𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄, 𝟎𝟎𝐬

𝐈.

                 From my earliest recollections, or upon regaining awareness at the age of three, my fate had already been sealed and predetermined. Victoria, my mother, a stunning woman, harbored aspirations of gracing the silver screen. I can vividly recall her sun-kissed complexion, luscious thick curls of chocolate brown hair, and her trademark red lipstick, complement by elegant twenty-four gold karat jewelry. Unexpectedly, at the age of fifthteen she found herself pregnant, unaware of the father's identity due to the party girl mentality she had at an early age. Despite her past not being entirely innocent, my grandmother often heard tales, and gossip about her daughter's escapades, usually followed by praise for her other four children.

Victoria showed no signs of slowing down or abandoning the lifestyle she had embraced before I was born. The relationship between my mother and grandmother was quite different. My grandmother, who had a total of five children from different fathers, held a distinct position within her family dynamics. With her younger sister, brother, and older sisters in the mix, my mother occupied a middle ground. She came into existence during a period when my grandma and the father of my aunts were going through a challenging separation.

As per Joanne, my grandmother, she encountered my maternal grandfather during her employment at Macy's men's department. While arranging garments on the rack, a tall and attractive man in a well-tailored suit approached her.

He requested her aid in locating a pair of ties for an upcoming business trip. They spent one hour together at the department store, acquainting themselves and determining which ties suited him best. My grandmother happily fulfilled her duty by assisting the gentleman, knowing that it was part of her job. Additionally, she received a small commission for each item she sold. Later that day, my grandfather invited my grandmother to have lunch with him, and from then on their relationship blossomed. In the weeks leading up to his work travel, they took time to further get acquainted by conversing over the phone during work hours and whenever he had free time after returning home from work.

Shortly before his departure, he treated my grandmother to an exquisite seafood dinner at a luxurious restaurant in the city center. Reflecting on the evening's experience, she expressed her delight by stating, "That night was truly memorable and undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable nights I've had in quite some time."

Following that particular evening, it appeared as though Joanne ceased to exist in the man's world. He refrained from contacting my grandmother any further. Given his occupation as an investor, it was evident that he kept a busy schedule. As days turned into weeks without receiving any call or message from Isaiah, my grandmother took matters into her own hands and decided to reach out to him directly. While awaiting Isaiah's response on the phone, my grandmother was met with a peculiarly gentle feminine voice from the other end of the line.

If one paid close attention, faint sounds of children's high-pitched laughter and squeals could be heard in the background—a familiar noise for my grandmother who herself had two daughters. To her surprise, she discovered that Isaiah was married and had children. My grandmother experienced feelings of foolishness, naivety, and humiliation upon realizing how this man had led her astray.

In an unexpected turn of events, my grandmother was rushed to the hospital after experiencing excruciating pain in her lower abdomen forty weeks later. To her surprise, she was informed that she was actually nine months pregnant and currently in labor. Unaware of her pregnancy until now, my grandmother regretted not having known earlier as it would have allowed her to make more informed decisions for herself. On January 7th, 1964, after just an hour and a half since arriving at the hospital, my grandmother gave birth to my mother named Victoria Baptiste. The doctor attending to her made sure to explain that what she had experienced - a stealth or cryptic pregnancy - was quite rare among women. Overwhelmed with emotion upon seeing my newborn mother cradled in the blanket provided by the hospital staff, tears welled up in my grandmother's eyes.