2nd Book Sequel

Review a snippet from the next book in the Boogalou series!

I turned around and ran out of the office because of the explosion of tears that was about to come out of my eyes. I didn’t want to have to have to tell the recruiter anything related to what I just discovered about my “family.”

The recruiter yelled out, “Shelene! Come back please! Talk to me!” I just acted like I did not hear him and ran across the street to go into the train station. Luckily, the train was crossing the tracks. That meant I would have an excuse for him when he asked me why I did not respond to him when he called out to me.

When I got to the platform, I walked to the end where nobody was standing and the tears started to come out hard and strong. I refused to make a sound. The more I wiped my tears, the more they came. I heard my train arrive so I said to myself, These tears have to stop. I had to act like nothing was happening to me. Oh God, please make me stop crying. When I got on the train, I was lucky that I was on one end of the train and the only other person was on the opposite side. That meant I had time to get myself together. I did not want to go home. There were so many thoughts going through my mind. Is my home really my home? She’s not my mother so that means that my sisters are not my sisters…My cousins aren’t even my cousins anymore…It hurt me to the core. I felt like I had a knife in my heart. I didn’t know where to go and I didn’t know what to do. I felt like shit and I am pretty sure I looked like it too. If she’s not my mother, who the fuck is? I was starting to get mad. I couldn’t even think straight and I didn’t know who I could talk to. It was not good at all. Then something hit me. I remembered when that woman came to my house – the one my mother got into a Tug of War with (just in case you forgot from book one – I was the rope in that match). The only other person on the train got off at the next stop so I was now on the train alone. Once the doors closed, I yelled at the top of my lungs, “Why do I keep saying ‘my mother’? She’s not my mother!!!” I really felt like dying. I had to keep telling myself, I’m stronger than this. You have a life ahead of you and you have to get through this. My stop was next but I did not feel like getting off of the train. I can’t face that family…this lie.

I didn’t get off of the train because I had to think some more. I don’t even know how to feel at this point. I have so many questions and I don’t know where to start. Do my aunts and uncles know? Well, I know my aunt in Long Island knows (she spilled the beans to Michelle some time ago). All of the shit I refused to acknowledge was coming back to me at rapid speed. I got off of the train at the 3rd Avenue – 149th Street stop. I decided to get off there and walk “home” to 179th Street.

I hadn’t eaten all day but hunger wasn’t important to me. I just kept walking. I finally made it to 177th Street and Boston Road. I was two blocks from “my house” but I was not going there. I decided to go to Ceecee’s house instead. I didn’t want to see Ceecee. I wanted to see her mother, Santa. She was gifted with foresight but that is not what I wanted to see her for right now. I just wanted a hug and support. I knew she would provide just that. I couldn’t go “home” right now and face my “sisters” and that woman who raised me.

I got to Ceecee’s building and took the elevator to the 10th floor. I prayed that Santa would be home. ‘Ding Dong, Ding Dong, Ding Dong’. It took me a second to pray for her to answer the door. Luckily, my prayers were answered. I heard her walking to the door and then I saw her eye look through the peep hole.

“Who is it?” Before I said my name, she had already opened the door for me to come in. “Hi, Shelene – so good to see my second daughter.”

I walked in and she closed the door. I then hugged her and she hugged me back with a feeling I was longing for. It was the most comforting hug back. Before I knew it, I had burst into tears. “Let it out baby, I feel your pain.” While she spoke, she rubbed by back with tenderness. I wanted to stay like that forever. I can’t even say how long we stood there. She eventually walked me back to her bedroom and she told me to lay in her bed while she sat in her favorite chair next to it. She did not force me to tell her what happened to me. She was patient and sat quietly until I was ready to speak. She then reached for my hand. That is when I began to tell her what happened to me earlier. She then got in the bed to comfort and console me.

“You know, Santa…I wish you was my mother. I feel like I don’t belong in that family anymore. I can’t bring myself to go back into that house.” She hugged me again.

“Shelene, you and I know you have to go back. Right, Baby?”

“I know, Santa. I feel drained.”

She got up from the bed. “Hand me that phone over there.” I stood up and walked to get the phone from her nightstand on the other side of the bed. When I walked back to give her the phone, she said “I’m going to call your mother and tell her you will be staying with me tonight. Okay?”

More tears came out of my eyes. “Thank you, Santa.”

“You don’t have to thank me at all.”

I went to sit on her lap, hug her, and tell her how much I loved her. She dialed the number to my house. “Hello Rayray. How are you?... Yeah, she’s over here…No, I think she should stay here tonight. Is that okay? …Yeah, give her some time…Yeah, no problem. She will come tomorrow…Thanks…She needs time and you know she will be okay over here…No problem…Talk to you tomorrow. Bye, love.”

I was just sitting there while Santa spoke to her. I did not want to go home to talk. After she finished speaking to “my mother,” she got up and sat by me. She then took my hands into hers. “Okay, it’s set. You’re staying with me tonight. You want some coffee and warm bread with butter?”

Hearing her ask that made me a little happy. It was a small comfort and you know how much I love Santa’s coffee…

To be continued!