My Winning Season

By John D. McCray

Felecia Jones has been a hardworking mother to support her special needs daughter, Kayla. Felicia has always gone the extra mile for Kayla to take up the slack for her absentee father, Keith. Keith has always been estranged from his daughter, ashamed of her disability, and she feels she doesn’t fit in his already perfect little family. Keith thinks that just paying his child support is all that is required of him.

Kayla is desperate to have a place in her father’s life, but Keith’s perfect little world doesn’t include her. Keith thinks he’ll never need Kayla, but tragedy suddenly occurs, and the only person who can help is the one person he doesn’t want around. Will Kayla show love and be there for her father, or will she walk away and give him a dose of his own medicine? Keith will soon discover what goes around comes around, and love will always win in the end.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664176607

John D. McCray

John D. McCray is a 43-year old African American born and raised in Alcolu, South Carolina. He now resides in North Carolina, and works with adults with disabilities and special needs. John has been writing for over thirty years and is the author of “Who Am I,” “When the Mask Comes Off,” and “My Winning Season.

Book preview

Chapter 1

I just got in from my part-time job and stretched out on the couch. Kayla’s birthday is today. I can’t believe my baby is sixteen years old today. Kendra, my best friend, took Kayla out for dinner to celebrate, which was good since I ended up getting off much later than I expected to.

I grabbed the remote off the coffee table and started flipping through the channels, trying to find something to watch. I swear these two jobs, Kmart from six o’clock until two thirty and then Subway from three o’clock to eight o’clock, is way too much on me. I barely have time to do anything, and the little money they pay me is barely enough to even pay the bills. I don’t even want to think about Keith trifling behind. The judge ordered Keith to pay three hundred dollars every two weeks for child support, and his cheap behind went crying about that, saying he couldn’t survive paying that much, so the judge dropped it down to only three hundred dollars a month.

I swear I could pick up something and knock Keith in the head when he told the judge that, and I would pick up something even bigger and knock that stupid judge in the head as well for even entertaining him with that foolishness. I swear like my mama always says, You better be careful who you end up having a child from. You better make sure they’re your husband and someone you plan to be with for the rest of your life. I smiled, only wishing I had sat my behind down and listened to what my mama preached so much to me about back then.

I got up from the couch and poured myself a glass of apple juice from the kitchen and sat down at the kitchen table. I’m glad I picked up this vanilla cake for my baby, along with her favorite strawberry ice cream. I only wish I had the money to give her a real sweet sixteen party like a normal teenager. Kayla certainly deserves that. She doesn’t give me any problems and will go out of her way to make sure she does everything to make me happy.

Having a daughter with down syndrome took a lot, and I almost lost my job several times, running to the school because someone was picking at her and calling her names. I tried to always express to Kayla that even though she may look a little different from everyone else, no one is better than she is, and she is just as beautiful as they are. I tried drilling that in Kayla’s head to the point that she’d start believing it herself.

I finished my apple juice and sat the cup in the kitchen sink. If I could wish something for Kayla that I knew she would love for her birthday, it was to have a relationship with her father and his other children. Kayla’s brother, Keith Jr., is only a few months older than she is. Kayla has only been around her father like three times in her entire life. Keith thinks as long as he pays his little three hundred dollars every month, that’s all he is required to do.

I asked him to take her around his family and introduce her to her sisters and brother and let her meet her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. But no, he didn’t want to mess up his perfect little family that he so clearly didn’t want Kayla to be a part of. I wish someone took something and swung it at my head just for getting myself involved with a man like Keith in the first place. What in the world was I thinking? While I was pregnant with Kayla, the doctors told me that they saw something concerning in my ultrasounds and wanted to do further testing on me. I continued going to my doctor’s appointments, and the doctors confirmed through different tests that Kayla would be born with down syndrome. I questioned God over and over until I nearly made myself sick, trying to figure out why my baby had that. My parents, who were there every step of the way, told me to trust God because he doesn’t make any mistakes.

I believed that, and I often thought about what the devil wanted me to do, which was to terminate my pregnancy because of what the doctors told me, but that was only the enemy trying to take over my mind. After sharing the news with Keith, he really went ballistic then. He tried to act like he would be there for me, but I knew that image of him trying to play the concerned father role would never last long.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a knock at my front door. I stood up from the couch and opened the front door. Kayla fell straight into my arms. Hey, Mommy. Guess what today is? It’s my sixteenth birthday! Kayla shouted, squeezing me tightly. I know, sweetheart. I would never forget my baby girl’s birthday in a million years, I said, kissing Kayla all over her beautiful, brown-skinned face. Ah, Mommy, that’s too much kisses, Kayla said, wiping her face.

I smiled as I reached for KeiKei and Maurice to give them both hugs as well. KeiKei and Maurice are Kendra’s two children. Hey, girl. Thank you so much for taking Kayla out for her birthday, I said, hugging Kendra. Please don’t mention it. God never blessed me with any sisters or brothers, so I never had any nieces or nephews, but God saw fit to give me a best friend that gave me a beautiful little niece that I would give a piece of my heart for, Kendra said, smiling.

I don’t know what in the world I would do without Kendra. We have been best friends since we were four years old and been inseparable ever since. Kendra’s husband, Robert, was in the military. He died about five years ago in a plane crash. Kendra and the kids were devastated. The kids were young, but they remember their father. Kendra or her kids never wanted for anything, and she has always told me, If she had it, then I got it, but I never tried to ask her for anything other than to babysit every now and then. Mommy, we’re going to my room for a while, Kayla said.

Kendra and I sat down at the kitchen table, and I could barely keep my eyes open. Girl, I swear you look exhausted, Kendra said. I know. I can barely keep my eyes open. These two jobs are about to kill me, I said. I know. I wish I could hit the Powerball, and I would give you and my niece a few million dollars. That way, you’ll never have to work hard again, Kendra said with a smile. I smiled because I knew Kendra meant that from the bottom of her heart. Thank you, Kendra. I swear I just wish Keith trifling behind would just do more with Kayla. I know he thinks that Kayla doesn’t fit into his perfect little world, but she is his daughter, and she needs him in her life, I said. You’re right, and I totally agree, Lecia. You took Keith to court to get a child support order for him to pay child support, which he’s doing, but you can’t make him spend time with Kayla. That’s horrible that a man fathered a child and they think that their little monthly contribution is all the child needs. What about love? What about knowing who they are and knowing their family? Trust me, Lecia, that man is going to regret turning his back on Kayla all these years, Kendra said.

I nodded my head because I swear I hate it when Kendra is right about something. She just has that look on her face like someone’s mama or something.

Kayla and the kids came busting down the hallway like they were in the circus and came straight into the kitchen. Kayla put her arm around me. Mommy, did you get my ice cream and cake? Kayla asked with a big Kool-Aid smile on her face. Sure did, sweetheart. I went to all the grocery stores in the area, looking for my baby’s vanilla cake and strawberry ice cream, I said, hugging her. Mommy, you’re the best, Kayla said, jumping up and clapping her hands. I know, sweetheart. Now all three of y’all go get washed up in the bathroom and walk in there like you all have some sense, I said.

They all nodded their heads and did exactly what I asked. I swear you know how to handle kids. My kids always want to come to visit you, but they’ll be like You better be good because you know Aunt Lecia will check you at the front door, Kendra said, falling out, laughing. Yep, my baby, my niece and nephew know I don’t play, but they know I love them though, I said, laughing. Yeah, I know that’s right," Kendra said.

I grabbed the paper plates out of the cabinets and cut a big slice of cake for all three of the kids as well as two big scoops of ice cream. Girl, you want some? I asked. Hmmm, I really shouldn’t, but that vanilla cake is looking quite good over there. Cut me a slice of cake, even though it doesn’t fit into my diet, Kendra said. I laughed at Kendra, but she had been doing quite well with managing her eating habits, especially when she found out last year that she was a diabetic.

The kids came and sat down at the table, all well behaved, and ate their ice cream and cake. Kay, you having a good birthday? Kendra asked. I am, Aunt Kendra. I don’t need a lot of people here to have a good time. As long as I got Mommy, you, and my two cousins, that’s all I need, Kayla said, smiling.

I smiled at my baby’s response because this was all she really wanted, to be surrounded by people she loves and people who love her. Just the smile on my baby’s face was all I wanted to see.

Chapter 2

I just finished cleaning up the kitchen after Kayla’s little birthday gathering. She looked so happy and excited to be turning the big sixteen today. I would’ve loved to give her a proper sweet sixteen party, but it just wasn’t in the budget this year. I told her next year, I might be able to give her a bigger birthday party, and she could invite all her friends from school. Kayla told me she enjoyed the party and didn’t need a big one.

I sat down in the living room and just leaned back on the couch. Boy was I tired. I didn’t know if I was just tired from both jobs or from hosting Kayla’s little gathering. But either way, I was ready to dive in bed.

I got up and turned all the lights off. I was heading in my bedroom when I suddenly stopped in my tracks. I listened, and it sounded like Kayla might have been crying in her room. I knocked on her door and then walked inside. I cut on her bedroom light and saw her sitting in the dark, crying.

I went and sat on Kayla’s bed. Kayla baby, what’s wrong? Why are you in here crying? I asked. Mommy, why don’t my daddy love me? Kayla asked with her big brown eyes. It took everything in me not to tell Kayla, Because he’s a sorry behind, trifling man. I had to think of something else to say that didn’t sound so mean, but what? How could I tell her that she just didn’t fit into Keith’s little perfect world, with his perfect big house and his perfect little family?

I placed my arm around Kayla and told her what I believed to be the truth. Kayla sweetheart, I don’t know. Maybe your father is just extremely busy and work a lot like I do, I lied, hoping she bought that. Mommy, you work two jobs, and still you make time to spend with me. If you can do it, then he can do it to, Kayla said, wiping her eyes.

My baby is so smart, sometimes the questions she asks simply amazes me. I know at her age she is curious about a lot of things, and sometimes, she actually blows my mind with the things she asks me.

Kayla sat up and looked at me. Mommy, can you ask my daddy to stop by and see me tomorrow? Kayla asked. I wanted to blurt out and tell her, Heck no! but that would definitely kill her spirit. Kayla, I will do my best, I said. Thanks, Mommy, because I want to know why he never comes around and see me, why I don’t ever see him or talk to him on the phone, and why he keeps missing my birthday. Even if he doesn’t do anything but pick up the phone and say, ‘Hey, Kayla, happy birthday,’ and hang up the phone, at least I know he realizes that today is my birthday, Kayla said. You’re right, baby. I’ll see what I can do to get him here, I said.

Kayla leaned over and gave me a big hug. Thanks so much, Mommy. You are the best mommy in the entire world, Kayla said, smiling. Thank you, sweetheart. Now get your butt in the bed so you can get up for school in the morning, I said. I will, Mommy. I love you, and I’ll see you in the morning, Kayla said, climbing under the covers. Okay, sweetheart, and I love you too, I said, cutting off her light switch and closing her bedroom door.

I walked down to my bedroom and crawled into bed. I don’t know how in the world I’m going to try to persuade that deadbeat to come see Kayla tomorrow. If he doesn’t come, she’s going to be so disappointed. I guess the only thing I can do is get in touch with him and at least ask him to come. The worst he can say is no, but it’s not like he comes around anyway. I still have his cell phone number, so I guess I’ll call him tomorrow when I’m at work.

Chapter 3

I jumped up when I heard the alarm clock blasting at 5:30 this morning. I swear a sister could use thirty more minutes before getting up. I heard Kayla going in the hallway bathroom. That girl gets up early every morning for school with no complaints or anything. Sometimes she’ll come in my room and cut on my bedroom light, telling me it’s time to wake up. I wish I were as cheerful and as alert as she is in the mornings.

After ten more minutes of just lying in bed, I was finally able to drag myself out of bed into the shower to get myself together. Today should be exciting for me because it was my sixteenth anniversary of being