Jehico: Journey to a Better Future

By Vanita Johnson

Story telling has been around for many years and the makings of JEHICO: Journey to a Better Future came into existence when a dream about a young Black man was given the advantage towards learning and enhanced education, which leads to the struggle of transitioning to college from high school. This story foretells the adventurous which plays heavily upon his determination and ability to survive “success comes with a price.” Jehico pays the ultimate price to obtain a better future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Nov 13, 2020
• ISBN: 9781663211231

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Copyright © 2020 Vanita Johnson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-6632-1122-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-1123-1 (e)

iUniverse rev. date: 11/04/2020

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter Destination

Final Chapter

INTRODUCTION

B eing born in 1952 brings on a different perspective than that of earlier years. Although the battle for equality still lies beneath the surface. A young Black man was taught very young to strive and learn even more than what was already available for his acceptance. The interesting part of the long journey has adventurous and dangerous outlets. Determination and strong will-power inherited plays a major role in the directional path. JEHICO soon learns his struggle is a small patronage while at home verses actually taking the journey in hopes of earning a better life. Now, the ultimate test will instill an experience of a lifetime to cherish and share with future generations. Only the strong can survive a curvy trail that carries no knowledge of predictions. So, the year 1970 enhances travel from Baltimore, Maryland to Atlanta, Georgia seeking a scholarship is worth the ups and downs with exceedingly high expectations to successfully explore the unknown.

CHAPTER 1

T he day of the journey had just begun for this 16-year-old man waiting for momma to complete three peanut butter sandwiches to eat on the long walk across the states, while sitting at the old wooden frame table his papa made from oak wood. The night before Jehico was thinking about how this trip is going to take all summer to arrive at the biggest event of the year. To receive a scholarship is an honor. Jehico earned every bit of this special document he will accept when the day come to visit grandma and run on down to the Convention Center and receive his hard-earned reward. That is where the acceptance is going to take place. No reservation is needed because it is first come, first serve. To think on January 21, 1970 the Panama Boeing 747 1 st flight NY-London and my family can’t afford to purchase a plane ticket for their only son to attend college. Doing all of this hard thinking is exciting but will not help me one bit to fall asleep. I have to calm myself down so falling asleep becomes easier. I only wish momma and papa could be there as well. They could especially be proud of me in person. The dreams are not going anywhere because each one is buried inside my brain for safe keeping. It just seems only like yesterday I was in grade school.

As Jehico drifts off to sleep, a dream of sitting in the second grade starts to come into focus. The teacher Mrs. Sheerer is talking and teaching about addition and subtraction. The number system is always fun to work with for Jehico. Ever since I was given a book from momma’s grandmother, learning has helped me to get a head start on reading and growing fond of working with numbers. The books were called Easy Reading and 1 + 1 The books belonged to great grandma Rosie. Momma told me the story on how her grandma got those books and how she had to sneak around with her master’s little daughter just to learn how to read. Her name was Labelle Genty. She adored my great grandmother and wanted her to know how to read. I was told that if her father knew of this, my great grandmother would have been punished or put to death by hanging or whipping with lashes across the back. When I first heard this story, I asked momma why she would be punished just for wanting to learn how