Running Without the Ball
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
The combination of the music blasting and the screeching alarm was enough to wake the dead. Alissa hated the shock waves her body had to endure, for the sake of getting up on time every morning. At times it felt as if she were in the military in the middle of a war zone. Yet a kiss from her husband Lyle, accompanied with his smooth caresses, restored the security and comfort she needed. Such attention never failed to bring her nerve activity from eight to zero on the Richter scale.
"Good morning baby, feeling any better?" Lyle asked with his deep baritone voice.
Alissa didn't answer right away, she just lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling, soaking in the warmth of his touch and concern. Much as a tanner out on the beach would soak in the sun. She continued to keep her long, lifeless body in check as Lyle rose from the edge of the bed. He began to move about the room in preparation for his departure to work.
"I hope Mommas' flight arrives on time because I wouldn't want you
ladies to miss the game tonight."
Lyle continued to talk to Alissa as he dressed, but still no response
came from his wife.
She was aware that he was talking but she just could not generate the
energy necessary for a coherent response.
She realized that she had never been a morning person. Lately she couldn't even qualify as an
afternoon person. Alissa never expected
to feel so drained.
"Don't worry honey. I'm
pretty sure we won't miss much of the game," Alissa finally replied,
"Moms' flight is due in at four. I
just hope I'm there in time to pick her up."
"You'll have plenty of time, and if you're a little late, it won't
make a difference to Momma." Lyle
spoke with a touch of authority in his voice; he knew what Alissa was up to.
"Sure," Alissa replied as she yawned; "your mother waits
for no one. If she gets off that plane
and doesn't see me, she'll be in the first taxi that opens its' door. I think it would be best if I canceled my
appointment with the doctor until tomorrow."
Lyle smiled to himself, after all he had guessed right.
"Don't even try it young lady, you are going to keep that
appointment this time. I'm really
worried about you; you've been so out of it lately and that's not like
you. So forget it. No more postponements, all right."
"Okay, okay . . . " Alissa groaned, she knew it was futile to
try and get out of this one.
Lyle had been harping on her to go see the doctor for the last two
weeks. She had canceled her two
previous appointments. Her excuses were
weak. Much like she was trying to use
now. Trying to pass her low energy
level and nauseous ness off as a bug or cold did not fool Lyle. He insisted that the longevity of the
symptoms dictated the need for her to see a doctor.
"I'll go, Lyle . . . " Alissa repeated, "but I assure
you that it is not a physical problem.
I'm just in one of my cocoon stages; I've gone through this plenty of
times before."
"Not in the two years I've known you babe" Lyle quipped.
"Up until a few weeks ago, I thought I might have to start taking
speed to keep up with you. It's been
two years of rough and ready with you and I didn't think I could manage the
pace anymore. So you can understand my
concern and surprise when you slammed on the brakes. So just go get yourself
checked out so that I can be as calm about this as you are."
Lyle continued to scurry around the room getting ready as he preached
to Alissa about seeing the doctor.
Alissa's movements were in total contrast to his. She moved one limb at a time from beneath
the bed covers. First she moved a leg,
then an arm, and then the other leg.
She moaned with each movement and each movement was followed by a rest
period. Finally she had managed to get
her body in a sitting position at the edge of the bed.
"I wish she had taken the flight I asked her to take; she would
have been here yesterday, when I was off.
Then you wouldn't have to rush around like this." Lyle said in a
slightly agitated tone.
Alissa found that her ability to respond audibly was as difficult to do as her physical movements were. Alissa couldn't even conceive rushing around at this moment. Although, she knew if she couldn't get her stomach to settle down in the next minute or so she woul
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Book Details
About the Book
The book is a fictional story with genuine implications to the facts of business and socialism in America. The authors intention is to exhibit the fact that to survive in business you must be organized and have a solid financial base. The author wants to make the succinct point that money and power are one. He wants to point out that Black Americans and other minorities do have money but little power and this is directly related to disorganization. His hope is to make people realize that there is a middle ground for power to exist and it doesn’t have to take the extreme right or left path.
There is a personal battle that
takes place within the message but the outcome still punctuates the fact that
those with the better organization and financial power, triumph over those less
endowed. He wants to help people
understand that the underdog isn’t necessarily the underdog, just a dog that
hasn’t realized that chasing his tail only leads him in circles.
About the Author
Raymond C. Bird
Born: Feb 12, 1955
Queens, N.Y.C.
Family of six moved to the Redfern Projects of the N.Y.C. Housing Authority in 1959. I lived there until 1973. Enough said!
At forty-eight years of age, nothing surprises me because there is nothing new. It’s has been, it is, and it always will be, all about the money. There has never been and never will be a major issue or conflict in this world that isn’t about the money. If you don’t know that or believe that, than you are not a true citizen of the planet.
My life has taken many turns and I truly have only one regret. I regret that in this book, I had to fictionalize something that should be and could be fact.
I dedicate this book to:
My two sons, Jabari and Omar. Two messiahs waiting for the message they were chosen to deliver.
To all who have truly loved me and supported me and especially those who understand me.
To my sister Patricia Bird Landrum, though departed from this existence, she remains a constant inspiration to me. She proved to me that when you’re dying, there is only one thing to do, LIVE!
Raymond C. Bird