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BROKEN SPIRIT
(THE ROAD OF HEALING BACK TO THE COMPLETE SOUL)
By DENEE JACOBS-TAYLOR AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2013 DENEE JACOBS-TAYLOR
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4817-7801-5
CHAPTER 1
Desiree Chase was born during the early Winter months in the middle of the 50's decade. The very day that Desiree was born was exciting to everyone, to say the least. John Chase goes into the street and tells his friends that Ruby Chase, his new wife is about to have the baby and hails a cab. Clarence and Gloria Walker, Ruby's parents are all coming out to the cab to get in and they all did. After closing the doors to the cab, the cabdriver noticed that someone very important was missing, the mother who was about to deliver. In that light moment John opens the cab door to tell ruby to come, there was not time to loose.
The day that Desiree was taken home from the hospital, she demonstrated to all around her and to the entire world just how powerful and developed a new born baby's set of lungs could possibly be. It was at that point that her great-aunt assumed that she was holding a future great soprano in her arms. Coming home to a couple of very proud parents, beholding their very first child, a set of very proud, Christian and humble grandparents, future Godparents and a host of long time friends and neighbors, they all agreed without a doubt that she was a wonderful sight to behold. Someone who did not know any better would think that Desiree was the first baby to ever come home to the thriving and warm community of a Manhattan County Hospital, New York.
These were the times and the years where an entire community took care of each other. These were the times whereas people would not even think or consider the thought of locking their doors or windows or even their cars. These were the years whereas a grocer would not think twice about feeding a family of a father who may be out of work and not ask for a dime on the bill. These were the years where the children were safe to walk the streets and play without parents having the fear of a child being taken or lost without a trace. These were the early to mid-fifties and for many of the Black American families, sometimes referred to as Negroes and other times referred to as coloreds, a different time, a different place, different people, different thoughts, different mind-sets, different priorities, a different era, a different world, President Dwight David Eisenhower was in the White House.
Some say that it was a better time, a better world. Some say that this was a time that the bond and strength of the family unit was the very core and foundation of American society. Some say that the church family and the never-ending, devoted practices of our religious faiths and traditions are what held our families as well as our society together. Then, there are those that say that these were not the best of times, but the worse of times. The opportunities for advancement in the labor force for minorities were grim and discouraging. Some lived with the memories of the loss of loved ones to polio disease and spinal meningitis. Others lived with the memories of the loss of loved ones to the evil of the streets. The evil of the experimentations of a notorious drug called Heroin which claimed so many innocent lives, young and old. The paths of destruction that it left of those who saw no other alternative to escape the harshness of daily living with the formation of the era of the American Gangsters of the fifties. Notwithstanding, however one viewed their places in life during this time, it was for certain that the world of John and Ruby Chase was perfect in their eyesight, because their baby girl Desiree Chase was born into the world.
John and Ruby Chase were both very young at this time. They had tied the knot of matrimony barely 6 months prior to Desiree's birth, with the assistance of John's mother Cora Lee along with the blessings of Ruby's parents, Clarence and Gloria Walker. John was born in the heart of Manhattan, Ruby was a child of the southland, born in North Carolina where here parents lived until she was 2 years of age.
John and Ruby met while students in junior high school. Ruby's family worshipped at Garden of Gethsemane Baptist Church. John's family worshipped at Shiloh Baptist Church which was further downtown. Clarence Walker made his living and supported his family as a carpenter, and worked out of a unionized factory located in the Bronx, near the Major Deegan highway (better known as 87 South), which leads to the east side of Harlem, when crossing the bridge. While his wife Gloria contributed to the family approximately three to four days per week as a domestic worker. Cora Lee Chase spent many years working in the jewelry district of Manhattan, New York. Her specialty were the Pearls, all types of pearls, cultured and uncultured. John's father, John Chase Sr. spent most of his time over the road after his retirement from the military after serving in World War 11. John barely saw his father thus not having as close of a relationship with him as he would have liked. He often times spoke of his father and wondered quite often if he was just like him, or was he the exact opposite of his father. Since John's mother and father separated when John was approximately 9 years old, Cora Lee Chase would choose not to speak much about her estranged husband. Cora Lee's mother, Clara Washington, known to all in the community and to the church as "Mother Clara", helped Cora Lee to raise both John and his younger sister Loretta.
Six months have passed and for the passed months, there was much talk about Desiree's christening. Ruby wanted all to go well for her first child's day of, "giving the baby back to GOD" as the older folks would so often call it. Now this was not all very easy for Ruby, simply because she had promised her first child to her childhood friend, Michelle. Ruby and Michelle were as tight as two peas in a pod. Michelle was one year older than Ruby and they had a very close circle of friends. Even though they were all close, it was Michelle who was to be the Godmother of Ruby's first child. Ruby also had another very good friend named Charles Etta, whom had two daughters and one of them, she gave to Ruby as her goddaughter, and her name was Lorene. As the two girls would grow up through the years, Desiree and Lorene would become extremely close as a matter of fact, Lorene had designated herself as Desiree's protector in school, if she should ever need one. Ruby had a handful of friends, but her and Michelle would prove to be very close. Charles Etta's cousin Amelia Lawson and her husband William, who lived just down the street, was another of Ruby's very good friends. Amelia and William had a total of seven Children as the years went by.
What made this such a difficult task for Ruby was because her mother Gloria also had a best friend. Sarah and her husband Scott Charles were both very close for years to Clarence and Gloria. Therefore out of respect for her mother, Ruby had also promised Desiree to Sarah and Scott Charles. How fortunate can a child be, sometimes it is difficult to find one suitable Godparent, Desiree will have two. It was decided that the services will be held at the Garden of Gethsemane Baptist Church. Rev. McLeay was the pastor and a well known pillar of a figure in the Manhattan community at this time.
Deacon Armstrong was the chairman of the Deacon board of the church. Now it was usually procedure in the church to have a meeting with the parents and the Godparents when a child is to be christened, just as it was customary for a perspective bride and groom to have a counseling session with the pastor and the Deacon Board Chairman.
One day while Gloria Walker was at home, she received a phone call from one of the sisters of the church congregation. Sis. Smith was very well known to all to be the busy body and the know it all in the neighborhood. "Did you get a call from Dead. Armstrong yet, Sis. Walker?", Sis. Smith said. Gloria Walker replied in a very impatient tone, "No, I haven't, why?" "Oh ...' nothin, maybe I shouldn't say anythin." Mrs. Walker became very agitated at this point and asked Sis. Smith for the reason for her phone call and what did she mean. Sis. Smith became very vague and suggested that maybe she should call Rev. McCLeay about the christening of your little granddaughter. "I don't want to start any problems and any he say, she say." Said Sis. Smith to Sis. Walker. She further stated, "Don't say anythin came from my mouth Sis. Walker, ha ha ha." Gloria Walker took a couple of deep breathes, then said to Sis. Smith, "Well, if ya not goin to be more clear in what you are talkin about, I'll just hang up my phone, goodbye Sis. Smith." With that being said, Gloria hung up the phone, quite abruptly.
Later that afternoon, there was a knock at the door, it was Deac. Armstrong. Mrs. Walker invited him in, he entered and took a seat in the living room. As he took his seat, he said to Gloria that he did not intend to stay long, or to take up a great deal of her time. He just stopped by discuss some concerns that he and the pastor had about the little one's christening. The little one meaning, Desiree. "What seems to be the concern?" Asked Gloria. "Well ...' I am not one to spread idol gossip or rumors, but some of the members of the congregation have brought some concerns to the attention of the board and as the chairman, I need to address them. Please understand me Sis. Walker, I am only acting on behalf of the pastor and of the congregation." Stated Deac. Armstrong. Gloria took a seat in her favorite chair across from Deac. Armstrong. She took a few moments with her hands folded, pressing against her chest while she twiddled her thumbs then she replied in a low but stern voice, "What exactly are you talking about? Speak plainly.
That is the only thing that I understand, Deac. Armstrong." "Well" Deac. Armstrong says, with a stutter, "Well Sis. Walker, I understand that your daughter little Sis. Ruby, may have given birth to her baby a little early in her marriage. Please understand ..." I am not sitting in judgment, but the church as you well know can't really put up with certain behaviors of our young persons and we must discourage certain things that are not acceptable in the sight of the Lord." Gloria now sitting with a stern facial expression looking at Deac. Armstrong asked him, "Who else are you speaking for besides yourself and the Lord? As you put it. Are you speaking for the Pastor of the Church? Are you speaking for the Missionary board? Are you speaking for the Choir? Are you speaking for the Mother board? Are you speaking for the Deacon board? Who all are you speaking for, Deac. Armstrong?" "Well Sis. Walker, I did not mean to upset you, but I have a job that I must do." "Well Deac. Armstrong" Gloria says, "You have not answered any of my questions. Since you have a job to do, I think that you should start by answering the questions of a member in good standing of your congregation. A member who has been and whose family has been members of this church for years." "Yes, yes I know Sis. Walker. I know that you have always been a good and faithful servant to the LORD." Says Deac. Armstrong. "Please understand, this is very hard for me to come and talk to you about." Gloria taking another moment looks at Deac. Armstrong, "Now Deac. you and I have known each other for years, right?"
Not giving him time to answer, Gloria continues, "Yeah right. Now let's cut all of this out and get right down to it. My daughter gets married one month and within 9 months, she has a baby, is that your concern? Or as you put it, that is the concern of certain members of your congregation? I am sure that some of the members of the church understands how all that works or do they need it explained to them?" Deac. Armstrong sits silently. Gloria then says, "Or do you need it explained to you? Now, let us talk more plainly. First of all, please try and explain to me what on GOD's green earth could a baby, a cherub, an angel, belonging to the LORD, what could she have possibly done to receive this kind of treatment from church members? All those people who call themselves Christians. Do we need to call Pastor McCleary to get this all cleared up? Or maybe you and I can clear all this up right now and then you can go back to the congregation and explain to them that the best Christians are the ones that practice minding their own business, you know the old saying, 6 months to mind my own business, 6 months for you to mind yours, sounds like that's a full time job ta me! Don't sound dat way ta you? Gloria at this point was on a roll and definetely was indeed on a mission. She continues ..."
Another sign of good Christians are the ones that do not throw stones and live in glass houses." Deac. Armstrong says to Gloria, "What do you mean, Sis. Walker?" Gloria replies, "Well Deac. you know, when a member of the Deacon Board has a certain kind of friendship with the church organist, and that same church organist happens to be married to another Deacon on the same board. Or when a member of the congregation, who is a relative of a Deacon on the same board, happens to make arrangements for that relative's daughter to be sent away suddenly and come back to the same church ..." not expecting anymore. What do you think Deac? I can tell you some more if you like?" At this point, Deacon Armstrong stood up and excused himself. When he reached the front door, he says to Gloria, "I will see you in church on Sunday Morning."
CHAPTER 2
Michelle took a trip to 125th street to buy Desiree's christening outfit. When she arrived at the baby department, she was so overwhelmed at the beautiful white, long and lacey outfits at Blumstein's Department Store that she could not decide, therefore she bought two of them.
When she arrived home, she showed both of them to Ruby. Ruby wanted to know what were they going to do with 2 christening outfits. Therefore, Michelle very softly suggested that Desiree should wear one outfit for the services then change into the other outfit for the reception afterwards. Since this was a day for Godparents and babies, Ruby decided that she didn't stand a chance so she went along with the program. Sarah knew that Michelle would be shopping for the baby on today so she decided to stop by to take a look at the christening fashion. Of course also to her suprise there two outfits. So the question was raised once more by the elder future Godmother as to why there are two outfits. Now at this point, Michelle began to display not such a friendly attitude and made the inquiry, in a very professional but cold manner, why there was such a big deal that she had bought her Goddaughter two very beautiful long white dresses. She wanted her to have them and this was all there was to them. "I am so sorry, didn't mean to upset you so." Sarah said. Gloria who had already had a rather trying day, was not in the mood for any manner of disagreements so she simply rose from the side of the bed and walked out of the bedroom into the kitchen.
Michelle looking at Ruby said that she had to be at an appointment and had to leave. This left Ruby and Sarah in the bedroom staring at each other. The air in the room was as tense and as thick as pea soup, you could just cut through it with a knife. Ruby just softly suggested to Sarah that she had to check the baby and that she would be speaking with her later. Sarah stepped into the kitchen, spoke briefly with Gloria, then went out of the front door.
It is now two days before Desiree's christening. Rev. McCleary paid a visit to the Walker household. When he arrived, he was greeted at the door by Clarence. "Come on in, Rev." Says Clarence with that very deep masculine but very friendly voice that all had come to recognize. "So wear is our little star of the moment?" Says Rev. McCleary. "Oh, the baby? she's out for the time, I think her mamma took her somewheres." Clarence then offers the Reverend a seat. "I think my wife is somewhere's in the buildin ..." Rev. Can I offer ya somethin?" Rev McCleary responsds, "No, no thank you Bro. Walker." The door opens and ther stood Gloria, "Oh ..." hello Reverend, have you been waitin long? I am so sorry, didn't know you were here." As she takes her seatt in her special winged chair, Clarence says to Gloria, "The Rev only got here a few minutes before you came back, Glo." Clarence turns and walks into the kitchen, while Gloria sits and attempts to entertain her Pastor. Rev. McCleary was not a complicated man. Reverend Larry McCleary was born in Richmond, Virginia. He came from a large family, was educated in Richmond during his early childhood, into his teenage years. This is when his parents migrated to New York because his father received a better employment opportunity. Rev. McCleary's father was also a minister who could not ready very well, but he could stir anyone's soul with his firery and brimstone style of preaching. While growing up in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Rev. McCleary's father was the pastor of the Macedonia Church of the Disciples of Christ. Once in New York, he completed his education by attending the Seminary to complete his ministerial training. After graduating the Seminary, he studied and devoted his time to the practice of the Baptist worship doctrine.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from BROKEN SPIRIT by DENEE JACOBS-TAYLOR. Copyright © 2013 DENEE JACOBS-TAYLOR. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
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