnell took the bus back home and La’Dawn walked Princess half way home, walked back to her home and looked back to see if Princess made it, then both girls waved and went into the house like they always did.

La’Dawn Henry and Princess had been friends since the third grade when the McDonald family moved two blocks’ down from the Henry’s. Both girls loved spending their spare time going on long walks around the block and sharing Harlequin romance novels. Princess waited forty five minutes before calling Darnell, knowing it took him that long on the bus to get home only to reassure him, everything would be ok. When she hung up she thought about his mom Lillian and wished her the best. Princess really liked her. She was a classy, smart, intelligent, women. Princess had always said when she becomes an adult; she wanted to be just like Darnell’s mom she reminded her of a princess.

The summer went by quickly; Princess and Darnell was together every day going to the local pool. Darnell would get up every morning and take the bus to Princess’s and at 8:00 at night he would take the bus back home. Susan didn’t mind feeding him because she seen how happy he made her daughter. By the time school started back Darnell’s dad had moved out and his parents were divorced.

Darnell started his junior year and Princess started her senior year. Mr. Smith kelp his promise and came to visit Darnell and his brother’s on weekends during that year until he remarried only three months before school was out again. Darnell turned his mind to his school work, he was a junior and the work was hard enough, he couldn’t think about things he didn’t understand. Princess helped him a lot but she had her own work being a senior wasn’t easy. By the end of the school year Princess was so happy to be graduating, a day she had looked forward to all her life. Princess saved up the hundred and thirty dollars for her cap and gown and graduation fees from her weekly allowance. Her dad came, and Mrs. Smith came with Darnell so he didn’t have to take the bus. When they called her name to walk across the stage to get her diploma they all stood and clapped. Susan stood there clapping with uncontrollable tears running down her face. Everyone noticed all the support Princess had and clapped for her also.

After graduation everyone went to dinner at Ronny’s steak house down town on State Street. The entire graduating families must have had the same idea; Princess saw a lot of her class mates there. The conversation at the large table was going well. Princess noticed her mom and dad talking and her mom was even laughing at his jokes, Priscilla noticed how handsome her father was and wished both her parents could have stayed married, she didn’t understand why people had to get divoiced, Porsha still held a grudge against her dad for leaving them.

After dinner Mr. Smith let Darnell drop him off at home and let him keep the car to take Princess to the movies. La’Dawn and her boyfriend meet them there. It was nice of your dad to let you use the car La’Dawn told Darnell. We all could have rode together right Lenny? She asked turning to her date. I’m sorry about your parent’s divorce she told him, your mom is so pretty and sweet, she reminds me of a princess. That’s what I said Princess said.

That summer passed with Darnell and Princess seeing each other every day. Darnell even went on vacation with the McDonald’s. The kids on the block asked did he live there now, Porsha and Priscilla would tell them that their mom adopted him. On the nights when he stayed too late Susan would drive him home. Darnell accepted the fact that his dad couldn’t come to see him every weekend now thanks to Princess. He has a wife now she told him, I wouldn’t like it if you went away every weekend. When Princess explained it to him like that he understood and thought he wasn’t being fair to his dad’s new wife and decided to just be happy to see him when he could.

When school started back Darnell was a senior, and Princess was a freshman at Chicago State. Princess and Darnell weren’t able to see each other that much in Darnell’s senior year because he was always busy with homework. Princess didn’t want to take up too much of his time because she knew he was struggling, Darnell told her now he wish he had paid more attention in his junior year when the teachers were getting them prepared for their senior year.

After midterm Princess had more free time and started helping Darnell with his school work when his grades started falling. By the end of the year his grades were up and he graduated with honors. Mrs. Smith told Princess she saved Darnell from graduating from summer school.

On June third when Mr. Smith showed up at Darnell’s graduation he came without his wife, Princess was relieved because she didn’t think Darnell was ready to see his dad with another woman. That summer after Darnell graduated Princess and he was closer than ever. The following September Darnell started Chicago State with Princess. After Darnell’s first year at Chicago State he and Princess decided to try out for other colleges so they both wrote letters to Georgia State University and Florida State University. Three months later Lillian was bringing in the mail and noticed a letter from Georgia State for Darnell. She rushed into the house shouting, Darnell your letter from Georgia State is here. Darnell came running into the room and took the letter from his mother’s hand. I’m nervous he said, I’ll open it Albert said. Darnell tore the letter open and let out a loud yell while picking his mom up and swinging her around I was accepted I have to call Princess. He ran to the phone and called Princess, I got it he said. Me too Princess said, they accepted me too. They had always wanted to go to Georgia State. Now they were going to live their dream.

Both families got together and took Darnell and Princess down town to Home Run Inn Pizza to celebrate. Both Mr. Smith and Mr. McDonald came to celebrate with their kid. They were to start the following semester. Three weeks later both moms cried when the kids left by Trans Am train to Georgia. The Train ride took over a day Princess and Darnell talked quietly only to each other for the entire trip nibbling on the snacks Mrs. Smith had packed for them. When they arrived they were happy to learn that their dorm buildings were next to each other, so they saw each other every day, doing homework together in Princess’s dorm lobby and sometimes sneaking up to her room when no one was watching. They decided to take the same classes to help their mom’s out on the cost of books. All their plans were going according to schedule until two months later when Princess found out she was with child. She cried to Darnell, what happened, we were so careful this wasn’t part of our plan. It’ll be ok Darnell said as he held her while she cried.

It was a beautiful wedding four months later even with her beach ball belly sticking out Princess was a beautiful bride. With their parent’s eight hundred miles away, their friends and professors from college gave them a beautiful wedding and everyone attended. One of Princess’s professors loaned Princess her white wedding dress that she kelp in a hope chest for her daughter. Another class mate bought her a white hat to match the dress. One of Darnell’s professors let him borrow a black suit which was two sizes too big and a tie, one class mate volunteered to pay for any wedding expense, everyone brought flowers and food. Princess’s favorite professor who was also a minister said he would marry them at his church with no cost to them. A classmate of Darnell’s took them to get a blood test and a marriage license and volunteered to pay for both. Everyone wanted to do something. A classmate of Darnell’s was a photographer and offered to take pictures of the wedding for free. Princess’s two roommates put money together and bought them two photo album’s one to put their wedding pictures in and one for the baby and a car seat to bring the baby home from the hospital. A small reception was held down stairs in one of the rooms they used for Sunday school. When Darnell and Princess came down stairs after the wedding they were surprised to see a table set up with food and a smaller table held a wedding cake. After two hours of eating the finger food and wedding cake everyone decided to take the party back to the girl’s dorm and partied till three in the morning; they got lots of very nice gifts from their friend’s things that they could really use. Three months later Susan, Porsha and Priscilla traveled the eight hundred miles to Princess’s baby shower given by some of the girls at school, Princess wasn’t expecting La’Dawn that was an extra treat.

Darnell and Princess had an apartment off campus at that time that was provided for married college couples with a small bedroom, a kitchenette with living room attached and a small bath room. Darnell was still attending school, but Princess had taken some time off. Porsha wanted to rub Princess’s belly, but Priscilla said I’m not touching that its bad luck. No it’s not Porsha said. Princess let La’Dawn and the other girls at the shower feel her stomach when the baby moved, Susan started talking baby talk to Princess’s belly, I can’t believe my baby girl is married and having a baby Susan said. She’s not the baby Porsha pouted, I am. They played games and Priscilla told jokes and everyone had a nice time. Princess got lots of gifts for the baby and some of the professors gave her cash. After an enjoyable week Susan had to get back to work and La’Dawn had to get back to school. It was hard for Susan leaving her daughter again.

La’Dawn flew out an hour before Susan, Porsha and Priscilla left. Susan filled Princess and Darnell’s freezer and pantry before she left and she also put money in Princess’s top drawer without her knowing. Darnell and Princess stood in front of the apartment and waved to them until they couldn’t see the car any more. Darnell took her arm and guided her back inside because Princess kelp staring at the corner hoping the car would reappear. On the twelve hour ride home Porsha slept and Priscilla entertained her mom by telling jokes. The next morning Susan called Lillian, Darnell’s mom to tell her both kids were doing well.

Two months later David was born, a beautiful, bouncing, bundle of joy with big checks and eyes and a smile that would melt your heart. Everyone from college wanted to come see him but Princess and Darnell’s apartment was too small so they told them when he David got a little older they would bring him to the campus. Lillian decided to retire from her job after twenty nine years and move to Georgia to baby sit her grandson while Princess went back to school. She had nothing holding her back in Chicago. She and her husband were divorced, and her two younger sons Miller and Albert were attending college in Connecticut and living on campus, which the judge ordered her ex-husband to pay for. Princess and Darnell welcomed Lillian and offered her the let out couch in the living room. Three months later Princess went back to school part time, she also worked part time, the same as Darnell.

Three years passed and Darnell and Princess had nice paying jobs and were now renting a big house on the north side. Lillian now had her own room and attached bathroom. She did an excellent job raising David. Then one evening after dinner Princess announced they were going to have another baby, Darnell was over excited by the news. He picked up three year old David and danced him around the room singing, we’re having a baby but David didn’t share in his dad’s enthusiasm. Lillian told him you’re going to be a big brother now and I’m going to need you to help me with the baby. Ok David said in a low voice with his head down but I’m not sharing my toys.

The second pregnancy was hard for Princess she stayed sick all the time, her classes were in jeopardy so she decided to take her classes on line at home in bed. When she wasn’t on the computer doing school work she was sleeping, this went on for the entire nine months. When Desiree was born it felt as if they were pulling her whole insides out. Princess screamed so loud from the pain she made a mental note to herself that this would be the last one. Desiree was the most beautiful baby Darnell had ever seen, she smiled and showed her deep dimples every time she heard his voice and she was the apple of his eye. When she was two she knew exactly what time Darnell got home, she would sit staring at the door waiting for him to come in, and when he was running late she would go to the window and look for him to come driving down the street then run to the door.

Porsha and Priscilla missed their sister so much they had never been away from her this long and wanted to move closer so they can be with her and the kids. Susan saw the hurt in her two younger daughter’s eyes and packed up everything and they all moved to Georgia. When Susan told her best friend Faye about her moving to Georgia Faye was very hurt. They had been friends for twenty years and neighbors for seven. Faye and Susan’s girls had attended Milford X. Kohn Elementary School the same school they had went to. Susan’s teacher Mr. Galileo now in his eighties was all three girls teacher also. What would you do with your house Faye asked? I’ll properly sell it Susan said. But I don’t want new neighbors Faye cried, what if we don’t get alone? What if they have a big dog? You know I don’t like dogs what if they play that rap music? What if they don’t keep their grass cut? What if they hold on Susan said holding up her hand to quiet her friend. I think everything would be ok, you just have to get used to another family living next door. I don’t want to get used to another family living in the house next to mine Faye cried. Princess needs me and I have to go Susan said. What about your job? Are you just going to walk away from your job Faye asked trying to think of something to make her friend stay? I think they can manage without me Susan reassured her. Two days later Carolyn the neighbor in the house on the other side of Susan by the alley woke to find the realtor putting a For