The Master of Destiny

By James A. Grosse

Pittsburgh, PA is known as “The Steel City”. It holds a reputation of strength, and dominance in the architectural designs of the high-rise buildings. Three rivers of raging force rip through the surrounding mountains with occasional cliffs and wooded areas. Huge steel bridges arch over the rivers connecting the North, South, East, and West side districts.

The gentle wind blew silently through the huge oak trees that stood in the yards of the traditional stone houses. Albert sat on a large boulder; eyes transfixed on the small campfire. The isolated wooded plateau formed in a huge cliff on the mountain overlooked the city. The cool night air was still upon him as the morning sun began to rise. He was determined to figure his life out. The world seemed like it was against him. Deep down inside, he knew he would master his destiny.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Aug 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781489724175

James A. Grosse

James A. Grosse is from The Steel City, Pittsburgh, PA. He is an Architect Engineer, an inventor, and a writer. He has 5 college degrees, 10 vocational trades, and 27 self-improvement certificates. He believes in hard work, education, and a good attitude. Live a good life, and focus on your destiny.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1  The Unmasked Truth

The gentle wind blew silently through the huge oak trees in the busy city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditional stone houses sit imposingly amongst the few contemporary style structures that serve as residential dwellings to the citizens of this secluded neighborhood. Although somewhat hermetic, there are a few mysterious neighbors.

When Chris and Jackie got married in 1962; it seemed as if life for them could be no more absolute. They bought a traditional stone house that rested quietly in a corner lot at the top of a Cobblestone Hill on New Orleans street. It was a nice house that was small, but roomy. The landscape was well kept and very attractive. Perrysville Avenue was a well-respected community. The upscale neighborhood added luxury and value to their social statues. Not bad at all for a young couple. It was here they planned to start their family and spend the rest of their lives.

Five years had passed since then, and as planned the family began to grow. They had three kids; Sera, Sandra, and Christopher. Jackie was pregnant with their fourth child. That was it, no more! she had vowed.

Chris was throwing another house party which he tended to do quite often. He would invite several of his friendly neighbors over to play poker and drink, while Jackie took care of the kids and played the loving wife.

Tonight’s party was very lively and the poker game was heating up. Everyone was excited and very anxious to win the huge pot of money that now sat in the center of the card table. Chris had already declared this to be the last hand. The party was about to be over.

Jackie sat by her lonesome self on the couch. She was nine months pregnant and bewildered by Chris’s repetitive chaotic lifestyle. She thought to herself, Chris is never going to change. I know he’s cheating on me. I can sense that something isn’t right. He thinks he can just keep me pregnant and stuck in this house. Well, I’ll show him one day!.

At that moment she started to feel contractions. All of a sudden it felt as though an elephant had sat in her lap. Pain racked her abdomen and pelvic area. God please let it be a boy? she thought pleadingly.

Chris stared at his royal flush in disbelief. Everyone figured him to be bluffing, which he had a tendency to do, and they continued to call his outrageous bets. Finally, Chris laid out his dominating hand; Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten of Spades, a Royal flush.

As he began to scrape the pile of money that now belong to him, he thought Drunk I may be, but far from stupid!, and with a devious smile on his face he said, party over, get out.

Chris, I think your wife is having a baby. someone yelled across the room. Oh yah, how long did it take you to figure that out smart guy?, Chris said cynically. No, I mean right now dude. I think she’s in labor.

Chris jumped up from the card table leaving his newly acquired treasure there and rushed into the living room only to find his wife sitting there, tense with agony and a grimace of pain written on her face. Is it time honey?, he questioned. Yes! Please hurry, she answered.

Albert was born at 12:07 A.m. at Allegheny Hospital. He was tiny and full of life. Jackie laid there in her hospital bed exhausted holding her little Albert Stone. She vowed to love and protect him with all of her heart.

Chris, alongside of her, let his mind wander and thought what if he’s not…, he quickly rebuked these paranoid thoughts and blocked them from returning. As he stared at his new born son he thought, I’ll make a man out of him, a tough one at that, just as the military made me.

Eight years later little Albert, a young boy now, kneeled at the foot of his bed and was saying a short prayer before he retired for the night. His orison was interrupted by a loud crash as something shattered off the wall down the hallway toward the kitchen.

Albert emerged from his room frightened and crept down the hall toward the repeated shouts and violent lashing of words. I hate you. I want a divorce. Get out, leave and don’t come back. Jackie smiled and said, That’s where your wrong buddy, you’re the one who is leaving. I’m keeping the house and the kids and your ass is out.

Albert cautiously eased his head around the kitchen corner. His parents face reflected pure hatred and disgust. They had snapped. Here in his eavesdropping abode Albert witnessed one of the most horrifying and traumatic experiences of his life. Jackie reached for a knife on the counter top, but Chris, with his military training, reacted to quickly and too harsh. He landed a devastating uppercut catching her solidly in the nose.

Chris wanted to take that punch back. Damn, he felt bad, but he couldn’t. Blood sprayed the ceiling as Jackie’s head snapped back wickedly . The knife fell clinking in the sink. She blacked out, crashing to the floor on her knees with her hands clutching her battered face. Jackie was thinking hysterically. I was just going to scare him! Chris turned to leave and caught sight of me trying to hide. His gaze burned a hole straight through me. His voice was deep and boomed with every word. Son, don’t ever trust a woman!

I stood frozen in fear as he stormed right past me. He was headed to his room. Once he was out of sight, I gathered my senses and rushed over to help my mother. Mom are you alright? Her nose was crooked and bleeding profusely.

Albert helped his mother to her feet. Then he got her a towel to stop the blood. He had tears silently rolling down his cheeks . Jackie patted him on the head. I’m going to be OK! Mommy needs a doctor and Daddy is going to jail. Son don’t ever hit a woman. Mom I promise that I will never to hit a woman!

Jackie called the police, 911. They came and arrested Chris. Jackie was escorted to the hospital. She was diagnosed with a broken nose and released. Jackie was tired of living in fear and being beat on. She hoped they would keep him locked up forever.

Albert was devastated. What he had witnessed had scarred him for life. His world was slowly falling apart. Everyone was emotionally disturbed and stressed out. Albert found it difficult to concentrate in school, he fell behind in his studies.

Chris eventually bonded out of jail and returned home a few days later. He promised never to hit her again. Jackie took him back. However, she had a plan and slowly started to set the wheels in motion.

Every night Albert would pray endlessly for things to get better. Everything would be going good until Chris and Jackie started drinking. Then their nice quiet home would turn into the epitome of hell. The fighting and chaos would begin and the serenity would end.

The days roamed on. Time was drawing near. Jackie was determined to become independent and break the chain of her real prison. Freedom would have a price. She needed to find a good job or start her own business. Her plan however must remain a secret.

She searched the newspaper for any jobs or businesses for sale. She found a local tavern for sale. It had an apartment above it. Jackie thought, Chris will go for this. All I have to do is make him think it’s all his idea.

She called the number in the newspaper ad. She got an answer on the second ring. Hello? Yes, I’m calling to set up a phone call appointment for Chris Stone in regards to your newspaper ad of the tavern for sale. Yes can you please call him at 9 P.M. tonight?

Jackie relayed all the required information and hung up with a huge smile. She spoke out loud to herself. Now all I have to do is go shopping.

She bought a case of beer, a movie with a club- like setting, and an investment magazine which she would place noticeably on the coffee table.

When Jackie got home, she started to prepare one of Chris’s favorite dinners. Steak and potatoes. She set the table and cleaned the house.

Everything was in place. All she had to do was tell him about a neighbor’s friend who bought an apartment complex and fixed it up. And now they bring in $100,000.00 a year. This will inspire him!. She thought to herself, Men are so gullible. His ego with thrive off of the confidence that I feed him!

Sera seen Bobby Erkem coming towards the house. He was Albert’s best friend and at the time his worst enemy. Bobby was walking fast with his arms locked by his sides. He was mad about something and was probably going to take it out on Albert.

Bobby headed around the house entering through the back door and down to the basement. He called for Albert a few times. Sera peaked through the basement window, as Albert rushed down the steps.

Bobby pointed his finger at Albert saying, Didn’t you hear me calling you? I’m here, aren’t I? Don’t get smart with me! I’m missing one of my pictures of Farrah that was on my wall.

Albert shook his head side saying Farrah is not your girlfriend! She is mine. Bobby’s this turned blood red. He eyed the black shipping trunk.

Bobby was a year older than Albert and a little stronger. He was raging at the moment. He quickly flipped the trunk lid open. Then walked up to Albert and punched him in the nose.

Before Albert even knew what I was happening, Bobby wrestled Albert into the huge trunk and secured the lid and locked it.

Bobby began his verbal assault. Farrah is my girlfriend, not yours! I’m going to get a shovel and bury you. Don’t go anywhere, I’ll be right back.

Sera watched in frustration. She loved her little brother and wanted him to be tougher. She tapped the window and bobby looked up. She motioned for him to come up. Bobby came up out of the basement and met her on the side of the house.

Sera coldly looked at him. If you don’t leave right now, I’m going to tell my big brother Ben that you hit me. Bobby said, he started it and left for the remainder of the night and not once, thought about Albert locked in the trunk in the basement.

Albert struggled to sit up and gather some kind of comfort in his make shift prison. The trunk was hot and stuffy which made it almost impossible to breath. Trapped in the darkness and utterly terrified of the inevitable, he began to kick the lid with a determined violence. After several failed attempts he began to sweat profusely and became exhausted, but Albert refuse to give up and continued his assault.

Sera watched the trunk as it jumped with each of Albert’s kicks. She considered his escape attempt futile, but a closer look revealed that the locking mechanism was working itself loose.

She stood with her hands on her hips and watched as the lid eventually flew open. Albert emerged from the trunk and was confused to see his sister standing there.

What are you doing here? Albert asked her almost embarrassingly. Standing here thinking about how pathetic you are? She answered. Well, why didn’t you open the lid? Albert stated. Because you are either going to learn how to run or fight back. She said teasingly. Besides, it looked like you had it all under control. Now can I tie you up?" She asked. No Sera, I’m going to start lifting weights and learn how to fight really good so just leave me alone!

Sandra was the oldest of the four children. She was fourteen years of age and probably the most mature. Jackie had sent her to find Albert and tell him to get ready for dinner. Jacky thought? That kid was so hard to keep up with and asks so many questions. She was setting the table when Sera emerged from the basement.

There you are! What have you two been doing? she asked curiously. Nothing! They both exclaimed at the same time. Well we need to get cleaned up for dinner and mom said to be on our best behavior tonight.

Chris had just finished painting the exterior walls of a two-story commercial office building. A job that had taken him nearly two weeks to complete. He worked alone most of the time.

He cleaned the sprayer, loaded all the equipment into the work van and gave his work one last look over before he headed home. He always checked the job to make sure everything was done right.

On the way home, the same thoughts played him as they did everyday….God I hope she has dinner ready. I hope she keeps her attitude in her back pocket. Man, I just want some peace and quiet. Drawn in by every tavern he passed along the way, it took every ounce of will power to keep him from dropping in for a drink.

The remote sat inconspicuously on top of the investment magazine. From the kitchen. Jackie noticed Chris thumbing through the magazine. She inadvertently smiled.

Chris was thinking as he looked over the magazine. Hum! Investments? maybe that’s what I should get into; instead of working my fingers to the bone?

Dinner went over smoothly. Jackie told the inspiring story of the neighbor’s success over dessert. She enthusiastically urged that he watch the new movie she had rented. They watched The Accountant uninterrupted.

The phone rang at 9:00 P.M. sharp. Jackie let Chris answer. Chris picked up the phone and his ear was filled with an unbelievable proposition in regards to buying a tavern.

His eyes glided over the business magazine, the rented movie, the beer, and finally his wife. Sounds great, I’ll meet you there at noon tomorrow. he said with a smile and hung up.

Chris began to put the pieces of the puzzle together. He believed one should never reveal how much he actually knows while watching the game play out. To him life was like playing poker. I may be drunk, but I’m far from stupid, he thought again.

Sera vowed to help Albert in his attempts to learn how to develop methods of escape. That way if he was ever put in any predicaments like Bobby put him in; he could remove himself from any impending danger.

She would tie him up and handcuff him while playing hide and seek. She also talked with his best friend Bobby and suggested that he wrestle and fight with Albert relentlessly until he got better at it.

Albert was confused by Bobby’s sudden change in attitude. Bobby was always challenging him, wanting to fight. And this continued until the day Albert defeated Bobby. He held him in an arm-lock position. Bobby ran home crying. Bobby never wanted to fight him again.

Sera became obsessed with trying to capture Albert or catch him off guard. It became a game to her.

One day Albert was sitting at the top of the basement stairs. He was about to head down and retrieve the bicycle pump so he could feel the tire up on his bike. Sera crept up behind Albert and literally shoved him down the stairs.

Once Albert gathered