What makes a good story?

A good story is interesting and entertaining.  I am no expert but a good book transports you to another place.

Those who cannot do it teach.

I wrote my book and it came easily to me because it was based on a difficult part of my life.  I may write another book someday but writin does not come easily to me.  The words do not flow.  I do not have a good imagination and I cannot think of anything I like more than giving someone else my idea and letting them develop it as their own.  It takes years to write something that is any good.  After a year and a half of making excuses I decided that I am not a writer. 

Maybe one day I will read a book based on one of my idea. Maybe my youngest daughter will take one of my ideas and write a book.  She is a great writer at 7.  Her stories are great.  Of course that is a mother's pride in her daughter.

I did study to be a teacher and the blog satisfies this.  Helping others with talent makes me proud.  Who knows what the future holds

Search for Solomon

When I thought of the idea for the "Search for Solomon" I considered it a story about a man in search of something.  The search for wisdom is where I was going with the story.  If someone can take the idea and go farther with it, then you are welcome to it.

Chapter Three and Four of the Search for Solomon

Chapter Three

As Solomon walked into the bar and greeted the regulars.    

“What’s up guys?”

“Hey Solomon.  How’s it going?  How long do you have until the boat back to Africa leaves?”

“You had to reach for that one didn’t you Reggie.  Are you not feeling well tonight,” Solomon said with fake concern.

“Yea.  I had to reach for that one.   It’s not a good night.  Forgive me guys,” Reggie said sheepishly.  Reggie knew no other explanation was needed.  The guys would accept what he said at face value.

“What is on tonight?”  Solomon looked at the commercials playing on the big screen.

As the guys filled Solomon in on what was going on in the game Solomon thought about how his wife was going to give him grief about being out with the guys.  Solomon wished his wife would understand that he just  wanted a little time without the wife and kids. 

“Hey how are you guys doing?”

Chelsea was one of the greatest waitresses in the bar.  She always smiled at the guys.  She was honest with them.  She was also kind to a fault.  She was also quick and efficient.  If Solomon were single he might have tried dating her.

“How’s it going Chelsea?”

Solomon smiled at Chelsea.  His phone began to vibrate.  He did not want to answer as he saw his wife’s name on the caller ID.  He did answer because not answering would be more trouble than answering.

“Hello.  I am at the bar.  I’ll talk to you later.”  Solomon disconnected and put the phone in his pocket.

“You should go home.”

“It will be ok.  Better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.” 

“What would you like?”

“You choose the beer.  I trust you.”

Chelsea walked to the bar.  As Solomon watched her walk away he thought of the phone call he just got.  He loves his wife but he had doubts about the kind of love he had for her.

He was starting to think it was more of a sisterly and brotherly kind of love.  They did not have the passion it once had.  They were the best of friends.  Lately that was as far as it went. 

They no longer had the same passion for each other.  Solomon thought of his feeling and that missing feeling again.  Solomon wondered if he would ever find the passion he once felt for his wife. 

Solomon would never leave his wife.  They were good friends.  Solomon was known for his loyalty.  He never wanted to hurt her.  He just did not think he was happy.  More importantly she was not happy with him lately. 

“You look lost in thought.  Is there a problem?”

Solomon looked into Chelsea’s sympathetic eyes.  “Nothing is wrong.  I was just thinking about work.”

“What is going on?”

Solomon started talking about work.  It was not something he liked to talk about but he backed himself into a corner with his previous answer.  He also found it easy to talk to her.  Easier than talking to his wife lately.

“Well thanks for listening Chelsea.  I am going to join the guys.  Watch the rest of this game.”

Chapter Four

Solomon tried to come into the house without making a sound.  Solomon did not want to get into it with Samantha.  He hated fighting with Samantha.  It always ended with her crying.  Solomon hated making Samantha cry. 

“Where have you been?”

Solomon let out a heavy sigh.  ‘So much for sneaking in,’  Solomon thought to himself.  As he turned to look at Samantha.  He wondered how he was going to get out of this conversation.  “I told you I might be late hanging out with the guys.”

“I asked you not to go.  I even called you.  I had a hard day too.  I needed you at home.  We created the kids together.”

“I told you I did not want kids.  You wanted kids.”

Samantha rolled her eyes “You just make me crazy!” and with a huff she left the room.  Solomon did not understand what Samantha was upset about. 

Solomon was so upset by her actions that he walked out of the house and got into his car. 

He just sat there with the music on.  He was not going to scream and yell.

It seemed every argument they had ended with one of them yelling and storming out of the room.  Solomon had to stop kidding himself. 

Their ‘discussions’ were arguments.  The ‘discussions’ were becoming more and more frequent.

Solomon could not understand what went wrong in their marriage. 

Samantha became a woman who needed reassurance all the time.  She wanted to be with him every waking moment.  He knew that she was a controlling woman.  But she was never this controlling.

He was attracted to Samantha because of her strength.  Samantha had a good heart too.  She was always there for her friends. 

Maybe that was it.  Perhaps she just needed some friends to hang out with. 

Solomon made a decision while sitting in the car. 

He would invite Chelsea over for dinner and maybe she and Samantha would become friends.  Samantha might get off of his back if she had someone other than the kids to hang out with.

Solomon was proud of his brilliant plan.  Nothing could go wrong.

The First 2 Chapters of Search for Solomon

Psalm 90:12

“So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Chapter One

The sun was so hot it could cook an egg on the sidewalk.  It would be one nasty egg, but it would be cooked.  One nasty pee soaked egg.

Another hot day in New York.  The sun peeked out from behind the smog and pollution.  Solomon believed he was at least 3 shades darker because the sun seemed to find him no matter where he stood. 

Tar Baby.

How many times did he hear that as a child? 

It still stung a little.  Even when he knew his friend’s were saying it jokingly. 

Hopefully the lights will be low and they will not notice his darker complexion.

 At least he hoped they would not notice.

Tonight’s ‘competition’ of who could come up with the best put down will definitely go to Reggie again.  It always went to Reggie.  Reggie was a legend when it came to put downs.  

Reggie was the man all of them wanted to be like.  He was handsome and witty. 

Solomon smiled as he thought of the many times he was the victim of Reggie’s wit. 

On the opposite side of the spectrum was Mike.  He was the only light ‘brother’ in the group.  The weird thing was that he fit in with the group better than Solomon.  Mike was a handsome guy with great hair.  The kind of hair that made people think he must be a shampoo model. 

Not that Solomon noticed of course.  He was not a homosexual or anything.  He just noticed things that looked good. 

Mike loved being known as the ivory ‘brother’.  Mike did not participate in the put downs because of his fear of crossing the line and getting a beat-down by his ebony brothers.  Solomon’s friends would never do that to Mike.  They respected any white man who would approach a group of black men at a college party with no fear. 

The possibility of saying something that might make them think of doing something like that made Mike cautious.  Honestly it scared Mike.  Mike confessed to Solomon one drunken night of his fear of crossing the imaginary line.

Solomon hated that he was giving his friends ammunition to use against him.  He felt he might as well go in with a giant ‘Kick me’ sign on his back. 

“It’s going to be brutal,”  Solomon thought as he approached work.

Solomon smiled as he entered the very modern looking office building.  The art work in the front lobby had a sophisticated feel. 

He loved his place of work and the people in it.  He felt like a man and not the boy he was in college.  He was not a screw-up that his father was always disappointed in.  His father could finally be proud of him.  

Solomon did what was expected of him after years of messing up.  He felt he owed it to his family.  Especially to his father. 

He married a wonderful woman.  He stopped smoking weed.  A habit he picked up in college.  His kids are well adjusted and well behaved. 

“I cannot ask for anything more.  Thank you Lord,” whispered Solomon as he walked into the front door.  God was good to him and he could not complain. 

“Then why do I feel like something is missing.”  Solomon thought to himself.  Something did not feel right but he could not put his finger on it.

Solomon wondered for the second time as he pushed the door open wider.  What was he searching for and would he know it if he found it.  As Solomon walked through the front lobby to the elevators he spotted John. 

He loved seeing John in his uniform because Solomon did see him in a pair of jeans once at a company function.  It was not a pretty sight.  Not a pretty site!  Solomon preferred seeing John in his crisp never wrinkled uniform.  Solomon thought of  John as the keeper of the gate.  John not only greeted visitors but he also determined who went up to the offices and who didn’t.   

It helped that Solomon felt like a professional model in comparison to John.  John was not noticed by anyone.  Especially the ladies.  His large nose, crooked teeth, and big ears was not what all the women wanted in a man.  Solomon knew of John’s good heart.  Very few women gave John the time of day and found out about his big  heart.

The heart of a man that was open, giving, and easily broken.  Solomon witnessed the easily broken part a couple of times when he stayed late at work.  A semi-attractive woman came into the building one time.  She came up to John and whispered something into his ear.  John’s face fell and he said he waved goodbye.

Solomon went up to John and asked him if he was alright.  “She broke up with me,” he said as a single tear rolled down his cheek.

“Are you going to be OK?”

John shook his head yes.  John turned around to face the window and Solomon left without saying another word.

Solomon felt really bad for John because Solomon’s kids loved coming to Solomon’s job just to see John.

Solomon did not consider himself a looker or anything.  No one would give Solomon a second look either.  It was another reason why he felt close to John because they were both average men who got very little play from women. 

Solomon thanked the Lord every day for brining Samantha into his life.  Solomon did not know what he would do without her.  He did not want to find out what life would be like without her. 

When they met in high school and then again after college Solomon knew that she was the one for him.  She looked beyond his non-existent good-looks and bad attitude. 

She loved him despite all of his flaws.  The best thing of all was that she is a very attractive woman inside and out.  At least Solomon thought so.  He could not believe his luck.  He Solomon Edwards captured the attention of someone so angelic.

Chapter Two

Solomon finished his day at work on a high note.  As he got into his car he thought about the meeting he had with his boss about an hour ago. 

“Come in Solomon.” 

Solomon entered the room tentatively.  He did not know what to expect.  He heard about many of his colleagues losing their jobs because of downsizing.  Solomon prayed   he was not one of the unlucky few.

“Good afternoon Bradley.  You wanted to see me,”  Solomon said tentatively.

“You have nothing to worry about Solomon.  You should have more confidence in yourself,”  Bradley said.  Bradley said this the only the way Bradley could say it.

 Solomon respected Bradley Longfellow.  Bradley was very distinguished.  His salt and pepper hair was always perfectly styled.

Bradley was not the typical boss that demanded respect.  People just respected him because it felt like you should. 

Bradley did not believe that anyone in the company was more important than the other including himself.  He insisted that everyone call him Bradley including the cleaning staff.  He never minced words.  He said what needed to be said and he was not shy about telling you that you were doing a bad or good job. 

He preferred telling you about the great job you were doing.  Bradley mentioned this several times. 

“You are doing a great job.  As a matter of fact I would love to tell you that you are going to get a raise.  Unfortunately, I cannot do that.  I can give you this gift certificate for 100 dollars and tell you that you are going to get one extra paid vacation.  Hopefully business will pick up soon and I will be able to give you a well deserved raise.”

There was a wide smile on Solomon’s face as he drove to the bar and thought about the gift certificate in his pocket. It may not be a raise but it was nice to be appreciated.  There would be a raise next time he went into Bradley’s office.  He was sure of it.  Business was picking up.

 When Solomon pulled up to ‘The Mix’ and smiled. 

The bar was owned by his friend Tim.  Tim was the child of an interracial marriage.  He named the bar ‘The Mix’ because he wanted all his friends of any race to have somewhere to go and hang-out and forget about the outside world.  Tim wanted the bar to be a mix of all races and genders.

Tim accomplished this by being sure to have an area for lounging and talking.  The music was not too loud in this area.  People did not have to yell at each other like they would do in a typical club/bar. 

There was even a separate back room where a football or basketball game was always on.  Tim wrote everyone’s favorite team and their upcoming games.  He would then post the entries on-line where people could vote on what they wanted to see. 

The bar was a success because it was the ultimate place to unwind after a long day.  There was no pressure to talk to anyone.  You could sit at the bar and never say a word except your drink order.

Solomon really wanted to unwind after the long week he had.  The praise from Bradley was not undeserved.  Solomon had a busy week at work. 

Short Stories

I decided to dedicate this blog to writing my short stories.  Some are shorter than others. 

I always begin my stories with a Psalm.  It is normally something that helps me focus.  Sometimes the Psalm has nothing to do with the story. 

MS Alex Burrus

The story below is from my book From Victim to Victor  
Chapter One

“I am so blessed.  Thank you God for everything that you have given me.  Nothing can get me down,” Alex thinks to herself as she walks around their new apartment. 

Life with Adam and Katrina is great.  “We have a beautiful baby girl ,” Alex thinks to herself as she stares down at the doll like face of her child. 

They decided to get a larger two bedroom apartment.  Their growing family needed the room. 

They settle into a routine of work and spending time together as a family.  Alex sits on the couch after moving the last unpacked box into the kitchen to be taken out for recycling.  Alex is so grateful Katrina slept while she straightened up the apartment.

With a large sigh Alex reflects on the wedding that occurred months ago.  Alex never had a dream of what her wedding would be like most women.  She never thought any guy could love her.  Alex loves Adam and never considered them as not being married.  Alex feels like they have always known each other. 

Alex’s parents kept asking her when they were going to get married.  They asked her so many times that she finally told them a date without discussing it with Adam. 

When she tells Adam about the conversation with her parents and how she just blurted a date he just rubs her growing belly and smiles.  Adam understands.  Alex hopes he understands.  She does not ask him because she is afraid of what he might say.

Adam looks at her with his hazel eyes of love and says, “You have to stop letting them tell you what to do.” 

It is what Alex is trying to avoid.  Alex knows Adam is right but she becomes an insecure twelve year old girl when she talks to her parents.  Her immediate instinct is to tell them what they wanted to hear. 

Alex did not need a ceremony but it was important to Doris and Alexander.  Alex did not want to disappoint them.  They were already upset with her for being pregnant before being married.  Alex does not mind the ceremony. 

Besides she needs the insurance.  Being  married to Adam means she can be on his insurance.  Having a baby can be expensive.

Alex works really hard at her job and being the best mommy after Katrina was born.  She is always there for Katrina.  It is tiring but she wants to prove that she is and would have been a good mother.  Alex thinks there is nothing that can ruin this time in her life.  Alexander and Doris may put pressure on her but they cannot touch her from their home in New York.  Alex felt more confident when she was not with her parents.

Adam is a good dad.  He adores Katrina.  Katrina is a name Alex has always loved.  She knew she would name her first child Katrina. 

Katrina is a happy little girl and a little spoiled from all the attention Alex shows her.  Alex knows Katrina will love and accept Alex for who she is.  Mommy. 

Alex is very protective of her daughter.  Alex wants to raise Katrina to be a strong and confident woman.  A woman that is nothing like Alex.  The type of woman who looks into a person’s heart.  She will not be fooled by pretty words and good looks. 

Chapter Two

Alex lays on the couch.  Alex is exhausted she tries to be better than Doris.  Doris would have all the packing and cleaning done by now.  It took Alex a whole week to unpack everything.  Cleaning up the other apartment took some time but since that apartment was not huge it did not take a lot of time.  Doris would have been done in two days. 

Alex looks at the clock.  It is three in the morning.  Way past bed time.  Alex is a little disappointed in herself for not finishing sooner.  Alex falls asleep on the couch.

Alex opens her eyes slowly.  It is like someone has put a dot in front of her right eye. Alex closes her eyes and blinks a few times.  She cannot see through her right eye. 

“Adam something is wrong. I cannot see out of this eye,” she says as she points to her right eye. 

Alex has never been so scared.  “Just see the eye doctor.  It will be ok,” Adam says reassuringly.

“Adam is right there is nothing to be worried about.”  Alex thinks this all weekend.  While Adam takes Katrina to daycare Alex makes an emergency appointment with the eye doctor and calls in sick from work.  Adam takes Alex to the eye doctor.  During the drive Alex does not say anything.  She is worried and wonders what the doctor will say.

“Are you going to be OK going in by yourself?  I have to get to work but if you want me to come with you, then I will.”

“I will be OK.  You go ahead to work.  I will call you when I am ready for you to pick me up,” Alex says with a confidence she does not feel.

They call Alex’s name.  After a series of eye exams the doctor looks at Alex as if he is preparing himself.  The eye doctor tells Alex that she has optical neuritis and he suggests that she see a neurologist.  The eye doctor explains that it might be something minor but he wants to be safe. 

Chapter Three

The next day Alex is scared when she goes to the neurologist.  Alex wonders what could possibly be wrong with her.  The ophthalmologist said something about multiple sclerosis.  “I hope that it is not MS,” Alex thinks to herself.  Alex knows very little about MS.

Alex waits nervously in the waiting room of the neurologist office.  She is tired of reading the same magazine and puts it down.  She is grateful that she can still see through her left eye.  When her name is called she goes in and meets the neurologist.  He seems like a good man and she trusts his knowledge. 

The neurologist believes it might be multiple sclerosis.  Alex is scared and prays that he is mistaken.  What she does know about MS is not good. 

Alex is so scared she does not know what to say.  The neurologist makes an appointment for her to have tests done and for her to receive steroids by IV in order to regain her vision. 

Alex lays still as they inject her with the MRI contrast dye.  The MRI machine is a scary metal tube.  Alex is grateful that she is not claustrophobic as looks at the tube she will have to lay in for the next hour.  It is the first time Alex wishes she did not have her vision back. 

“What type of music do you like?”  The technician hands her a binder full of CDs.

“Pop.”

“Pick one of the CDs.  You can wear these headphones and just relax.  Do not move and this will be done soon.  A lot of people just go to sleep.”

Alex says a quick prayer as she goes into the tube.  Alex hears every rattle and sound made by the MRI.  With every noise Alex prays that the results will say that she does not have MS.

Chapter Four

Several days later Alex nervously goes into the doctor’s office.  The doctor tells her the results of her the MRI.  He says that she does have MS.  There are lesions in your brain. 

“Does the herpes have anything to do with the MS?”

“No.”

Adam picks Alex up from the doctor’s office.  She tells him what the doctor said. 

Alex calls and tells Doris.  Doris says, “Do not claim it.”  Alex is not sure what that means.  At her next appointment the doctor tells Alex about her options for treatment.  It is expensive.  Alex knows she and Adam do not have the money for the treatment especially with a new baby. 

Alex decides not to claim  the MS.  She prays to God.  She reads somewhere that herpes can be mistaken for MS.

Alex feels she does not have MS.  Alex gets the feeling that herpes has something to do with her condition.

Chapter Five

Doris tells Alex to mail the x-rays to her and she will get a second opinion.  Alex does what Doris asks of her without thinking about it.  Alex sends the x-rays to Doris.  Doris gets a second opinion but Alex does not understand the point of doing this because she is not claiming it.  Alex decides to let Doris have the x-rays. 

The doctor that Doris goes to confirms that Alex does have MS.  Alex is more than disappointed.  She does not know what this means for her.  She prays for help. 

“I take your hand Jesus.  Wherever you lead me I will follow.”

Chapter Six

Alex decides to take time to work on herself.  MS is not curable.  The doctor said she had to start taking medication after her second relapse. 

“You don’t want to start losing your memory.  You have a beautiful daughter.  You do not want to forget her?” says the doctor in an ominous tone. 

She goes to a support group for people affected by abortion.  She forgives Alexander and Doris.  More importantly she forgives herself for having an abortion. 

She examines her life and the people in it.  Alex notices that there is an unhealthy trend beginning to develop after Alexander and Doris move into the same area.  She is losing herself.  Away from Alexander and Doris she is confident.  She actually likes herself. 

Adam has pushed her to be confident in her decisions.  Alex is not that confident around Alexander and Doris.  Alex does not like the person she is turning back into. 

“I been through a rape and I have MS.  I walked with Jesus and he led me to a wonderful husband and three great kids.  I am a victor.  I am not a victim.” 

Alex comes home after work.  The home she and Adam bought after having their second child. 

Alex falls asleep while praying.  When Alex awakens she hears the birds chirping outside of her window.  The sun is shining.  She looks in on her three beautiful children.  She thanks God for each of them.  Alex leaves their rooms and gets ready for work.  Alex cannot wait to see what the future holds.  She knows with God, Adam, and her kids there is nothing that she cannot overcome.

Dear God,

Thank you for all that you have given me.  I will always remember that I am a victor because of you.

Your servant,

Alex