To Stand Alone Part II http://www.compositionapproach.blogspot.com

A Gift of Power
Tumarow walks off the elevator onto the dark tan Berber carpet  looking at the red oak desks through the glass cubicles surrounded by rose berry walls trim in oak wood. Her face has a fresh look of joy with just the right amount of clear lip gloss enhancing the fullness. She struts with a  pin up hair style looking perfect with a two piece cocoa brown wool dress suit carrying a dark brown brief case. Listening to the sounds of phones ringing, key boards and voices saying: William and White Law Firm made her realize everyday she chose the right decision. She walks over to her Caucasian secretary wearing blonde hair and dark brown streaks with a tight fit move something bright yellow dress and short jacket matching her perky smile. 
          "Good morning Mrs. Robinson."
          "Hello Holly, could you bring me a cup of tea in my office please."
          "Yes-You had two calls from someone name Ricardo Hernadez. Oh, your husband had a delivery sent to you it's in your office too."
          "Thank you Holly. And I told you to call me Tumarow."
          "I know I just thought it would be appropriate for my job to address you by your last name."
          "You should have felt that way about that dress your wearing." Tumaraw said.
          "Oh-I'm sorry. I'm running a little behind on laundry day this week", Holly says.
          Even though she wanted to give Holly a lesson on appropriate job etiquette she understood Holly was not trying to make a fashion statement at the firm. Besides she was to eager to know what Antoine sent her from New York. Tumarow grabs the mail from Holly and walks to her office. The walls were covered in teal green and trim in polar bear white. A picture frame with decedents faces of African-American woman from the eighteen hundreds til present covers her entire back wall making her feel empower every time she enters the cherry wooden door surrounded by glass. A little black box with a white ribbon wrapping around it, sits between her laptop and crystal picture frame with her and Antoine on her black oak desk. She puts her brown cashmere pea coat on the sterling steel coat rack in the left corner, walks over to her desk and lays her brief case on top, she sits in her black leather swivel chair picks the gift up, lays back folding her left arm observing the gift. Antoine knows I love surprises. I only wish he would spend time like he spend money on me. Tumarow shakes it slightly. 
          "Mrs. Robinson there is a call for you on line one."
          She sits up and press the intercom button. "Hello", Tumarow says. 
           In a strong intimate voice. "Were you surprised." Antoine said. 
          "Yes. But I'm missing my husband."
          "Tumarow baby let's not start. I thought we discuss this-besides if I didn't hustle as hard as I do you wouldn't be able to save for your-your other love." 
          "You know I only have one true love Antoine." She said.
          "Tumarow let's be real. You know I have business to take care of and if I didn't do it those gifts you love so much wouldn't sit on your desk once a week and you couldn't save to get your own law firm started."
          "Antoine I have not seen you in four weeks. I rarely get a chance to talk to you often.What am I suppose to feel like?" Tumarow says. 
          "You wanted this promotion."
          "Come on Antoine", she said, "We gone really go there?"
          Nawl baby-I'm proud of you. I understand-I'll be home soon."
          "Alright." She unwraps the ribbon and opens the box. "Tonie! These are gorgeous-and Judith Ripka-you did spectacular. Wait-who help you pick out a wonderful gift like this?"
          "Why couldn't I have chose it." He said.
          "If I know my husband-I'd be sitting here holding a pair of gold hoops with my name in the middle-not a pair of rubies surrounded with five karats."
          Antoine chuckles. "I guess your right. It was the Jeweler." 
          "Well-whom ever it was I appreciate them helping you with your innovation." They laugh.
          "I know you miss me baby-I miss you too-I just hope that gift can help sooth things over until my return. Which reminds me. How is that Lexus driving?" Antoine said.
          "Smoothly-just make sure your home within five days, she added, my body can't take to much neglect. She walks over to the mirror hanging on the wall by the coat rack, grinning trying on the earrings. "You should see them on me to", she says. 
          "I know I can't wait-I saw these red heels that would look sexy with them." Anotoine said.
          "I love you honey but I have to go-there is a civil case that awaits me. Thank you-and I want the long heels. I'll call you later." 
          "I love you more."Antoine says.
          Tumarow turns to see Holly placing a navy blue mug on the desk. 
          "Holly could you get Mr. Hernadez on the line for me."   
          "Sure Mrs. Robinson. Is that your gift from Mr. Robinson?" 
          "Yes. To be honest-I had been dropping hints around the house about a new pair. I just didn't know what they look like or when they would arrive." Tumarow responds. 
          "There beautiful. And from what I understand he has been sending you a gift once a week for five years straight."
          "Yes. Since we've been married."
          "Your a lucky woman." Holly says, then she turns toward the door.
          Tumarow faces the mirror thinking to herself. I would be if I could get my husband to stay at home with me from time to time, maybe he will-who knows. I just can't believe though-me-a girl from off Dexter would become a wife and a lawyer. She shakes her head.
          "Line one Mrs. Robinson."
          Tumarow walks over to her desk and presses the button.
          "You know-your one of the best secretaries I've had. Quick on your feet-I admire that about you." 
          "Thank you Mrs. Robinson."
          Tumarow pushes the top button on the phone listening to the other line ring. She sits and opens her brief case preparing herself for conversation with Ricardo. A woman voice aphorism: Ricardo Hernadez at law.
          "May I speak to Ricardo Hernadez."
          "Yes-Is this Tumarow Robinson."
          Bolt from the blue Tumarow says, "Why-yes it is."   
          "Oh, Mrs. Robinson he's been waiting on your call-hold while I connect you." The woman said.
          "Thank you." She takes her reading glasses from her brief case puts them on and begins typing on her computer.  
          "Tumorow what's going on lady. Do you have the statistics for me", Ricardo says. 
          "Yes. But what your not going to believe is the gap between them both", Tumarow responds. 
          "Okay-give them to me." 
          "Well-twelve percent of African-American men by the ages of twenty through thirty-four are incarcerated and one point  six percent of white men-same age are too", Tumarow says. 
          "That's not even half ", Ricardo responds.
          "And listen to this-a private prison was sued over education and health services." Tumarow includes.
          "So you mean to tell me there not getting adequate assistance", Ricardo responds. 
          "In the lawsuit it says: inmates attend class for as little as three hours and their contract briefly says they are required to have thirty hours of weekly instructions. And the inmates that are isolated or in detention don't receive education, even after being told they should receive individual instructions." Tumarow said. 
          "What about Michigan?"
          "Michigan has a three point three percent increase-putting us in the fifth largest prison rate." Tumarow concludes.
          "At least we're not number one. And this is just for two-thousand three. If we don't do something now by two-thousand thirteen it will be flooded with blacks. Out of that percentage how many are actually innocent. You know what, Tumarow meet me at Sweet Georgia Brown for lunch at one o'clock and we can discuss more." Ricardo said.
          "Sure, but I maybe running a little behind I have two civil trials today, so I'll be there as soon as I'm done."
          "Alright and keep this under wraps. Tumarow-thanks." 
          "Oh I got this Ricardo and no-thank you", Tumarow hangs up the phone closes her brief case then gradually lays back thinking to herself. Everything seems to be looking up. She looks to the ceiling. Thank you so much God I could not have done it without you. You are a awesome God. She looks to her computer. Today is Friday December ninth-I haven't heard anything from my girlfriends. I've been so swamp with this new client and my trials I forgot to call Aleda. Wait. She sits up immediately pushes the intercom.              
          "Holly have you had any messages from any of my girlfriends."
          "Yes from Wynetta and Katrina Mrs. Robinson-I'm so sorry. They called every day for the last three weeks. But you were busy in meetings and you made it clear no disturbance unless it was a emergency or your husband. And they never said it was a emergency."
          "Any from Aleda."
          "No Ma'am."
          "Thank you-Oh and Holly, could you order a dozen pink gladiolus and send them to Aleda's office with a card that says: Friendship declines when there is no Forgiveness." Tumarow said.  
          "Sure Mrs. Robinson."
          Tumarow walks over to the coat rack slips on her coat. Hum-it's been three weeks. I'm starting to get the feeling that maybe we need to get to know each other all over. I mean we don't even share the holidays anymore. I'll call Wynetta and Katrina on my way to court. She grabs her brief case and exits the office.

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.