Novelist, Debra D. Sawyer
Youth Life Coach/ Mentor, Youth Sponsor, Inspirational Speaker, Publisher, Founder/Editor-In-Chief/Lady Ingenuity Mag and an Advocate for the “Seen and Not Heard.”
“In ‘Trinity River’
Ms. Sawyer delivers yet another heart wrenching, direct and thought-provoking collection of short stories that unveils the plight of youths in foster care; alcohol and drug dependancy, un-planned parenthood, incarceration and the social conditions of those living in a world of homelessness, poverty and despair. Trinity River is dedicated to the men, women and children recalling their past throughout their journey toward a healing.
Publications by Debra D. Sawyer
“Let Me Speak You A Secret”, “Xenia’s Yin”, “Assumption”,“Lady Ingenuity Mag”, “AlphAmen Against All Odds”, “Concrete Roses” and “Blocking The Sun.”
AFTER BIRTH
(An excerpt from Trinity River)
I can’t keep this baby now. The father is forty-eight years old and he said he’s already raised his kids. He told me that it was over and that he wasn’t going to leave his wife for me. He said it wasn’t his. I was so hurt and shocked. I went home crying where there are already seven of us living inside a two-bedroom project apartment. It’s so crowded inside that no one really noticed that my belly was getting bigger and bigger. That’s because my mother is never home. She’s out there somewhere, chasing drugs. Shoot, she don’t buy it from me no more because I won’t give her a discount or any freebies. I told her I can’t be doing that cause I don’t want to catch a bullet for messing with The Man’s stuff. I got to get paid cause she ain’t taking care of me. She can’t even take care of herself. I’m sick of carry-ing this load around. My feet are swollen and I can’t remember the last time I touched my feet. I know I should have gotten that abortion when I had the chance, but I was too busy making the money. Before I knew it, I was five months pregnant. I suppose I’m not the first girl and I won’t be the last girl to get pregnant at fourteen! I’m getting used to the sound of the alarms that tell me when and where I need to be. When I first got here I was really scared. But since I was so young, some of the older women here just kind of took to me and so I’m safe because of them. When the police arrested me, I was on the corner selling crack and I got caught up in a sweep. I was still bleeding from having the baby but I played it off like I was on my period. Well, I thought I was playing it off until they sent me down to the infirmary. That’s when they found out that I had given birth only two days before. Hey, what can I say? I knew I couldn’t be a mother to a kid, so when I went into labor I hid myself in one of the abandoned buildings near my row house. I didn’t want to go to far from home just in case I couldn’t get the kid out. I stayed there lying on a filthy mattress and waited for the labor pains to stop. I almost passed out from that pain and I kept my head scarf jammed inside my mouth so no one could here me screaming. I’m not sure how long it took me to have the kid but it felt like days. Now that I think back, I’m sure it was about a day. Anyway, the kid came out kicking and screaming and covered in my blood. I didn’t want anyone to hear it crying so I covered it’s face with a blanket I brought with me. The cries were small and muffled and then it was quiet and still. I didn’t take the blanket from it’s face when I took out my razor and cut the cord. All I could think of was that it was finally over with and that by cutting the cord, I was forever cutting away the burden that had attached itself to my body for nine months. I thought to myself, there was no way I was going to allow it to attach itself to my life forever. After I cut the cord, I put on one of those old people diapers and I managed to get a clean pair of underwear on. I stayed hidden in the room for another night. It was summer, hot and humid and I had brought along some food and bottled water. I didn’t really sleep because I had to watch out for wandering crackheads and most importantly, I didn’t want to get bitten by any rats. It wasn’t too bad and no one missed me. When I had decided to leave, I rolled up the baby’s body inside of the blanket, being careful not to see what it looked like. That way I couldn’t have any dreams about it. I put the blanket into a shopping bag and I walked out into the alley. It was afternoon and the only people about were the dope fiends, who where slouched against the alley walls, nodding from the good dope they had managed to buy to get them straight until their bodies began to itch for more. The sun was baking the air as I walked upright against the pain in between my legs.
FOR THE CONCLUSION....ORDER YOUR AUTOGRAPHED COPY DIRECTLY FROM DIASHAH PRESS LLC AT diashahpress.yahoo.com
RELEASE DATE WILL BE POSTED ON: WWW.AUTHORSDEN.COM/DEBRADSAWYER
Excerpt
For my Alpha's and my Roses:
Collin, Tyquan, Allen, Chance, Pierre, Maria, Bunny, Tesia, Araya, Kia, Ray, Sade, Erica, Jalesha, Janetta, Alida, Brittany and those who have yet to come into the light.
For you, "I'll be the mule. I'll plow the field. You take my seeds, drop em into the dirt, cover them with your big toe. Whatever grows, you keep...no need to pay me back...Just promise me that you'll pass your seeds on when it's your time to plow."
GROW SOMETHING!
Love Momma D
|
