We stand for justice
A thousand voices crying out
In
The night
Praying to God to lend sight
But even a thousand voices sound
Like a whisper
Echoing in the dark
Yet whispers are still spoken
And speech is heard
So just as one star
Penetrates the dark
Our shouted whispers will overtake
Silence
And the sun will break through
To consummate the day
Doing away with night
Once
And for all
This is America.
The land of diversity and freedom and change.
Change is good, but we’re seeing too much change. We’re seeing the kind of change that tears us down; eliminating the beautiful and weak in its wake.
The New York Capitol is a beautiful building, but its foundation was built on sand.
No, this is not a post of random musings.
We recently saw New York legalize abortion up to nine months as well as during delivery. People around me are applauding this new law, but I’m sick.
I’m sick and angry. Heartbroken, too.
If you've been wondering where I've been with my book, Redeemed on Tucker Street; well, here I am! I have finished the first great movement of the plot, and so I have been editing and polishing. I'm only about a quarter of the way done, but I like to work my longer writings in pieces. I also have added more of a preface and also a dedications page, since this work should definitely not be entirely credited to me!
CHAPTER EIGHT: A Beacon
I chewed on the corner of the pen in my hands and squinted at the print on the pink sheet of paper in front of me. My neat handwriting, filling the blanks on the page, showed signs of my trembling hand.
I sighed and got up.
Ding. Hesitatingly, I tapped the bell on the counter. The secretary’s smiling face appeared.
“All finished there?” At my nod, she went on. “Nicole will be with you shortly.” She smiled again.
“Ah, okay,” I stuttered, faintly.
CHAPTER SEVEN: Two Lines
Nervously, I rung up the single item I had chosen from the shelves at Walmart and hurriedly made my payment at the self-checks. The plastic bag rustled gratingly as I made a quick exit to my car.
The last few days had been torture. If only I knew for sure. If only I was brave enough to know for sure.
I didn’t talk to anyone. No one had to know about this, absolutely no one.
It took an eternity to get to Houston Community College that day. But there was no way I was going to risk doing what I needed to do at work.
Disclaimer: The author does not, by recording the actions of the main character, endorse the actions of said character, or any other character in this work.
CHAPTER SIX: A Student Again
You have been approved for the Federal Pell for the school year 2013-2014. Please access your student account to accept Federal Aid.
Allie Holmes. Track: LVN. Class of 2015. Houston Community College.
That felt good.
Hey, it might just be community college, just an LVN, and just an associates’ for now. But it was still nursing school. I was going to be a nurse.
CHAPTER FIVE: University
I sat on the bench, nervously. I clenched my sweaty palms, as if that would release some of the itchy tension in my veins. Rolling my eyes back slightly, I could see the entirety of the room, crowded with students. My fingers smoothed over my report card, though it was pressed to perfection.
Would the advisor say I was finished? Could I graduate this coming May?
If there was one thing about living alone I detested, it was the silence.
It was deafening.
There were days that I would turn on the air conditioner, just to hear it run. I mean, to be honest, one needs air conditioning almost year-round in Texas. That’s if you can afford it.
Mom had been missing. Six days.
It wasn’t exactly unusual. She would sometimes be gone, days at a time. Generally, she would call or something, but I had learned not to expect it.
I guess she had friends she would go out with. She would take a few days off work, and she would never stay home. She’d be in Houston, or close to the border, or whatever.
I’d honestly rather stay out of it.
In reality, Kenny’s name is Carlos.
Carlos Sandoval.
Not sure where I got started calling him Kenny. I guess I always did like the name, and it just fit. Kenny was short, sharp-featured, and pretty much the only reason I didn’t drop out of school the minute I turned sixteen.