Latter Rain

by Vanessa Miller

  Rolling her eyes and rubbing her temple usually helped her customers understand that they had over stayed her endurance. But not The Poet. This knucklehead thought his words could sway her, make her change her ways.

  The Poet walked around the bed, got on his knees in front of Cynda, and put his hand on her leg. “I want us to be together, baby.” Happy fingers traveled up her leg. “You don’t have to be out on these streets. Why don’t you let me get you a place?”

  “So you want your own personal whore, is that it?

  His hand stopped. He stood and turned his back on her. “It wouldn’t be like that, Cynda. I want to take care of you.”

  She got off the king-size bed, squeezed into her red-leather skirt, and bent down to put on her stilettos. “What would your wife say about you taking care of me?”

  “I done told you about bringing my wife into this.”

  Cynda stood and straightened her mini. “Look man, I’ve got to go. Why don’t you go home and spend some of this quality time with your family?”

  “Why you always gotta talk trash?”

  “Why you always gotta act like a fool?” Throwing on her tank top she grabbed her purse. “Let me ask you this, how much money have you put aside for your son’s college expenses while you’re making plans to put me up?”

  The Poet grabbed his things, then opened the motel door and turned back to face Cynda. “You know something, beautiful outside and ugly inside is a horrible combination.”

  “Whatever, man. Don’t overstay your welcome and you won’t see the ugly side of me.”

  He slammed the door and she sat back on the bed and took the money out of her purse. Between her three customers she’d earned a hundred and fifty dollars. Three years ago, a trick wouldn’t have been able to look her way with fifty bucks. Back then, she was racking in three to five hundred per trick. Back then, she did her tricking at four- and five-star hotels. Today, she received her callers at the Motel 6.

  Someone knocked on her door. She put her money back in her hand bag and prayed that she wasn’t about to get robbed. Not today. She had something important to do with that money. Something real important.

  “Who is it?”

  “Girl, it’s me, Jasmine. Open up this door.”

  Cynda smiled. Her girl Jasmine was cool people. They’d gotten into some deep stuff that made them call on the name of Jesus. Well, Jasmine called on Jesus, Cynda would rather ask for Satan’s help.

  The girl was just kicks. Big fun, all the time. Cynda opened the door and Jasmine floated in with Cooper straggling behind.

  The two couldn’t be a more awkward pair. Where Cooper was tall and lanky, Jasmine was short and well fed. Cooper’s cheeks were sunken in, and his face always bore a frown. But Jasmine, that girl put life into the dullest party.

  “Girl, I thought your last customer would never leave.” Jasmine pulled a bag of weed out of one pocket and some rocks out of the other. “Let’s get this party started.”

  Cynda held up her hand. “I’ve got to go, Jasmine. I can’t get into this right now.”

  “What you talking ’bout? Girls like us are always ready to party.”

  “I’ve gotta get to Spoony’s. Today is Iona’s birthday.”

  Jasmine looked at the watch on her swollen wrist. “That girl don’t get out of school until three P.M. You’ve got at least an hour before you need to be over there.” She put the bags of temptation against Cynda’s nostrils and shook them. “What you gon’do?”

  Cynda hesitated. But with the bag still under her nose she couldn’t concentrate on what she had set her mind to accomplish today. She inhaled and gave in to her desires. “Spread the stuff on the table. I don’t have all day; I’ve got to get going.”

  Cynda walked out of Motel 6 at five o’clock with ten dollars to her name. The money she made today was supposed to go to Iona. Or better yet, a hundred would go to Spoony for benevolently housing her child, and charging her a thousand dollars a week to do it. She was going to spend the other fifty taking Iona out to eat and picking up a doll for her. But the money went up in smoke from her crack pipe.

  Now she stood at Spoony’s door shaking like a man headed to the electric chair. Spoony would kill her for blowing that money. Spoony wasn’t just her babysitter. Actually he didn’t baby sit at all, his loser of a wife Linda did that. Spoony was Cynda’s pimp. He’d thrown her out a year ago, but refused to let her daughter go with her. That way, even though he’d stopped housing and clothing her, he was still able to pimp her, because she had to bring him her money in order to see her child. She reminded herself for the thousandth time how bad it was to make deals with the devil.

  Cynda rang the door bell and waited. The devil’s big, angry feet stomped toward the door and swung it open. “About time you got yourself here. This girl has been waiting on you since she got out of school.”

  Cynda stepped past the crusty black/blue man who haunted the doorway and smiled at Iona. She was standing in the middle of the living room with one of them frilly white dresses that went out in the 80s. Linda tried her best, but the woman needed to get out more. “Happy birthday, baby.” Cynda bent down in front of her daughter and hugged her. She hugged her real tight.

  “What did you bring me, Mommy?”

  Closing her eyes, Cynda wished for leeches to suck out her blood, while a lion clawed her heart out. Horrible mothers deserved deaths like that, didn’t they? She opened her eyes and forced herself to look into her daughter’s innocent face. Iona’s excited eyes always reminded her of someone else. Someone who didn’t want anything to do with her. Someone she’d rather forget. But her daughter looked more like him with every passing day. That smooth chocolate skin and those deep dimples were a signature from the man Cynda refused to think about.

  “That’s what Mama needs to talk to you about.” She nervously rubbed Iona’s arms. “See, Mama doesn’t have any money right now. I was hoping we could celebrate your birthday this weekend. I’ll be able to take you someplace real nice then. Okay?”

  “You don’t have a present for me, Mama?”

  Cynda’s heart ached as the excitement seeped out of her daughter’s eyes. Where were those leeches? Why didn’t her heart explode after she put her daughter’s birthday money in a crack pipe? A tear trickled down Cynda’s lovely face.

  “Don’t cry, Mommy.” Iona wiped the tear from her mother’s face. “Auntie Linda gave me lots of presents. Do you want to see them?”

  Auntie Linda was always showing her up. “Not right now, baby. Why don’t you get your coat and let Mommy take you to get a slice of pizza.”

  Spoony grabbed Cynda by the back of her shirt and pulled her up to face him. Snot drizzled from the hairs in his big black nose as he snarled at her. “Where’s my money.”

  Cynda turned to Iona. “Baby, go in the other room with Auntie Linda.”

  Iona didn’t move.

  “Where’s my money?” Spoony asked with his fist looming down on her. “I’m not going to ask you again, Cynda.”

  “I didn’t make any money today.” She braced herself for the blow she knew would knock her across the room.

  The first lick caused blood to trickle from her lip, and knocked her against black cocktail table. “Iona get out of here!” she screamed before Spoony took a handful of her hair, twisted it around his hand then yanked it as he punched her in the eye.

  Iona ran out of the room, whimpering for her aunt.

  “You think I can’t tell that you smoked up my money?” He threw her on the ground and kicked her with the pointy part of his boot. “It’s in your eyes, liar. They’re glassy.”

  Cynda grabbed her rib and forced herself not to cry. “I just want to take my daughter out for a slice of pizza, Spoony. Why do you have to do this on her birthday?”

  “She’s not going nowhere with you.”

  “Let me have my kid, Spoony; please. That’s all I want from you.”

  He opened the front door and dragged Cynda toward it, kicking
her in the ribs as he threw her out.

  Just before slamming the door he told her, “Maybe I should call her daddy and get all that back child support he owes me.”

  Cynda wanted to spit on him. He always threw that up in her face, reminding her of the secret they shared. The reason she allowed herself to be pimped by this animal. He slammed the door and she was tempted to just leave, never look back. Just forget that Spoony, the devil, existed. But her daughter was still in there. And it was her birthday. Cynda pounded on the door and pleaded with Spoony to let Iona come with her. But her attempts fell on deaf ears. With tears streaming down her face she stood and straightened her clothes. As she walked down the steps, a searing pain shot through her. She sat down and lifted her shirt. Her chest was black and blue. Spoony messed up everything. Didn’t he know that birthday’s were important to little girls? She still remembered her last birthday spent with her mother. She’d been left outside knocking then too.

  “Mama, please let me in.” Knocking harder on the door, Cynda said, “Come on, you know it’s my birthday.”

  Footsteps thudded toward the door.

  “Do you hear me, Mama? I want to open my presents now.”

  Flora wiped the sleep from her light brown eyes as she inched the door open. “Hey, baby. You know I’ve got company right now.”

  “Are we going to have a party today?”

  Flora touched her daughter’s smooth young face. “No, baby. Mama, has to work today.”

  “But we always have a party on my birthday. You always get me lots of presents.”

  Flora’s head bowed low as Romie walked into the hallway. His big Jackson Five afro swayed this way and that as he stalked toward them.

  He asked Cynda, “Are you bothering your mother? She’s busy.”

  She backed away from him. His beady black eyes terrified her. “But it’s my birthday,” Cynda whined.

  Romie grabbed her arm. “Come with me, baby girl. I’ve got a present for you.”

  “No! No!” Cynda pulled away from him and barreled into her mother, pushing Flora backward into the bedroom. The smell of must wafted in the air. “Don’t let him take me, Mama, please.”

  Flora’s eyes widened as she looked from her daughter to Romie. There was a man in Flora’s bed. He sat up, pulled the cover over his naked body. “What’s going on, Flora?”

  “Nothing Ralph, just go back to sleep.”

  Romie barked, “You don’t have time to be fooling around with this child. You need to be making some money.”

  Flora reached into the pocket of her rob and pulled out several bills. She threw them in Romie’s high-yellow face. “Here, is that enough money. Now, can I please spend a few minutes with my daughter on her birthday?”

  Fire flashed in Romie’s eyes as he smacked Flora. He then grabbed a handful of her long black hair and pulled her close to him. “Don’t make me beat you this morning.”

  Flora put her hands up. “Okay, b-baby, calm down.”

  He grabbed Cynda’s hand. “I am calm. You get back over there and handle Ralph. I’ll take Cynda with me.”

  Birthday’s stopped being special for Cynda when her mother stopped standing up for her. Today, she had done the same to her daughter.

  About the Author

  Vanessa Miller of Dayton, Ohio is an Essence magazine best-selling author. She is also a playwright and motivational speaker. Her stage productions include: Get You Some Business, Don’t Turn Your Back on God, Can’t You Hear Them Crying and Abundant Rain. Vanessa is currently in the process of turning all the novels in the Rain Series into stage productions.

  Vanessa has been writing since she was a young child. When she wasn’t reading; writing poetry, short stories, stage plays and novels consumed her free time. However, it wasn’t until she committed her life to the Lord in 1994 that she realized all gifts and anointing come from God. She then set out to write redemption stories that glorified God.

  To date, Vanessa has written the Rain Series and the Storm Series. The books in the Rain Series are: Former Rain, Abundant Rain, and Latter Rain. The books in the Storm Series are: Rain Storm and Through the Storm. These books have received rave reviews, winning Best Christian Fiction Awards and topping numerous bestseller’s lists. Vanessa believes that each book in The Rain and Storm Series will touch readers in a special way. It is, after all, her God-given destiny to write and produce plays and novels that bring deliverance to God’s people.

  Vanessa self-published her first three books, then in 2006 she signed a five-book deal with Urban Christian/Kensington. Her books can now be found in Wal-Mart, most major bookstores, including African-American bookstores, and online bookstores such as Amazon.com.

  Vanessa is a dedicated Christian and devoted mother. She graduated from Capital University with a degree in Organizational Communication. In 2007 Vanessa was ordained by her church as an exhorter, which of course, Vanessa believes was the right position for her because God has called her to exhort readers and to help them rediscover their place with the Lord.

  A perfect day for Vanessa is one that affords her the time to curl up with a good book. She is currently working on a new novel outside of the Rain and Storm series. She is also preparing the stage production for the Former Rain novel. Go to: www.vanessamiller.com for more info on Vanessa and her books.

  Latter Rain

  Vanessa Miller

  Reading Group Guide

  Isaac

  1. Although Isaac’s intentions were pure, he failed to balance the needs of his son with his ministry. As a result, Donavan went astray. What does the Word tell us about rasing our children?

  Proverbs 22:6, 15

  Proverbs 29:15

  Malachi 4:5–6 I

  I Timothy 3:5

  Ephesians 6:1–4

  Colossians 3:21

  Timothy 5:8

  2. Isaac repented of his sins and sought God for forgiveness. When we surrender to the Lord, what can we expect in return?

  II Chronicles 7:14

  Psalm 86:5

  Psalm 103:3, 12

  Luke 7:41–50

  Acts 3:19

  Colossians 1:12–14

  Isaiah 43:25

  Isaiah 44:22

  Jeremiah 31:34

  3. Since God is just, He granted Isaac forgiveness of all his past sins. Yet Isaac struggled with forgiving others. What does the New Testament teach about forgiveness?

  Matthew 6:14–15

  Matthew 18:21–22

  Mark 11:25–26

  Luke 6:37

  Luke 12:48

  Luke 17:3–4

  Ephesians 4:31–32

  Colossians 3:10–14

  4. Isaac chose to serve God rather than money, when he rejected Bishop Sumler’s lucrative offer. Like Jesus, he chose to minister in the streets rather than a lavish sanctuary. How does the Word support his decision?

  Isaiah 61:1–2

  Matthew 6:33–34

  Matthew 9:9–13

  Mark 2:13–17 I

  Luke 11:37–44

  Luke 14:16–24

  Acts 3:62

  Thessalonians 5:14–24

  Nina Lewis

  1. The Bible tells us that once we seek the Lord for forgiveness, He no longer remembers our sin. Oftentimes, we hold ourselves captive by not releasing the very thing we sought the Lord to forgive. How can we forgive ourselves?

  Psalm 51

  Psalm 103

  Proverbs 24:16

  Romans 3:10, 23

  Romans 5:1–5

  2. In an effort to provide Donavan with a stable home, Nina was willing to marry a man that she did not truly love. What does the Word say about trusting God?

  II Samuel 22:1–7

  Psalm 91

  Job 13:15

  Psalm 5:11–12

  Psalm 71

  Proverbs 3:4–5

  Isaiah 40:31

  Hebrews 11:1

  Bishop Sumler

  1. Instead of being a man of the cloth, Bishop Sumler was a man
hiding behind the cloth. He willfully manipulated others for financial gain. What does the Bible say about manipulation and greed?

  Psalm 52:1–5

  Jeremiah 23:25–27

  Mark 12:38–40

  James 1:22–27

  Matthew 6:19–21

  Matthew 12:35

  Colossians 3:1–3

  2. Bishop Sumler created his own code of conduct to have the appearance of holiness. His self-righteousness can be compared to that of the scribes and Pharisees. What do the scriptures teach us about having the form of godliness?

  Proverbs 23:7

  Proverbs 30:12–13

  Isaiah 29:13

  Isaiah 64:4

  Luke 20:45–47

  II Timothy 3:1–6

  Matthew 15:8

  Matthew 16:1–12

  Matthew 23

  Mark 7:1–13

  3. As a prodigy of Bishop Sumler, Pastor Ron Marks took on his character. Instead of humility, he was full of pride. How does God feel about pride?

  Psalm 10:4–18

  Psalm 73:6–9

  Psalm 131:1–3

  Proverbs 6:16–19 I

  I John 2:15–17

  Proverbs 8:13

  Proverbs 16:18

  Daniel 4:37

  Timothy 3:1–7

  4. What expectations has God established for church leaders?

  Ephesians 5:27

  Titus 1:5–16

  Titus 2:1–8

  General

  1. God desires that we walk in His perfect, not permissive, will. What’s God’s will for our lives?

  Psalm 37:23 I

  Psalm 119:133 I

  Isaiah 64:8 I

  John 4:31–34

  Thessalonians 4:3–7