THE DIFFERENCE
by
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"THE MISSION"
"Yo Delynn! Hello! Look I know you hear me calling you. Come on angel heart what’s wrong? Eman walks directly in front of Delynn and puts his arms around her.
"Hey angel heart look at me, we have been friends for years and you know you can tell me anything good or bad."
"I’m so sorry Eman. I know I can confide in you but right now I just need to get up out of this stuffy office and take a walk. Will you tell Lance I’ll be back; I’m taking an early lunch break.
"I hear my name being mentioned, tell me what?" Delynn is very flushed in the face but manages to stand to her feet.
"Oh hi Lance. I just don’t feel good right about now so if you don’t mind I’m going to take an early lunch."
Lance, standing ft tall, slim but very nicely built with bedroom eyes and hair pulled back into a ponytail is trying not to get involved in what could be bothering Delynn. He at one time was madly in love with her, and in reality still is. Focusing back in on Delynn, Lance slightly smiles and clears his throat before speaking.
"Precious, I-I mean Delynn Sure and when you come back stop in my office so we can talk. Oh yeah Eman you come too we’re having a meeting"
Eman throws up his hands in disgust because he knows how Lance feels about Delynn. Not only that he knows that Delynn whom he gave the name angel heart to was once in love with Lance.
"Okay Lance, I hear you man but I’ll probably be a few minutes early."
Eman’s face was stern as he stared at Lance, he wanted his message of why he would be early to be understood.
Lance nods in agreement as he slowly walks back to his office where he flops down on his leather loveseat. Lost in thought Lance recalls the day he first met Delynn at a youth night talent show. She stood out from all the other ladies there, wearing her hair pulled to the side with loose hanging curls in the front. Her blue jeans allowed one to only imagine how voluptuous her body really looked. However what really caught Lance’s eyes was her T-shirt, red in color with the words "Whose side are you leaning on" written in white bold lettering. Her mannerism was so gentle that Lance had to walk over to the other side of the auditorium just to say hello. Before Lance could approach this young lady he was stopped by four to five teenage boy’s who often came to visit him at the mission center.
"What’s up Mr. Walker?" asked Clarance a 17-year-old drop out who often used drugs and heavily drank alcohol.
"Everything’s cool Clearance. I hope you and your boys here are clean, you know what I mean?"
"No sweat Mr. Walker, we cool like dat’, we be checkin you out we see some girls from the block. Lance watches as the boys’ head over to where some young girls were sitting. Lost in thought Lance remembers why he walked over to this side of the auditorium in the first place. Lance looks around almost frantically for this mysterious lady who has appeared to vanish. He checks out the hallway area, so desperate he stood close to the ladies restroom hoping maybe she went in there. After what seemed like hours, but was only ten minutes, Lance decided to continue on his journey looking for this lady. Suddenly the lights go out and the young people are clapping, jumping and cheering for the show to begin. I don’t even believe this, maybe I never saw the lady maybe I’m just trippin’ tonight. Heck, maybe she was an angel. Smiling at himself he is bought back to reality when he hears the sweetest voice saying, "Excuse me sir, is that seat taken?"
"Oh No, I’m sorry Ms. turning completely around he almost fell in the seat for his mystery angel stood there before him waiting patiently to sit down. Lance could not speak let alone move. "It’s okay if there is a problem. I’ll search for another seat." Turning to walk away Delynn was stopped by someone touching her hand.
"Ms. please forgive me I was just admiring your shirt, I mean the words on your shirt. I’m not usually like this, please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Lance Walker and yours if you don’t mind my asking."
"My name is Delynn Sullivan."
"Well Mrs. Sullivan--"
"It’s Ms."
"Excuse Me"
"Ms Sullivan I’m not married."
Lance’s heart almost leaps through his mouth. "Oh, o.k. and I’m separated. So Ms. Sullivan what brings you here tonight?"
"My friends daughter is performing so I came to support her and also help raise money for the Mission Center. I do applaud the Missions founder, he has done a tremendous job with the inner city street kids since this center has opened."
"Well thank you Ms. Sullivan."
Looking bewildered, Delynn softly whispers, "I am to understand by your thank you that you are the Missions founder."
"Don’t look so shocked, yes I am the founder. What were you expecting an old man?" They both laugh to break the tension.
"I do apologize Mr. Walker."
"No apologies necessary and please call me Lance."
"O.k. Lance only if you call me Delynn."
"Are you two going to talk all damn night or sit down and let others see the show?"
Apologizing, they sit down in the nearest seats. They sit back and enjoy the various performers.
Delynn stole a quick peak at Lance, thinking wow this guy is gorgeous, women and probably some of the young ladies from the Mission Center must try and throw themselves at him.
Lance, On the other hand, was trying not to look at Delynn, but couldn’t help but question why she wasn’t married? She is very nice looking and there’s something about this lady that is drawing him to her and he is wishing he would have the opportunity to find out.
"Delynn don’t play with me girl, I have been looking everywhere I’m sorry I stood there waiting for you for over an hour, my legs were getting tired. Delynn gets up and guides her friend to a corner out of viewer’s eyesight.
"So, Delynn who is that gorgeous man you’re sitting next to?"
"Oh my God! Felicia stands right here, I’ll be right back."
"I’m sorry Lance, please come meet a very close friend of mine" Lance was mesmerized by how lovely this young lady’s whole outlook is, from her lovely face to her manners, the whole nine. Delynn gently touches Lance’s hand as she approaches her awaiting friend.
"Felicia I would like you to meet Mr. Lance Walker, the founder of the Mission Center, Mr. Walker my best friend Felicia. "How are you Felicia? I am informed that your daughter is performing tonight, what is her name? Perhaps I know her.
"Her name is Tamara and she will be singing the song that Delynn has on her shirt."
Smiling from ear to ear and showing such pretty white teeth, Lance let’s out a slight laugh.
"I must say I do know Tamara. She is very talented and gifte
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About the Book
Delynn Sullivan was a lost and lonely soul living in a world all her own. Her family and friends with the exception of her best friend Felicia had all given up hope on her.
She decided to put all her energy into her work, but something was missing. She tried joining a health club thinking that might help but she was finding herself falling into a deep isolated state of depression, which led to her attempting to take her own life.
Several years later at the age of thirty, she landed a job working as a counselor for wayward youth over at the Mission Center.
Here comes Mr. Lance Walker, a gorgeous yet intelligent man who could have any woman he wanted. He is the president and founder of the Mission Center, who wanted nothing more than to give Delynn the world.
One day at work something traumatic happened, wherein she is haunted by a deep dark secret from her past, which no one knows about, or so she thinks.
Delynn could not see her way out of her darkness, until one day she discovered something so special that made THE DIFFERENCE, moving her out of her darkness into the light--
"I know alright! And I’ll be damned if I let you do this again. You have to share it."
"I can’t, I just can’t handle it," cried out Delynn.
All at once fear and shock took over her body, for she thought her secret was just that, a secret. But the words she heard next shocked her that much more.
"Maybe you can’t handle it, but together we can."
About the Author
Deborah Lynn Alexander, born December 20, 1962 in Westwood, New Jersey. At the young age of seven, my mother moved the family to San Francisco, California. I am the middle child of two brothers and two sisters.
I graduated from George Washington High School and attended City College of San Francisco for two years, studying in psychology and criminal justice, and then moved back to New Jersey.
I love to read and write. I have been writing in journals since the eighth grade. God has turned my simple personal writing into writings that would reach, teach, and spread the good news of his son JESUS CHRIST. I started writing short skit plays for my church, Pentecostal Deliverance Tabernacle, Bishop Herbert Banks. I worked with Creative Spirits of the State of New Jersey as a youth and parent coordinator.
We would put on some of the plays at my present job with the New Community Extended Care Facility. I work as a Certified Nursing Assistant for the last nine years with the elderly and I love it. I have a poem in the Age of Innocence book, by the International Library of Poetry.
I have a wonderful soul mate Mr. Jim L. McLendon and two terrific kids Dienetrius and Jerry Jr.