Black Reign Saga

by Edd McNair

Genres: African American; African American Urban

Synopsis

A small-time thug with big dreams, Black sees crack cocaine as his way out of the Virginia housing projects where he grew up. Along with his cousin Lo, Black works side by side with hustlers and killers. It's not long before they're thrown into situations way beyond their control, and their family bonds are thoroughly tested. Angela grew up in a conservative upper-class neighborhood, so her experience with the streets is almost nonexistent. When she goes away to Hampton University, her beauty and sex appeal bring her plenty of attention, and she gets an education in things she never expected to experience. When Angela and Black cross paths, their lives are turned around once again. This is a love affair that should never happen, but sometimes things are just too good to resist. Author Edd McNair takes readers on a roller-coaster ride. The plot twists and turns, giving readers a look at the hood from the inside like they've never seen it before.

Release date: June 26, 2012

Publisher: Urban Books

Print pages: 448

Sample

“Hurry up, Angah,” Angela’s little brother yelled, unable to pronounce her name. “Mommy said, ‘Hurry up now.’” He tried to annoy her.

“Shut up, boy. I’m glad I’m graduating today, so I can get the hell out of here.”

“You’re not out of here yet, so I would watch my mouth if I were you,” her mother replied from down the stairs, surprising Angela, who thought she was outside by the car.

Angela had been the only child up to five years ago. Her parents had divorced when she was ten. Her father, a licensed electrician, had provided a comfortable life for her and her mother. Her mother got pregnant with her in high school, which made things difficult, but with the help of grandparents, she was still able to attend Old Dominion University and receive her nursing degree.

Together they worked hard to move themselves into Virginia Beach’s only upper-class, all-black neighborhood, L & J Gardens, where they purchased their first two-story, three-bedroom, contemporary-style home. They felt at the time that being around other black folks who had what they had was going to classify them as “better” black folks.

As her mother left for Leigh Memorial every morning and her father for whatever he did, Angela thought to herself, They have the perfect marriage. Until one day she came home and all her father’s things were gone. He realized that family life wasn’t for him—five years after the fact—but kept on paying the mortgage, so her mother never asked for anything else.

Angela resented him for a long time, but now she was older and had learned to look at the situation from another angle. Her mother and father argued all the time, and many times she could see why her father left, but didn’t dare say that to her moms. Her father always kept in touch, and she spent summers with him in Beltsville, Maryland.

After two years of being alone and trying the dating scene, Angela’s mother met Dr. Statton, or Ken, which he told her to call him. Ken didn’t look as good as Angela’s father, but he treated her mother well. Angela remembers the trips and the long weekends Ken and her moms would take. (She would be left at her grandparent’s house.)

It wasn’t long before Angela’s mother was pregnant with her little brother. They never married, but Ken was always in the picture. Angela admired the way Ken treated her mother and promised that any man she would even consider marrying would have to do the same.

As they traveled to her graduation, Angela was so excited about starting college in the fall, and that her parents had agreed to give her a hand if she got her own place closer to campus. If they didn’t, she was going to stay on campus—no way in hell was she going to stay home and have her moms all up in her business. Most of her friends would be going to school out of state, but she and her best friend, Monica, had decided to go to Hampton University.

When they arrived at graduation, Monica was waiting for her at the door. The girls took off so they could get with their classmates. Angela was talking to Monica when someone grabbed her from behind. She turned around to see her boyfriend Ray standing there.

“You still goin’ to Allen pool party after graduation? His parents suppose to be out of town, so it got to be the hype shit.” Ray shook his head to confirm that what he was saying was the truth.

Angela looked at Monica. “Monica, are we going to Allen party?”

“Yeah, but we goin’ to get there later on because we got to stop at Ski shit first—he havin’ his party out Lake Edward at the clubhouse. And you know how them LE niggas roll.” Monica gave Angela a high five, knowing it would irk Ray. “Heah, Ray,” Monica said, “you comin’ to Ski party?”

“I don’t know—I ain’t for the bullshit tonight. I’ll probably just see y’all at Allen house later. That Lake Edward shit probably end early anyway . . . guaranteed.”

Ray grew up in Wesleyan Chase, not too far from L & J Gardens, but just down the street from Lake Edward apartments, which was known for drugs, violence, and other illegal activities. Ray hadn’t planned on going to college. Actually he never cared too much for school; he knew he was going to work for his dad and one day take over the business, Decker and Sons Plumbing.

Ray stood about five foot ten and weighed about 210 pounds solid, which kept him destroying kids on the wrestling mat. He ultimately became captain of the wrestling team and two-time state champion contender. Ray had been with Angela since the summer before their junior year. He was popular among his peers and somebody the young ladies would kill to be with, but he knew Angela was no one to give any space to. Any man would gladly scoop her up with the quickness. Her dazzling light-brown eyes, smooth golden-brown skin, full and beautifully shaped lips, perfectly shaped ass that stunned men, no matter what she wore, all packed in a size eight frame with well-proportioned breasts. When the bra fell, the breasts didn’t; they stood up and begged for attention. She was set off with a short Halle Berry cut, which made her an extraordinary package.

To top it off, she carried a 4.0 GPA. Even though there were equally attractive girls at Bayside H.S., Angela was the only girl for him. He loved her more than anything, and if it went his way, right after she finished school, they would be married.

As Angela sat in the stands listening to her principal speak, she realized the day she never thought would come was here. She had everything planned; this summer she would work full-time as a receptionist. She had been there since the beginning of her senior year and really enjoyed it. Her and Monica were going to sign their lease at their new condo on the first of July, and then she’d be considered grown. The graduation class standing brought her back to reality as she heard the words, “Congratulations, class of 1996.”

As they strolled out the stands, she made her way over to her father. She knew he would come. He never had anymore kids, and he always let her know that even though he was in Maryland and she in Virginia, she was the most important thing in his life. And he did a great job showing it, even if he wasn’t local.

“Congratulations, baby girl,” her father said as they embraced.

“Heah, Daddy.” Angela smiled a wide smile, one that you could only get when in daddy’s arms.

“Just because you out of school, don’t mean shit—you ain’t grown, goddamn!”

“Shut up, James,” Lenore said. “I’m happy for you, love. Don’t pay your dad any attention.”

Lenore was from Washington, DC. Angela’s father had met her about five years ago, and they had been living together about four years. In the beginning Angela didn’t care too much for Lenore, but her father begged her to give her a chance—Angela’s problem was that her father was almost forty and Lenore was twenty-eight. By the end of the summer, they were the best of friends.

Lenore was stern like her mother . . . except, hanging out with Lenore was fun. She was beautiful and, at the same time, fly as hell. She was a cosmetologist and had been doing hair since the tender age of twelve. By the time she was twenty, she had landed a job at one of the top salons in the Northern Virginia/DC area. Her appearance was always together—hair perfect, eyebrows arched, makeup applied as if it was professionally done, and a body to kill for. Over the years, Angela started to admire Lenore’s style and wanted to be more like her than her mother.

Angela’s mother never noticed that she was turning into a woman. She didn’t want her to wear makeup, she wouldn’t let her arch her eyebrows, and the thought of getting nails was totally out of the question. Angela always wore her hair long since she was a young girl, something her mother took great pride in. But last summer when she was in Maryland, Lenore was wearing a short cut that made her jealous. Angela cut hers in the same style without thinking twice. When she got back home, her mother was pissed, and she remembered her mom and dad on the phone arguing for what seemed like hours. Her mom promised her father that Angela would never spend another summer in Maryland again. Her father laughed, knowing this was the last summer before Angela graduated, and her mother wouldn’t have shit else to say about that situation.

“So what you doin’ tonight?” Lenore handed Angela a card.

“Me and Monica goin’ to a couple parties, that’s it.” Angela responded as if it was nothing.

“Be safe, and no drinking and driving out here,” Lenore said.

“Here come your grandparents, baby. We’ll be here until Sunday at the Sheraton Downtown Waterside. The room is under my name. Call me.” James leaned over and kissed his daughter again.

“Hello, James,” her grandparents said.

“Hello.” James turned to Angela. “Call me,” he said as he strolled off.

Angela’s mother came up and hugged her. She held her face, looked into her eyes, and told her how proud she was and from here on nothing could hold her back. Her eyes began to water. “Don’t cry, Ma,” Angela said, trying not to get emotional.

“Baby, we’re all just so proud of you,” her grandmother said.

Just then, Dr. Statton walked up, holding her little brother. “Congratulations, love,” he said, hugging her.

Angela reached up and hugged him real tight. Even though he had never married her mother, he had been there through some tough times. Through her teenage years, many times she felt her mother didn’t understand what she was going through, but Dr. Statton did, and he would come to her rescue. Many nights when her mother worked, Dr. Statton would be at the house to cook, clean, and take care of her and her brother. She referred to him as her step-dad to her friends, and even though he never told her, he was like putty in her hands. He couldn’t love her anymore if she was his own.

“Thank you, Ken.”

“I forgot your gift, but you’ll get it tomorrow. And just because you out of school, don’t forget your curfew.”

“Ken,” Angela said in a whining voice.

“Okay”—he smiled—“you have an extra hour.”

Angela smiled and her mother just stared. They all began walking to the car when Monica and Ray came up, “Hello, Ms. Wood, Dr. Statton,” Ray said.

“Hello, Raymond,” her mother replied.

“Girl, what you gonna do?” Monica asked.

“Ain’t nothin’ change. I’ll be at the house waiting on you. Don’t you have to change?”

“Yeah, I was just asking. I’ll see you in a few.” Monica said, and she and Ray walked off.

Angela was trying to figure out what to wear. She didn’t know if she was going to swim or what. She called Monica to see what was up. “Heah, what you puttin’ on?”

“Shorts and a T-shirt,” Monica said. “Bitches might be tryin’ to act up tonight, and I ain’t for it.”

“I’ll throw my suit on under my other shit.”

“Just hurry the fuck up, girl. I’ll see you in five.” Angela pulled her white, two-piece body glove swimsuit out her drawer along with her sleeveless button-down that tied in the front. It was a little wrinkled, but she knew it would come off as soon as she got up the street. She twisted into her new Levi shorts, stepped back and looked into the mirror at how the jeans fit real snug on her phat ass, and let out a satisfying smile.

Just then the door to her room flew open. “Hurry up, bitch, we got some stops to make.”

“Where?” Angela reached into her closet for her new white Reebok Classics.

“You’ll see, come on.”

Angela loved her buddy, but she knew at times she had to calm her down. She and Monica had been friends since grade school. (Monica’s parents were killed in an accident when she was seven, leaving her and her brother of nine to be raised by her grandparents, who lived in L & J Gardens. Soon after, she met Angela, and they’ve been hanging ever since.)

“Girl, you know them shorts screamin’,” Monica said.

“They’ll make the niggas scream more. And look at your shit.”

“Shut your mouth—I’m grown now.”

They both began to laugh.

Angela was fine and she knew it, but Monica was no slouch. Monica was light skinned and stood a little taller than Angela at about five foot five”. Her ass wasn’t as phat as Angela’s, but it stuck out farther. Her breasts were bigger, with large nipples that usually poked through her blouse. When she was younger, it bothered her; now it was an attention-getter, and she knew how to handle it. She would always catch guys staring right at them. Her hair, lightened almost to a gold to complement her complexion, hung down on her shoulders, with little spiral curls all over. She wasn’t conceited but she knew that her narrow nose, small lips, high cheekbones, slanted eyes, and grey pupils that changed colors with the sun would fuck any nigga’s head up.

Monica and Angela jumped in the car, headed to Ski’s party. Before they could hit Baker Road, they had their shirts off and had thrown them in the back seat.

“Where do we have to stop?” Angela asked.

“Goin’ out St. Croix and see what Fat Joe and Rome up to. They told me to stop by. Rome said I could come by—if I brought you.”

“See, you tryin’ to start somethin’. Suppose somebody else is over there and go to Allen party and tell Ray. Then I’m in some shit, and God knows I’m not tryin’ to lose my man, Monica.”

“It ain’t even like that. We just goin’ over there and smoke their weed, and then we out.”

“You know Ski got weed—fuck them niggas. You just want to see Joe fat ass. I don’t see what you see in him anyway.”

“He’s not bad lookin’—he got good hair, he dress his ass off, and he keeps weed.”

“His momma keep weed,” Angela said, correcting her.

“Don’t matter. She don’t care. And plus, he’s sweet.”

“Why you fuck that fat muthafucka anyway?”

“Because we friends like that, and he never runs his mouth. We’ve been friends like that since eleventh grade. I was going over there everyday after school smoking weed, and he would always hint around. Then one day I was playing with him, and he just started licking my pussy, girl, and I was hooked. He’s not a bad lover. Better try you a fat, muthafuckin’-ass nigga.”

“It’s all right; I’ll leave them to you. What about Quinn?” Angela asked.

“That’s my baby. But by him livin’ in Petersburg attendin’ Virginia State, that long-distance shit gets hard, and Fat Joe is cool . . . my fat man.” They both burst out laughing.

Monica had been with her share of guys; she was what some people would consider fast. She had gone to private school up to the ninth grade, but when she got to Bayside, she got wide open. By her junior year, she had calmed down and decided to only be with Quinn. Fat Joe was just her friend then.

Angela, on the other hand, had lost her virginity at fourteen to Monica’s brother. (He was real light like Monica and had grey eyes. Girls were always crazy about him.) One weekend she stayed with Monica. He came in their room and, with their grandmother in the next room, took her virginity. She remembers the first couple times it hurt, but as it became more frequent she came to enjoy it. When Angela realized that she was just a toy to him, she stopped giving in to his secret pleasures.

She then started talking to Ski, well known and real popular, not only at Bayside, but also throughout the Tidewater area. Ski was the highschool starting running back and was shown many Friday nights on the news, scoring touchdowns and doing interviews. He held city records in track and was what people considered a track star. Not even a month into their relationship, he had girls from Green Run, Norview, and Booker T. all wanting to fight her over him. She got tired of fighting bitches for no reason, so she let him go and vowed she would never talk to any one like him again.

Then Ray came along. Very popular amongst the students at Bayside because of his wrestling skills and his muscular body; he was laid back and quiet. He was never about trouble but could hold his own. He was so sweet to her, always having sweet things to say, giving her rides to and from school when Monica didn’t. They just clicked from the beginning and it’s been love ever since. Angela had no real desire to be with any other guy. Ray was her love; the only love she would ever need.

“Look, girl, there’s Dirt-Dirt car,” Angela said.

“He fixed his little Escort up.” Monica laughed. “I bet you anything Tammy and Ki over here.”

“Shit, I know them bitches here. There’s their momma car over there. Goddamn, girl,” Angela said all excited, as if she was about to jump out her seat, “whose burgundy Lexus with the thirty-day tags?”

“Girl, that’s Rome shit.”

“He traded in the Honda? What he doin’?” Angela asked.

“Naw, he gettin’ it fixed; it’s in the shop. You know he be drivin’ his brother cars.”

“Who’s his brother?”

“Bo,” Monica answered.

Angela got out the car. “Who the hell is Bo?”

“You remember our sophomore year when they had that big drug bust, and those Lake Edward niggas got caught up?”

Angela gave Monica a dazed look.

“Remember that sports bar that was up by the Food Lion where all those hustlers use to hang out?”

“Yeah,” Angela said, “we were like fifteen, sixteen years old.”

“Well, the head nigga name was Black. I never met him, I just heard about him. But you know Lo from out Lake Edward, right?”

Angela asked, “Didn’t he get like fifteen years or somethin’?”

“Yeah, that’s him, but word is, he suppose to be comin’ home soon and shit will hit the fan. They say that when they got busted, Bo told everything to save his own ass and didn’t do six months. Bo use to run hand in hand with them, and after shit went down, Bo hit the street and kept his own shit goin’. That’s why he gettin’ it now.”

“Shit, he ain’t doin’ all that,” Angela said, “because my cousin Quandra use to fuck with Lo, and she said that nigga was rich. I mean a-new-car-every-six-months rich.”

“Well, he makin’ money and he looks out for Rome. That’s why Rome always dressed his ass off.”

“You like that Lexus though, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do.” Angela knocked on the door.

Fat Joe answered the door with a blunt in his hand. The house had about ten people inside, and the room was full of smoke.

“Where’s your moms?” Monica asked.

“She had to work all night; it’s my spot tonight. Why? What’s up?”

“Nothin’, fool.” Monica made her way through the crowd and to the couch.

“Wannabe, hood rats in this bitch,” Rome yelled.

“If they ain’t fuckin’, tell them to carry they ass home,” Dirt-Dirt yelled. “Talk to me, Rome.”

Rome grabbed his dick. “All these bitches know my steez, son.”

“Why y’all so fuckin’ nasty?” Monica asked.

“I wa’n’ talkin’ to you; she know who I’m screamin’ at.”

Angela said, “I ain’t playin’ with you, Rome.”

“I ain’t playin’.”

“Leave her alone, Rome,” Fat Joe said, “before I call Ray around this bitch.”

Rome jumped up. “Ray who? Must mean Ray Mercer, the heavyweight nigga . . . because that’s who you’ll need to pull me out his ass.”

Everyone started laughing.

“Niggas must not know where the fuck I’m from.” Rome gave the crowd the LE holler, and everyone responded. Then he sat, passed Angela the blunt, and slid closer to her. “So you goin’ to Hampton, huh?”

“Yeah, everything already set.”

“I’ll be over there with you.”

“For real?” Angela was excited. Just the thought of somebody else from school going over there made her feel good.

“I got to go; all the bitches over there. I’m goin’ hang with you and Monica and fuck all your friends.”

“You got problems, boy,” Angela said to Rome.

“You ain’t goin’ look out, Angela?”

“Hell no, that’s fuckin’ triflin’.”

“I’m goin’ look out, Rome.” Monica got up and gave him a pound. “Put you in there with all those stupid-ass hoes. Now pass that L.”

“I heard that. See, Monica my girl; Angela be on some bullshit.”

They sat around drinking, smoking trees, and listening to the latest sounds being played by the 103 JAMZ. After talking about anybody and everybody—who didn’t graduate or who wasn’t going to college—Fat Joe finally realized the time and thought it was time to burst, so he began to clean up.

Everybody headed out the door except for Monica and Angela. Knowing how his mother was, they didn’t want him to catch hell later on. She didn’t mind the drinking, smoking, or the company, as long as her shit was clean when she came home.

Rome came back through the door. “Last chance, Angela—What’s up?” He threw his hands up.

“I’m okay, Rome.” Angela smiled. “Thanks anyway.”

Rome picked up his keys off the table. “Rollin’ with me, Fats, or you drivin’?”

“I’m rollin’ in the Lex, muthafucka. What the hell I look like? I want to shine for the bitches a little bit too.” Fats held the door for them to get out.

They arrived at the clubhouse about eleven o’clock. It was packed inside and out, young ‘uns all up and down Lake Edward Drive, hanging in the streets, acting up. Monica and Angela parked the car and headed to the clubhouse.

The kid at the door had a stern look. “Five dollars a head for everybody—no exceptions.”

“Tell Ski Angela out here, fool,” Monica said, knowing Ski would look out for Angela.

Ski came to the door. “Monica, your charge is a hug.” Ski reached out and hugged her real rough, in a playful manner. “Angela, your charge is a big-ass hug and at least one dance. Slow dance. One where I can get my freak on.” He pulled her real close and tight, and hugged her, then let out a satisfying smile.

“We’ll see. You know what’s up” Angela said.

“Ray my man; he won’t mind.” Ski led them into the party.

They weren’t in the party twenty minutes before Angela was ready to go. When she wasn’t high, she didn’t worry too much, but as soon as she got her smoke on, she became very observant and eventually paranoid if not in a calm environment. (She first tried weed her sophomore year and realized she liked the feeling of being high. She found herself giggling and smiling about everything—that’s how her mother and Ken would know she’d been smoking.)

She went and found Monica who was in the corner smoking with Fat Joe and Rome, and gave her a look to let her know she was ready to go. Monica didn’t mind because she was anxious to see who was at Allen’s party anyway.

By the time she arrived at Allen’s party she knew her time was limited. Allen’s party she could enjoy—it was laid back and she knew nothing was going to kick off unexpected. Angela enjoyed hanging with the other crowd, but at times they could really get out of hand. Their idea of a good party was only if the party ended with niggas fighting or a little gunplay.

Allen’s parents lived in Church Point, an exclusive neighborhood not too far from the high school they all attended. His father was an electrical engineer, and his mother was an architect. Together they made his life quite comfortable in their eight-hundred-thousand-dollar home. They allowed him to have his pool party, but he was warned that it could not get out of hand under any circumstances.

When Monica and Angela walked in the back, all eyes fell on them. They looked extremely sexy in their shorts and bathing suit tops. All their classmates came up and started mingling, except for those in the pool. Before she realized Ray was behind her, he scooped her up and took her to the edge of the pool like he was going to throw her in. She begged him not to drop her, but she saw in his eyes that it was about to happen and changed her tactics. Instead of trying to resist, she reached out and hugged him, and in a soft whisper said, “Please let me take off these shorts and sneakers and I’ll get in with you.”

He agreed instantly. “You promise?”

Nothing and no one was as sexy as his girl to him. He watched her as she walked over and took off her shorts and sneakers. He gently took her hand and guided her into the pool with him. His day was going well. If she hadn’t showed up, it would have devastated him.

“What took y’all so long?”

She looked into his eyes. She loved when he expressed himself and asked her questions, like what she did was so important. She stood there as he held her, splashing water. She felt like a child having the time of her life.

After spending a half hour in the pool playing around, he eased up behind her. “Can we go?” he asked softly in her ear. “I know you have to be home soon and I just want some private time with my girl. Just you and me.”

“Yes,” she said smiling. She was really ready to go when he first picked her up. She felt her body aching for his touch, and all she wanted was to lay down, enjoy her high, and let him have his way.

“Heah, Monica,” Angela yelled, “I’m gettin’ outta here. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Angela sat in the car thinking, while Ray went inside the Cricket Inn to get a room. Why would he pay for a room and I only had a little over an hour to be home?

He jumped in the car all smiles. “I know we don’t have much time, but I didn’t want to go somewhere and sneak like we’ve done so many times before. I want to take my time and enjoy you.”

She sat excited like a child, feeling good about what he was feeling. They went inside the room. Without hesitation they began to undress slowly, looking at each other as if not to be the first to undress.

They climbed into bed. He began kissing her as if there was no tomorrow. She was overwhelmed and responded immediately. He lifted up, put on a condom, and positioned himself between her legs. She lay back, stared into his eyes, and lifted her legs up and back to accept him. He slowly eased his way inside of her and felt the moistness from her body—it quickly let him know that he wasn’t going to last long.

She laid there not moving, just holding him tight as he bucked hard and fast like the young stud he was. She was starting to feel so good when she felt his body tense up and began to jolt. She tried to hold him, but he jumped up and hurried to the shower.

She was enjoying herself so much. She wanted him in her arms, to make love to her again. She got out of bed and went inside the bathroom figuring she would get in the shower and get him excited again. She pulled back the shower curtain and noticed his masculine body dripping with soap and water. She looked down at his thick, short penis swinging. Just moments ago it stood up, stiff as a board. She climbed in and stood behind him. She rubbed his back, then his chest. As she reached down to touch his penis, he turned around, rinsed the soap off his back, gave her a kiss, and jumped out. She stood there letting the shower drown her frustrations. She wanted him so bad, and he was done. When Angela finished showering, Ray took her home.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said.

“In the evening, I got to help my father with something early. I’ll call you when I finish, okay. I love you, Angela.”

She pushed the car door open. He grabbed her arm, leaned over, and gave her a kiss. Again she was smiling inside.

The following morning Angela woke up to the smell of breakfast cooking. It wasn’t too often her mom got up before eleven on Saturday. Why was today special?

She wiped the cold from her eyes as she strolled to the kitchen. “Ma, why you up so early?”

“It’s nine and it’s not early. And I’m not your mother,” Ken said. “I’m making breakfast. I need just a few more minutes. So if you get showered and dressed, we’ll go shopping before anyone else gets up.”

Shopping was all she needed to hear. Within minutes she had showered and was coming out the room.

Her family was sitting at the kitchen table, eating. She sat down and joined them. As she ate, she wondered if Ken was still going to take her shopping.

Her mother handed her a card. “Look, here is your graduation gift from Ken and I.”

“Will you get my checkbook out my car right quick for me, Angela,” Ken said. “I’ll write you a check, but I’m not going to have time to go to the mall; you may have to call Monica.”

“If I had my own car I wouldn’t have to call nobody.”

Angela opened the door and let out a scream. Ken stood there with the keys to a brand-new ’96 Jetta. Angela knew this was Dr. Statton’s doing. After looking in the car, around the car, she stood back and smiled as she opened her card. Five crispy hundred-dollar bills fell out. She ran over and gave Ken the biggest hug he had ever gotten. “Thank you, Ken. Thank you, Mom. I love you guys so much.” Angela’s eyes filled with tears of joy.

Ken felt so good to be able to give her something, and for her to appreciate it like she did . . . “Listen to me, Angela, we bought you this car so you can get to work and back and forth to school—that was our sole purpose. The payments are three hundred and sixty-eight dollars a month, the insurance is seventy-seven dollars a month. Can you afford that and the rent you’re about to get into?”

“I can now, if I’m full-time, but not when school start.”

“You work for me now. Your job is to go to school like you’re supposed to and bring grades home to my satisfaction, and I’ll pay your note and insurance. But if the grades