The quiet little town of Lankford was not used to the drama that descended on Southwest High this year. The arrest of a prominent high school athlete, the attempted * of another student, and the inner turmoil of others has everyone in an uproar. A desperate fight between falsehood and truth emerges to challenge the very souls of several young people caught in a Web of Deceit. "...Every adult who works with this generation must read this book and then personally hand it to a student." Dr. Jay Strack President Founder of Student Leadership University "...These stories may be fictional, but I can assure you each story is told time and time again everyday in America." Dr. Rob Peters, author of Let's Chat - disconnected families in a connected world. Cliff Lea is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Leesburg, Florida. He and his wife, Suzy, have five sons, Nathan, Luke, Joseph, Tommy, and Stephen. He is the author of an autobiographical reflection about his father, Give Me Your Heart, a biblical study of faith, In God We Trust, and a novel about sexual purity, Worth the Wait. For more information about Cliff's writing, go to The quiet little town of Lankford was not used to the drama that descended on Southwest High this year. The arrest of a prominent high school athlete, the attempted * of another student, and the inner turmoil of others has everyone in an uproar. A desperate fight between falsehood and truth emerges to challenge the very souls of several young people caught in a Web of Deceit. "...Every adult who works with this generation must read this book and then personally hand it to a student." Dr. Jay Strack President Founder of Student Leadership University "...These stories may be fictional, but I can assure you each story is told time and time again everyday in America." Dr. Rob Peters, author of Let's Chat - disconnected families in a connected world. Cliff Lea is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Leesburg, Florida.
THE PLANT
A Working Man's StoryBy Frederick L. PearsonAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2011 Frederick L. Pearson
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4567-2608-9Chapter One
THE HIGH LIFE
It was a beautiful and sunny eighty-six degree day, late May and Jonathan was at home alone. Jonathan, now nineteen had graduated last year from Jackson High School where his younger sister Trice was a sophomore. His mother, Brenda a nurse was at Blackstone Memorial pulling a double. Jonathan loved his mornings when the two most important women in his life were away at work and school. He could use this time to lie in bed, smoke some weed, and play his stereo as loud as it could go. Tupac pounded from the stereo speakers as Jonathan lifted himself up to dump the ashes from the blunt and pick up his cell phone. Jonathan, a baby faced, brown-skinned young man with a hint of a mustache that almost looked as if you could wipe it off. He was six feet, four inches tall, one hundred and ninety-five pounds and well built. He wore a bald fade and most girls thought he was very sexy. He was definitely eye candy and he knew it. He scrolled through the phone book looking at the many names of girls he had slept with or would in due time. He took a big suck off his blunt, held it for a minute and then exhaled. He watched the smoke disappear into the air before he got up and put it out in the ashtray on his dresser. He began to look in the closet to see what he would wear. His closet was filled with name brand clothes of all kind and at least 25 pairs of shoes line the floor of the closet that leads into his room all the way back to the foot of the bed. His mom would notice his clothes and shoes when she went into his room to get his laundry or to talk to him. She didn't worry too much though because she knew her son was a good kid. She gave him money all the time to buy nice things, plus he was a good gambler. Dice, cards, horseshoes, the John Madden videogame, any form of gambling, you named it and he wanted in. He was fearless; he got that from his father, Otis. Otis was an old-school hustler who had taught Jonathan how to shoot dice and play cards at the age of seven. He wasn't the best father in the world, but definitely not the worst. He had a good relationship with his kids; it just didn't work out with Brenda. He loved pussy too much; Jonathan had picked that quality up from his dad too. After figuring out what he wanted to wear, he pulled his clothes out, laid them across the bed and headed to the shower. Jonathan took a shower and by this time, he had to change the CD, the stereo had stopped playing. He grabbed a mix tape from his case, put it in and sparked the blunt he had left in the ashtray. Then he took the money out of his dresser, he had won the night before gambling. It was $423.00 when he was done counting. He reached under his bed where he kept a box he called his bank account, in it is where he kept all the money he had saved. He added two hundred of the four hundred and twenty-three dollars in winnings which brought the box to a grand total of $1,295.00. The rest would be used to make more money, eat or take a girl out. After getting dressed, Jonathan headed downstairs to the kitchen; the early morning blunt had made him hungry. Before he made it halfway downstairs, his phone rang. He ran back up to get it and answered, "What's good?" The voice exploded through the phone trying to sound sexy but actually sounded more excited to hear him answer. He instantly noticed the voice, it was Keisha. "Are you hungry, what did you want to eat?" Keisha was a street smart ghetto girl from the hood. She was very pretty and had short hair that she always managed to keep done. She was slim, but had a big ass to have such a small frame that every guy that passes her noticed. She only had a handful of breast but her flat stomach made them appear larger. She was smart-mouthed, pretty tough and quick to fight another girl who had the nerve to say something to her. She also thought as she would say that she was the baddest bitch out here. In her eyes every man wanted to taste her cookie. That's what Jonathan liked, her swag, toughness, and her ass and pretty face didn't hurt either. "Damn Keisha," Jonathan replied, "How you know I was hungry?" How you know I don't have a big booty bitch in the kitchen cooking me steak and eggs? Keisha knew he wanted to get her upset and it did, but she tried not to show it made her mad. "Look, I was going to get your big head butt something to eat but I guess you full so I will call you.... Shut up" He cut her off knowing she wanted him to reassure her he was alone. "Where you going chicken head?" "What you want buster", she said happy to know he was playing about some other girl. Go get me some bacon, eggs, hash browns and pancakes from IHOP and hurry up!" "You better have my money when I get there" she said knowing she didn't really want it back. "Yeah whatever" Jonathan said as he hung up the phone. He then went to his drawer, looked up under his socks and grabbed a sack of weed and a blunt. He rolled up a blunt and checked for condoms because he knew what Keisha would be on after they ate. Once everything was taken care of, he turned the TV on, watched ESPN and waited. As Keisha pulled up in the driveway, you could hear the radio coming from the open window. The sound of Trina rapping had Keisha bouncing all over the car. The words of the song had Keisha's confidence peaking. She knew she was looking good today. Her booty shorts sat just below the bottom of her cheeks and her belly top sat high enough to show off her flat stomach. She jumped out the year old Grand Prix and grabbed the food. She smiled as she walked to the porch where Jonathan was already in the door. Just as she began to speak, a black Cadillac truck on twenty-two's pulled up and the driver yelled out, "Keisha, What up? You looking good, Come here." Keisha replied, trying not to disrespect Jonathan but she couldn't hold back the big smile on her face. "What up Troy? Aint nothing popping, you know Jonathan my man." Jonathan now given a sudden vote of confidence grabbed Keisha by the arm and pulled her close. Before she knew what she was doing her arms were wrapped around his waist and her head lay on his shoulder. Jonathan spoke with a swagger that Troy couldn't help but notice. "What's good Troy, you know Keisha on lock my dog". "Yeah, I know Jay", Troy said sarcastically, "Don't lose the key" and he drove off. Troy was a twenty-five year old hustler who was about 5'10 and weighed 220 pounds. Fat Boy Troy, what most people who knew him called him had been selling drugs since he was sixteen. He had been to jail a few times but not one of his visits was for more than three months. He was the total opposite of Jonathan. He wasn't very tall, was pretty overweight and though he was not an ugly man, his looks didn't jump out at you. Jonathan and Troy didn't have any beef, actually they were pretty cool. They gambled with each other all the time. He just wanted Keisha and Jonathan didn't mind. He knew the game and who would want a girl that nobody else wanted anyway. Jay and Keisha went in the house, sat down and ate, neither saying a word until the food was done. Jonathan not knowing how to romance a girl asked, "Do you got on a thong? If you do let me see it." Keisha expecting him to be a little more creative just said forget it and pulled down her pants. Jonathan saw the white thong with yellow flowers and immediately got an erection. He threw her on the bed, kissed her neck and took the thong off, 30 minutes later the act was finished. Jonathan more satisfied than Keisha lit the blunt and began to smoke. He had no concept of the idea that just because you pump hard and the girl moans that you may not totally please her. Keisha only being with one other guy before Jonathan didn't exactly know what was wrong either. She just knew it should be something more.
Chapter Two
MY MAIN MAN
Keisha hit the weed a few times, cleaned up in the bathroom and left. Jonathan now figured he should call Tuna fish. Tuna fish was Jay's best friend since the third grade and they did everything together. Tuna fish whose real name was Charles was a pretty boy himself. He was slightly shorter and slightly darker but was also a lady killer. Tuna fish sold drugs and had his own car, a Chevy Caprice with rims and an expensive sound system. He kept a pocket full of money. He sold drugs with his older brother and cousin Ray and Jeff, those two hung out with Troy. "Fish, what's good my dog?" Jay said slowly to let Tuna fish know he was high. "What up Jay? I see you buzzing. I'll be there in ten", without saying a word, Jay hung up the phone. They had been friends for so long they knew without speaking what each other were thinking. Tuna fish pulled up and Jonathan ran and jumped in the car. It was the same thing everyday for the two friends, ride and let Tuna fish take care of his business, eat at Ole' Jay's, the neighborhood hole in the wall, gamble and talk to a few girls. Late nights got more exciting for the two, especially when they won gambling. They would go to a strip club, order drinks, take pictures, get lap dances and if they were lucky head to the motel with a couple of girls who had noticed the two spending wads of money. It was pretty easy to get in the strip club, the bouncer knew the boys were too young but for fifty dollars a head he didn't care who he let in; plus he knew Tuna fish brother Ray and they were cool. A couple weeks had passed and Jonathan had lost a few hundred gambling, he was down to $85.00 in his pocket and $900.00 in the bank account. He wasn't really stressed, he had experienced bad stretches before but now his sister was out of school for the summer and his mornings weren't the same. Keisha had started working at the Dairy Queen so there were no more early morning visits. He didn't like smoking while his sister was across the hall and he couldn't play his music as loud because his sister was either watching TV or sleeping. He had to change something; he didn't like this new situation. He also knew it wouldn't be long before his mom would start to ask questions about rather he was getting a job or take some classes at the community college. He and Tuna had spoken before about getting an apartment but it had only been conversation. Jonathan who had never thought further in the future than the next dice game knew he had to get serious. Living in the hood, he had saw the big time dope man become the forgotten about lifer. He saw the old school hustler become the brand new panhandler; either ending was unacceptable for him. The next morning while he and Tuna fish did their usual, Jonathan looked into the newspaper want ads. "What the fuck is you doing?" Tuna said laughing. Jonathan, who wasn't high at the time, began to laugh himself as he told Tuna, "Looking for a job". "What you need a job for?" Tuna said curiously. "I got to do something. I can't just ride around and watch you get money for the rest of my life" Jonathan turned up the radio trying to kill the conversation. Tuna fish instantly turned it down, "Hey Jay you want to get in the game? I can holler at Ray" "Naw, I'm straight" Jonathan interrupted, "Can't slang forever either." "Well, just stack up some chips and quit", Tuna fish said knowing it was never that easy to get out. "I'm straight Tuna, that's for you not for me," Jay yelled with frustration in his voice. That statement had upset Tuna and he let Jay know instantly, "What you saying you better than me Jay? I keep more money than you. I'm the one with the whip. I aint gotta get money from my mama like a little school boy". Jay turned to Tuna fish with a look that could kill but before he could respond, Tuna fish had pulled in front of Jay's mama house. "See you cuz, I'm out of here, I'm gone let you go make that money" and Tuna fish turned up his music not waiting for Jay's response. Jay shook his head and got out, neither of them knew at the time that there friendship would never be the same. The night passed and the next day came but Tuna fish never showed up. Jay didn't bother to call either; he knew one day he and Tuna fish would talk again, but it showed him he needed to get his own. He had no idea how he would get to the strip club tonight. Tuna hadn't called and it was no way he was taking Keisha with him. This was the first day in a long time that Jonathan had stayed home all day. It started to drive him crazy, his temper had become short and he was looking for someone to lash out at. There was no one at home; Trice and his mother were having a girl's day out; hair, nails, shopping, the usual. He couldn't even take advantage and smoke because his weed stash had run dry. He decided to call Keisha, "What up Jay?" she said, happy to hear his voice. "Where you at?" She could tell from his nasty response, he was in a bad mood. "At work, why, what's wrong?" Keisha now concerned, she knew he would usually be with Tuna fish right now. She never expected a call this early. "Nothing is wrong with me, just call me when you get off work" Jay said easing the harshness in his words. "Okay" replied Keisha and they both hung up the phone.
Chapter Three
JOB HUNT
Since hanging up with Keisha, 3 hours had passed. It was now 7:45 and Jonathan was feeling beaten. Tuna had won this battle; Jonathan had now just realized how much he depended on Tuna fish to get around on a daily basis. Frustration had set in, it was Friday and he knew he had missed a couple of dice games; that was easy money and usually it was his but not today. Keisha got off work at 8:00 and at 8:10 his phone was ringing. "What's good?" Jonathan answered. "You tell me, you said call as soon as I got off work", Keisha responded. "Come through, I need to go get some weed", Jonathan said trying to sound like it was a privilege he gave for him to ask her. "That's cool; I could just pick it up and bring it to you, would that be better?" Keisha asked. Jonathan wanting to keep his money would have loved to let her buy it but he needed to get out the house for a least a few minutes. This might be his only chance, "Naw Keisha, I need to stop by the park, if they getting down, I gotta get that money." Keisha began to smile she knew what she was about to say would blow Jonathan's mind. "You want to keep the car while I get my hair done, you can drop me off and pick me up?" Jonathan trying not to show his excitement replied "That's cool." Keisha knowing Jonathan was happy did not want to embarrass him just said okay; I will be there in ten minutes. Shortly after, Keisha pulled up and before Jay came out the door, she was already on the passenger side of the car. Jay smiled as he walked to the driver's side and got in. "I already got you a sack" she said as she handed Jonathan a quarter ounce of weed and a box of cigarillos. "Good lookin" Keisha, Jonathan said, as he reached over and gave her a kiss. "Where we going?" Jonathan asked. "Kita at Styles doing my hair like you forgot." Keisha stated sarcastically. Jonathan smiled and pulled off as he remembered the drama he had at Styles about a year ago. He began to daydream as he thought about Toni. Toni was a year younger than him and Keisha but she loved Jay. Toni was high yellow with long hair. She had curves in all the right places, well dressed and always smelled good enough to eat. She and Jonathan had gone out a few times but it never went anywhere because one day while getting her hair done she was talking about this new guy Jonathan and Keisha overheard and went crazy. It took four girls to keep Keisha from getting to Toni. The only thing that calmed her down was Jonathan. Toni called him and told him to come get his girl. When he made it up there, she was crying and yelling, wanting to fight. Toni was the only girl she thought could take Jonathan from her. She knew Toni was curvy and very pretty. She had heard all the guys talk about her. She didn't plan on losing Jonathan without a fight literally.
Chapter Four
SOMETHING GOTTA CHANGE
After dropping Keisha off at the shop, Jonathan went by the playground to see if they were gambling but it was just a couple of kids shooting hoops. Then, he rode by the gambling house but there were no cars outside. Jonathan then stopped by the store and bought a fruit juice. He took a swallow and rolled up a blunt before he pulled off. As he pulled up to the light, a Jeep Cherokee sped up next to him. A girl yelled out to him, "Who is you?" Jonathan who had begun to smoke looked over and instantly he liked what he saw. "Who is you?" he responded. "Mya, and Why you driving my cousin car?" she replied. Mya was dark in complexion with long hair, the total opposite of Keisha as far as appearances go but the exact same when it came to attitude. Mya was 23 slightly older than Jay and Keisha. She was tall and thick in all the right places and danced at the strip club across town. Jonathan now buzzed off the blunt paid no attention to the fact that she said cousin and began to flirt. "Damn baby, you the cops, Am I under arrest?" Jonathan said smiling. Mya also interested in Jonathan told him to pull over. They pulled over on the next side street and got out the cars. Jonathan still role playing asked, "How can I help you officer?" Mya followed his lead and told him to get up against the car. She then began to frisk him in a way that would turn any man on. After rubbing on his chest, she put her hands in his pants and grabbed his dick. Jonathan instantly rocked up in her hand. She stroked it gently and then let go and removed her hand. "You Keisha man?" she asked. Jonathan took a moment to collect his self and then answered, "Why you say that?" You driving her car and shit I want to know. "Yeah, I am. Who is you?" Jay asked. "I'm her cousin Mya." They both went back to Mya's truck, sat there and smoked two blunts talking for about an hour and a half. By the end of the conversation, both knew they would see each other again. She gave Jonathan her number and told him to call if he ever was to come by Curves the strip club where she danced. Mya pulled off and Jonathan jumped back in the car and saw he had 3 missed calls on his phone. They were all from Keisha and he knew she would be mad. Jay knew he would want the car again so he had to have a good excuse. He counted his money; he had $220.00 on him. He drove back to the shop and saw Keisha in the window. When he pulled up she came out but, before she could say anything he gave her the weed and a blunt and told her to roll up. "I hit a lick do you want to go out to eat and to the show?" Jonathan said calmly as if he didn't notice he was late to get her. Keisha smiled ear to ear and said, "What we going to see?" as she broke up the buds of weed. "Whatever you want" Jonathan mumbled and pulled off.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from THE PLANTby Frederick L. Pearson Copyright © 2011 by Frederick L. Pearson. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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