After the Rain is a story about a young man's problematic life; his struggles, his demeanor and survival. When it rains it pours. At the age of nineteen, Thaner Morays was convicted of a crime he did not commit. He was sent to prison for fifty years. He became bitter against society; mostly against himself. He later met people who cared, and helped him to believe in himself.

AFTER THE RAIN

By Luis Martene

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2009 Luis Martene
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4389-5801-9

Contents

Preface...........................................................xiChapter 1 Thaner's Woes...........................................1Chapter 2 Fedora Ann Morays.......................................5Chapter 3 Thaner and Lamar Confrontation..........................9Chapter 4 Ben's Supermarket.......................................13Chapter 5 Thaner's Best Girl......................................19Chapter 6 The Arrest..............................................25Chapter 7 Senter City Lockup......................................33Chapter 8 Fedora Distressing News.................................39Chapter 9 Fedora Visit Her Son....................................43Chapter 10 Senior Dance, Class Of 2011............................51Chapter 11 Pastor Jenkanis Assist Mrs. Morays.....................57Chapter 12 Lucea And Fedora Visit Thaner..........................61Chapter 13 The Mysterious Stranger................................71Chapter 14 Graduation Day.........................................75Chapter 15 Thaner is Devastated...................................87Chapter 16 Thaner's Court Appearance..............................93Chapter 17 The Verdict............................................97Chapter 18 Sentencing Day.........................................101Chapter 19 Thaner's Ordeal in Prison..............................105Chapter 20 Thaner Meets Tobey.....................................111Chapter 21 Thaner Cross Path with the Past........................119Chapter 22 Dinner with the Silkens................................125Chapter 23 Thaner's Job is Terminated.............................131Chapter 24 Near Fatal Accident....................................139Chapter 25 Thaner Meets his Nemesis...............................147Chapter 26 Tobey's Obsession......................................153Chapter 27 Thaner is Threatened...................................161Chapter 28 Lamar is Propositioned.................................167Chapter 29 Thaner Meets Natashe...................................171Chapter 30 Tobey Follows Ophana...................................179Chapter 31 Thaner and Natashe have a Nightcap.....................187Chapter 32 Lamar Gets a Lawyer....................................197Chapter 33 Thaner's Good Fortunate................................201Chapter 34 Lamar and his Attorney Disagree........................213Chapter 35 Natashe is Harrassed...................................217Chapter 36 Thaner Angers Sal......................................223Chapter 37 Thaner Invest in P.U.T.S...............................229Chapter 38 Thaner went Snooping...................................237Chapter 39 Legna Meets Sampsun....................................243Chapter 40 Thaner is Warned.......................................247Chapter 41 Graduation Party Preparation...........................251Chapter 42 Sampsun takes Legna's Advice...........................267Chapter 43 Graduation Party Tragedy...............................275Chapter 44 Bennie Tells Sal What he saw...........................283Chapter 45 The Raid on P.U.T.S....................................289Chapter 46 Thaner is Followed.....................................297

Chapter One

Thaner's Woes

Saturday, March 04, 2023 8:00AM

The alarm clock at Thaner's bedside woke him up from a restful sleep. He rubbed his eyes, stretched, and turned the alarm off, wondering, what's next.

"My name is Thaner Morays. I was born in Sheppardsville, thirty years ago. My life has been one rollercoaster after another. I had been employed as an auto mechanic at Freddie's Auto Mechanic Repair Shop. Today is my day off. It was tough for a while trying to find work, especially for a convicted felon. When not working, I begged for money and food to survive. My woes began on that bleak rainy Saturday morning, April 09, 2011. That rainy day, is one day, I'll never forget. When it rains it pours."

Saturday morning, April 09, 2011, the clouds were very dark and gloomy, as if the end of the world was near, the ambiance of doomsday. It had been raining heavy every day this past week, and it is predicted to get worse. Thunder rumbles, rolling across the darkened sky leaving lightning strikes in its path. Tornado warnings were announced all day. One touched down twenty-five miles south of the city, leaving destruction and death in its path. A dog hustled across the street to avoid being hit by a speeding car or drowned by rushing water.

Homeless people lingered inside doorways wishing they had a place to stay, a hot meal or a cot to lay their tired bodies to rest. Others were rushing about with umbrellas opened, clutching them tightly trying not to get wet. The city needed this long awaited rain. The ground was so dry it started to crack from the heat. In this city, on this day, several groups of people are unaware of what is in store for them; an incident that would trigger a phenomenon that would change their lives forever.

Standing at the window of his home, Thaner Morays looked out at the rain as it came down in sheets. Trees were swaying, as the wind blew through their branches. It had been raining steady for several hours. The streets are flooding, causing motorists to drive slowly to avoid stalling their cars. He saw his neighbors across the street having a good time. They seemed to be ignoring the happenings around them. Some of them are dancing; others are staring out the window, pointing at the street, as the water flowed by. These homes are located in one of the world's blighted cites and in one of the world's poorest neighborhood. Thaner smiles and raised his fist in delight. He is excited to see people having fun again. They seem to be, not worrying about the uncontrollable events that may destroy the inhabitants, and other creatures on earth.

Thaner walked to the front door, opens it and stepped out onto the porch. The wind is blowing rain in every direction. As he walked across the porch, a light mist blew into his face, it felt cool and refreshing. He pulled one of the chairs that's on the porch closer to him, and sat down. He looked up far beyond the dark clouds; and saw a large shining star encircled by a colorful rainbow.

With his eyes focused on that star, his mind wanders with thoughts of being somebody someday. He whispers, "Lord, will we ever be accepted in this cold and heartless society? I know you speak of peace, but no one listens. My brothers and sisters listen to the words of others. They learn how to hate and accept greed and violence as a way of life. What manner of love is this? How long will the earth tremble beneath our feet from bigotry, and killings. How long will illegal drug trafficking plague our neighborhoods? How long will drugs continue to weaken our minds, and waste away our young? How long will world population have to suffer for those who have a passion for power, and greed? How long Lord, how long?"

He stood up and walked toward the edge of the porch, his clothes are damp from misting rain. He looked across the street, and again up toward the heavens. With tears of sorrow in his eyes he whispers softly, "We should hide our faces in shame, and think of what we have done to each other ... mentally, morally and physically."

His thoughts are interrupted by his mother's voice, calling him. He turns, and dashes for the front door. He stepped through the portal and closed the door behind him.

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