The Breaking Point- Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Today was the big day, and I just lay in the bed dreading the events to come. I rolled over to take a peek at Chad in the next bed and he was still sound asleep. I crept out of the bed and went into the bathroom to wash my face. As I looked into the mirror, I said a quick prayer and asked God to please let this be a good thing, and to please protect me and my little brother. We hadn’t asked for much, so I didn’t think it was an unreasonable request to put in.

After I finished getting dressed, I woke Chad up and made him wash up and get dressed. Once we were both ready we went downstairs for breakfast. As we sat down at the table to eat, we received numerous glares from the other children, who were jealous that we had potential parents and they didn’t. I didn’t care.

We barely had a chance to finish our food, before Ms. Tinsley came in to let us know that the Epps’ had arrived. She led us to her office where they were waiting and as she ushered us in she said, “Mr. & Mrs. Epps, I would like you to meet Marion and Chad.”

“We are so happy to meet you, Marion and Chad,” said Mrs. Epps with a big smile on her face.

“Yes,” Mr. Epps chimed in, “we sure are pleased to meet you both.”

“Thank you,” I replied uneasily.

“Well, I will leave you all to talk and get to know each other better,” said Ms. Tinsley.

I took Chad’s hand and led him to the leather couch on the other side of the room and sat down. All four of us just sat uncomfortably, until finally I was unable to stand it any longer.

“Why do you want us?” I wanted to know.

“Well,” Mrs. Epps began, “We are not able to have children of our own and we have always wanted children to love. We have a great big house and no one to share it with.”

“Oh,” I said staring at the floor.

“Marion,” she began, “I can tell that you take very good care of your little brother.”

“Yes, I do.”

“You are both very lucky to have each other. We would love to have the chance to give you the life that you deserve,” she said, as she walked over and knelt down in front of us, “I know all about the loss of your parents and we just want to give you something in return for giving us a chance to share in your lives, “ she continued, as she hugged Chad and kissed his cheek.

That was the first of many lies to come, but hell, she had me convinced. In spite of myself I felt a flicker of hope ignite in my heart. I looked over at Chad and he was so enthralled in her words and promises that his little face just lit up. At that moment, I made up my mind to give them a chance.

We talked a little more and before we knew it Ms. Tinsley had returned to see what would become of our little meeting.

“So, how are we doing in here?” she asked.

“Fine, just fine. I think we’re going to have ourselves a little family,” said Mr. Epps happily.

“That’s wonderful,” said Ms. Tinsley, as she clapped her hands together, “Marion is that ok?”

“Yes,” I said.

And that was that. It took less than two weeks for the paperwork to get finalized and we were out of there. It was a little less than two months until my twelfth birthday in September and I felt very optimistic about my new future. Boy was I in for a rude awakening.

We moved in with the Epps’ in the middle of July. The first six weeks were more than I could have imagined they would be. First off, the house was a big colonial style brick home on the upper scale side of Detroit. I found out that Mr. Epps was a foreman at the Ford Motor plant, and Mrs. Epps was a domestic engineer (as she liked to call it; a house wife is what I liked to call it.) Apparently, Mr. Epps made more than enough to provide a comfortable living for the both of them.

Chad and I both got our own rooms, which were right across the hall from each other. That would take some getting used to because we had never slept in separate rooms before. Granted, it would be a nice change for me to have some privacy, but I knew it would take some time for him to get used to it.

Then, they took us shopping for school clothes at the K-Mart. You could have hit us in the head with a sack of nickels and we wouldn’t have noticed we were so happy. We had never been shopping for ourselves before for brand new clothes that were in style, or so we thought. All we ever got were Salvation Army hand-me-downs from our parents and state issued essentials at the orphanage.

After a full day of shopping, Chad and I were exhausted. It was late when we got home and Chad was getting sleepy. So, I went in his room to get him situated like I usually did when Mrs. Epps came in suddenly and bumped me aside, so that she could tuck Chad into bed.

“Alright now, baby, don’t you worry about anything. Mommy is here now and everything is ok,” she crooned, as she kissed him goodnight.

I wanted to cuss her out so bad, but instead I bit my tongue so hard that I almost bit it off. She was trippin- hard. I didn’t say a word, I just stood there fuming as I watched her cuddle my brother like he was a love-starved puppy.

After she was done, she got up and ushered me out of the room and into the hallway. Then once she closed the door, she turned to me with a smile on her face and said, “Marion, you don’t have to worry about tucking Chad in anymore. I’m his mother now and I can take care of all that, ok?”

“But…” I began.

“Good. Goodnight, sweetheart,” she said as she hugged me and then trotted off down the hall to her bedroom.

I just stood there and fumed. I was pissed and I wondered what the hell I had gotten myself into. My first thought was to grab Chad and get the hell out of there. I had been taking care of Chad all his life and I wasn’t about to turn that responsibility over to a complete stranger, who I was starting to suspect was just a little off her rocker. Then I calmed myself down and tried to think rationally.

“Maybe it’s not so bad…I’m too old to be tucking my brother in anyway,” I told myself, but I wasn’t really convinced.

And then again maybe I was really over reacting. I chose to go with that thought because I didn’t want to believe that I had made anything but a good decision for my brother and me to come here. So I pushed it out of my mind and went to sleep in my new bed. I would learn soon enough, that my first instinct was usually the correct one.

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The Breaking Point- Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"And so my story begins," Marion said.

When I was eleven years old, my brother Chad and I were sent to an orphanage after both of our parents were killed in a car accident. We didn't have any close relatives that were willing to take us in, and our parents moved around so much that they never had a chance to make any friends, who would be willing to step in and take on that type of responsibility. So off to the orphanage we went; it was as simple as that.

My brother was five at that time, and even before the time of my parents passing, he was my sunshine. I loved my brother more than life. We only had each other. Our parents were not the loving or doting parents that some children are lucky to be blessed with. My mother was, you may as well say, a harlot and my father was a flat out drunk. So, I ended up with the responsibility of taking care of my brother all of the time anyway, since they were always partying.

I would be the one to feed him, read him stories, and tuck him in at night. In his eyes our mother was just a figure who passed through to rest everyday. I was his Sissy.

The orphanage in and of itself wasn't really that bad. We ate three square meals a day and had a warm place to sleep at night. Other than the fact I had to whoop a little ass every now and then, to show the other girls that I wasn't just a pretty face, it was ok. Most days me and Chad would keep to ourselves and I would just do my best to keep him entertained.

Then it happened. The Epps' came into the picture and little did we know that our lives would take an unexpected turn for the worse.

Michael and Janelle Epps were not able to have children of their own, so they wanted to be foster parents. They were a great looking couple. He was well over six feet tall with a muscular build and she was about five-foot-seven with shoulder length brown hair.

When they walked in, the head mistress gave them a tour of the facility and all while they were walking through, Mr. Epps had his eye on me the whole time. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me and I tried not to pay him any attention but I was very uncomfortable all of a sudden, so I took Chad to our room to play a board game.

A week or so went by and the head mistress called me into her office and told me to have a seat. I sat down apprehensively, as she closed the door and I tried to figure out what she could possibly want with me. I tried very hard to be invisible because I figured if nobody noticed me, then they would just leave me and my brother alone.

"Marion, I have some very good news for you," she began and paused long enough for me to start squirming uncomfortably in my seat. "There is a nice couple that wants to take you in."

"Why...I mean, that's ok. I'm fine right here," I said nervously.

"Why, Marion, don't you want to have parents and a nice home to live in? I thought this would make you happy. Do you know how many kids in this place would love to have this opportunity?" she asked.

"No," I said, "and what about Chad? I ain't going nowhere without my brother."

"That goes without saying, Marion. They want to take you and your brother, and I apologize for not being clear about that," she said gently.

"I don't want to upset you, I thought you would be happy. Could we at least set up a meeting, and then you can make your decision from there. Ok?"

"I guess," I replied.

"Good. I'll set up a meeting for the day after next, how's that?" she asked.

"Fine, I guess," I said. I was very unsure of myself.

That night I couldn't sleep. I was torn between wanting a storybook family and not wanting to be disappointed. I already had parents and as far as I was concerned, I did just fine without any. At the same time, I wanted a mother for me, and a father for Chad. I could see myself going to the big shopping malls with a mom that lavished me with expensive gifts and a dad who would take Chad to little league games. I guess I owed it to him, to at least give it a shot.

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New Year's Gift

Hello Everyone,

For 2008, I have decided to give free previews each week for five chapters of The Breaking Point, As Told By the Other Woman, and my new novel Beautiful Rage which will be released in February. If you like what you read, please visit my website at www.black-smithenterprises.com and receive a 10% discount on your purchase and free shipping just for mentioning this blog! So for the next few weeks, sit back and enjoy!

The Breaking Point

PROLOGUE

"I.D. please", the security guard said dryly as she looked over my paper work.

I slid my driver's license and reporter I.D. through the glass opening, and proceeded through the metal detector. After making it through successfully without setting off the alarm, I was ushered to the holding cell so that I could be escorted into the visiting chambers.

I was on assignment at Wayne County Women's Correctional Facility to interview Marion Hayes, who was sentenced to life in prison after brutally murdering her husband. I had to admit that initially I was a little bitter at the fact I had been given this story, because to be honest, it seemed pretty mundane. But, for some reason the Woman's Lib Magazine, for which I was a reporter, just had to have the story. You hear about women offing their husbands all the time for infidelity and domestic abuse. But, the further I dug into this case, the more intriguing it became.

I was very anxious to get in there and start the interview. By the time I had finished going through all of the security procedures and was escorted into the visiting room, Marion was seated at the table with her hands in her lap.

There are no words to describe my astonishment when I beheld the woman sitting in front of me. Even in the prison issued blue jumper she wore, she was a stunningly beautiful woman. At just a glance, you could see that she was a woman of strength and pride just from her posture. Her face held a certain hardness that was very intimidating, and her eyes gleamed with wisdom of life experiences.

I took a deep breath as I approached the table and extended my hand to introduce myself.

"Ms. Hayes, I am Vanessa Jackson," I began, "and I am very pleased to meet you. I would also like to thank you for granting me this interview."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Jackson," she replied, as she lifted her hands slightly to acknowledge my gesture and to show that she was not able to shake my hand because chain linked handcuffs prevented her from doing so.

"Before we begin, I wanted to ask why you granted this interview to Woman's Lib after so long? They have been trying to get to you for a very long time,” I asked.

She looked earnestly at me and simply stated, "Well, sometimes you just need to get things off your chest, ya know?"

"Yes," I said, "I do know. Well, where shall we begin?" I asked, as I laid my tape recorder on the table.

"The beginning is always best," she responded sadly.

Till Death

Here is my latest tale of love, lust, and deception, Till Death! This story started out as a screenplay, which we will be shooting in the spring, but I thought that it would also go over well as a short story. So I invite you to come with me on a chapter by chapter look in to the lives of newlyweds Aaron and Kelly Corbin.

Chapter 1

"I'd like to make a toast," Brian shouted over the chatter of the slightly intoxicated wedding guests.
The night that they had all been waiting for had finally arrived. Aaron Corbin and Kelly Reddick were finally making it official. She was stunning in her traditional but not-so-traditional wedding dress, and he was every woman's fantasy as he stood in his tailor fitted tuxedo beaming at his new bride. Their new life together was going to be perfect.
Brian waited patiently for the noise to die down before continuing with the speech he had been practicing all week.
"I would like to raise a toast to my best friend, mentor... my brother Aaron and his beautiful wife, Kelly. May God smile upon your marriage and grant you many blessings. He couldn't have brought two more perfect people together. May all your days be happy and all your kids look like Kelly, cuz man, you are one ugly mother fu...,"
"Brian!" Chantel yelled.
"Oh," Brian laughed, "my bad, Mrs. C! Anyway, congratulations, man. I love you."
The audience applauded uncertainly, as they looked around at each other. The band broke out into jazz rendition of "Ribbon in the Sky" to ease the tension, and Aaron shot Brian a look of warning as he made his way to Kelly's side.
"May I have this dance?" he asked kissing her hand softly.
"But of course," she responded gliding gracefully into his arms.
"So how does it feel to officially be 'Mrs. Aaron Corbin'?" he whispered in her ear.
"I've been waiting for this day for a very long time," she responded with a smile.
"You ready to blow this popsicle stand and start our honeymoon?"
"I thought you'd never ask. Let's say our goodbyes first and then we'll go."
"Ok."
Taking Aaron by the hand like the social princess that she was, Kelly took the lead as they worked the room and said their goodbyes. When they finally made it into the limousine, Kelly slid into Aaron’s arms and kissed him deeply.
“I love you, Aaron Corbin, and this is the happiest day of my life,” she said.
He smiled back at her and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. Just as he opened his mouth to say the words that he knew she was waiting to hear, the blare of his cell phone cut him off. A guilty look crept across his fax as he reached into his lapel to grab the phone and check the display.
“I’m sorry baby, I have to take this call,” he apologized.
Before Aaron could connect the call, Kelly swiftly snatched the phone out of his hand, disconnected the battery, and threw the handset and battery in opposite directions.
“Wait a minute!” Aaron yelled.
“Wait my ass!” Kelly retorted, “This is our wedding night and I want your undivided attention. You promised me that you would not conduct any business until we got back from our honeymoon, and I’m holding you to that!”
“Ok, ok,” he laughed, “a promise is a promise. So, what are you going to do to keep me busy in the meantime?”
“Oh…you ain’t said nothing but a word,” she replied seductively, as she slid into his lap and began to do all the things that once again confirm for him that this was indeed the woman that was destined to be his wife.

Domestic Violence; Is there ever an excuse?

In my book "The Breaking Point" I touch on the subject of domestic violence in a scenario where the wife murders her husband. In this particular story, the husband was not abusive which is normally the case. After writing the fiction story "The Breaking Point", I did a little research on women in prison and found that an alarming amount of them are there due to crimes of passion, and more alarmingly the majority of the inmates are African-American. I found that to be very sad. Women as a people tend to be very emotional beings, we are also very strong in the way that we love hard and will go to any lengths to protect (or in some instances keep) the ones that we love. We will often stay in unhealthy relationships because we believe if we hang in there and love just a little harder then things will change or get better. Unfortunately, that better day rarely ever comes and then that's when bad things start to happen. At one of my booksignings, I met a young woman who told me about her friend that was incarcerated for murdering her husband. Intrigued, I asked her why her friend murdered her husband. The story was that the husband had been abusing her for many years and she would not leave for fear that he would kill her and her children. Then one day, the woman's pregnant sister was over visiting when he began asaulting her. The sister tried to break it up and the man then turned on her. In effort to protect her pregnant sister, the young woman stabbed her husband and killed him. She was sentenced to fifteen years in prison. Was that a justifiable sentence for the crime? Should one penalty fit every crime or should the circumstances evaluated case by case? What do you think?

The Mind of a Killer...what lies beneath?

My name is Janaya Black and I have started a series called the "Prison Chronicles" that takes a deep look into the life stories of 3 different women in the same prison, to see what drove them to the various extremes that landed them in prison.

In my first book, The Breaking Point, I wrote about Marion Hayes who was imprisoned for murdering her loving husband and childhood sweetheart. This story is not the typical illustration of a battered woman who woke up one morning and decided that she wasn't going to take it anymore. It is more of a tale that illustrates how someone who is continuously beaten down by life and all of its unforeseen circumstances can endure, and then in the heat of a moment one thing can drive them over the edge past the point of return. It is a sad and relentless story of a woman who has the best of intentions but just can never seem to get ahead.

My second book, As Told By the Other Woman, tells the story of a young girl name Timberlynn Crawford, a young woman who unknowingly gets involved with a married man and ends up murdering his wife. This story is another example of how people can get caught up in emotional situations that drive them to violent extremes.

Why did I choose to go this route with my debut series? I often find myself wondering why and how people can commit the horrific atrocities that we see on the news everyday, so in order to derive some sort of understanding of what I saw I began to write stories of fictional people to bring myself some sort of insight as to what might drive an individual to murder.

So...with that said, I invite you to journey with me into the depths of my mind to find out what I will come up with next! For those who know my work...there is a lot more to look forward to. And for those who don't know my work, please check me out...I promise you won't be disappointed.

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