SARA ALLEN

JWP 12 Days Of Christmas Story - Part One

By Jasmine Williams

"Mommy, mommy! I want that for Christmas," my daughter, Mia, said while looking at the doll house on our beat up, old school TV.

I looked at my precious child and my heart filled with pain. If it wasn't for the fact that my daughter was watching me, I would have broke down in tears right then and there. It was taking everything in me to hold them back. I couldn't lie to my daughter and tell her that she could have one, so I simply smiled and nodded my head and gave her a warm smile.

This was turning out to be the worst holiday season of my life. I had just recently got laid off from my job at a warehouse, and I was struggling to keep a roof over our head and food on the table. I had to swallow my pride and go down to Social Services and get some food stamps. That little unemployment check I was getting was not getting the job done. I had searched high and low, went on numerous interviews, and it was all to no avail because I never received a call back. I never gave up, though. My daughter needed me to be strong.

Being a single mother was not the move, and I found myself sinking into a depression. I had been forced into raising my daughter alone when her father decided to leave town a short while after she was born. He got his number changed, and I never heard from him again. It was killing me to know that on Christmas morning, my four- year -old daughter would wake up and have little to no gifts to open. I would have to explain to her why Santa skipped our house.

"Baby, why don't you go get washed up and ready for bed? Let's go."

She looked up at me with those big, brown eyes and smiled, showing her missing front tooth. She skipped to the bathroom and proceeded to brush her teeth and wash her face and hands. After she was finished, I followed her into her bedroom and she climbed in bed. I tucked her in and read her a story. Despite everything going on, she was such a happy child. She was an innocent little girl who had no clue how life could fuck you over in the blink of an eye.

I went into my room, sat on my bed, and cried to my heart's content. When I was all cried out, I fell to my knees and cried out to the Lord. I asked God to bring me out of my situation and to send me a Christmas miracle.

The next morning when I woke up, I checked the mailbox before I started breakfast. It was no surprise that I received bill after bill, along with a few past due notices. I sighed and continued to go through the mail when a check caught my eye. It was from the Division Of Child Support Enforcement. I tore it open, and to my surprise, it was a check for $3,500. I opened the letter that came with the check, and it explained that they had located Mia's father and had incarcerated him until he paid.

I praised God right there in the middle of the kitchen. I cried out, shouted, danced, and sent my praises up. God had heard my prayers, and He answered them. I was elated. My daughter could finally get the Christmas that she deserved.

 

JWP 12 Days of Christmas Story – Part Two

By Cali (Sylvia Spearman)

Knowing I had to spend this money wisely, I smiled at all the things I could buy but knew I wouldn’t.

“This is truly a Christmas miracle,” was all I kept mumbling to myself.

I always heard that God had a way of showing up and showing out; it was just that He’d never shown up in my many times of need, but this time He had definitely shown out!

Clutching the check close to my chest as I let a single tear fall from my eye, I uttered, “Thank you Lord!” before I heard a knock at the door. I walked to the door slowly because I couldn’t imagine who would be at my house so damn early. As I put my hand on the door handle, a chill ran down my spine. I should’ve taken that as a sign, but I continued turning the doorknob and regretted it the minute I pulled the door open. I couldn’t believe that a blessing and the devil had showed up on the same day.

I stepped back as he pushed passed me and went into the reason he was here.

“Look, I know you got the child support check by now, right? I was thinking that maybe we should try to work this family thing out one more time.”

Was this bastard standing in the middle of my living room asking to be a family? When I wanted that very same thing a few years ago, he wanted no such thing! He wanted to run the streets with his boys and sleep with other females. I came second, and when having a child together didn’t change anything, I knew it was time to let go. 
With his hands at the side of his black Levis, I took a good look at him and knew deep in my heart that I was still in love with the six foot, cinnamon-colored man standing in front of me. I also knew that if he made all the right promises, I would take him back.

I started to walk back toward the kitchen. He followed as I stuffed the check into my purse and turned toward him. “Would you like something to drink?” I asked.

“Yes, but I also came here to ask you for something else. I don’t really know how to say this, but I… Rubbing his hands across his face, he finally said, “I need half of that money back.”

“What the hell did you just say?” I yelled as I rushed toward him.

Taking a step back, he said, “Look, I have another daughter around the same age as ours that I need to get a few gifts for. I only paid the money to child support to get out of jail and with hopes that you would hear me out and try understanding that I really can’t afford to hand over cash to you like that.”

Dropping my head, I whispered, “Please leave my house and never come back here. If you do, I swear I will do something bad to you.”

As he quickly made his exit without uttering another word, I begin to shake all over. I was so mad! I didn’t know what I was most upset about; him asking for the money back or him having another child that was the same age as Mia.

 

 

JWP 12 Days of Christmas Story – Part Three

by Onyxx (Blaq Phire)

As I stood there trembling and trying to get my bearings together, I heard a faint stirring coming from the back of the apartment.

“Mommy, why are you yelling? You woke me up.”

For a moment, I had actually forgotten that my baby girl was in her room sleeping.

“It’s okay, baby. Mommy just hit her toe. Go back to bed and I’ll be right there to tuck you back in.”

My heart literally broke into a million little pieces as I watched my princess head back to her room. It wasn’t like I still wanted to be with Mateo, but the loneliness I’ve felt since he made his hasty departure almost four years ago had been monumental. I stood at the kitchen sink and just let the tears fall. I cried for my Mia, I cried for my dreams, I cried for the life I thought I was gonna have. My vision of the perfect life had turned into my perfect nightmare.

Once I gathered myself I made my way back to Mia’s room, stood silently in her doorway and listened to her as she finished saying her prayers for the second time that night.

“God, bless mommy and daddy, wherever he is. I’ve been really good, and I don’t really want any toys. Can you just bring me my daddy for Christmas? I promise I won’t ask Santa for anything else. Promise. Amen.”

My breath caught sharply in my throat, and at that moment, my cover was blown. I locked eyes with the most beautiful and loving child anyone could ever wish for. I noticed that her eyes were brimming with tears, and when she sniffled, all I could do to hold myself together was rush over and scoop her up in my arms. An embrace that was probably less than two minutes felt like an eternity, and I felt Mia squirm, but I did not and could not let her go. I wanted her to feel the love I had for her. I wanted her to know that she would never want for anything as long as there was life left in my body.

“Ow, mommy! You’re squeezing too hard.” was all my little darling could say as she wiggled out of my arms.

I wiped my tears quickly and tried to get her situated in bed. No more words were spoken between us, but our mutual silence spoke volumes. I gently kissed Mia’s forehead and tucked her doll (a thrift store, knock-off Cabbage Patch) in next to her. Then I almost ran out of my baby’s room, as I couldn’t face the heartbreak in her eyes.

Back in my living room, I settled in on my couch and finally pulled the check from my purse. I think I sat staring at that check for over an hour. I felt like it was a venomous snake just waiting to strike. I finally shook the fear and uncertainty from my being and grabbed my notebook to try to map out how I was going to spend this money to make my baby’s Christmas something special.

As I relaxed, I started to take stock of my life and how I ended up in this situation. Placing all of my hopes and dreams in one person would be something that I would never do again. No matter how I tried not to think of my asshole of a baby-daddy, my mind kept drifting back to how good we were together once upon a time. All of a sudden, his brazen disregard for me and our child slowly crept in, and I got angry! How dare he bring his ass up in here after all this time and have the audacity to ask me for his money - no, my money - back! Fuck outta here with that shit! I can’t even wrap my head around the fact that this fool has another daughter around the same age as Mia. That’s probably why his sorry ass disappeared.

“The hell with his sorry ass!” I declared to no one other than myself, but I knew all too well that there was a little girl who missed "his sorry ass" terribly.

Damn, the decisions a mama has to make. I looked through the envelope that the check came in and found what I was looking for – the withholding order. Right at the bottom of the page was the address for his place of employment….Guess I’ll be making a trip in the morning.

 

 

JWP 12 Days of Christmas Story – Part Four

by Author Jada Pearl

The next morning, I put on my sexiest dress, heels, and did my makeup just right. I got my baby up and dressed her in the same colors I was wearing.

“Where are we going, mommy?” Mia asked as I put lotion on her face.

“We are just going for a ride, and I want you to be on your best behavior, okay?”

“Okay, mommy, I will,” she said as she gave me a big smile.

Once we were both ready, we headed out to the car, and I strapped Mia into her booster seat. Seated behind the wheel, I typed the address from the order into my GPS. I was determined to go through with this. Looking into the rearview mirror at my baby girl, I knew that I had to do this for her, if for nothing else. I listened to Mia hum song after song on the radio as we made our way to our destination. My stomach was filled with butterflies. I thought this plan through all night as I lay in bed with my eyes open, not sleeping a wink. I looked at the building in front of me and then to the left of me as the GPS directed me to the left. Turning into the driveway, my mouth fell open as I looked at the name of the building: Williams, Wright, & Dwight Law firm. So he worked at one of the biggest law firms in the city

"You got to be kidding me!” I exclaimed under her breath.

Mia heard me and spoke up, “What you say, mommy?”

“Oh nothing. Nothing, baby, I'm just talking to myself,” I told her half-heartedly.

Finding a parking spot, I pulled in and turned my car off. Sighing hard, I started wringing my hands, which was my nervous habit. Looking in the driver’s rearview mirror, I reapplied my lip gloss, even though I didn’t even need anymore. Flipping it back up, I opened the door. Going to the back door, I helped Mia out of the car and fixed her clothes. Then we walked into that building with our head’s held high.

I looked around and immediately caught the glance of the receptionist. I grabbed Mia’s hand a little tighter and headed towards her as she asked me, “Hi, may I help you?”

“Um, yes, I am looking for Mateo Franklin.”

“Mateo Franklin?” she asked with surprise in her voice.

“Yes. He works here, doesn’t he?” I asked her in a direct voice.

“Yes, yes, he does. One moment please,” the receptionist told me. Picking up the phone, she dialed a number and spoke softly into the phone. I strained to hear what she was saying but couldn’t. I looked down at Mia, who was standing there quietly; she was being a good girl like I asked her to be.

Within a few minutes, an older gentleman walked up behind the receptionist and greeted me.

“Hello. How can I help you?” he asked her with a small quiet voice.

“I don’t know," I asked trying to keep the irritation out my voice. "I am here to see Mateo Franklin. Does he work here?”

“Yes. Mateo is my son-in-law, and who might you be?”

“Did… did you say son-in law?” I stuttered.

“Yes, I did. Now are you going to tell me who you are and what you want with him?”

I was just about to respond to him when Mia tapped me on the leg. Looking down at her, I addressed her, “Yes, Mia?”

“Momm,y that’s the man that’s in the picture in your room,” Mia told me loud enough for everyone to hear as she pointed to Mateo, who had just walked in holding hands with a beautiful woman and a little girl who looked just like Mia.

I stood there frozen, as he literally stopped in his tracks when he heard Mia and saw us standing there.

Mateo's father-in-law walked from behind the desk and stood near me. “Mateo, this young woman is here to see you,” his father- in-law said in a disappointing tone as he crossed his arms on his chest, waiting for Mateo to respond...

 

 

JWP 12 Days of Christmas Story – Part Five

by Bri Noreen

“Honey?” the woman asked as she let go of Mateo’s arm and looked at him curiously.

Hell, I was waiting on him to explain himself too. I folded my arms against my chest and stared him down waiting on him to reply. Let me tell you, I was not ready for his answer that just fell out like word vomit.

“She’s my sister,” he blurted out.

“Your sister?”

“Say what?”

“You gotta be fucking kidding me."

All of the responses to Mateo’s bold faced lied bounced off the walls and rung in my ears like a church bell. This negro had me all the way messed up if he thought that I was going to sit here and let him lie on me and our daughter like that. I opened my mouth to respond to his retarded ass, but he got his words out quicker.

“Baby, remember those court papers that you found? The ones about the adoption? That was information I had found on my sister. Before my momma died, she told me that I had an older sister that she gave up for adoption. I’ve been working really hard to find her, and here she is. Word must have finally gotten back to her that I was looking for her!” he exclaimed before he rushed me with a hug.

Once he was close enough to my ear to whisper without anyone hearing, he spoke. “Go along with this and you can keep that money, and I will try to get you more. Just don’t say shit. That is my wife, and if you fuck that up, it’s not going to be good for either of us; especially not Mia.”

He pulled away from me and smiled brightly like he hadn’t just threatened me. I was astonished at the man I saw before me. Did this nigga really just admit to me that he had a wife and then threaten me in the same breath? He was one lie short of a Pinocchio nose and had managed to rope me into his web of bullshit. I wasn’t sure what he was referring to when he said that it wasn’t going to be good, but my life was already a hot mess, so I wasn’t sure if I was willing to risk it getting any worse. My moral compass was nagging me to spill all the tea and rip his happy-but-trifling, secret home to shreds, but my concern for Mia, her well-being, and for the time being, her Christmas, was winning out.

I sighed quietly as I made my decision. Trying to follow up his Oscar-worthy performance, I plastered a smile on my face. Again, I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, I was interrupted again.

“What’s going on?” a deep voice rumbled.

I looked up and swallowed hard at what I saw. Dressed impeccably in a tailored, three-piece navy blue suit and burgundy patterned tie, he was a sight for sore eyes. Nothing had physically changed about him, outside of the neatly lined mustache and goatee he had grown. He looked just as I remembered, only better, more handsome, more manly…just all around sexier. His chestnut colored skin was smooth and blemish free. He still sported the small diamond in his left ear and he still towered over me with his 6’3 frame. He was still the shit.

“Kellan?” I squeaked.

“Egypt?” he responded, as he squinted his eyes, trying to get a better look at me.

“Son, how do you know Mateo’s sister?” Mateo's father-in-law asked.

“Son?” I balked.

“You’re Mateo’s sister?” Kellan asked me.

Mateo folded his arms against his chest and mugged Kellan. “Yeah, how do you know, E?”

“E?” Mateo's wife questioned.

“We ...Uh…” I started.

“Mommy, who are all these people?” Mia asked as she grabbed ahold of my leg.

“Somebody tell me something!” Kellan's father snapped.

“I know I’m late. Traffic was a bitch!” a slightly raspy but feminine voice floated into the room.

We all turned towards it, and I wanted to burst into tears. Now she was different than I remembered her. Her ratchet, tri-colored weave had been replaced by an understated cinnamon colored bob, she had ditched the color contacts, and the Invisaligns had made her teeth perfect. She was dressed like a woman who never had to check her bank account balance, which was a far cry from the Bargain Basement, Chernin’s Shoe Outlet tramp that I remembered her as. She never took her eyes off me as she inched closer to Kellan, causing my skin to crawl.

“Egypt?” she gasped.

I sighed. “Fuck…”

“What the hell is going on?” Mateo’s annoying ass wife piped up.

“Kellan, answer me, damn it!" his father barked. "Son, who is this girl?”

Kellan finally found his words. “My fiancé."

“Ex," the woman shot before she grabbed Kellan's hand. "She's his ex-fiancé.”

Lord, this day couldn’t get any worse. How had I ended up in the room with my deadbeat baby's daddy, his secret wife and child/ Mia’s half-sister, secret wife’s father and brother, who happened to be my ex-fiancé and the bitch that stole him from me AKA my ex-best friend? What a merry fucking Christmas this was turning out to be.

 

 

JWP 12 Days of Christmas Story - Part Six

by Tiffany Patterson

The air in my lungs left my body as I took in the scene in front of me. I lowered my gaze and stared at their intertwined fingers. Those long, strong chestnut colored fingers—fingers that used to make my body hum with need. Five years since I’ve felt his touch and the rising goosebumps on my arms told me just how much I still yearned for it.

His caress. The whispered words of adoration when our limbs were entangled between the sheets. I bit my lip to keep from moaning out loud as the memories came flooding back.

“Well, this is a little inappropriate, showing up like this, Egypt. Don’t you think?” Charlene said, pushing her hair out of her face, flashing the Tiffany diamond on her left ring finger.

Seeing the ring was like a splash of cold water to my face, jolting me back to the present. I looked at my one time best friend. The woman I’d let stay in my apartment when her ex kicked her sorry ass out, only to have her turn around and steal my fiancé. I wanted to kick her ass for her betrayal. I wanted to wipe that smug look off her face and make her feel just an ounce of the pain she caused me.

“Mommy?”

That innocent voice stopped me. I looked down into my baby’s toffee-colored eyes and smiled reassuringly. I wouldn’t do this in front of her. I’d brought her here to meet her father, not watch her mother make a spectacle.

“You’re right, Charlene." I turned cold eyes towards the traitorous whore. “I wanted my baby to meet her…uncle,” I hesitated at the lie. “But I see right now is not the best time.”

I pivoted towards Mateo, who was curiously gazing between me and Kellan, as I said, “It was nice seeing you. Maybe some other time.” Another lie. “Come on, Sweetie. It’s time for us to go.”

Without looking back, I ushered my daughter and I out of that office as fast as my feet would carry me. Only the click-clack of my heels could be heard in the hallway. I just needed to get home behind closed doors where I could let all these emotions spill out onto my pillow.

“Egypt!”

My steps faltered at the deep, baritone voice behind me. In the past, that voice had the power to stop me cold. But as I looked down at my daughter’s confused expression, I knew I had to keep going. I nearly leapt onto the elevator as the doors opened, pounded on the 1st floor button and willed the doors to close before anyone else could get on. The last sight I saw before the doors closed was the face of the man who’d shattered my heart into a million pieces all those years ago.

Mateo’s leaving hadn’t hurt. Not really. I never wanted my daughter to grow up without a father the way I did. But Mateo couldn’t hurt what he never had, and he never had my heart. But Kellan? He’d done irreparable damage.

An hour later, I stared down at Mia, napping in her bed.

“What a mess I’ve made,” I sighed as I stroked her soft cheek. All she wanted was to meet her father.

Bing!

The phone shrieked, and I rushed to answer before it could wake Mia.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Ms. Walker? This is Donald McCugh from Walter & Associates.”

“Oh. OH! Mr. McCugh,” I stated, as I remembered the interview I went on the previous week for an executive assistant position. “Yes, this is Ms. Walker. Please call me Egypt. How can I help you?”

“Well, after some deliberation, our hiring committee has decided to offer you the executive assistant position. If you’re still interested, of course.”

“Y-yes! I am still interested.” I couldn’t contain my shock!

“Great. As you know, in addition to the $50,000 salary and full benefits, the position comes with tuition reimbursement. You would be able to take advantage after three months’ employment and return to school part-time to complete your degree. With your degree, you could begin your accounting career with us.”

This was a dream come true! I’d dropped out of school soon after getting pregnant with Mia. I only had twelve more credits to graduate, but being a single parent, I had to put making money ahead of school. I’d spent so much time focused on completing my degree. Ironically, that made me think of Kellan. That was his excuse for what he did. He said he felt neglected between my studies and work. He said that Charlene made him feel needed and wanted, when I was too tired from work and school to do little else, besides curl up in bed and sleep.

I pushed those thoughts away. “Thank you, Mr. McCugh. I appreciate this opportunity so much. I will not disappoint.”

“I know you won’t, Egypt. I have a gut feeling about you. We would like you to start right after the New Year. Will that work for you?”

“Yes!”

“Great.”

A few minutes later, I was walking on cloud nine as I ended the conversation with Mr. McCugh.

How could I go through so many emotions within the span of a few hours? 
I woke up feeling determined to get answers for Mia and walked right into a shit storm. Seeing Mateo living a whole other life ticked me off, but seeing my one-time fiancé and former bff with a ring on her finger nearly sent me spiraling down a dark path. Only the love I had for my daughter kept me from that route. Now, I’d just gotten hired at a job I'd prayed for.

Forget all that other bullshit. I’m going to make 2016 the best year my daughter and I have seen yet.

I went to dial my mother’s number to ask her to watch Mia the following day while I did some Christmas shopping, but was interrupted by a knock at my door.

I froze.

The last time someone showed up unexpectedly, it was Mia’s good-for-nothing sperm donor asking for a portion of the money back. I became incensed. I stomped over to the door. This time I would not hold back.

“If you think I am going to gi—“ My words were cut off as I pulled the door open.

Instead of Mateo, I was met with deep, rich chocolate eyes that I still dreamed about. I tried to swallow as my mouth went dry at the sight he made on my doorstep. I briefly wondered if my body would ever not react to his presence.

“Egypt.”

My thighs clenched hearing my name pour from his lips for the third time today.

“We need to talk,” Kellan said before shouldering his way into my tiny apartment.

 

That's the end of the first 6 parts of the story. I'll add the rest when its posted on the Facebook Page. Hope you enjoy the efforts of my Stable Mates. Well done Girls !!