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Authors: Lynn Emery

Tags: #romance, #womens fiction, #scandal, #wrongful conviction

Soulful Strut (26 page)

BOOK: Soulful Strut
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“Almost eleven-thirty. Guess we better go
now.” Jayson held her in his arms and rocked them both.

“Yes, but then we have the pleasure of next
time to think about,” she replied and smiled deep inside
herself.

Jayson pressed against her hard. “Yes.”

 

 

***

 

The next Monday, Monette had no time to
daydream about blissful lovemaking, the weekend, or Jayson. Between
ringing phones, the radio show and Chaz’s frenetic energy, Monette
had her hands full. After lunch she went to Second Chances to help
Danica. She felt as though the entire world was rushing at her. Jim
called to remind her that the pardon hearing would be in just two
weeks. Of course she didn’t need a reminder. The date stayed with
her like indigestion, a burning, sour feeling in the pit of her
belly. The hearing would be one more instance of begging upstanding
citizens for her future. After a particularly frustrating
conversation with a child welfare worker about one of the girls,
Monette had to take time to recover. The encounter brought back
memories. She sat in her office, rubbing away at a tension
headache, soft jazz coming from a small radio.

After three knocks, Danica stuck her head in
Monette’s door without coming in. “Hi. At the risk of getting
something thrown at me, I’m going to ask anyway. How’s it
going?”

“I’ve sworn off violence, so you’re safe. And
I think you already know how it’s going.” Monette motioned for her
to enter.

Danica nodded as she walked in. She sat down
in a chair facing Monette’s desk. “Yes. Some days if it ain’t one
thing it’s another; or a hundred.”

“How do you deal with these social workers
and paper shufflers all day without slapping somebody?” Monette
rubbed her stiff neck muscles. “Makes me think about the crap they
put me through.”

“Then you know why I keep at it. Too much is
at stake. Besides, most of them really want to do the right thing.
I try to make them allies. Works ninety percent of the time.”
Danica beamed with youthful optimism.

“You’re young and still confident you can
change the world. I like that.” Monette smiled back at her. “I’m
going to search hard until I find the silver lining, too.”
“Excellent.” Danica’s bright expression turned serious. “I read
that article in the newspaper. Don’t take that kind of poison
inside. Shrug it off.”

Monette felt heaviness in her chest when she
thought about Winn and the pardon hearing. “I want the record
cleaned up for the sake of my kids. I need them to have a reason to
be proud of me.”

“I’m sure they are proud of you, Monette.
Look at all you’ve done. Sure, your lawyer helped you get out of
prison, but you had to convince him to help you. You had what it
took to persuade him. Just like you have the skills to persuade the
Pardon Board to do the right thing.”

“We’re talking about the criminal justice
system. When did doing the right thing become a priority with them?
You’ve seen how it grinds up people.”

“I’ve met people in the system who really do
want justice. You have to believe in them. The governor looked at
the facts and supported your parole request. There is a bright
side,” Danica insisted.

“Self-pity won’t help, right?” Monette looked
out of the window of her office.

“Exactly,” Danica said.

Monette sat straight and grinned at her. “Now
I really understand how you started out with nothing and built this
program. You’re a real motivator, girl. Thanks for the pep
talk.”

“So are you. We make a good team. Thanks to
you, Mr. Odum will be teaching a class on what it takes to start a
business.”

Monette blushed at the compliment, mostly
because she didn’t deserve it. She’d offered to ask Jayson before
anyone else could make suggestions. “He’s happy to do it.”

“And I’ve been thinking about something.”
Danica sat forward in the chair. Her eyes lit up.

“I know that look. A new project, right?”
Monette looked ahead and saw long hours for the staff.

“Right. I got a call from the Jennings
Foundation this morning about the grant I applied for. We got it.”
Danica slapped her palms together.

“Congratulations. Honey, you are a
powerhouse.”

“Thanks. Now for my idea. I want to start a
program for adult women, with you as the coordinator. Now hear me
out before you say no,” Danica rushed on when Monette started to
speak.

“Okay, but I’ve never been in charge of
anything,” Monette said.

“You’ve got leadership skills, believe me.
Anyway, I’ve been thinking about this for a while. After meeting
most of the girls’ mothers, I see the need to address their issues.
When I’ve tried to find services like counseling or career
development, I hit a wall. Those programs just don’t exist. I think
you’re right for the job as coordinator.” Danica sat back and
stared at Monette, waiting for her reaction.

“This city is full of folks a lot more
qualified than I am, girl. I’m talking resumes packed with
impressive experience.” Monette shook her head. “I don’t know.”

“We need you. The experience you bring is
priceless. You’ve faced some of the same challenges they have. A
lot of times talking to another professional with a lot of degrees
isn’t what they need,” Danica said.

“Yeah, but I’m not convinced it’s me they
need instead. And I’ve got a book to finish, a radio show and that
pardon hearing.” Monette did not mention the invisible threat of
whatever Winn Barron had in store for her. She felt swamped at the
thought of taking on another project.

“You’ll have two staff working with you to
handle a lot of details. Both of them will be seasoned social
services professionals. That’s how I wrote the job descriptions,”
Danica replied, as though she were a psychic reading Monette’s
mind.

“Humph. I also know a little bit about those
grants. You have to put in a general description of the
coordinator’s qualifications. I’m not papered up, you know.”
Monette crossed her arms. “Now how do you plan to handle that
little detail?”

“Simple. I made it clear that someone who has
demonstrated leadership qualities and communications skills would
be considered. You fit that description. You’ve taken college
courses in public policy and business.”

“Community college courses while I was in
prison,” Monette put in, skeptical the foundation would be as
convinced as Danica.

“So what?” Danica brushed off Monette’s
objection with a shrug and went on. “We can offer services to women
referred by other programs, including New Beginnings.”Monette
blinked at her in surprise. “Wow. I wasn’t expecting that one.”

“And for the first few months you can count
those hours as community service. Just don’t take a salary. We save
grant money and you rack up lots of hours. Not to mention you can
have the job later. That would be a big plus with the Pardon
Board.” Danica sat back, crossed her legs, and wore a satisfied
smile.

“Damn, you’re good. I thought I could
fast-talk folks into doing stuff.” Monette gazed at her in
admiration.

“So, you’ll do it?” Danica leaned
forward.

Monette laughed hard. “I can’t think of a
reason to say no, not when you did such a perfect presentation.
Girl, you could sell ice at the North Pole in winter.”

Danica grinned and stood. “Like I said, we
make a great team. Better go. I’ve got a meeting.”

“Okay, Ms. Mover and Shaker. Do your thing,”
Monette replied.

“We had strong competition, so getting this
grant was a long shot. I’m sending up praises for this blessing.
The program is going to be fantastic. I know it already.” Danica
waved at her, then left.

Once Danica was gone, Monette began to have
doubts. “I’m sending up prayers I don’t fall on my face.”

 

 

***

 

“I’m telling you, this is a win-win
situation, Trudy,” Monette ended after twenty minutes of a sales
pitch.

That evening at the halfway house Monette had
convinced Sherrial and Trudy to have a group meeting with some of
the women. A furrow between Trudy’s eyebrows showed she was
skeptical of the plan. Tyeisha, Candi and Lenore looked nervous.
Sherrial nodded with a wide grin. She alone seemed to have the
right mixture of optimism and enthusiasm.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea, Trudy. What
better way for three of our ladies to further their education and
get good jobs?” Sherrial started to go on, when Trudy raised a hand
like a traffic cop to stop her.

“Are you all prepared to study and work?”
Trudy glanced at the three women.

“Yeah, I guess,” Lenore said finally. Tyeisha
merely nodded.

“I dunno,” Candi blurted out. She looked at
Monette as though she’d lost her mind. “I haven’t even gotten my
GED yet.”

“You’re this close, Candi. All you need is to
pass the math section. You can slam-dunk it,” Monette said with
forced cheer. She hoped Candi read the signal in her eyes.
Apparently not, judging by the fish-eyed expression of fear on
Candi’s face.

“Me? I’ve never slam-dunked a test in my damn
life. Er, excuse my slip,” she sputtered.

“You ran the prison gift shop better than
anybody. The assistant warden said so. Candi could do those books
without batting an eye. Got your skills making money on the
street,” Monette teased.

“I don’t think we want to emphasize talents
that led these ladies to prison.” Trudy pursed her lips to show her
displeasure with Monette’s examples.

The other women laughed in spite of the
director’s words. Monette shrugged with a half smile. “I’m just
showing how we can use her potential for good rather than
evil.”

“I think that’s called rehabilitation, Trudy.
One important component of our mission statement,” Sherrial said
with a straight face.

Candi looked at Lenore. “What about your
dream of owning a beauty salon?”

“Yeah. School ain’t my thing, Monette. Not
that I don’t appreciate what you’re trying to do. Ramone might
not—” Lenore stopped short.

“Look, you need money to start any business.
Most successful entrepreneurs work for other people while they’re
working toward their dream,” Monette said. “Candi, you told me that
you’re sick of being a cook. Okay, here’s your chance to get out of
the kitchen. Tyeisha, you could start off making fifteen dollars an
hour. How’s that for being able to support your little girl?”

“Wow.” Tyeisha blinked hard. “I’ve never made
that kind of money in my life.”

“Yeah, all twenty-three long years of it,”
Candi teased. She poked Tyeisha in the ribs playfully like a big
sister.

“Look, Lenore. All you can do is try. We
can’t guarantee you’ll get a job. But don’t you want more choices?
You can’t save up much money gluing fake fingernails on women who
don’t even leave you tips.” Monette could see she had scored points
with Tyeisha. Candi’s joke meant she was warming to the idea.
Lenore alone seemed hesitant

“Come on, Lenore. What have we got to lose
but some time?” Tyeisha grabbed Lenore’s hand and gave it a
squeeze.

Lenore wore a tentative smile. “I guess so.
But I can’t take off days from work,” she said quickly.

“We’re arranging for late afternoon and
Saturday classes at the community college.” Monette had checked the
summer schedule at the college. “The instructors don’t teach these
courses as part of the regular schedule. This is a special deal for
us. Of course the fall classes will be different.”

“Surrounded by preppies,” Candi said.

“Don’t worry about your wardrobe, Candi. That
funky, secondhand prison clothes look is in with the kids these
days,” Monette wisecracked.

“I’m gonna fit right in. When can we get
started?” Tyeisha grinned.

Monette took the applications from a folder
under her chair. She passed them out. ‘Tonight.”

Sherrial peered over Candi’s shoulder at the
form she held. “Looks simple enough. We can do them together.”

“Well, I’ll leave you ladies to it then. I’ll
go on with the eight o’clock group session in the big living room.”
Trudy stood.

“Thanks, Trudy. I hope you don’t mind if I
come to you for help sometime. I mean, you have so much valuable
experience in administering successful programs.” Monette ignored
the soft kissing sounds Candi made.

“Certainly. I want my ladies to be all they
can be. Let me know if you need anything,” Trudy said, giving them
all an encouraging smile before she left.

“Hell, are we joining the army?” Candi
mumbled.

“Be nice and watch your language.” Sherrial
worked hard not to laugh.

“I thought that was your natural color, girl.
Now I know the real reason your nose is brown,” Candi said to
Monette. She laughed when Monette pretended she was going to hit
her with the file folder.

“Girl, you crazy,” Tyeisha said with a
giggle.

“Ai, I’m going to school again. I dunno.”
Lenore twisted her hands together. “Ramone always says educated
women are too uppity.”

Candi waved a forefinger. “Don’t even quote
that chump to me, Lenore.”

Monette swatted Candi’s finger out of the
air. “Stop. This is about getting ahead. Just tell Ramone that once
you start making better money you’ll buy him something nice.”

“Humph, that oughta satisfy the scrub,” Candi
said under her breath.

“Save some of that energy for studying,
Candi,” Monette snapped. “You’re going to need it.”

“Hey, we’re gonna be college girls. Party
with cute guys and stuff.” Candi moved her shoulders to a beat only
she could hear.

“Nope. Between working and studying your butt
off, you won’t have the time or the juice to do anything else. Put
some real effort into this, Candi.” Monette wondered if maybe
including Candi had been a mistake.

“Jeez, loosen them tight panties ridin’ up
your butt. I’m just kiddin’ around.” Candi rolled her eyes. When
Monette didn’t smile, she adopted a serious look. “Okay. I’m
straight now.”

BOOK: Soulful Strut
9.16Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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