My story starts off in June of 1976 with I was 17. Sorry let me introduce myself, my name is Samarah Thomas. While living in Washington D.C. with my mother, Lisa, and older sister, Silvia, I was always destined to surpass the statistics of a young black woman's chance of failure around here. One of my neighbors is only 22years old with 5 children to raise, but when 8pm hits that clock; she is out working those streets. I don't want that life for myself.
My father, Eric, left the family when I was only 9years old. He went to California to pursue his dream of becoming a producer. He did become successful, but with success came problems. Drugs, alcohol and even women came into the picture, so he never looked back twice. He sends the family 3 checks a month, one for each of "his" girls. I feel I shouldn't complain because my family could have it a lot worse. I don't know why but, I never really took my father leaving too hard. My sister on the other hand, was devastated. Silvia was 13 when our Dad left; she was heading into that whole "coming of age" stage. She soon went into the acting up, partying and drugs. She even ended up pregnant at 15. She decided to give her son up for adoption and ever since then she has been trying to get a hold of her life again. My father, Eric, left the family when I was only 9years old. He went to California to pursue his dream of becoming a producer. He did become successful, but with success came problems. Drugs, alcohol and even women came into the picture, so he never looked back twice. He sends the family 3 checks a month, one for each of "his" girls. I feel I shouldn't complain because my family could have it a lot worse. I don't know why but, I never really took my father leaving too hard. My sister on the other hand, was devastated. Silvia was 13 when our Dad left; she was heading into that whole "coming of age" stage. She soon went into the acting up, partying and drugs. She even ended up pregnant at 15. She decided to give her son up for adoption and ever since then she has been trying to get a hold of her life again. Without my father being around I think I've become much more independent and mature than the usual 17year old. On the downside, I've probably also become more hardened and cold, especially towards men. All I know is I've made it a lot farther than I should have according to some people. I've never touched drugs, don't have any kids, I've drank alcohol here and there like any other teenager, but I never let it become a problem. I just recently graduated from the senior class of 1976 at Ellington School of the Arts, with honors I might add. Of course my main study was dance. That is definitely a huge part of my family; my sister and I have a love for dance. I promised myself when I graduated that I would work my hardest to get out of this place. Little did I know, within a few months, my whole world would be completely different!
Silvia: Plops down on my bed, "Hey! I think we needa go out and celebrate!"
Samarah: Sitting at my vanity table doing my hair, "Iono, what you got in mind?"
Silvia: "well we could hit the movies"
Samarah: "Is there anything good out?"
Silvia: "Hold up!" Goes and brings the paper up to my room, "what about The Omen? That **** looks good."
Samarah: "I guess"
Silvia: "Aight, and I think this is a call for maybe a lil' alcohol??" She puts her hand up to her face as if she had a cup in her hand.
Samarah: I turn around and look at her like she's crazy, "Oh hell nah! Last time you got so drunk I damn near had to carry you in the house!"
Silvia: Gets up and throws a pillow at me "Shut up, it was my 21st birthday! The hell you expect"
We both started laughing and I told her I was down but only a little bit. Silvia heads to the store to buy the wine while I finish getting ready. 30minutes later, I went downstairs to wait for her to get back from the store. Only to find out her ass is already downstairs on her second glass, grooving to the radio. I just couldn't help but laugh at her dumbass, sitting there looking like a drunk. We hung out and had a few glasses. Then we walked over to the movie theaters, got our tickets and headed inside. Within an hour of the movie started, I guess Silvia felt that wine running right through her. She got up and headed to the bathroom. She got to the door to the main lobby and swung it open, "OUCH!!"
Silvia: "Oh ****, are you okay?" She looks at the man that had fell back, he looked really odd. It looked like he had a ton of makeup on because his face was extremely greasy. She held her hand out to help him up and he looked up at her. Silvia was caught by how gorgeous his eyes were.
Stranger: "Yes I'm fine" ..he said while looking down at the floor, put his hat back on his head and put his face into his trench coat.
Silvia: "Are you sure?? Those are some heavy doors?" she said while trying to look him in his face again.
Stranger: "Yes thank you" and he walked towards the front door
Silvia had to pee so bad she didn't think anything of the man except what a weirdo. So she basically run to the bathroom. She head back out and saw the same man standing by the front door looking very impatient and he keeps looking around like he's paranoid. Then he sees Silvia looking at him, he looks at her for a moment, then heads out the door. She continues to go back inside and finish watching the movie with me. The movie finishes and everybody starts heading out. By now it was dark outside and it seems to have started raining.
Silvia: "****! Did you bring an umbrella?"
Samarah: "No, how da hell was I suppose to know?"
We're standing there for a second because we know we're going to have to run our asses home. Silvia turns and sees the man from earlier standing by the front door again. It looked like he had been out in the rain. He was almost soaked and looked to be shivering. She still felt bad about earlier so she grabbed my arm and walked over to him:
Samarah: "What the hell are you doing?" She ignored my question and just kept walking
Silvia: We got in front of the stranger, "Are you okay?"
Stranger: The man looked at me, and I must have given him a strange look because he looked down really fast. It seemed whatever he had on his face from earlier was running off from the rain, "Yes, just waiting for my ride"
Silvia: "Well you've been waiting here for awhile. Ummm, I still feel terrible about earlier..", I pulled Silvia's arm and was looking at her like I was crazy.
Stranger: He started speaking to us facing sideways, "Don't worry about it"
Silvia: "Well they're about to close here, would you like to wait for your ride at our house?"
Samarah: "Silvia!" She must have had too much damn wine to invite some random person off the street.
Stranger: He looks towards us with the saddest puppy dog eyes I have ever seen. I think my heart skipped a beat, "Well if it isn't too much trouble."
Silvia: "None what so ever, can you run?", The man let a chuckle out and I couldn't help but smile.
Stranger: "Of course"
So we got our stuff together and started heading out the door. We all started jogging down the street heading home. My sister kept looking at me but I was pissed and wouldn't talk to her. By the time we got to the house, our mother was home. So I told him to wait in the hallway for a moment. My sister and I went into the kitchen to greet my mother. I started exaggerating to my mother Silvia brought some killer home. Silvia told my mother what happened and she understood. She greeted the stranger and went to go get him some clean clothes. My sister went to help the stranger, while I stayed in the kitchen trying to calm down and clean up a bit:
Silvia: Walked up to the stranger, "Can I take your coat? It's drenched."
Stranger: "Oh thanks!" He slowly took off his coat and hat, he continued to look away.
Silvia: "Here's a rag to clean your face. So, what's your name?" she handed over the rag and started to hang his coat.
Stranger: Walked over to the hallway mirror and started cleaning his face, "Thank you so much. Umm, my name is Michael." He started cleaning the make up from his face. Silvia turned around to look at the man while he cleaned his face.
I was in the kitchen washing my hands when I heard one of the loudest screams I have ever heard. The first thing I thought was, "oh ****, he is a killer!" I run to the hallway and saw Silvia hugging the stranger and saying "Oh my god!! It's Michael."
