The Liberation of Ravenna Morton

by Suzanne Jenkins

  for marrying or not marrying our mothers

  for divorcing or not divorcing our mothers

  and shall we forgive them for their excesses

  of warmth or coldness shall we forgive them

  for pushing or leaning for shutting doors

  for speaking only through layers of cloth

  or never speaking or never being silent

  in our age or in theirs or in their deaths

  saying it to them or not saying it-

  if we forgive our fathers what is left

  Reprinted from Ghost Radio (c) 2003 by Dick Lourie, by permission of Hanging Loose Press.

  Author’s Note

  Although landmarks and some of the businesses will be familiar to those readers who know West Michigan, everything else about this story is a work of my imagination. Greek artists may have had studios overlooking the Kalamazoo, but Mike Hetris is pure fiction. The sawmill, Ravenna and her cabin, fantasy; son Ozzy and his wife, imaginary teachers; April the lawyer, nonexistent. Wiley Hoffman’s bait shop and fishing expedition company, also fiction.

  I used this website for the Ojibwe words in the text. I apologize if I didn’t use them correctly; it was just a feeling I wanted the reader to have, of the beauty of a family speaking their own language. I realize my lack of understanding may be jarring for those who speak the language.

  The area where I imagine Ravenna’s cabin to be is not far from where our home once stood. It’s a remote spot along the river, but forty-five minutes away from an airport. We are lucky to have a sense of isolation close to the second largest city in Michigan.

  The inspiration for the story has its roots in my childhood, spending long summer weekends with my grandmother and great grandfather in his bungalow on Hoffman Street, next door to where the coffee shop now operates. His poem “Autumn Pictures of Saugatuck” captures every wonderful memory I have of autumn in West Michigan. I don’t remember exchanging a word with him, but his few translated poems give me a sense of who he was.

  For more information about the Indian Adoption Project, read One Small Sacrifice: Lost Children of the Indian Adoption Project. And for more information about Indian Boarding Schools, read Education for Extinction.

  Indigenous basket weavers are active in Michigan. For more information go to Woodland Arts.

  Suzanne Jenkins

  Webography

  For more information about Native Americans in Michigan:

  http://www.michiganinbrief.org/edition07/Chapter1/Chapter1.htm

  http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/michigan/

  Judith Jourdan, page 27, Gatherings-Great Lakes Native Basket and Box Makers, Copyright 1999 the Board of Trustees, Michigan State University ISBN #0944311148

  For more information about the Indian Adoption Project:

  http://pages.uoregon.edu/adoption/topics/IAP.html

  http://pages.uoregon.edu/adoption/studies/FanshelFFTR.htm The Indian Adoption Project began placing children in 1958 and Ravenna gave birth in 1948. In Indian Country Today http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/article/native-americans-expose-the-adoption-era-and-repair-its-devastation-65966 Stephanie Woodard writes that adoptions took place between 1941 and 1967.

  http://pages.uoregon.edu/adoption/topics/confidentiality.htm

  Information about wild rice project in Michigan:

  http://cedartreeinstitute.org/2007/11/manoomin-project-teens-tribes-restore-wild-rice-michigan/

  For more information regarding boarding schools:

  http://www.users.muohio.edu/johnso58/246SNboardingschools.html

  http://www.heydaybooks.com/news/issues/articles/15.3.Sherman_Institute.html

  http://www.heard.org/currentexhibits/hmm/BoardingSchoolExperience.html

  http://www.pbs.org/indiancountry/history/boarding2.html

  http://www.wce.wwu.edu/Resources/NWCHE/ethnocide/Boarding%20Schools.Final.pdf

  I don’t want to trivialize what the children experienced at the hands of their captors. To read a fictionalized account of life at a Canadian boarding school, read No Time to Say Goodbye. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005JSZG6Q/ref=oh_d__o01_details_o01__i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

  If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to my email list at Suzannejenkins.com to received the periodic Free stories.

  You’ll also receive a FREE download of First Sight-When Pam and Jack Met, the prequel to the Pam of Babylon Series.

  #1 Pam of Babylon Always FREE! Long Island housewife Pam Smith is called to the hospital after her husband Jack suffers a heart attack on the train from Manhattan. It is the beginning of a journey of self-discovery and sadness, growth and regrets, as she realizes a wife and mother’s worst nightmare.

  #2 Don’t You Forget About Me Jack’s wife and two lovers discover secrets and lies, and each other. The family begins to sift through the evidence of a life of deceit, putting together the pieces left behind by Jack.

  #3 Dream Lover A gritty, realistic portrait of the aftermath of deceit, more pieces of the puzzle come together as the women each attempt to go on living in the wake of despair. Jack’s lovers scatter as Cindy tries to move forward, Blythe discovers a way to live without him, and other make their way to the beach for an audience with Pam.

  #4 Prayers for the Dying Pam makes startling revelations about herself, while Sandra hopes for a future with exciting expectations. Marie is in a most unlikely place, with the happiest news in the bleakest circumstances. Ashton’s story of a lifetime love affair with Jack is finally told, with his heartache revealed.

  #5 Family Dynamics Heartbreak and devastation move toward triumph in the fifth installation of the Pam of Babylon series. Pam is at last able to overcome the pain of Jack’s rejection, and her own role in perpetuating his deviance, when she meets Dan and falls in love. Her children move on with their lives in ways Pam would have never believed. Sandra fulfills her dreams with Tom, and a gift from Marie helps to complete their life together. Ashton and Ted build a beautiful life, and new discoveries make it richer than they thought possible, but with a twist. But don’t be deceived; what you hope for is not what you may get.

  #6 The Tao of Pam Pam is at a crossroad which will take her to the next phase of her life, if she chooses the right path. Brent and Lisa move on, dealing with their own life choices and Pam pays the cost. But does what she has to do to maintain a life of harmony.

  #7 In Memoriam In Memoriam begins with the birth of a baby boy to Pam’s former boyfriend, Dan and daughter, Lisa as the journey of Pam of Babylon continues in this seventh volume. Still reeling from the death of her beloved son Brent, Pam endures life at the beach with remarkable strength. Sandra tries to balance several versions of her life while striving to be part of the Smith legacy. Lisa rises above circumstances that would destroy most, with determination. But don’t be too impressed; history does have a way of repeating itself.

  We’re Just Friends: Short Story Prequel to #8 A short story meant to fill in details after Book #7 In Memoriam and before Book #8 Soulmates. Events occur that the reader may want to know about, but Jason and Sandra do their best to keep hidden.

  #8 Soulmates Pam faces new challenges with glamour and poise, while Sandra doesn’t disappoint, and Lisa discovers new strengths. “Women’s fiction with a touch of noir.”

  #9 Save the Date Pam and John plan their wedding, while love and healing grow around the couple. Lisa and Dan split up, and the day he leaves, she finds peace. Sandra and Dan make a commitment to each other, but for how long? John’s daughter, Violet makes major life changes and the grandmothers find adventure…and love. An old friend from Pam’s childhood returns with troublemaking in mind, but Karma is on Pam’s side, at last.

  Julie Hsu: Short Story Prequel to #10 Julie Hsu comes back on the scene at the end of Save the Date, Book #9. Brent Smith was the love of her life from the age of 16, but their relationship couldn’t survive the damage which surfaced after Jack died. Julie has one goal now-can you guess? Contains spoilers for those who haven’t read Bo
ok #9.

  #10 I’ll Always Love You The women; Bernice, Nelda, Pam, Lisa, Violet, Cara and little Miranda rise up in power in this tale of triumph and love. But there are a few proverbial flies in the ointment. Can you guess whom?

  A Good Beach Day: a FREE Pam of Babylon Short Story – While John’s away on a business trip, Pam faces the truth about her marriage. To John, not Jack!

  #11 Beach Spirits Pam wrestles with spirits, living and dead as the past haunts her.

  #12 South Shore Romance At last, with everything aligned perfectly, and her family occupied, Pam finds romance, love, excitement and joy with Senator Charlie Monroe and his rescued Greyhound, Margaret. But swirling around her are the antics of Dan and Julie and their exciting but exasperating relationship, the elders living a riotous life jet-setting between Babylon, Great Neck, and Florida, Alison and Diana spending more and more time with Miranda, Lisa and Ryan Maddox discovering bonds they never thought possible, Sandra finding true love, and last but not least, Sister Mary Joseph, settling in to a life of comfort and privilege at the beach. What could possibly go wrong?

  #13 Meet Me at the Beach Pam, Lisa, Nelda, Sister Mary and Sandra seek hints of their destiny in the next installment of Pam of Babylon. Disappointments and challenges surprise Pam, but when one door closes, another always opens for her. Romance swirls around as friends and neighbors learn that perfect someone is right down the beach. A wedding shakes things up; a discovery is made during the honeymoon, and a love triangle is formed when Lisa opens her heart again. Things seem to be on the right path finally, but as usual, a secret of Jack’s is exposed, shaking it up once again.

  Gladys and Ed’s Big Adventure Short Story Prequel to #14 Pam’s Adventures in Babylon

  Beautiful Heartbreaker A Pam of Babylon Novella Don’t look now, but Jack Smith is right behind you,” Marian whispered. A flush of pleasure cruised through Genevieve’s body, but later, she thought it might have been a warning.

  The years of Jack Smith’s coming of age occurred during the best and worst times in Manhattan’s history. The son of Upper West Side elitists, raised with the best of everything, one secret aspect of his childhood set him apart from others in his class.

  Beautiful Heartbreaker tells the story of Jack’s transformation from a young, innocent boy to a larger than life icon who took the city by storm.

  For followers of Pam of Babylon, Beautiful Heartbreaker fills in some of the blanks his death left unanswered. Will the mystery of Jack ever be unlocked?

  Pam’s Adventures in Babylon Life at the beach takes on a new twist as Pam embraces the children Jack left behind. The triad of Lisa, Allison, and Ryan grows closer, then further apart when Ryan’s lust gets out of control. Even the reappearance of someone from Ryan’s past isn’t enough to keep him in check.

  The rest of the players cope with life as each drama is thrown their way. Discover what Dan and Julie, Cara and Roger, Sandra and Tim, Gladys and Ed, Ted and Jeanie, the Great Neck Gang, Claire Maddox, and the rest are up to. #15 brewing!

  Pam of Babylon Video

  ~ ~ ~

  Perfect for Him Romance in the time of death, Perfect for Him skims the surface of a marriage before plunging into the abyss of heartbreak. Perfect for Him is a tale of two lovers whose lifetime romance sustains them, as an unwanted ending looms in the near future. Pathos and heartbreak intermingles with expectation and the comedy that only a close-knit family can generate. At the end, joy and hope reign, thanks to Harley’s unselfish love.

  Perfect for Him Video

  ~ ~ ~

  The Donut Shop Murder A prequel to the series. Four days before Thanksgiving, the dead body of a paralegal is found dumped on a residential street in Midtown Detroit. A receipt for two cups of coffee in the gutter near her body leads Detectives Zannos and Wong to the New Delhi Donut shop. Questions arise – who killed her, and why did the murderer break her fingers and move her body?

  The Greeks of Beaubien Street is the Second book in The Greektown Stories. Although it may be read as a stand-alone novel, character development is on the continuum of all the books in the series.

  Nestled below the skyline of Detroit you’ll find Greektown, a few short blocks of colorful bliss, warm people and Greek food. In spite of growing up immersed in the safety of her family and their rich culture, Jill Zannos doesn’t fit in. A Detroit homicide detective, she manages to keep one foot planted firmly in the traditions started by her grandparents, while the other navigates the most devastated neighborhoods in the city she can’t help but love. She is a no-nonsense workaholic with no girlfriends, an odd boyfriend who refuses to grow up, and an uncanny intuition, inherited from her mystic grandmother that acts as her secret weapon to crime-solving success. Her story winds around tales of her family and their secret-laden history, while she investigates the most despicable murder of her career.

  The Greeks of Beaubien Street is a modern tale of a family grounded in old world, sometimes archaic, tradition as they seek acceptance in American society. They could be any nationality, but they are Greek.

  Adult themes with graphic depictions of rape and murder.

  The Princess of Greektown Jill investigates the messiest crime of her career, while her family suffers a loss that changes the way life will be lived in Greektown.

  Christmas in Greektown As Christmastime approaches, the family prepares for another get-together in Greektown. Relationships blossom and some end during the hardest time of the year. But as Jill and others discover, when one door closes, another opens, often with more wonderful opportunities.

  A Greektown Wedding After Christmas was over, the family could finally focus on other things, like love! The jam-packed fourth volume of the Greektown Stories Saga, A Greektown Wedding takes you on the emotional roller coaster the other books introduced you to as the Zannos’s have another family dinner in Greektown, but this time with a wedding.

  Greek Style coming soon.

  The Greektown Books Video

  The Burn District Science Fiction Series

  Burn District: The Short Story Prequel Laura and Mike Davis and their four children build an idyllic life with friends and family nearby in the beautiful Brandywine River Valley. Dreams and goals come to an abrupt end soon after Hurricane Sandy hits the east coast. Discovered in wood soaked by seawater, a virus thought to have the potential to decimate the population becomes the excuse to relocate thousands of citizens from beach towns. Fire is the only known way to eradicate the virus.

  Rumors spread that napalm is used to burn without evacuating the people. A neighbor warns Laura and Mike that their town is next as the destruction moves inland. Is it a drastic way to halt the spread of disease, or is there another catalyst?

  Burn District 1 The family flees to Steve Hayward’s ranch in the desert at the Mexican Border, outside of Yuma, Arizona to build an encampment there. The government no longer exists. Lies, looting and lack of power are now the norm of life in the United States. Believers and Rumors coexist, as life appears to reach normalcy. But it will be short-lived.

  Burn District 2 After the New Year, Jenna Hayward regretfully accepted that she had waited too long to leave Jacksonville for her father’s Arizona ranch. An unknown benefactor provided buses for the stragglers last minute exodus. While she waited to board with the other doubters, her sister, Laura, and father, Steve toiled along with the rest of the camp dwellers, attempting to turn the barren desert into a homestead.

  At the end of book #1, as they tried to settle in to a new life, waves of pandemonium hitting the camp became the new normal. The camp dwellers asked themselves if they’d found asylum in the desert, or was the illusion of safety a flimsy veil?

  ~ ~ ~

  Alice’s Summertime Adventure

  We meet Alice Bradshaw when she is at a crossroad. She’s just beaten cancer and is suddenly unsure of what her next move should be. Looking back on where she’s been and what the future may hold, she knows she needs to make a big change in her life. Then her car dies on th
e highway after an argument with her daughter. Dave, a stranger on a motorcycle, pulls alongside her and saves the day. He offers Alice a chance at adventure. She jumps on it, much to the dismay of her children. The adventure starts a chain of events that will have Alice and her children, as well as Dave, questioning every aspect of their lives. There will be a few casualties along the way, a lot of anger, life changes and a few shocking surprises. Alice’s Summertime Adventure is the story of an average American family as they struggle with dilemmas we all have, and making choices that aren’t for everyone.

  Someone Like You

  Life gets in the way as upstate NY sisters, Marley and Abigail cling to each other and their young children. But a babysitter introduces them both to Jay Malik, a medical student from India who becomes their lifeline to happiness, forgiveness and healing. “Another tear-jerker from Jenkins. Have the tissue ready.”

  The Savant of Chelsea

  From Publisher’s Weekly April 2014 “This gripping novel from Jenkins delivers complex twists and turns from start to finish. Alexandra Donicka is a talented but unstable brain surgeon living in New York City. When her mother dies, Alexandra travels to New Orleans to face the tragedies and secrets of her youth. These include childhood abuse and the birth of a child, who was taken from Alexandra by her mother more than two decades ago. As Alexandra searches for her daughter, she must grapple with long-hidden emotions and discover her own humanity. Jenkins creates fully realized, believable characters and ably portrays mental illness in this dark tale that provides nonstop thrills and culminates in an explosive and unexpected finale.”