A Mother’s Dream and Other Stories
by
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“Mama. I’m hungry.” “I know you are my child, but we’ll have to wait until morning when I get my first check from the welfare department.” “Is Daddy ever coming back mama?” “No. Your father’s gone to heaven. He won’t be coming back anymore.” “Why did he go away?” “I guess the good Lord wanted him now instead of later. Now get yourself to bed and I’ll see you in the morning.” Deena James could only sigh a deep, painfully lonesome breath as she turned toward her bedroom. The feelings of fear and loneliness were more than she could bear and if it weren’t for her little girl she would not want to live another day. There were times when it all seemed like a bad dream. Tony would come walking through the door at any minute and take her in his arms and hold her tight. He was working hard in school and would have graduated in spring, then they would move away from the insane city which had now consumed their future. College was their ticket out of this hell they called a home and Tony knew it. What right had these animals to take her husbands life, she thought. “Mama,” Marisa called from her room. “Will you come say goodnight?” Deena wiped the tears from her eyes and went into Marisa’s bedroom and sat down on the bed. “Are you okay honey?” she asked. “I’m okay Mama. Just a little hungry,” answered Marisa with a childish innocence. “I know you are child. We will go to the market first thing in the morning. Now try to get some sleep.” The feelings of despair were incredible. With Tony gone she would have to receive welfare, something her husband had always refused to do no matter how tight their finances were. Things would be different from now on and she would have to be strong to survive.
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About the Book
This is a book of short stories with no particular theme. Though some will deal with real issues in our society, which all can relate to not only in America but anywhere there is poverty and violence, others are for simple enjoyment. It is my hope that everyone who reads this book will in some way be changed by its contents in a positive direction and that it will help those who do not understand the less fortunate to open up their eyes to the world around them. After all, we are all the same.
About the Author
As a child growing up in east Los Angeles California Craig Lawrence was a witness to poverty and violence which were crucial in his future development. Encouraged to read and to receive an education by his parents Craig found refuge in books. It was in this early stage of his life that he would form his opinions about right and wrong and the hypocrisy that surrounded him in his youth. At the age of thirteen his family moved out of the city to the small town of Alhambra California, a predominantly middle to upper middle class neighborhood. The contrast between life styles was an eye opening experience that would drastically change his outlook on life. It was here that the differences between those that had and those that had not would become clear and as an early teen he realized the selfishness and greed that permeated society. Though he would in later life go on to work in the land development industry, he continued to read and write and is now working on several books of various subjects including short stories, children’s books and novels.