Promise Me tells the story of three young girls who experience the trails and tribulations of family. The devastation of * and deceit, the cruelty that comes when family structure fails, and the change of a city that has lost its strongest ability to survive. Walk with me through the tragedies that strike these families, and how the truth is revealed why these families experienced the short coming of life. About The Author: Everyone has a story to tell, but the most powerful message is the message based on experience. Her goal is to influence others to use storytelling as a way to express emotion. Although this is her first book she has a style that persuades readers to turn each page, enticing her readers to lose themselves in the harmony of her words. Read her story and you won't be disappointed. Coming soon "What's up Youngstown, a spin-off play from the book "Promise Me".

Promise Me

By Cherol Martin

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2010 Cherol Martin
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4490-2041-5

Chapter One

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon. The wind blew fresh with the smell of spring flowers in the air, the sound of birds chirping, and the laughter of children playing. The noise of traffic was heard throughout the neighborhood, for the warmth of spring had finally arrived.

Sharay, Stephanie, and Marcie played double Dutch jump rope in front of Sharay's mother's house. The girls happily laughed as Stephanie and Marcie turned each rope for Sharay's turn to jump.

"Come on, Sharay, jump," the two girls yelled.

"Wait now," Sharay giggled, rocking back and forth and getting into position to jump into the ropes. Sharay watched carefully as the ropes whistled with a whirlwind sound through the air and struck the ground with the smack of a whip.

"I can get it this time," she told herself. Marcie and Stephanie turned the ropes faster and faster. Sharay took an ultimate chance and jumped into the whipping ropes. I'm going to make it, she thought hopefully. "I got it!" Sharay screamed, landing on both feet. "This rope has nothing on me," she sang, jumping, turning, and not missing one beat of the double-turning ropes. "Cause I'm as bad as Mohammed Ali."

"Sharay," Sharay's mother called softly, stepping out onto the front porch. "It's time for your lessons."

"Okay, Mama," Sharay answered, slowing down her jump as the girls slowed down the jump ropes. "I have to go," she told her friends while she wrapped the synthetic cloth around her soft-skinned hand. "Okay, Mama," Sharay answered, running up the porch steps of her Youngstown, Ohio home. "I'll see you later," she said, waving goodbye to her friends.

Sharay was a bubbly eight-year-old. She was to be lead singer for the junior choir on the following Sunday, something she had done since she could remember.

"I love you, Mama," Sharay said, looking up to her and holding her with one arm wrapped around her waist as they walked into the house.

"I love you too, Sharay, so much," her mother answered, kissing Sharay softly as they entered the dining room.

Sharay's mother sat down to the piano stool and instructed Sharay to breath. Sharay began to take deep breaths in and out as she twisted one of her four ponytails back together.

The closeness between Sharay and her mother could be felt throughout the room. Sharay, a brown-skinned angel, had a unique way of quieting a room with the tender melody of her voice. Sarah, Sharay's mother, continued to play each tune as she waited for Sharay to take a swallow of lemonade and position herself for rehearsal. Sarah gently nodded her head, and Sharay began to sing.

The sweet, mellow sound, coming from a small child, was astonishing to hear. Sarah, wanting Sharay to be in tune with each note, gave her child key points on how to lift her voice with strength and power, allowing the depth of breath to open up into an orchestra of song; she also taught her how to bring her voice down into a smooth tone, revealing precious tunes and harmonies.

While Sharay and her mother were rehearsing, the doorbell rang. Sharay hastily ran toward the front door.

"Sharay!" her mother called, taking larger steps than her daughter and trying to reach the door before she did. Sarah caught Sharay by the arm and reminded her of how dangerous it is for her to expose herself to possible harm.

"May I help you?" Sarah asked, running her finger over the chrome steel door knob, making sure that the door was locked.

"Well ... yes," a man outside answered nervously, in a deep, scratchy voice. "I was looking for the Turner's place," he continued, removing his hat from his head.

"This is the Turners'," she replied, interrupting his sentence. "Oh—I'm sorry, how may I help you?"

"Yes, Ma'am, I just got into town, and I was trying to land myself a job at one of these big steel mills you got here, and, well ... I was told you served good room and board."

"Oh, yes. Why thank you. Please forgive my manners; we were right in the middle of practice. Please come in."

"Yes, Ma'am, I'd be glad to," he answered, lifting up his worn dusty suitcase and wobbling from the weight of it. "I heard your singing when I first walked up the porch stairs; your voices are beautiful."

Sarah smiled, acknowledging his compliment. Sarah spoke as she guided the gentlemen toward the dining room. "Times are changing, and I'm trying to teach my daughter well, you know."

"Yes, Ma'am, I do, we have to be very careful these days."

Sarah turned to her daughter. "Sharay, I want you to go outside, but first could you please ask Mrs. Peters to come here?"

Mrs. Peters, one of Sarah's eldest workers, had worked for the Turner family for many years; she took care of making beds, helping with dinner, and some other different duties around the house that helped Sarah greatly. But in Sarah's eyes, she was more of a friend.

"You may rest your things here, sir," Sarah spoke, turning to the gentleman and extending her hand so they could kindly introduce themselves.

"Darin," he replied to her gesture, quickly wiping the sweat from the palm of his hands, "Darin Perez."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Darin. My name is Sarah, Sarah Turner," she said, pulling her hand out of his.

"Nice to meet you as well," he respectfully replied.

Mrs. Peters entered the room and escorted their new houseguest to his quarters. After dinner and tucking Sharay into bed, Sarah quietly relaxed in the spare bedroom and thought of her husband, Mitch. I'll be glad to see you, Mitch, she thought while sipping on a cold glass of lemonade.

"Big Turner Mitch" was what many of the townspeople called him. Mitch Turner, a successful businessman, had diligently worked his business into a prosperous company called "Turn It Up Productions." Previous contracts and engagements had benefited the family enormously; to the top they had made it, and at the top was where they were going to stay. Mitch always had to travel from one state to another, looking for talent, which was something he was good at. However, the hard work had put a series of time spans between Mr. Turner and his wife. This was not new to Sarah, for this is how she met her husband of eight years. Sadly, the lonely days and nights were starting to take their toll. Mitch had recently called stating that there was a good possibility he would be home sometime this week.

I hope so, Mitch. How long can I continue to stay alone?

To pass much of the time, Sarah had opened their spacious home as a west-end hotel for whoever needed a place to stay. The Lord had truly blessed this family.

The next morning was as beautiful as the day before. The sun shone brightly into the home of the Turner family. Sarah walked down their long hallway with slippers and a housecoat on, holding her forehead and trying to wake up.

"Time to get up," Sarah stated, waking Sharay for church.

"Oh, Mama," Sharay mumbled inside her covers.

"Come on, Sharay," she said strengthening her tone as she pulled open the curtains. "We must be on time. How did you sleep, my beautiful princess?"

"Very well, thank you, my lovely queen," Sharay answered.

"Well ... let's get moving, baby; we don't want to be late."

"Okay, Mama," Sharay moaned.

"I'll see you downstairs." Sarah stood at the bedroom doorway.

"Okay, Mama," Sharay mumbled from under her sheets. "I'm getting up."

Sarah...