The Will to Win: A Demonstration of Love and Determination

By Patrick A. Davy

Bonita Stickles is a college senior who decides to start searching for a man. There are many moral standards and religious principles that she must uphold. This high standard of behavior is due to her still Living with her preacher father and missionary mother. Maintaining her beliefs is challenging to do. How she thinks she should carry herself to help attract a man conflicts with her upbringing. She forces herself to disregard her principles. In neglecting her beliefs, she intends to dress to get noticed by a man, who she hopes will become her husband and father of her child.

Soon, her problems start from an unplanned pregnancy to feeling the effects of war in a foreign land. In addition, she experiences the uncertainties of becoming pregnant a second time. However, each setback or trouble gives her more impetus to continue reaching her goals.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Patrick A. Davy
• Release date: Mar 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215647196

Patrick A. Davy

PATRICK A. DAVY authors the books, The Little Big Thinkers: a Collection of Children's Stories, The Will to Win: ADemonstration of Love and Determination, and The Bitter-Sweet Search for a Father. He graduated from the State University of New York College at Oswego, The Writers Group, and Institute for Children's Literature. He lives on Long Island, New York, with his family.

Book preview

The will to Win

A Demonstration of Love and Determination

––––––––

Patrick A. Davy

––––––––

New York

Copyright © 2023 by Patrick A. Davy

If you purchase this book without the cover, you should be aware that this book might have been stolen property.

All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to real people (living or dead) is coincidental.

Updated Edition

Copyright © 2023 by Patrick A. Davy

Copyright © 2008 by Patrick A. Davy

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a newspaper, magazine, or journal.

––––––––

[e-mail]

For

Michele, Darnell, and Darren, who inspire me every day.

Preface

After several weeks of thinking about how much people’s lives can change because of their decisions, I wrote this book. One such person is a woman I will name Bonita Stickles.

Bonita’s tale is familiar since many women find themselves in her position. She decides nothing will deter her because she has the will to win. She wants a second child, but this time, it will be for the man she marries. She is racing against time because she is not getting younger. The young woman is determined to reach her goal. Her confidence is rooted in the fact that she knows who and what she wants.

Many obstacles get in her way in her pursuit of happiness. However, each challenge gives her the impetus to find other ways to keep moving forward. She refuses to let life’s failings distract her from pursuing what she wants.

This story recalls two types of people: goers and stoppers. The stoppers give up after failing to reach their goals on their first tries, while the goers keep going for what they want despite the obstacles that get in their way.

In Bonita’s case, the problems that threaten to halt or prevent the start of her family do not faze her. Those who can only imagine what Bonita is experiencing could learn to stay focused during adversity.

Therefore, this book aims to inspire and motivate people to refrain from giving up on what they wish to accomplish.

The First Date

––––––––

I’ll be twenty-two by the time I finish college next year, Bonita Stickles said. She spoke aloud one June morning in the Manhattan apartment she shared with her pastor father and missionary mother. I don’t know if there’ll be enough time to get married and start a family. A television program she watched the night before caused her to wonder if she would get to start a family soon. I had better look for a husband. They said the good ones are hard to come by.

She slid open her wardrobe. I feel like dressing up more than I used to, she thought while moving aside a cluster of ankle-length dresses. Her loose-fitting turtleneck blouses and sweaters had no more space between them on the closet rack.

Will I ever find the right person? She wondered while preparing for another day of college classes. She doused her jet-black hair with hairspray. Then she allowed the ends of the shiny locks to dangle near the center of her lower back. She squeezed and shoved the garments to make room in the overstuffed private space. The walk-in closet was big enough for her to circle her arms around the size thirty-eight outfits. She sends garments sliding to one side of the rail with one shove. When she finished searching the wardrobe, her hand clasped a dress she had never worn.

My classmates had teased me about my outdated clothes, she thought. I bet they couldn't say that about this dress.

Up to now, Bonita’s hopes of finding someone to marry were fantasies. I’ve different needs now, she said aloud. I’ve to start planning for my own family. She spoke while looking at herself in the vanity set mirror. Ma and Pa would never like seeing me wearing this. She twisted and turned the sleeveless clothes past her breasts – breasts that seemed as if they belonged in a broader chest. This is the closest color to what I’m wearing, she mumbled while reddening her fingernails. Let me see how I’m looking, she thought, heading for the hallway mirror.

Good Lord, I’ve never seen you in anything like this, her father said, stepping out of his bedroom.

Bonita brushed her face with a makeup pad as if she was trying to rub the dimples out of her cheeks. What I have on is today's style. She pretended her dad had asked her to explain why she was wearing the outfit she had on. She daubed her eyebrows with eye shadow while talking to her father.

But what people will think about seeing a pastor’s daughter dressing like this?

Pa, you don’t have to worry, I know what I’m doing.

But you’ll draw too much attention to yourself.

I hope he’s right and wish for the right person to notice me.

Bonita stepped back when her father moved his hand toward her head. Be careful, my hair’s still slightly damp from the spray.

Let us pray, the preacher said.

Bonita leaned forward to allow her father to place the palm of his hand on her forehead.

Lord shield and protect her, amen.

Amen, she repeated.

I don’t want you to get involved with the wrong person.

And who would be the incorrect person?

You should find somebody who’s in the church.

She paused when she heard an object stabbing the flooring tiles and coming toward her. Ma, she said, seeing her mother’s