The Queen’s

Collection

Table of Contents

General Introduction Advanced Composition Introduction Why I Love Music Made of Music

Creative Writing Introduction The Ultimate Battle PawPaw Ungrateful Dear Former Flame Best Friends Forever The Guide The Unexpected The Sister I Always Wanted

Summer Internship Introduction Flying isn’t Frightening Be Optimistic Education is Timeless Healthy Hair Defined Eating Healthy Makes for Healthy Hair Unbelievable Beauty Rituals

Advanced Composition

2

This section displays

my writing of the

Advanced

Composition course.

One piece is creative

nonfiction and the

other piece is

creative fiction. Made

of Music is a piece

that was chosen to

be published on

thisibelieve.org. Both

of these pieces that

cover a topic that I

have always been

passionate about:

music.

3

Why I Love Music

At the age of five, I saw this tall, wooden figure taking

up space in the living room. Two linear rows of family photos

sat on the two shelves connected to what looked like a giant wooden box with white

and black tabs on it. I slowly tip-toed to it as if I were sneaking up behind a cat that was

fast asleep. Gradually easing my hand to the white and black tabs, I finally pressed one

tab down and it made a sound I have never heard before “ting, ting, ting.” Once my

parents heard those sounds, they rushed downstairs into the living room and asked me

if I wanted to take lessons. Unfortunately I never got a chance to answer the question

because my Mom answered it for me, and that answer was “Yes.” That was the

beginning of my musical journey.

Every time I learned a new key or chord, it was as if the notes floated off the

page and into my heart. I practiced persistently until I felt I could play each piece

completely through with no mistakes. At times I would feel like one of the great

pianists of the earlier centuries-Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach

applauded me from their graves. I imagined performing in the

Metropolitan Opera Hall, people

4

giving me a standing ovation after every piece I played. I became so

engulfed in the music I played that I would imagine myself playing in my

class at school. I loved playing for people to see their reaction. Even though there are an

ample amount of people who play the piano, people were fascinated that an African

American child could play so well at the age of eight.

Although, when it came to playing at the recitals my teacher had for all her

students, I felt extremely uncomfortable because I was the only African American child

there. I felt so much pressure to prove I could really play the pieces given to me by my

teacher that it would stress me out. Once it became my time to play, I

stood from my seat and all eyes were on me. It felt like I was on

stage with that bright hot spotlight on me. There was nothing but

silence filling the church. It was so silent that I thought I heard a dog

bark down the road from the church. My parents brought the video camera to tape my

performance. As I nervously walked over to the bench, my parents were waving at me

like they were in the stands at a football game. My Dad gave me a thumbs up and

motioned with his mouth “You got this maestro.” As I prepared to play in front of

parents and students, I sat at the bench and placed my fingers on the proper keys for

the piece I practiced for months. My heart was beating as if it were

going to pound out of my chest; I felt all the eyes in the church

peering at me. If I made one mistake when I played for all the

5

parents and students, it would be like the whole world crashed down on me. In all

actuality, I played the piece perfectly and exactly the way I practiced. Once I finished, I

took a bow as I was instructed to do by my teacher, and took a seat in my assigned

chair. As I sat there listening to the other students, it was amazing that I had finally

accomplished my first recital.

As the years rushed by, people at church were told that I could play the piano.

When people first heard about it, I was ten years old attending what was called

children’s church. The pastor over it wanted me to play for the praise and worship

portion of the service. I felt an extreme amount of pressure to play, but I tried practicing

after church to see if it was really what I wanted to do. However, I was classically

trained and I didn’t know how to play any of those songs that were being sung during

service. I didn’t know how to tell the pastor I couldn’t play because I have never played

any of those songs before. My heart sunk down into the pit of stomach. I wanted to help

but there was nothing I could do. The pianist that played for the adult services couldn’t

teach me because he played my ear. Then it became worse when the word got to the

youth pastor and as soon as I turned twelve, he wanted

me to play for the youth service. The pressure for me to

play for church was completely overwhelming. I began to

feel uncomfortable to even talk about playing the piano to

anyone. It got to the point when I heard the word piano,

6

my skin would crawl and chills glided through my body. By

the age of eleven, my parents decided to change churches for

personal reasons. Although I had made many friends at that

church, it was as if a hundred pound weight had been lifted off

me because there was no pressure to play for church. This

meant I could go back to playing for my love of the music and the enjoyment I get from

making the music.

When I entered middle school, I had a chance to expand my horizons to other

instruments. I signed up to practice the clarinet in band. Because I played the piano

years in advance, the reading the music came very easy to me. Learning to play this

new instrument was exciting and it became to open my mind to other things besides the

piano. I became more involved in the band and this quickly put piano on the back

burner. It was still a part of my life, but this is when it began feeling like a job. My

parents forced me to practice after school to prepare for my lessons every Friday

evening. The situation didn’t get any better when I started high school. I joined color

guard in the marching band and I continued to play the clarinet for

concert. My focus became more about band and color guard. Piano

became an afterthought. I wanted to quit my sophomore year of

high school, but my dad forced me to continue. He got me a

different teacher who he thought would teach me more upbeat

7

songs that played on the radio. It was exciting to learn music that was more of my style

of music. However, it quickly got old and it was hard for me to continue playing when

my heart was no longer in it. My parents constantly forced me to practice, and by the

next lesson I did not know the piece well enough to play for my teacher.

At that point, my parents felt it was best for me to quit and save their money

paying for lessons I no longer wanted. Once I officially quit playing the piano, it felt like

a major weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I went for years not even taking a

glance at that figure I once wondered about. Now that I am nineteen years old, I find

myself getting back engulfed in the music that filled my heart with joy. Although I do

not make the music anymore, I listen to music on my IPod. I have

multiple playlists that I constantly listen to on a daily bases. Even

though I do not play the piano on a continuous base, I do find

time to play the songs I can remember. I go back to the way I used

to practice when I first started. I do not take lessons now, but

whenever I have free time I always go back to where my love of music first started my

piano.

8

Made of Music

As people, we tend to look at one another as the offspring of each other’s

parents. However for me, it is beyond being the offspring of my parents. Yes, of course I

have the features of my parents, such as my father’s eyes, his nearsightedness too, and

my mother’s nose--but there is more than just their DNA that flows through my veins.

See, I am also made of music. It is part of my creation. The notes of every song I have

ever played and listened to pulses through my bloodstream and they have collected in

my heart. The beat of the music becomes the beat of

my heart. As the songs play, notes become the blood

pumping through my veins throughout my body

vibrating my spirit, soul, and mind. As I put the

earphones to my ears, the music takes over my body

and flows through me like a peaceful stream.

The saying that music is the window to the soul was referring to me. Music

awakens my soul and opens my heart to take it on a journey of epic proportions. From

the sexy soulful voices of rhythm and blues to the southern melodies of country, it’s as

if I’m riding a musical rollercoaster surrounded by A flats and harmonic minors. Some

people might say that the love of music is universal, but I am not most people. See, my

love of music stemmed from the love of making music when I was a child. At the age of

five, music entered my life and transformed me into a musical being. Then I soon

9

discovered that I couldn’t just play the piano, but I could sing with the

pieces I played. It made me open to new things and various

possibilities.

Music got me through difficult situations. It soothed my soul and eased my

mind. The time my boyfriend and I broke up my senior year of high school, the songs

“Just Be A Man About It” by Toni Braxton and “Not Ready to Make Nice” by the Dixie

Chicks got me pass the heartache I felt. And when my all my friends betrayed me, I

turned to gospel music to get me through that situation. I constantly played “Trust” by

Donnie McClurkin and “No Weapon” by Fred Hammond. I

knew then that God would make a way. Music helped me get through

major problems throughout my life. When I am extremely upset, I

play the piano to calm my nerves, and that’s when my parents come

to the living room and ask “what’s wrong now?”

For most, music is a form of entertainment that serves the purpose of enjoyment,

but for me music helped me get through hard times. It breathes life back into me when

I’m hurt, torn, or depressed. It softens my hard heart and opens my mind to

opportunities. Music is my mother and father who comforts me when I’m down, makes

me smile, and lifts me up. See, I am made of music. It was born within me.

My life started with music from the first touch of a white piano key and my

life will end with music. I believe in music because it’s apart me.

11

This section represents

the creative side of my

writings. These works

cover a wide range of

genres such as poetry,

short fiction, and

nonfiction. The works

showcased in this section

are some of my best

pieces that were written

while in the Creative

Writing course.

12

The Ultimate Battle

The fearless fighter, silent but

confident, ready for battle at any

moment knew what she had to do

even though she didn’t want to.

Nevertheless she stood strong.

The words of her mother ringing

in her ears, You can do whatever you set in your mind to.

With those words swimming in her mind,

she suited up: her helmet, boots, sword,

and breast plate. She walked towards her

enemy.

They began the battle with one sword

swing to another−−a fight to the death.

At last, she conquered her opponent. Falling

to the ground, she had defeated her arch

enemy: herself.

13

PawPaw

It has been fourteen years since

I have smelled your infamous scent.

Fourteen years since I have been

hugged the way you used to hug me.

Remember when you walked

from work and my parents and I

would drive by you and ask would

you like a ride home? You always

said I’d rather walk. I will meet

ya’ll at home in a minute. You always

had your special dish wrapped up in

aluminum foil. Your special pork

chops and gravy. Since you worked

at the local college down the road

from your house as a cook, you always

made sure you brought something back

from the kitchen for us at dinnertime.

Remember when you walked

through the front door; I leaped

into your arms and said, Hi, PawPaw.

Do you remember?

You always smelled

of whiskey and cigarettes. Although

the smell disgusted me, I loved your warm,

tender hugs you gave every time I came to

town. You sat in your favorite chair

and drank your whiskey and smoked a cigarette

after a long day of work. I would come in the

living room and sit in your lap after you finished

smoking and watched those old black and white

western movies on that giant size floor T.V.

Do you remember PawPaw?

All I have now are the sweet memories

of you and the man my mom and dad

tell me of. Heaven is truly blessed to have

you just as I was blessed to have you

as my PawPaw.

14

Dear Former Flame,

Taking one’s love for granted is what you did best. Looking for love

is what you tried to avoid at all costs but somehow you failed. You found

love by way of me but you didn’t know how to receive it. To approach

me with caring arms, and to try to be there when I needed a shoulder to

cry on caused you to push me away due to your selfishness and fear of

love. You tried to fight that yearning in your heart for me. All along you

knew you wanted to hold me tenderly and kiss my lips that are as soft as

silk. Those feelings you were to fight, the war going on between your

heart and mind held you back for what you truly wanted. Your heart

cried out for your true love, but your mind said you didn’t want to get

hurt. The fear of love entering your heart overwhelmed you and caused

you to shut down, but love conquers all. The burning desire in your heart

for me kept you going. The longing for that gentle, velvety touch of a

hug, hearing my voice that makes your entire body quiver instantly

making you weak while simultaneously making you stronger every time

we meet; you knew then that you wanted this feeling to last. The feelings

you so desperately tried to fight were finally expressed the best way you

knew how. You tried your best to show me love, be there for me when I

15

needed you, and shower me with gifts. Unfortunately, you waited too

late to do those things. You expressed your love to a person who had

moved on to another. You tried your best to fight for me, asking

questions like when can I take you out on a date? The effort you put

forward went to waste because you hurt not only yourself by fighting

those feelings but you hurt me. You caused me to move to another. You

constantly pushed me away when you needed I the most. You did this to

yourself, but somehow the love is still there. The question of what if

lingers in both of our hearts, souls, and minds. Though now we have both

our separate ways and our hearts belong to another; we can’t help but to

dream what could have been.

16

The Love Square

I have always heard of the infamous “love triangle” even when I

was younger. I saw it multiple times on my favorite television shows and

movies. I never understood how anyone could get themselves into a

situation like that. It sounded like nothing but trouble. I laughed it those

stupid people stuck between two guys or girls, but soon enough I became

one of those stupid people stuck between two guys and couldn’t decide

who I really wanted. Unfortunately, my love triangle became a square.

So now I have upped the ante from being wedged between two guys but

three. “How is that possible?” one might ask. It all began a month before I

graduated from high school.

As a senior in high school, you would expect my last year of public

school to be great, exciting, and fantastic; quite the contrary. My senior

year sucked. Everything bad that could possibly happen really did

happened. However, a month before graduation things started to look

up. I met this tall, gorgeous basketball player. I had always heard of him

but never had a chance to talk to him. I decided since it was my last

year and it would probably be the last time I ever see him, I should talk

to him and see what he is like.

17

“What’s your name?” I said. I already knew his name but I wanted

to take a new approach. “Play like the dumb blonde in those teen

movies,” I thought to myself. “He will never figure it out.”

He replied, “Jay. You don’t know my name. I’m the star basketball

player here. I can’t believe you don’t know my name. Haven’t you been

to a basketball game before?”

“Yea, but I never paid much attention to the actual game,” I

laughed.

“You should have been paying attention then,” he said.

I could tell he was trying to feel a vibe from me to see if I was a

cool girl or was I like the girls he had gotten used to. We meet that day

after school, from that moment on our friendship began to flourish into

something neither one of us expected.

We would meet every day after school at the same spot. We talked

until his ride came. Every time we spoke, our conversations got more in-

depth.

“What made you date that track dude? He didn’t seem like your

type of dude,” he asked.

“He approached me and asked for my number, so I gave it to him.

He seemed like a cool dude. Asked people about him before it got serious

18

and everything else just went from there,” I replied. I could tell from that

question that he was trying to tell what type of guy I liked. He had a

funny way of exploring a person’s personality.

“Oh ok then. Can I use your phone to call my ride?” he replied.

“Yea that’s fine, here.” I said.

He used my cell phone to call his cell phone, instead of asking me

for my phone number. Not only was he a player of basketball but he was

player in the game of love. He knew exactly what to do to intrigue a

girls and pull them into liking him. Unfortunately for him, I knew all

about the game. He thought he might have had me in the palm of his

hand and wrapped around his finger, but he didn’t come close. Whether

he believed it or not, I had him intrigued.

That summer we continued to talk via text messaging and every

now and then he would call me, but we didn’t see one other again until

the beginning of July. He came over to my house to swim and meet my

parents. My parents liked him; my Dad was excited that I found a guy

that played sports so he could have an excuse to go to the games.

While we were swimming in the pool, I asked him questions

concerning rather or not we should get together.

“What do you think about us getting to together?” I asked him.

19

He smiled and said, “I don’t know if I’m ready to be in a

relationship yet, but I really do like you. I thought we should go out on a

date first before we take it to that level.”

“When would that be?” I replied.

“Whenever you tell me we can do it,” he said.

Although he wanted us to try to start going out on dates, he always

had the thought of us not working out because I was soon going to be in

college the next month. We continued to talk throughout the summer

even once I began attending college, but soon things started to take a

turn for the worst. Not to mention, I met another guy in college.

When I started my freshman year of college, I didn’t expect to meet

another guy especially since I still had Jay back at home. On the other

hand, there were some extremely good looking guys in college and I

became hard for me to stay focused on working things out with Jay. The

first guy I became interested in was Marcus. He was tall with braids

and braces. At first look, he seemed very goofy but once we exchanged

cell numbers and began to talk; he was very intelligent as well as goofy.

“So what is your major?” I asked him.

“Chemical engineering, what is yours?” he asked.

20

“Professional writing. What can you do with that type of degree?” I

asked.

“I would like to work in a lab mixing up concoctions and making

things explode,” he replied with an explosion like hand gestures.

We both began to laugh and continued to talk about general things

trying to get to know each other better.

Then a few weeks later another guy caught my eye, but I waited

for him to approach me. His name was Carl. He was also tall, light-

skinned with curl Latino jet black hair. He was so sweet. He approached

me while I was talking to a few people I just met.

21

The Guide

Relationships. We all want to be in one; however, everyone is not

ready to be in a relationship. But what preparations are there to be in a

relationship? Well, I was always told by my Mom that in order to be

with someone, you have to learn how to be by yourself. Know who you

are and what you want out of life. The best way to start is to write down

your life goals and the things you want to achieve. Mostly importantly,

know who you are in God. Make sure you always follow the right path

that God has created for you. It is written in the Bible, that before we

were conceived in our mother’s womb, God had already predestined our

lives’. However, in order for us to know that path God created for us, we

have to first have a relationship with him. Once you have that with God,

then you have to know who you are in God. Once you know all that then

you can actually be in a relationship with a person.

This is a lesson that Laura had to learn the hard way to learn.

Their relationship started with one thing in common: the tragic death of

their mothers. They met in the fall of 2009, Terrell, the funny, outgoing

man and Laura, the friendly light-skinned girl with the huge butt that

caught the attention of elderly men.

22

Laura came to UNA from her home of Texas. She has family a few

blocks away from the university and she could call on them if she ever

needed help with anything. Because her mother passed away when she

was sixteen, she left grandfather and his second wife in Texas. She never

expected to begin a relationship her freshman year of college especially

since she was already in one back at home, but somehow she ended the

one in Texas and began another. But she didn’t know that the

relationship would crumble the way it did.

Terrell and Laura met by way of a friend of her’s. The friend

pushed Laura to talk to Terrell even though she showed resistance to a

conversation with him, but she trusted her friend and talked to him

anyway. The resistance was soon forgotten when she finally did talk to

him. Because he didn’t give her the attention she was used to; she quickly

sparked an interest for him.

“Hi, my name is Laura,” she said approaching him at the social

meeting place known as The Wall which is just outside of the cafeteria.

“What’s up, Terrell,” He replied sitting on the stone built structure,

half drunk from a club filled night. “What you want?”

“Nothing, I just wanted to talk to you for a minute,” she replied a

little disappointed from his reaction to her.

23

“Oh ok,” He said.

Once he said that, he processed to get up from his stance on the wall and

walk away. Not knowing what to think of what just happened, Laura

consulted her friend on what to do next. Her friend encouraged her to

keep trying to talk to him preferably when he is sober.

Laura continued to follow the advice of her friend and kept trying

to talk to Terrell. They eventually got to know to another on a deep level.

What started out as a friendship soon became an exclusive relationship

in December of that fall semester.

I met Laura personal in the spring of 2010. March was the month

of spring and spring break was the trip of a lifetime. It was the first trip

without my parents or any supervision and I would be spending it with

people I have only known for a semester and others for only a few weeks.

This week was the time I would get to know Laura a little more. I was

always on edge about meeting new people but it’s a part of life. I might

as well get used to it.

Unfortunately, Laura and I were not able to spend a lot of time

together mainly because we were both in relationships that took up most

of our time, but after we returned back to our normal routine of classes

and class work, we were able to spend more time together and get to

24

know each other. However, that was also the time when her relationship

with Terrell was on the rocks.

“What’s wrong?” I asked her on the way to the mall to chill and

shop.

“It’s just Terrell again. He gets on my nerves sometimes. He got so

mad at because I was talking to one of my exes on facebook the other

day.” As she told me about the argument they had had, the look on her

face was frustration and very annoyed.

“What did you say to him about it?” I asked.

“I said that it’s not a big deal and he should calm down because

there is nothing to be worried about.” She said with frustration.

That was just the beginning of a series of never ending arguments

that became stupider by the minute. She would constantly come to me

seeking for advice about what to do about all the arguments and fighting

that was going on. I tried to give her the best advice I could. Contrary to

my advice, she did the exact opposite of what a advised her to do. I told

her they should have a serious talk about the arguing and bickering, but

when they get into an argument they start slamming doors and yelling

at one another. It seemed useless to give advice to a person who does

want to use it.

25

After a year and a half in to their relationship, things

continuously got worse. She sends me a text message one day saying: I

need someone to talk to about thing that happened. My initial thought

was: what happened this time? She comes to my dorm room and she

started to tell me what happened with her and Terrell.

Laura said, “I was lying in bed while Terrell was in the shower and

his phone starts to ring. I picked it up to see who was calling. There was

no name, just the number showed across the screen. I wanted to answer

it but I didn’t want him to be mad at me for answering his phone again.

So anyway I decided to go through his phone to try to figure out who

called. I looked through his text messages and there was a girl by the

name of Torie who was texting him calling him ‘baby’ and he called her

baby back. I don’t know what to do about this? I don’t want to confront

him because he will be mad that I went through his phone.”

“The best thing to do is confront him about that,” I told her. “Ya’ll

have been dating for over a year now, he shouldn’t have a problem with

you going through his phone. If there is a problem then he is hiding

something from you. Do you trust him?”

“I did until now,” she said with sadness in her voice.

26

“Well, it’s time for you to talk to him about this female he has been

texting. The only way the know what‘s going on is to ask him. Maybe

you could ask her as well,” I said.

“I don’t want him to be mad at me for going through his phone,”

she said.

“If he gets mad then there is something going on between those two.

Has done anything like this before?” I asked.

She said, “No, but for some reason he doesn’t save numbers to his

phone. He says that for some reason his phone don’t always serve his

numbers, but it has saved mine and his families’ numbers. I think that is

a little strange but I trust not to bother him about it.”

“See that’s a problem you have been ignoring. Don’t let him get

away with things like that. He sees you as a weak girl that he can

control and take advantage of and you let him walk all over you,” I

began to tell her. “Start voicing your concerns and telling him the things

you don’t like. Be upfront with him and get in his face if you need to.

Don’t be afraid of what you think he might do ‘cause if he harm you in

any way, you call me and I will call my boyfriend to handle that. Or if it

comes down to it, call the police. But don’t be so afraid of him that you

feel like you can’t even voice your opinion about something. Plus if

27

Terrell was the man that God created for you, you wouldn’t be going

through all these things.”

Out of all the advice I have given to her, she actually followed that

one. She stood up to him and told him how she felt about what was going

on between them and the things she was not comfortable with. By the

end of the confrontation, she had decided to break up with him. Once she

did that, she has been happier now that ever.

“Thank you, Tobs for guiding me through that horrible

relationship,” she said with a hug grin on her face.

It was no problem. I’m glad I helped you find your inner strength

you needed to end that relationship,” I said. “Now you have to wait for

the man that God made specifically for you.”

28

The Unexpected

Shawna is to typical black woman. She’s not one of those statistical

women though; the woman with the four children by the age of twenty-

five. No, that’s not her. Typical means she has a normal family

background with the loving parents, annoying but caring siblings, and a

college education. She grew up with a strict value on education. Because

her parents did not do their best in school and did not get in an

opportunity to go to college, they made sure their children didn’t follow

in the same footsteps. Being the youngest and the only girl out of three

kids, she had to follow behind the achievement of her brothers. Terrance,

the middle child, has a Bachelors of Science in psychology and Vic, short

for Victor and the oldest, is finishing up graduate school with a master

in biology. She graduated with a legal studies degree. Shawna is a

paralegal at a law firm after interning there for awhile; the firm

wanted to hire her full time after she graduated. They have all made

their parents proud as far as education; however, their dating lives are

not as bright as their career lives.

Although none of them are married, Vic and Terrance are in

relationships sort of. Terrance has been dating Crystal, a waitress in a

coffee shop, for two years, but he is not quite ready for a life-long

29

commitment. Vic, on the other hand, refuses to commit to any one

woman. He is the player in the family, but most of the focus is on

Shawna. She has not had the best luck with men and relationships. She

has tried to date the college guys, the career men, and the youngsters,

but none of them worked for her. They all had something wrong with

them. The college guys were unfocused, the career men were egotistic,

and the young ones were just plain immature. She is not the type of

woman that goes looking for a man; she likes for the man to make the

first move, but now it seems like the only men that approach her are just

not her type.

“Hey there pretty lady. How are you doing?” says a six foot two

inch tall dark skinned clean cut man. He is wearing a navy blue pen

stripped suit. He has light brown eyes, a pure white smile, and a gotee

that is neatly groomed. He looks to be around the age of twenty-five.

“Hi yourself,” Shawna replied sitting at the bar enjoying her after

work apple martini at her favorite bar, Cavaliers. “What brings you

over here to me, sir?”

Smiling he said, “I can’t help but to approach a beautiful woman

sitting at the bar especially if she’s by herself. Does that mean you’re

available?”

30

“I am weighting my options. Who’s asking?” she replied.

“Antowne Gholston, and what is your name madam?” he said.

“Shawna Cole,” she replied.

Sitting in Cavaliers, Shawna and Antowne talked for hours on end.

They talked about college, work, and even their past relationships. She

felt comfortable around him. She could talk to him about anything and it

didn’t make her feel uncomfortable, until the subject of marriage came

up.

“Married! I can’t get married now. I’m still in my prime.” He

protested.

“And how old are you for you to still be in are prime?” Shawna

said with attitude.

“I’m thirty years young woman. I have my whole life ahead of me.”

he replied.

“You have got to be kidding me. I’m leaving. This conservation is

over.” Shawna grabbed her purse and coat, and stormed out of the bar.

Murmuring under her breath, what is wrong with these men these days?

Why do all of them try their best to avoid marriage? Or maybe it’s just

the guys I talk to.

31

She arrived home to her apartment around seven o’ clock. Just in

time enough to watch my favorite show on Fridays, Say Yes to the Dress.

Shawna watched that show dreaming of the day she would meet Mr.

Right and picking out her wedding gown with her Mom and a few of her

closest friends. She desires so much to get married one day but because

she is just twenty-two years old and the fact that she hasn’t met the right

man yet is putting a damper on her wedding dreams. However, she

remains optimistic in one day finding that man.

The weekend is here and Shawna usually stops by her parent’s

house to catch up on the family news with her mom. When she arrives at

her parent’s house, as usual she sees her Dad trying to fix something.

“Dad, what are you up to now?” She laughed giving her dad a hug.

“Babygirl! You know ya old man gonna do something to stay alive

these days. How you been doing?” He gleamed at the sight of his little

girl coming to see him.

“I’m fine dad. I’m worried about you though. You know you can’t

fix everything around this house,” She smiled as he attempts to fix the

broken doorbell. “Dad, I beg of you please call the repair man before you

electrocute yourself again. I refuse to go to the hospital this time.”

32

“Oh, hush child. Ya daddy knows what he’s doing,” Giving her a

look to go in the house and sit down.

“Okay, Daddy. I just want you to know I love you,” she said.

“And I love you too, babygirl,” he replied.

Walking into the house she notices her Mom in the kitchen fighting

to take down the wall paper that has been up ever since Shawna was a

little girl. Unfortunately, it looks as if the wall paper is winning. Shawna

walks in the kitchen and all she sees are multiple color palettes spread

across the kitchen table as if they were poker chips at a casino.

“Mom, what in the world are you doing? It seems like your

fighting a battle you can’t win at this point,” Shawna said laughing as

her mom is trying to rip the paper off the wall with her bare hands.

“Don’t just stand there, help me girl,” she said shouting in

frustration. “Grab that scraper off the counter.”

“Yes ma’am. Mom, I’m starting to give up on my future husband,”

she said trying to find comfort from her mom. “Maybe I’m meant to be

alone for the rest of my life.”

“Child, hush yo’ mouth. You are just twenty-two years old; you

have so many years ahead of you. Don’t worry yourself about marriage

now. You have plenty of time,” her mom said with the biggest smile on

33

her face. “Now help me take this wall paper down before your father

come in here messing everything up.”

Her mom always has the right thing to say to make her feel better.

There is nothing like the comfort from her mother that could make a bad

day turn around for the better.

The next day after church service, Shawna went home to change

into some workout clothes to head over to the gym. Shawna’s motto was:

you can’t get a sexy husband if you don’t have a sexy body. Once she

made it to the gym, she noticed that a white man was on her favorite

treadmill. It was her favorite treadmill because it was in the perfection

place between the air conditioner and the view of the television was

excellent. She decided to walk over to him and see if he would be much

longer.

“Excuse me sir. You are on my favorite treadmill. How much

longer will you be on it?” Shawna said with a slight attitude.

“Well madam. I didn’t know anyone owed this treadmill. I always

thought that it was the property of the gym, but if you must know I will

be done with it in about twenty minutes,” said the man. “By the way

what is your name?”

34

“What does that have to do with me getting on this treadmill after

you?” Shawna said.

“Nothing, but I thought I should at least ask for the name of the

most attractive woman in this gym,” said the man.

“Well first I have to say thank you for the comment, and second I

would prefer to get your name first,” she said flirtingly.

“Eric Steele, now your name please,” he said.

“Shawna Cole. I have to admit this is very unexpected. I never

would have thought a white man would be interested in me,” she said

with pure surprise.

“It’s a first time for everything.” He said.

Right then Shawna knew he was the one God made just for her.

35

The Sister I Always Wanted

I have always wanted a sister. A little sister I could pick on or a big sister I could talk

to and get advice from. I even thought about having a twin sister, but I quickly changed my

mind about that idea because I would rather be the only person who looks like me. But

either way it goes, I wished for a sister. I tried to get my parents to have another baby or

possibly adopt a child, but nothing worked. But at the age of five, I soon found out that I did

have a sister. A half-sister that is, but nonetheless a sister.

Her name is Shannan. She is from Kansas City, Missouri; she is ten years older

than I am and she is married with three children. Because of our age difference and the fact

she lives in Missouri, we have never had a chance to become close sisters. She rarely calls

and all she does is send us pictures every five years. This is not the sister I wanted, but I

always wished we would eventually become closer.

Soon my wish came true. We finally met after I turned the age of twenty. She

decided it was time for us to meet her family after years of knowing one another but not

seeing one another. We met the summer before my senior year of college. We had so much

to catch up on; we didn’t know where to start. She asked, “When is your birthday?” I said

“June 26th. When is yours?” She replied, “January 22nd.” We talked for hours about the

general things, trying to get to know each other. I got a chance to talk to my two nieces and

nephew and her husband.

We spent the majority of her time during her visit together. We went out to eat,

shopping, and to the movies. Every minute we had together made up for the years we

missed in one another’s lives. She and her family stayed for two weeks at my parents’ house

36

and the plan after their visit was for me to travel back home with her for two weeks. There,

we could continue our sisterly reunion.

The last few days, before I left to go home with her, we all decided to have family

days. We went to Birmingham to the Civil Rights Museum and to the Botanical Gardens.

We walked through downtown and stopped at different clothing shops. In one store, we

played dress up. We acted as if we were in a movie where the teenage stars tried on outfits.

We acted like complete goofballs. I tried on one party dress that was red and black.

Shannan’s first reaction was “Wow! That dress is entirely too tight. Try on something

else. I can see your heart beating through it.”

Laughing at her response, I said “I knew you would say that; that’s why I tried it on.”

We both laughed and continued to try on clothes.

We finally decided to buy a few items out that store, which made the sales associates

happy that we were getting out of their hair. We then caught up with rest of the family in an

Italian restaurant. We enjoyed our family days before I left to go to Kansas City with my

sister and her family.

The very last day, we had a family cookout where Dad grilled ribs, chicken, hot dogs,

and hamburgers. While Dad grilled, the rest of us swam in the backyard pool and played

volleyball with the net I set up earlier that day. Because I am competitive person, I

processed to talk trash throughout the whole game.

“You couldn’t beat me if you tried” I challenged Shannan.

“Watch me slaughter you with my eyes closed” Shannan threatened.

We played three games in a row and she beat me two out of three games.

37

“That was nothing but pure luck madam, plus I let you win those last two games. I

felt bad when I beat you on the first games” I said.

She burst into laughter, “What? You only beat me by one point the first game. You

talk a lot of trash for someone who lost two games of pool volleyball.”

Smiling, I said, “That’s what I do best.”

That night after eating the incredibly delicious feast of various grilled foods, we all

felt we should finish the night with a series of movies. From Transformers to The Princess

and the Frog, we didn’t head to bed until three in the morning. We all went to bed

preparing for the byes that were awaited for us at the airport. Later than morning, we arose

at ten o’ clock to head towards the airport at one o’ clock. Kansas City, Missouri awaited my

arrival to take that town by storm. After saying our goodbyes and see you later, Shannan,

her family, and I went to the terminals after getting through the long tedious line of security.

As we waited for the plane to arrive, I took the kids around airport to see other planes take

off and land.

When the plane arrived, everyone one began to board. The time was finally here for

me to go to my sister’s hometown. When we arrived in Kansas City, we took our luggage to

her house then Shannan and I went walking around the city. She showed me all the places

she went as a child and the neighborhood she grew up in. Soon after, we went to eat at her

favorite restaurant. We had our first imitate conversation talking about love, relationships,

and other things. We laughed and even did a little crying, but the whole time I was sitting

there talking to her, I was constantly thinking she is the sister I always wanted.

The next couple of days she introduced me to her mother and a few of her cousins

and aunts. They all treated me like I was already part of the family. They fixed dinner for me

38

that night. All of my favorite foods and then some, and afterwards we sat around and

socialized. Her family was very warm and opened to me and when we were getting ready to

leave her mother’s house to go back to her’s, her mother told me “You are always welcome

here anytime.” That truly made me feel as if I had two moms: one in Alabama and the other

in Missouri. Kansas City quickly became my home away from home, but soon things would

turn for the worst.

After being there for a week, Shannan began to act a little weird about me being

there. She started to ignore me when I would ask her to do something with me. She started

making excuses to why she didn’t want to go somewhere with me. She wasn’t the same

person I met three weeks earlier. She changed so suddenly and unexpectedly that it began to

strain our relationship. I wanted to confront her about the way she had been treating me the

past few days, but I didn’t know how. I talked to her husband to see what was going on, but

he didn’t know either.

He said, “She has been stressed about work and other things, but she won’t tell me

what’s going on either. I believe she is having a PMS moment; she will be fine soon.”

Right after he finished what he said that is when Shannan walked into the living room. She

looked frustrated and tired. She stared at me like I did something wrong.

I asked, “Is everything ok? You have been acting strange the past few days. Do you

want to talk about it?”

She replied shouting, “You wouldn’t understand anything I’m going through. You

just wouldn’t understand.”

“I might if you would let me hear what you’re going through. You haven’t even

given me a chance,” I yelled.

39

At that point, the argument began. She continued to say that I wouldn’t understand. I

didn’t know what to do. I was completely bewildered to what was happening. The time we

have spent together seemed as if it were all thrown in the trash. The argument continued for

two hours and it led to me wanting to leave and go back home. Her husband tried to get us

to reconcile, but she refused. Then she walked out of the living, went upstairs, and slammed

to door to her bedroom.

Her husband stayed in the living with me as I cried; still in shock about what just

happened, I told him I wanted to go home first thing in the morning.

He asked, “Are you sure you want to leave?”

Sobbing I said, “I think it would be best for the both of us. She seems like she needs

time to heal and get through all the stress she is having.”

“Okay. I will call the airport in the morning.” He replied.

I began packing my things for the trip back home.

The next morning, I tried to say goodbye to Shannan, but she never came out of her

room nor did she respond to my goodbyes. Sadly, her husband and kids drove me to the

airport. We said our goodbyes and I headed back home. My parents met me at the airport at

home and asked me what happened, but all I could say was I don’t know.

I continued living my life as if I never knew I had a sister. We never called, text

messaged, or emailed one another to solve the problem of what happened during my time

there. It frustrated me to point I cried whenever I thought about it. I tried my best to forget

about her but it seemed impossible especially since at one point I felt she was the best sister

ever. However, I soon find someone who would make me forget about it all.

40

Marcus is his name. He came into my life at the exact moment I needed someone to

comfort me. We met at the mall. He said he saw me shopping in DSW racking up on some

platform pumps. From that moment on he knew I was the one he had been waiting for his

whole life.

Our first date was at the Waffle House. Not to get confused, I am not a cheat date, I

just love waffles. That night, we sat and talked for hours even after we got through eating.

“So what do you like to do in your free time?” he asked.

“I love to sing, dance, and hang out with my friends as much as possible, but we have

been talking about me the entire night. What about you? What do you like to do?” I replied.

He said the corniest but sweetest line I have ever heard from a guy, “I love to sit and

talk to a beautiful woman like you.”

From then on he had me hooked on him. He was everything I wanted in a man and then

some.

I has been a almost two years since I met Marcus, and he decided for our second year

anniversary he would take me back to the place where we had our first date: the Waffle

House.

We ordered exactly the same thing we ordered on our first date. He got the Grand Slam

breakfast meal and I ordered my waffles and a side of turkey sausage. As I drank my glass of

milk with my meal, I heard a clinking sound at the bottom of my glass. My initial thought

was that something was terribly wrong with this milk.

“Excuse me ma’am,” I said to the waitress, “Something is wrong with this glass of

milk.”

41

“No ma’am nothing is wrong. Just continue to drink it. There is something in there

just for you,” the waitress said walking away.

Right then I knew what it was. I gulped the milk down as fast as I could to get to the one

thing I have dreamed of since I was twelve: an engagement ring. I was so happy I didn’t

know what to say. Tears began to roll down my eyes as Marcus wiped off the ring and slid it

on my finger. The people in Waffle House cheered and clapped for the newly engaged

couple.

Six months had passed since the engagement and I was preparing for my wedding

day. The arrangements were set and the people had arrived for the ceremony. As I finished

my last touches on my makeup, my parents walked into the room. With tears running down

their cheeks, they were smiling ear to ear.

My Dad said, “I have never seen you look so beautiful.”

“Thank you, Daddy” I smiled.

“I have one last surprise for you” he said.

“What is it? You already gave me my dream wedding; what more can you give?” I

replied.

Then in walks my sister, Shannan. Crying she said, “I hope you can forgive me for

my foolishness. I have missed you so much.”

As tears formed in my eyes, I said, “All is forgotten.”

She embraced me with a hug and said, “Let’s get you married.”

At that moment, I knew that not only was I starting a new life as a married woman, but I

was starting a new life with the sister I always wanted.

43

The summer of 2012 the opportunity came to me to

receive the experience of writing outside of the

classroom. I was fortunate to find an internship

working for an up and coming magazine in Atlanta,

Georgia. The magazine is an online publication

named Atlanta Tastemaker Magazine. It is a

bimonthly publication that focuses on the lives of

local celebrities, entertainment, music, and food all

in Atlanta. I was grateful for the opportunity and I

enjoyed learning a different way of writing.

44

Flying isn’t Frightening

A huge majority of the population has

aerophobia, better known as the fear of

flying. Just the thought of flying will make

them faint, vomit or have a panic attack.

Yes, there have been reports of planes

crashing, but flying is still the safest way of

travel. Why, you ask?

Over the years, plane safety has increased

tremendously. Because of the constant quality control checks and

advanced technology, planes are always under strict inspection to

ensure the safety of all who ride them. Also, flying has the lowest

rate of fatalities compared to other means of travel, including

driving. According to MSNBC, the odds of dying in a plane crash

are 1 in 11 million compared to the odds of dying in a car crash,

which is 1 in 5000.

Despite the rare occurrence of crashes, flying is the safest way to

travel. So don’t be afraid to fly- it's completely safe. Guaranteed!

45

Be Optimistic, You’ll

Live Longer

Did you realize that just thinking the glass

is half full can lead to healthy living?

Having a healthy outlook on life causes

you to de-stress and reduces your risk of

heart attack and stroke. People who think

optimistically are less likely to experience

cardiovascular problems than those who

are pessimistic.

Also, positive people tend to create good habits and are willing to

exercise more often. Good habits can lead to better eating and

sleeping habits and an overall better life. So, start to surround

yourself with happy thoughts and positive people—you will live

longer.

Credit: youbeauty.com

46

Education is Timeless

Being a college student, I see people from

all backgrounds, ethnicities, and of all ages

in my classes. Although I started college

fresh out of high school, not all people are

able to do so. No matter what age you are,

it’s never too late to go back to school and

get the degree you have always wanted. As

an adult going back to the classroom, there

are some things you need to look for and think about before

jumping head first into a university.

Evaluate your interests and make sure the program you are enrolling

in will grant you the job to which you been aspiring. Next, look for

the right college for you. Be sure the program you want is accredited

and also check to see if you’re eligible for federal aid or loans. Learn

about the costs and aid available for incoming students. You may be

able to apply for scholarships and grants, which don’t require you to

do repayments. Apply for loans using FAFSA (Free Application for

Federal Student Aid). This will determine what loans, grants and

scholarships you’re eligible for.

47

It’s important to never give up on your dreams and to always reach

for the stars. You deserve the job you want and a better life for you

and your family.

48

Healthy Hair Defined

What is healthy hair? Or what makes

for healthy hair? Is it the length or the

shine? May be it’s the texture? Either

way it goes, we all want healthy hair; so

how can you achieve the healthiest hair

possible? This is how:

Handle with care-

combing your while wet

can cause breakage. Saturate your hair with

conditioner and then start de-tangling. It will help slide

out the knots more easily.

Cool it- heating tools can make for gorgeous hair

styles, but they can also burn and sear hair. If using

heating tools, be sure to use heat protectants. Once a

week, clean tools with alcohol to remove residue.

Hit the salon- get a trim about every 10 weeks. Do the

same for color treatments including highlights and for

those root touch-ups. Use dye that contains less

ammonia to avoid that wiry look.

49

Seal the deal- shampoos strip your hair from its

essential oils, so always use conditioner after

shampooing your hair to seal in the moisture.

Comb it through- before hopping into the shower,

gently comb through your hair to dissolve the product

buildup and dirt. The gunk will rinse away more easily

and will leave room for the conditioner to penetrate

the hair. Remember to always ring out the excess water

before using your conditioner. It will allow it to

moisturize your hair.

Go deeper- at least twice a week, give your hair a great

oil or amino acid treatment. Massage it into the scalp,

comb it through, and microwave a damp towel for a

few seconds, wrap it around your hair then let it sit for

20 minutes. The towel will increase the absorption of

the treatment which will result in moisturized hair.

These tips will give you some gorgeous and silky hair. Now that’s

healthy.

50

Eating Healthy makes

for Healthy Hair

Oil, shampoo, conditioner, and gel

aren’t the only things that can help give

you healthy hair. Have you heard of

biotin pills or fish oil tablets? Those

supplements have also been said to

make hair grow healthier. But don't

forget about the main thing we consume

every day: food. Eating healthy foods will make for healthy hair, but

not just any food. Here are the super foods you'll need to grow the

healthiest and most beautiful hair of your life.

1. Salmon- Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids that are

needed for a healthy scalp, this food is a must for

those with dry scalp and dull hair.

2. Dark Green Vegetables- Made of vitamins A and C,

dark green veggies can help your hair follicles secrete

the essential oils they need to act as the hair's natural

conditioner.

51

3. Beans- Yes, beans are actually good for your hair.

How? Beans are packed with protein. Hair is made of

protein. Makes sense now, right?

4. Nuts- Want thick, shiny hair? Eat a hand full of nuts.

They contain vitamins and minerals essential for the

health of the scalp.

5. Poultry- Lean proteins such as chicken and turkey

have Vitamin B6 that will maintain the health of your

hair.

6. Eggs- Full of protein, eggs are the best food for healthy

hair. Also with biotin and Vitamin B-12, it doesn’t

matter if you cook them over easy, scrambled, or

fried; just eat them. It’s for your hair.

7. Whole Grains- Grab a bowl of whole grain cereal, or

have a couple of slices of whole wheat toast for

breakfast. It’s full of zinc, iron, and B vitamins for

beautiful hair.

8. Oysters- They are not just an aphrodisiac, they can

give your hair some love too. Because zinc is a

powerful antioxidant, it will give your hair the TLC it

needs.

52

9. Low-Fat Dairy Products- skim milk, yogurt, and

cottage cheese are great sources of calcium, which is

an important mineral when it comes to hair growth. So

grab some cottage cheese or a bottle of milk for a

snack later in the day. Your hair will thank you.

10. Carrots- Not only are they good for your eyes, but

they will help with the health of your scalp. Go ahead

and get that bag of baby carrots in the produce section.

For extra flavor, get a bottle of ranch dressing. Yum!

With these foods at your dinner table, you are soon to have the hair

of your dreams. Long, silky, shiny hair is in your future.

53

They Put that on

Their FACE?!

Unbelievable Beauty

Rituals

If you thought putting cucumbers or tea

bags over your eyes was weird; you

don’t know the half of it. We all have

creative ways to clean our skin or do our hair, but some of what

people do in other places around the globe is unheard of and a tad

bit crazy. These rituals are out of this world.

1. Bird Poop Facials (Japan)- they aren't scraping poop

off car window shields, it is a fine powder that is used

by geishas and kubaki to remove heavy makeup.

Although it is rich with amino acid, this facial will cost

you. $180 to be exact for only 50 minutes. Pricey.

2. Ant Body Wash (Japan)- ants are have high levels of

formic acid, which gives you energy. That's why some

cultures consider ants a delicacy, but the body wash is

used to remove dead skin and oil residue. 75 grams

54

goes for $15. So not only can you get a rid of that oily

skin but it will boost your energy.

3. Bull Sperm Conditioner (London)- rich in protein and

and adds moisture to your hair, this taboo hair care

product runs $85. I guess it really does work for that

price.

4. Pig Placenta Beauty Drink (Japan)- remember

watching that movie on childbirth back in 7th grade

and learning about the placenta that passes nutrients

from mother to baby? Well, they decided to kick it up

a notch and drink it. People are willing to do anything

to turn back the hands of time.

5. Buttery V-Jay (Ethiopia)- we all love the idea of getting

a full body massage with oils and lotions, but butter

might make you feel like your getting ready to be

cooked. These women don't mind it though; they even

stick the butter in their v-jay and sit on a streaming

toilet seat in the hopes of tightening their birth canal. I

wonder if it really works.

6. Portuguese Urine Gargle (Rome)- Forget the

whitening strips and toothpaste, do what the Romans

do and use urine to brighten your pearly whites. And it

kills the germs that cause bad breath. Toss the Scope

55

and Listerine and get some Portuguese urine. That's

all they had in Julius Caesar's days.

7. Snail Cream (Chile)- most of us know snails as the

French dish, but it also is used as a serum that

improves cell function, counteracts sun damage,

prevent premature aging and wrinkles, and accelerates

the renewal of damaged tissues. The mucus they

produce is full of an antioxidant that protects them

from the elements, so it could work for humans.

8. Whale Excretions (New Zealand)- ambergris,

originated in the intestines of the sperm whale, it is

used in medicines, spices, and even as a stabilizer in

some fine perfumes.

9. Placenta Face Cream (Malaysia)- the placenta is also in

used in multiple products such as facial masks, eye

gels, and hair serums. So now you don't have worrying

drinking anymore. The face cream starts at $90 and

goes up. Well, it might cheaper to bite the bullet and

drink it instead.

10. Skin Pokers (California)- the spiky roller

penetrates deep enough to break down and diminish

scars and blemishes as well as encourage the natural

56

healing process. The kit is $180 but you also call the

local spas to see if they practice this method.

Although these are outrageous beauty rituals, apparently it works for

them. Even so, I don’t think I would try any of it.

Source: sheknows.com