From
sin, abuse and abandonment…
to
repentance, recovery and redemption.
When Natalie Jordan’s family moved up north
to Detroit in 1954, people of color all across United States were involved in a battle to obtain racial equality
and social acceptance. From early childhood, Natalie’s struggles transcended
the boundaries of black versus white. Her mahogany complexion and African facial
features often provoked sheer malice and exclusion brought on by blatant intra-racial prejudice.
Louisiana native Albertina Duplantis makes no apologies
for employing any available resources in order to maintain her family’s elite status in the community and the socially
acceptable bloodline of future Duplantis family generations.
Gregory Duplantis’ own flesh and blood ruthlessly
conspire and execute a diabolical scheme to abort his plans to marry Natalie – the only woman he would ever truly love.
Brown Paper Bag is a story about deception, betrayal and redemption through the power of God's love.
Kudos for Brown Paper Bag!
"Brown Paper Bag will encourage those caught in
the cycle of abuse to walk away from desperate situations and come to understand their personal power. It will help them see that our Great Big God is still interested even in the smallest details of our lives.
---Dr. Gail Hayes, International speaker and author
of Daughters of the King, Finding Victory Through Your God-Given Personal Style.
"With its gripping storyline and dramatic revelations,
Brown Paper Bag will grab you from its beginning and hold you 'til the very end."
---Kendra Norman-Bellamy, author of Essence Magazine’s
Best Seller, Crossing Jhordan’s River
"Brown Paper Bag skillfully illuminates the struggles
through the characters’ daily interpersonal relationships. Just when the
ripples of discord seem to cease, a new wave of disunity begins. Ms. Mason Theus uncovers a mindset embedded within the African
American community since the days of slavery.”
---Denise Smith, Author of Back from Sanity’s
Edge
“Brown Paper Bag is a depiction that our end
has already been foretold. OUR BATTLE HAS ALREADY BEEN FOUGHT FOR US!”
---Tecora D. Williams, Fox News
"This wonderfully written novel is about the search
for the type of love that believeth all things, beareth all things, and endureth all things. Awesome read!"
---Kimberley Brooks, Black Expressions Best Selling
author of He's Fine...But is He Saved?
Excerpt
Prologue
Be
not forgetful to entertain strangers;
for
thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2 (KJV)
Albertina hovered above the inanimate form that
was her own body. She heard unintelligible voices and the sound of several sets of shuffling feet approaching. A sea of white
coats with hands that held clipboards and pens stood at the foot of her hospital bed. Five, no six white coats.
One of them spoke as the others listened and scribbled
notes. She willed her eyes to open but they disobeyed. She tried to speak but was unable to make her lips part. Her mind was
screaming. She wanted someone to pull out all of the tubes and wires. Tubes that pushed oxygen in and out of her lungs. Wires
that made her heart beat. Tubes that nourished and hydrated her...drained her body's waste. Wires and tubes that enabled her
to live.
The white coats formed a semi-circle around her
hospital bed. A gray-haired white coat asked questions of the others. Two of them answered. The gray-haired one scowled and
shook his head. He impatiently waited for the obvious correct answer.
Finally a medical student with topaz-colored eyes
offered the correct answer. The corners of Gray-hair's mouth turned upward as he nodded approvingly.
Albertina oserved as the white coats continued to
violate her. Gray-hair lifted the thin cotton sheet that covered the remnants of her dignity, pointed and asked more questions.
Again, the girl with topaz-colored eyes answered correctly.
Albertina sensed a familiarity with the bright intern.
Neither she nor her young benefactor were aware that their past - and future were entwined.
Somebody
died, somebody lied, the obvious is sometimes obscure...
Chapter One
Lover and
friend hast thou put far from me
and mine acquaintance
into darkness
Ps. 88:18
(KJV)
Who's that
baby's daddy?"
"Are you drunk or something? Why would you ask me
that?"
A deafening clap of thunder tore open the late-night
sky and released sheets of April rain.
Gregory shouted over the thunder, "I just had a
talk with Thomas."
"What has Thomas got to do with our baby?"
"Is it our baby Natalie? Do you even know who the
father is?"
"Gregory you know I have never been with anybody
but you - that one time! I can't believe you even fixed your mouth to ask me such a question."
"Liar!" He slapped her - hit her so hard she was
sure she'd bitten through her tongue.
Bewildered by his sudden attack, Natalie tasted
her own blood - not knowing whether the bleeding was from the tongue bite or the split in her rapidly swelling lips. She ignored
the excruciating pain and reached for him, pleading for an explanation. "Why did you do that? What did I do to deserve that?"
He grabbed her shoulders, shaking her. "I'm
not falling for that innocent act any more Natalie. You played me for a fool - big time. I can't believe I almost married
you."
She wrenched herself free of his grip and instinctively
pushed him so hard he stumbled backward - barely missing the porch steps. "This isn't you talking Gregory. Your mouth is moving,
but Albertina Duplantis is talking."
Another back-handed blow to her mouth sent Natalie
crashing against the house - jabbing her back into the doorbell. The intensity of the blow against the doorbell shot a wave
of pain into Natalie's spin that traveled up to her neck, back down to her tailbone and into her right leg.
"You keep my mother's name out of your filthy,
lying mouth you slut!"
A crowd of curious neighbors carrying umbrellas
and wearing rain slickers had gathered in front of the house. Block Captain Elijah Nelson yelled into the crowd. "I'm calling
the police!"
The neighbor's comment fueled Gregory's anger like
gasoline doused on a flame. "This is a private matter. You people need to mind your own business." He returned his attention
to Natalie. "What are you planning to do about that baby?"
"You seem to believe it's not your baby so it's
not your business."
"Don't get smart with me." He shoved her against
the house, clutched her throat with his right hand and raised his left fist.
The screen door slapped against the house. Hattie
Jordan burst onto the porch wielding a meat cleaver. "Boy, if you hit my daughter you gon' draw back a bleedin' nub!"
Her husband, Dallas stumbled out of the house
carrying a shotgun and wiping sleep from his eyes. "Whas' goin' on out here? Natalie did this boy put his hands on you?"
Hattie answered, "Look at her mouth Dallas. This
fool had her pinned 'gin the house." Natalie's face was twisted from the pain that radiated from the center of her back.
Dallas snatched his daughter away from Gregory's
grip and leveled the barrel of the shotgun between his brows. "Look-a-here Mama's Boy, you get yo' tail off my prop'ty 'fo
I blow you' head clean off!"
"Daddy no!" Natalie sobbed into her father's
shoulder.
A black and white Detroit Police squad car pulled
up in front of the house. The driver shined a light on the porch and yelled to Gregory. "What's going on here? We got a call
that a lady was being assaulted at this address."
Dallas eased the shotgun back into the house while
the officers focused on Gregory. One of the officers recognized Gregory and yelled over his shoulder to his partner. "Hey
Jake, ain't this the guy we pulled over just a few minutes ago?"
Jake looked at Gregory, then his '56 Chevy.
He yelled back. "Yeah Mel, one and the same. What's going on up there Mr. Duplantis?"
Gregory answered. "Just a little
lover's quarrel. sorry if we disturbed anyone. We didn't mean to cause any trouble."
Officer Mel exited the squad car to break up
the crowd. "Alright everybody, show's over. Go on home, there's nothing else to see here."
The reluctant crowd dispersed. Several people
returned to their homes to peer through the windows of darkened rooms. A few of the more defiant neighbors congregated with
Elijah Nelson on his front porch - hoping the entertainment would continue.
Officer Mel walked over to the bottom of the stairs
and surveyed the scene. Natalie hid her face from the policeman's light.
"You folks sure there is nothing going on that
we need to know about?" He directed his attention to Natalie. "Young lady are you hurt?"
From the shadows, she wiped a trembling hand
across her face and tried to speak normally, but her voice and her bulging lips betrayed her. "N-no thank you officer. I'm
ok."
A quick assessment of the scene and judging from
the swelling and bruises on Natalie's face, his suspicions were confirmed. He'd witnessed this scenario on countless weekend
calls. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "Well, we can't make you turn him in."
The officer raised the collar of his raincoat
and spoke to Gregory. "So this is where you were in such a hurry to get to huh?"
Gregory stared past him - at Natalie. Then his acid-churning
stomach sent him into a fit of violent convulsions and dry heaves.
The officers exchanged looks. "Tell you what Mr.
Duplantis, me and Officer Tyson there will give you a ride home." he motioned for Gregory to start moving toward the squad
car.
Gregory imagined the hissy-fit Albertina Duplantis
would have if her son was brought home in a police car.
"No thanks, I'm alright. I can make it."
Officer Jake propped his foot on the bottom step
and leaned forward. "Young man, I don't think you understand. Officer Tyson and I insist that you accept our offer."
He scowled. "And what am I supposed to do about
my car?" I can't just leave it here."
"In light of the circumstances, I plan to give this
house special attention all night. I'm sure nothing will happen to it while it's parked in front of the Jordans' house. You
can arrange to take care of it in the morning." He placed his hand on the young man's shoulder. Come on now. Get in the squad
car son."
Dallas put his arm around his daughter's slightly
protruding waist and gently guided her toward the warmth and safety of their home. She looked over her shoulder and saw Gregory
glaring at her from the back seat of the police cruiser. Natalie's tears mingled with the rain and splattered onto her cheeks
as she watched her baby's father disappear into an envelope of darkness.
Copyright
© 2006 Venus Mason Theus
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