To Stand Alone Part I http://www.compositionapproachblogspot.com/

OFF TO A BAD START                                                Justin lays on his back on top of his navy blue tangle bedspread reading Sports Illustrated in a vertical position at the foot of his bed. Numerous bright picturesque spray paintings of carton characters cover the dark gray walls. The plush gray carpet is hidden under disarray garments and gym shoes. Aleda walks in shaking her head in disgust. "How do you possibly sleep in here-You know it's a shame I have to take time out of my agenda to make sure you do what you have been told," Aleda said, picking up clothes tossing them into the laundry basket next to the door.                                                      "Ma-I like my things like this-as long as I can find whatever I’m looking for, it don’t matter," he hates when she barges in his room as if she is the cleaning lady.                                                                                 "Justin, she points at him, until you start paying  rent around here. I say keep this room clean. She walks over to him and grabs the magazine. Listen son, being fourteen-you are at an age where certain things are expected of you. I know it isn't easy but you must understand preparation and with that comes responsibilities. Look we honor thy Mother and Father in this house so when I tell you to do something I don't anticipate on waiting. Remember cleanliness is next to Godliness-don't ever forget that, now give me a hug before I leave. Justin five feet brown structure stands up to embrace her. You know I love you. Oh-by-God's heaven, what is that smell?"                                              "What," he says, smelling his white crew t-shirt.               "Not only when I get back do I want this bedroom clean but you better have had a bath. You know-I don't see what young lady is going to want you when you get to high school next year, for any kind of friend, unless you start taking care of your hygiene."                                 "Okay Ma."                                                                 "I'll try to be home by eight if I'm not here tell Christopher to order take out," she says, as she kiss his forehead. He grabs the magazine off the bed and sits. "I love you too Ma." She shakes the top of his sandy curly head smiling.                                                                      Aleda walks out into the peach hall on the white carpet to the glass and gold spiral staircase thinking how much she loves Justin and how hard it is being a single parent. She passes the picture of her and Christopher hanging on the tan wall realizing how awesome it will be for Justin to have two parents. Aleda steps onto the oak wooden foyer, walks over to the left side grabs her gray wrap and matching Micheal Kors purse off the cherry wooden coat rack, puts them on passing the white wood door to her right getting to the antique gold trim mirror hanging up, she steps in front of it, admiring half of her five-eight height and caramel skin. She rubs the back of her ball jet black curls admiring it's soft texture then aligns the collar on her white blouse. "God thank you for today-you always believe in me, even if no one else does," she tosses the wrap around her shoulder, picks up her black Kenneth Cole brief case off the wooden console under the mirror and walks out the door into the November biting Detroit weather.                                       I’m glad I wore long johns under my favorite jeans that make my bottom full of comfort. My Momma always said, wrapping up keeps your bones from aching and at thirty-two I need to preserve my body, Aleda thought. She settles in her black Range Rover on the cozy leather peanut butter interior, toss her cell phone on the passenger seat and place her brief case in the back on the floor. Oohh, these seats make winter not as harsh, thank God for the man who invented remote starters. She shakes her bottom as she pushes cd on the stereo. CeCe Winans begins to make her feel high quality of life until a distraction from a buzzing sound. I seem to never have a moment to myself without my phone being so annoying, she thought, pressing send.         "Hello Logan, what’s the problem? Calm down, I’m on my way to lunch. Soon as I get something in my stomach I’ll be there. Tell the models, if they don’t wear what you-the fashion editor has for them, then they can go pose for someone else instead. I have to go, see you in two hours," she presses end on her iphone while fixing her eyes on the Detroit River in her back yard.                    I don't understand, Logan is my fashion editor, why do I have to tell her how to do her job, I hired her for her experience, I shouldn't have to be to concern about fashion-yeah right, even though her credentials are creditable she is only twenty but I can see her future moving far. I hope those models not trying to give her a hard time on purpose cause she look fifteen. She lays back and retrieve. Let me go meet my sista' friends and listen to them talk about how late I am-those women, she thinks, puts the truck in reverse and takes off stylish.