Heaven Inc. Urban Entertainment &
Angelic Script Publishing Presents…
Heaven’s
Hell
An Urban Fairytale
Takerra Allen
Copyrighted Material
This is a work of fiction. Any characters, places, objects, or situations in this book are solely of the Author’s imagination. Any resemblances are purely coincidental.
Introduction and story © 2010 by
Takerra Allen in c/o Angelic Script Publishing
Copyright © 2010 by Angelic Script Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher except for quotations in review form.
ISBN-10: 0984415009
ISBN-13: 978-0984415007
Printed in 2010
Printed in the USA
Praise for ‘Thicker than Water’ and Takerra Allen
“Thicker than Water is very entertaining and will have you on the edge of your seat. The drama was unbelievable and kept me glued to the very end…Ms. Allen has definitely got the game on lock. – Tange (OOSA Online Book Club)
This is my first Takerra Allen read and I highly commend her on taking an age old plot and portraying it in an impressive and superbly written novel. Ms. Allen incorporates suspense and a tad of mystery to make this an even more pleasurable and intriguing tale…Kudos Takerra…Kudos! – Tazzyt2bossye (Urban-Reviews.com)
Thicker than Water is an excellent debut. It is a tale of friendships, secrets, lies, envy, temptation and murder. Ms. Allen does a great job with character development and draws you into the story from the very first page…I sincerely look forward to reading more from this author. – Leona (APOOO BookClub)
Thicker than Water is an urban chick flick waiting to happen. Takerra paints a gritty true to life portrayal of friendship and betrayal…! – Dutch (Kwame Teague, Author of the Dutch Trilogy & Dynasty)
Thank you all So Much! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
This book is dedicated to beautiful young girls around the world-Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, etc. I know you are all searching for your own fairytales, your prince charmings, and your castles on the hill, and you may be living in a world of hell dreaming, and dying, to get there. But know that you have the power in yourself to break free and to create your own fairytale. I believe in you, and please know that you are all princesses. Do not allow anyone to treat you as less than such. The world is your kingdom.
-Takerra
In memory of:
Mommy Suezette Allen
4/22/56 – 10/13/02
&
Big Bro Tupac Shakur
6/16/71 – 9/13/96
Acknowledgements
Thank you lord! I am so blessed to be doing what I love and even more blessed to have people who appreciate it – Thank you for this opportunity. It’s my life, and I love it!
My mother, I will always thank you for being the best mother, ever. I love you so much and I miss you more than words could ever describe, so I won’t even try to. You know from the private conversations we share late at night, in my heart and in my dreams, how much you have influenced me. I am you.
My father, if it weren’t for you and the knowledge, love, and support you have given me I would not be able to do this, period. I love you daddy, Thank You So Much.
My wonderful man, Barry. Thank you so much for being there for me and comforting me in my weak moments and darkest hours. And thank you for being able to live with and love a crazy writer! I love you.
My b.f.f. and business partner Sandra Dee-Dee Mobley. Thank you for the 24 hour grind you stay on as a partner, and the 24 hour support system you stay on as a friend. I love you and more than anything, I genuinely appreciate you more than words can say.
My wonderful brothers – Corey, Joe, Billy, Tupac, Malik, and Landon love yall dearly! My beautiful sisters N’neka and Leslie – love you so, so much! I’m so grateful to have you guys.
My family – my lovely Nana, Aunt Leslie, Ivan, Aunt Barbara, June, Boo, Dee, Carol and Les Floyd, and all of my cousins, nephews, and nieces, I hope you all know how much I do love you. I know you guys love me unconditionally. You are all in my hearts even when we can’t be together.
The young people in my life, the future – Jaielyn, Trey, Naomi, Kamani, Alexis, Ayesha, Greylin, Leilani, Chambray, Tanaia, Layla, Marcus, Brianna, Jasmine, Malcolm, and any other little ones I may have forgotten – I hope I can be a somewhat good role model for you all. Love you.
My extended family of the Mirandas and Romans – thank you, and thanks for letting me write during dinner.
Tara Cruz, Elisee Lafrance, and Joe Bastanbale thanks for blessing the cover.
The “book world” people, reviewers, stores, press, and vendors, who have shown me and Angelic Script so much support: (in no particular order) Dutch (Kwame Teague), Black and Nobel in Philly, Ryan @ Spoiled, Jahmil’s, Sharee, Horizon Books, Deborah (Sexy) & Maria in Spanish Harlem, Sidi, Henry on 125th, Chris B. in Brooklyn, Jesel (Source of Knowledge), Urban Knowledge, Novel Tees, John Blassingame, Teamfirst, NJPac, Mejah’s in Deleware, Doc-DoIt4Fun, Mr. Its Just Comedy Talent, Power and the Stress Factory, The Literary Joint, T. Styles & The Cartel Bookstore, New Brunswick Public Library, Chantel Harris and Atlantic City Public Library, Rob’s Bookstore, Marcus & Nubian Bookstore, Dana Reeves, Kisha Green, Essence, Radiah Hubbert, tazzyt2bossye, Urban Reviews, Leona and APOOO Book Club, Tange and OOSA Online Bookclub, Chris Jordan, Amazon, and anyone else I may have forgot. Please blame my mind and not my heart. You all have no idea how much I appreciate the love you have shown, thank you.
And to save the best for last.
My FANS AND SUPPORTERS!
If you have ever purchased my book, borrowed my book, sent me an email, sent a facebook message, if you are in the Amazon forums showing me love, if you have left a review, if you came out to one of my signings, if you have supported me in any shape, way, or form, I thank you most from the depth of my heart! I love you and I hope you enjoy!
I would not be able to do this without you!
I know there are people who are reading this right now and are like, ‘no she didn’t forget me!’ Trust me, I did not. Every one I have encountered and that has offered me any kind words, any support, and love of any kind, I do not forget you. I truly appreciate you. I am so humble and so indebted and I am forever grateful to you. Thank you.
…Once Upon A Time
“Mothafucka I can’t!” Jhenelle screamed at the top of her lungs.
It was hot as hell in the cramped room of Muhlenberg Hospital, but she had the shakes. She needed a hit. The nurses insisted on her pushing and pushing and pushing this big headed bitch out, but all Jhenelle could think of was the glass dick she’d rather be sucking on. She turned to her lover, her pimp, her supplier, and her soon to be, any minute now, baby’s father.
“Ooooooh daddy I need a taste,” she tried to whisper, but was unaware she was just softly whining.
One of the nurses just looked at her and rolled her eyes. This was the third junkie she had assisted in a birth today. What she didn’t know was that Jhenelle hadn’t had a hit for 8 months, up until last night. Sam had made sure of that.
He told her that she could smoke all the dope she wanted, but his daughter wasn’t going to be no junkie before she even had a choice, so she was going to have to put her habit on hold. No, his daughter was going to be a stone cold fox! Sam was sure he was going to breed one of the finest hoes to run through the East Coast!
However, Jhenelle had slipped up on Sam’s stash the night before, and had gotten herself so excited, she just felt like she was going to bust! Just when that good old smoke got to filling her lungs and clouding her head, sending orgasmic shocks all through her body
, her damn water broke. Aint that bout a bitch! Sam whooped her ass all the way to the hospital!
“Push, push, push!” The nurse urged, sounding more like a drill sergeant than a cheerleader. Jhenelle started crying, not out of pain, but out of frustration. Please lord, just take her out of me. Get her out lord, I don’t want her, I don’t want her.
And the lord answered her prayers, with one last weak hearted push, a head full of black locks, followed by a beautiful brown face and tiny body, came sliding out of Jhenelle as everyone gasped and cheered. Jhenelle fell out on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. As the nurses cleaned her up and the doctor cut her chord, Sam rubbed coke along Jhenelle’s gum line.
She smiled softly, mistaking his way of keeping her dependant, for love, as she closed her eyes and tried to feel a light high. The young nurse, mesmerized by the beautiful little girl held her close and rocked her as the doctor looked at her with a face that said ‘Give the baby to her mother!’ She turned her nose up and walked slowly to the mother and father.
“You want to hold your baby?”
Jhenelle waved her hand motioning the nurse to go away, as Sam took the baby and looked at her more out of examination than love and joy. The nurse felt very uneasy about this couple, although she had seen this situation several times. She tried to detach herself from the many sad cases that she had witnessed daily.
“What are we going to name her?” She asked, trying to affix some type of excitement into the room.
“How about Candy?” Sam suggested, thinking of a stripper he had spent the night with recently.
The nurse tried not to frown, but couldn’t help it. She offered a little help.
“How about a name that symbolizes something, like her beauty?”
Jhenelle lifted her head up with a twisted look on her face. Who the fuck does she think she is?
“Well little miss know it all, if you so damn smart and care so much, you name the mothafucka.” And with that, Jhenelle laid back down. With a shocked look on her face, the nurse felt a mix of anger from insult, and excitement.
“How about Joy!” She said excitedly. Sam just looked nonchalantly but shook his head at her disapprovingly. A fox named Joy? Nah! It had to be something that was different, something that everyone wanted but didn’t have. A name that said in one word that she could take a man places that he’d never seen before and probably would never see again, a name that could pull you in, and keep you.
The nurse then smiled and gasped at the same time. She had the perfect name for this little bundle of joy with beautiful dark locks and angelic eyes.
“How about Heaven?” She asked elatedly.
Sam nodded his head and rubbed his chin. Jhenelle waved her hand and pointed at the nurse as if to say ‘that’s the one’ but was really saying ‘bitch whatever, just get out, so I can get some more of that treat’.
Sam gave his final approval. “Heaven. I like it. Heaven, yeah.” The nurse smiled and went to get all of the procedures settled as she took the little angel to the incubator and Sam fed Jhenelle some more of her treat. On that day, July 4, 1989, Heaven blessed the earth.
…Cinderelli, Cinderelli…
“I know you be talking bout me!” Oh god, not again. Heaven tried to ignore her.
“Bitch I know you hear me, you better keep my name out ya mothafuckin mouth!”
Heaven walked hurriedly through the hallways trying to ignore the three girls behind her, screaming obscenities and throwing pencils at her. She could hear their voices getting closer and knew they were approaching her through the crowded peers that separated her from them.
“You better stop talking ‘bout me before I cut ya hair you stuck up bitch!”
Heaven grabbed her long hair and twisted it, then stuck it down the back of her shirt. She rolled her eyes as she neared the corner that led to the Gym locker rooms.
Shaniqua knew that Heaven had not been talking about her. Heaven didn’t even have anyone to talk about her to; she was a loner in every sense of the word. If it was not for Heaven’s undeniable beauty, she could probably get away with going through life unnoticed, except by her teachers, of course. Heaven naturally excelled in all of her schoolwork and for that reason, her final year at Plainfield High School was full of decisions on her many available full scholarships to top colleges all over the country. Brriinggg!
The second bell sounded as some kids scurried off to their third period classes, however, most did not. They just hung in the halls, laughing and talking and some looking at the show Shaniqua put on daily. Heaven sighed deeply knowing that she would be late for her Phys. Ed class, this was the third time this week that she had taken the long way to avoid walking past Shaniqua and her crew leaving their Special Resources class. It wasn’t that she was scared of them, or scared of anyone, she just avoided confrontation until it was totally necessary. Not to mention the fact that Shaniqua and her crew did not fight fair, one time they tried to jump Heaven with broken glass beer bottles. That was the first time Heaven ever ran from anybody.
Just as Heaven turned the corner she bumped hard into Ricky Morris, the finest brother in the whole high school. If it weren’t for Heaven’s vow to dis-attach herself from anything remotely related to her high school experience, she would have acted on her fantasies of late night phone calls and long walks home with Ricky Morris. He smiled down at her and then looked past her at Shaniqua and posse, as everyone came to halt.
“Why yall gotta fuck wit’ her all the time? Yall jealous or something?” Ricky asked in his cool choppy lingo, the other dudes who had once been laughing at Heaven were now turning the tables and trying to side with Ricky.
“Yeah they jealous!” One boy shouted.
“They all bald-headed!” Another one added.
Heaven saw this as a scene too juvenile for her liking, so in attempt to not be even later than she was, she maneuvered past Ricky and headed for the locker rooms. A teacher came out of her classroom and confronted Shaniqua and her friends about all of the ruckus, and everyone began clearing out.
Ricky lightly jogged behind Heaven. As she went to pull the door open to go into the girls’ locker room, Ricky held all of his body weight, shifted onto one hand, against the door to prevent her from opening it. He smiled at her.
“What’s up?”
He smelled like coconut oil from the Jamaican vendors downtown.
“Your time,” she answered with a fake attitude. She didn’t know why she gave him such a hard time; she usually turned all of the other guys down kindly.
He leaned his caramel sculpted frame against the door and put his leg up letting her know that he wasn’t going anywhere.
“Where was all that sass when Shaniqua and them was chasing you down the hall?” He asked, more playfully than anything. She rolled her eyes and pulled her hair out of her shirt as it fell down to her lower back.
“First of all, I wasn’t running from Shaniqua. And second of all, you don’t need to be concerned with my sass or anything else that I may or may not possess. Excuse me, I’m late for class.” She tried to push him out of the way but barely managed to nudge him. He laughed at her.
“Listen, you might as well stop frontin’ and just say you gonna be my girl. Then you can go to class and I can get outta ya way, and meet you after school to drive you home.”
Heaven imagined briefly riding in a car with him, having everyone looking at her, having fun, and living the life of a regular teenage girl. Her daydream was cut short by the scenario that will play out if she got in a car with him and let alone came home with him, Khalil would flip.
“Ricky you know I already got a man.” She said this as if she was proud, but in all actuality Heaven detested Khalil. Ricky twisted his face up in disgust.
“Yo, why you bouncing around with that old ass dude anyway? That nigga’s a molester.”
Heaven giggled lightly, she liked Ricky. She liked his youth and he was fun. He didn’t take her too seriously and he made her feel in control, li
ke a woman. Ricky tilted his head and looked into her light brown eyes.
“Why don’t you just give me your phone number? Give me yours and take mine, and then we can just be friends.”
They smiled at each other as a couple of moments passed in silence. Something inside told her that she shouldn’t.
“I know you can’t be late for gym no more, you got two minutes to get changed or Ms. Simmons gonna be on that ass.”
This was true! She laughed again at his silliness, and nodded in agreement as she took out her cell phone and let him put his number in it. He then called himself and was able to store her number, and then he gave her a devilish grin and strolled away. The minute he turned the corner, Heaven melted against the door cheesing a big grin. She felt a twinge of guilt when she thought of Khalil finding out, or was that fear? Either way, it was gone the second it came, as she headed into the locker room and changed into her gym clothes.
“Jacy! Heaven Jacy!” Ms. Simmons shouted over the gymnasium filled with about fifty students. Heaven swiftly took her place in her line of the J’s.
“Here,” she called out, as she prayed Ms. Simmons left her alone today and went to the next name. Yeah, in my dreams. Ms. Simmons slowly walked over to Heaven holding her clipboard with a harsh look on her face. She made Heaven so uncomfortable. And it wasn’t because Ms. Simmons was a lesbian. No, Heaven had an aunt that was a lesbian; it was just the way that she looked at her. It was like she hated her and wanted her at the same time.
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