The Tarnished Jewel

By Valerie Doka-Niznak

The plot revolves around three beautiful women, Mary Jean, Emily, and Galatea—perhaps the three most beautiful women in the world—who were unfortunate to be born in the slums of Detroit. This is their story. It is one of hopelessness and loss, wishes, love and romance, mystery, and a gift that keeps on giving. Enjoy it as it twists and turns.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984533654

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 by Valerie Doka-Niznak.

ISBN:              Softcover                    978-1-9845-3222-0

                        eBook                         978-1-9845-3365-4

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.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 09/25/2018

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

779996

Contents

Chapter 2

Part Two

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Part III

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Acknowledgments

She was beautiful!

She could have the world at her feet . . . ..

With Her looks . . . ..

She could marry a wealthy man . . . ..

She could be Miss America . . . ..

She could be Miss Universe . . .

Circumstances made all the difference . . . ..

Five feet eight inches of loveliness . . . ..  . .

Long perfectly shaped legs . . . ..

Elegantly curved full breasts on a slender frame . . .

Long black hair, full and luxurious . . .

Blue grey eyes in a heart shaped face . . . .

Emily

Born in the heart of Detroit; the houses were shingled on all sides Built in the 20’s and 30’s with a small cement porch in the front and with a scrubby backyard. Some of owners in this neighborhood had dogs which their small yards hardly supported, Their barking made the neighborhood noisy. The houses were so close together if one stuck ones arm out a side window, one could grasp his neighbor’s arm reaching out his window. Row after row, street after street, these houses shape the inner city. Numerous gangs hold court here. Shootings, knifings were common. Police avoided this area as much as possible. Emily was born and raised in this place.

Emily’s father, Dan, worked for Well’s Foundry as a heavy metals worker until he drank himself out of his job.

After Dan lost his job, Emily’s mother, Mary Jean, took in laundry to pay the bills.

Slight of built the heavy work took its toil and Mary aged before her time. Dan would beat Mary to get drink money. She gave him what he wanted as she couldn’t risk not being able to work.

By the time Emily reached sixteen, there was very little to give her. Mary bought her second hand clothes.

She asked her Mom: Why can’t I have new jeans and a new top? All the girls at school dress better than me

Her Mom knew because she was so pretty the other girls from school tended to shun her.

Emily blamed their behavior on how she dressed.

Mary looked at Emily with tired, sad eyes: "You look just fine in what you have on.

There is barely enough money for us to eat leastwise buy new clothes."

Mary was getting more and more tired handling the workload of paying the bills. She asked Emily: Why don’t you apply for a job after school and help out? You could use some of the money for clothes.

Sheila, one of the girls from her neighborhood, lived five houses down and always dressed extremely well. She was in several of Emily’s classes. They weren’t friends but but they had known each other for a long time. The next day she asked Sheila where she worked.

What’s it to you, Emily? She looked at her with her light brown eyes, a face framed by straw like brown hair and a narrow face. Her clothes enhanced her thin body.

Some would call her skinny.

You always seem to have enough money and I know your folks didn’t give it to you.

Sheila’s father had been injured seriously at Federal Mogul and was receiving Disability checks. Her family struggled much as Emily’s did.

Sheila tipped her pointed chin and whispered: So you want in?

I’m tired of going without!" Emily exclaimed.

Sheila gave her a look over: You’re very pretty, you know, You could make a lot of money. I could show you how—that is if you have the nerve—initially for a share of your take. Just until you learn, I can help you meet the right people, Emily. What I tell you will be our secret. You must tell no one. Sheila enunciated the words no one. Do you understand?"

Yes, of course, I do. Emily replied back quickly.

Do you agree? Sheila asked her eyes looking intently at Emily, her tone of voice serious.

Yes, I said I did. Emily snapped back equally as intense as Sheila. Tell me.

It could mean your very life if you tell the wrong person. Sheila said very softly.

Are you going to tell me or not? Emily asked in a frustrated tone.

Ok Sheila said rather sharply. "I’m going to take the risk but remember you asked me and if you don’t like the answers, you have only yourself to blame There are other ways to achieve your goals but they consist of dog jobs with long hours and little pay. If you want one of those jobs, I can’t help you Still with me?"

Yes, tell me more. I can follow the rules. I can learn. Emily said excitedly but also a little nervously.

Ok. Now we have that settled. Sheila said tiredly. We need to go somewhere else more private to talk more. Let’s go out by the back of the track field where we can sit on the lawn. We can find a quiet place for ourselves. We can leave at the beginning of third hour study hall. No will miss us there. We can check out for the library.

Emily and Sheila split up to go to their first and second hour classes and met back at their third hour study hall at eleven o’clock. As planned they checked out to the library for research and quickly walked out to the edge of the track field. Sheila found a place on the lawn where they could not be seen by anyone in the school. A spot where at least for the time being no one else was around. Sheila had used this spot before.

Now we can talk Sheila said anxiously. I make a lot of money. I have nice digs, smoke all I want and soon will have a nice car to drive and a place better than the dump we live in now. That’s as much as I can do. I’m not as pretty like you so I don’t have what it takes to make it in others ways. I have connections and have built up a following of customers. I sell drugs—marijuana, crack coke, sometimes heroin. It’s a risky business and a profitable one. I supply speed; uppers and downers for parties and individuals. I have tight connections and am careful who I sell to. Still under age but if I’m caught — it’s West Haven Reform Institute. The way I look at it —it’s a way out of the dump we both live in. Well princess, are you in or out? Sheila asked curiously.

With a sharp intake of breath Emily said; ok.

You sure?

Yeah.

With Emily’s good looks, Sheila took her to parties where she attracted more guys then Sheila ever could. At several of these parties, Emily saw an extremely good looking guy— Dark wavy hair, athletic build, blue blue eyes; He seemed to be always smiling; a wide smile showing off perfect white teeth In addition he is a fantastic dancer.

Sheila saw where Emily was looking and responded: That’s Johnny. Women flock to to him like crazy.

"I’ve noticed. He always has a couple on his arms or around him. Still I’d like to be added to the competition. Do you know him?

A little, Sheila said hesitantly. He’s a couple of years older then us, already out of school. Out of my league."

With new clothes Emily’s confidence increased. She became more outgoing and made new friends. She was also asked out by several guys in her class.

Better if you stick to guys like Ron and Charlie. Johnny is too experienced too slick for you.

O come on, Sheila, I just want to meet him. Just forget it, there are other ways. He is just too yummy to pass over. Emily’ s smile was secretive as she purred out the words. So the next time Emily saw Johnny at a party they both attended, she went out on to the dance floor, slipped and fell in front of Johnny.

Johnny braced himself so not to fall on top of Emily. Hey, pretty woman, watch where you’re going that was my spot first. Johnny teased Emily.

"Oh, I’m so sorry,. I over extended myself and oops! She laughed.

The music changed and Michelle, who Johnny had been dancing with was asked by Andy for the next dance. That left Johnny and Emily standing on the dance floor while a new dance began. Let me get you a drink. Johnny pointed to the private bar set up in the corner Let’s find a place to talk about this . . . They both were smiling and eying each other. I’ve been watching you for the last couple of months. You are new to this scene?

About that time Sheila and I became friends. I came to some parties with her.

A mighty pretty addition to the party scene, I might add." Johnny softly murmured.

Are you still in school?

Yes, I’m a Junior at D.C.

A pretty rough school. Is Sheila in some of your classes?

"I manage. Sheila and I share several classes together.

Can I get you a drink?

Sure, a rum and coke would be nice.

Johnny and Emily spent the rest of the evening together, dancing and talking. At the end of the evening Johnny asked Emily if he could drive her home.

Only if you give Sheila a ride too. We have an unspoken rule: You come together you leave together. It’s safer that way.

If she doesn’t mind riding in the boot. Johnny laughed. My car seats two comfortably. If not too large a person can fit in the cargo area. It’s not too bad if the top is down, Can we get together and go out to a show? So they made plans to go out that weekend Johnny secured Emily’s phone number and set up to pick her up.

To be picked up at the 7-11 down the block from her home.

I’ll explain why when we are at the show. It doesn’t have anything to do with you. but with me. Johnny and Emily started going to the show every week.

When Mary noticed Emily’s new clothes, she asked her where she got them.

I’ve found a part-time job at school so I could buy them. I have sales slips if you you want to see them.

"Keep your money at school otherwise your father will come after it. Wish it was enough for you to move out.

Maybe someday, Mom.

Its just not safe here, dear. When you are on your own, happily married, or moved I into your own place, I will leave too.

I like Johnny a lot. It might work out for us. Johnny makes a good income and he’s. good looking as well.

Make sure you finish school, Emily. It’s your future.

I know, Mom, I’ll graduate. Johnny, Emily and Sheila continued finding parties and selling their party favors. Johnny had connections to sell crack cocaine and heroin. He introduced Emily to Coke and it wasn’t long before it became a habit and she had to have it. She began selling it to provide for her needs. Sheila tried to warn Emily about Crack but she wouldn’t listen. One of the other kids, Louise, got caught selling marijuana to a Cop at one of the parties. In exchange for the names of the remaining kids in the group and their suppliers. Louise was offered probation. Sheila, Emily, Micky were caught along with Brian Dean, a supplier. Johnny had no connection with Louise. She didn’t know his last name so he avoided any involvement in the bust.

Emily and Sheila were placed in Granger’s Juvenile Home after sentencing. They were to remain there until they turned eighteen in two years. Johnny had promised the girls that he would get them out. The Granger Home was horrible; a lockdown gated facility. Drug dealing was the least of the offenses of the girls within. Grand theft, armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, murder, and prostitution. The sleeping area was a long dormitory lined up with beds. Open showers in each dormitory; one long room with tables for dining, and one small room with hard plastic chairs and a small TV set. There were several small tables to play cards and games which had to be checked out and returned. One movie video was shown from 7P.M. to 9PM each night then lights out. Sheila and Emily took turns sleeping to keep themselves safe.

One could cry an alarm if the other were attacked. They were both attractive to draw the wrong kind of attention. Some of the inmates were Lesbians so rape was very possible. To catch up on their sleep, they would take turns sleeping during the movie.

I don’t know how long I can take this, Emily sighed.

We have to— Sheila anxiously replied. We can continue school during the day. We’ll be safer in the classroom and always stay together. Always.

"I hope Johnny can find a way to get us out of here! Emily’ eyes were huge, her face drawn.

Then what? We can’t go home. Sheila whined.

‘Anything would be better than this." Emily threw up her arms in frustration.

Shower time and night time was the worse time as the girls were least protected by the school’s staff.

Three months into their stay, Johnny was able to bribe an attendant to leave a seldom used back door unlocked during visiting hours. The girls came out the door to Johnny’s close paneled bread delivery truck. The truck left at the same time as the visitors. Johnny signed himself out just as he had signed himself in. With it being visiting time the girls would not be missed immediately.

Johnny opened the bakery truck double doors and helped Sheila out in front of her parent’s house. They had purchased her a bus ticket to New York in her sister’s name.

She was going to her aunt’s home there. As Johnny dropped her off, she said sadly: thanks, Johnny, you are a lifesaver. Don’ t know how much longer we could have lasted. Then she hugged Emily and as tears streaked down her cheeks "I’ll miss you so much. Wish you could come to New York So glad we survived that horror. Stay safe. Maybe we’ll see each other after we reach twenty—one. If I come this way, then, I’ll be sure to call.

Emily hugged Sheila. "I’ll miss you so. I will never have another friend as good as you. They hugged one final time and Sheila ran into her home. Emily wiping her eyes with a tissue as Johnny turned the van around and