Sex out of Wedlock

By Alice Faye Andrews

That hot August night Mary thought her life couldn't get any better. She met the man of her dreams. Little did she know that man would soon be the source of her worst nightmares. Ted was a smooth handsome young sailor that swept the naive young sourthern woman off her feet that night in 1960's Los Angeles. Unfortunately all that glitters isn't gold. Author Alice Faye Andrews takes us through a semi-autobiographical tale of pain, deception and compromise when you give into passion and have Sex out of Wedlock...

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 8, 2011
• ISBN: 9781463450106

Book preview

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 1

I could feel the August air and it had a soft light feel to it. It was unlike the sticky down south humidity where I’d grown up. This was the west coast. Compton. Not the NWA Compton images that you think of today. This is a Harlem Renaissance Compton, a Miles Davis Kind of Blue Compton. Long before the days of drive-by’s and crack cocaine. I was at a ground breaking ceremony with one of my six brothers Mark, a handsome, light skinned quirky man that also had an affinity for music. I also have five sisters. The ground breaking was for a state of the art music pavilion that little did we know would come to showcase some of the hottest talent in the history of music.

My view was one from outside a six-foot high chain link fence. I could clearly see the stage where I was so I saw no need to pay three dollars to get in. This is a trait that my children would refer to as cheap in the latter years to come. Call it what you want, but I’m three dollars richer. My brother was bowling next door until the concert started, but I was so excited that I stayed and watched the technicians prepare. I’m from Oakdale Louisiana and we didn’t get a lot of concerts down there.

From where I was standing, I could clearly see the stage. It stood about a yard high. The stage was made of wide planks, the type that would be on a navel deck of the USS such and such. It had a huge open deck appearance. Plenty of room for Count Basie’s huge band and yet intimate enough for Lena to sing Stormy Weather. Hanging high above the stage, swaying in the gentle breezes were trip lights, rolling back and forth as if they were warming up for the performers. They electrified the sky with faded pinks, blue greens and sharp reds. Occasionally the multicolors would fuse into an intense white light.

I was watching everyone’s level of anticipation rising as the line formed to get in the show. I, for the life of me, couldn’t understand why people were paying to get in? Big city showoffs! As the line began to move into the pavilion, I heard a four-piece band begin to play a song of my parent’s generation. A soft and calm version of Stardust was playing that would have made Lady Day proud. Suddenly the music stopped. In the center of the massive deck a lady appeared. She was dressed in explosive silver that showed off what the Lord gave her. Very curvy like most black women. Had ass when ass wasn’t in style. For some reason white people believe J. Lo and the Kardashian sisters invented rumps. It’s like Bo Derek with the Corn rows in 10. They’re still copying our style and we get no credit. Everybody wants to be black until it is time to be black.

She took the microphone in her hand, Hello out there! Her vibrant voice rang out through the microphone and into the audience. My name is Sally and we are here to have a good time as well as raise money for the future music center, right?! The listeners roared with approval the only way a black audience roars. Full bodied and emotional, just like Def Jam Comedy. The audience quickly calmed down when prompted unlike audiences today because that was when decorum and manners were not only the order of the day but demanded from parents. The beautifully brown woman then said, Let’s start the show!

Three Negro women ran frantically from the left side of the stage to the center of the big deck with a loud drum roll by the band. The ladies were dressed in long white gowns; their do’s piled high like Dreamgirls. They looked exactly like the Supremes. The young girls took their position on stage and busted into Stop! In the name of love.

I stood outside the fence, swaying and slowly throbbing to the beat of the music. I looked to my left behind me to see if my brother was coming out of the bowling alley to join me. Instead of my brother, I saw the blackest, most beautiful man I’d ever seen in my life. His skin color against the night lighting was actually darker than the night. His skin was really clear and he was clean shaven. And his lips, OOOOOOH! . . . . big and thick with a natural pucker. The type of lips that engulf your mouth when they make contact with yours. We made eye contact and he immediately dropped his head to the ground. I attempted to watch the show but his looks stuck with me. It was useless. I would make subtle turns back to get a look at him and turn my head quickly around to catch the performance. Odd as it seemed to me, he was also watching me. He stared at me almost starkly, like a lion stalking an elk on the African Tundra. Quiet. Astute. Intense. Serious. Every time I look back it seemed to grow more intense. His feet began to shuffle back and forth as if he was listening to the national anthem and getting ready for tip-off. I distinctly caught the shine off his well-polished shoes. This gawking went on for what felt like three seconds. Next I could hear and feel movement behind me. I then looked over my left shoulder and completely spellbound, I looked into his dark fierce eyes. Frozen.

In a very soft, smooth polished voice I heard, What is your name?

I answered coyly, Mary, Mary Jones. I could not take my eyes off this man. I was captivated.

He said, I bet you’re wondering why I kept staring at you? I thought I knew you but I don’t think I do?

At that point in time my brother approached him from behind and said, Are you ready to go Mary? He had to get to work in the morning and had to get some sleep.

The stranger was stunned when my brother approached from behind. His entire demeanor changed. His mouth dropped and his eyes rolled rapidly toward my brother, sizing him up, with a sense of disappointment.

The stranger then said in a stern voice, I’ll see that Mary gets home. I sensed the tension.

I then turned to the stranger, This is my brother Mark. The stranger’s mannerisms softened. He became friendlier toward my brother.

Mark then asked quizzically, Are you sure that you want to ride with him? Mark then looked at me only the way an older brother can look at you when questioning your judgment.

I said, Yes.

My brother then left me there with a stranger in the dark in Compton. Ain’t love dumb? And my brother is dumber.

Once my brother left the chemistry between the stranger between me began to soar! We stood there gazing into each other’s eyes, not speaking, not moving, letting the natural vitals take over.

The mood was broken with him saying, It’s silly for us to stand outside the gate in the darkness. Would you like to go inside and sit down?

I kinda like watching from a distance, and besides, one never knows whom one might see.

The stranger’s eyebrows wrinkled, Why would you say that?

Pointing my finger to the right of the fence, See if you can recognize the person standing in front of us inside of the fence.

The dark man focused in on the statuesque individual. His voice rose to a high pitch. That can’t be! That’s Cassius Clay! He is going to be the next Heavyweight Champion of the World!

The soon to be Champ and always to be arrogant Clay was aware of our conversation about him. He turned to face us and let out a big Ali smile and waved. I had been in California for about two weeks, met the most delicious man I’ve ever seen in my life and had the great Cassius Clay smile at me all in one night!

My attention went back to the stranger. I don’t think I got your name?

His large lips curled to one side of his mouth and said, That’s because I haven’t told you.

We laughed out loud! The engaging newcomer immediately said, My name is Ted Carter.

I asked, Do you live around here?

No, I’m in the Navy and my ship’s docked at Long Beach Port.

The Supreme wannabee’s finished there act and left the stage. Sally reappeared on the deck