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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright ©1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

  Copyright © 2005 by Cheri Paris Edwards

  All rights reserved.

  Warner Books

  Hachette Book Group USA

  237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017

  Visit our Web sites at HachetteBookGroupUSA.com.

  First eBook Edition: April 2005

  ISBN: 978-0-446-53372-0

  Contents

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Epigraph

  Chapter 1: Runaway

  Chapter 2: Night Visitor

  Chapter 3: Rude Awakening

  Chapter 4: Anyway

  Chapter 5: Tricked and Bamboozled

  Chapter 6: Ridin’ Duo

  Chapter 7: Mission Accomplished

  Chapter 8: Running, Again

  Chapter 9: Cold Feet

  Chapter 10: Sharing Space

  Chapter 11: Making Connections

  Chapter 12: Troubled Waters

  Chapter 13: Fast Getaway

  Chapter 14: Stormy Weather

  Chapter 15: Building Bridges

  Chapter 16: Food Fight

  Chapter 17: Jailhouse Blues

  Chapter 18: Stopped Cold

  Chapter 19: Popcorn and Pepsi

  Chapter 20: Round Table

  Chapter 21: Stand-Up Girl

  Chapter 22: Solitary Moments

  Chapter 23: Hairy Situation

  Chapter 24: Singing Praises

  Chapter 25: Street Walker

  Chapter 26: Hostile Takeover

  Chapter 27: Lonely Night

  Chapter 28: Unexpected Joy

  Chapter 29: Kickin’ It

  Chapter 30: Love Lessons

  Chapter 31: Night Flight

  Chapter 32: Alone, Interrupted

  Chapter 33: Heartbreak Hotel

  Chapter 34: Hunger Pains

  Chapter 35: Shut In

  Chapter 36: Friday Fun

  Chapter 37: Misjudged

  Chapter 38: Locked up

  Chapter 39: Shining Hour

  Chapter 40: Blindsided

  Chapter 41: Caught Unaware

  Chapter 42: Reminiscing

  Chapter 43: Double Trouble

  Chapter 44: Blowup

  Chapter 45: End of the Road

  Chapter 46: Fallout

  Chapter 47: Finally Free

  Chapter 48: Meltdown

  Chapter 49: Finding Faith

  Chapter 50: Finger-Poppin’ Time

  Dedicated especially to my sons,

  to my feisty girls,

  and

  to all those individuals who work with youth, to all the loving foster parents

  who are committed to opening their homes to displaced children and teens,

  and to all the young people I’ve met throughout the years!

  In memory of Mrs. Verne Woodson, Mrs. Helen Heath, and for Laura.

  Acknowledgments

  A Prayer.

  Lord, I ask You to help me maintain a balance in my life. The narrow road I endeavor to travel on through life is not too far to the left or right. Calm me when, like an out-of-control pendulum, I swing from one extreme behavior to another as I try to find my way. Comfort me with the inner peace You offer as You guide me back to that middle road I strive to travel on.

  O God, help me to remember those things I would rather forget, and to forget those things I should but that instead I choose to remember. Create in me a clean heart as I strive to become transparent with people, unafraid of what they might think. Lord, help me to forgive others as I want them to forgive me.

  Lord, I thank You for the grace You have covered me with throughout my life. I know that the good that others may see in me is because of Your greatness, the manifestation of Your spirit in me.

  Lord, it is my prayer that this book honor You and affirm Your love for every kind of person in every kind of circumstance.

  In Jesus Christ’s name I pray,

  Amen.

  Thank you.

  Thank you to my family.

  From the bottom of my heart, I thank my mother, Jeannetta Justice, who taught me through her example to serve people. And, more important, I thank her for teaching us all to love God and to seek for Him to be a part of our lives. Thank you to my stepfather, Vernell, for providing us with a life that we could not have experienced had you not been there for us.

  All my love and appreciation to my sister Vikki Paris Rhodes, who has always been the rock of our family, to my brother-in-law, Freddie Rhodes, who can “burn on that grill” like no other! Much love to my brother, Maxie, his wife, Leslie, and their sons, Jarod and Justin. Love to my sisters, sweet-spirited Joanna and baby sister Olivia, who always makes us all laugh. Love to my nephews, Theo and Matthew—Matt, we love you, and we know you will be home soon—and to my niece, Amanda. To my cousin Kevin, thank you for being so supportive. To my cousin Joycelyn, I love you like my own sister. Love to Marcus, Imani, Chris, and Aisha as well.

  To my son Charles: you are so very bright, handsome, and creative, yet I know that you struggle inwardly as you look to find your place as a young man in this world. God will help you if you let Him! Sam, you, too, are my shiny boy, full of potential and intelligence; keep your eyes on the Lord and let Him lead you. I love both of you with my whole heart and soul, I am so blessed that God brought you into my life, and I know that He has a special purpose for each of you!

  Thank you to all those I worked with at UMS for so many years. In particular I thank Mr. Clyde Wicks, Mr. Gradis Upshaw, and my former Outreach coworkers, Mr. Lyndell Clemons, Mr. Dayvon MacCarroll, Ms. Eula Hamilton, and Ms. Vernettia Flemons. Also, thank you to Ms. Tammy Crosby, Ms. Karla Shelby, Ms. Tonya Kearns, Mr. Bob Boyden, Ms. Sheila Jenkins, Ms. Sandra Mozier, Ms. Teri Medwed, Mr. Chico Wilson, Mr. Lee Pruitt (dec.), and Mrs. Val Summerville.

  A special thank-you to Ann Williams for reading the manuscript first for me and being kind in your review, even though it was poorly edited at that time! To all of you: we shared lots of laughter and tears together as we served the young people we worked with, and I love you all!

  To the staff at Continuing Education at UIUC, thanks so much for your kindness. It’s been a pleasure to work with all of you!

  Thank you to Linda Gibbens, Christina Donaldson, Dr. Gene Amberg, Marian Krier, Blanton Bondurant, and Patrick Russell. A very special thanks to Dr. Preston Williams for taking a chance on me even though I didn’t have my “papers.” My love and thanks to Shirlene Jones for your positive nature and support, and know that I’ve remembered and leaned on your words and sweet demeanor long after your departure!

  Thank you to my Truant’s Alternative family: Mary Brooks, Alice McGee, Debbie Montegerard, Sandra Gonzalez, Donna Mackey, and Bertha Kent—love keeps you coming back to work with youth each year, and it’s your love that makes the difference for so many young people! The very best of wishes to my ex-boss, Mr. John Muirhead, and your wife, during retirement—you always treat others with the greatest of respect, and that means so much!

  Thank you, Rayco, for just being you—strong, beautiful, and regal—and giving so much to young people while expecting highly of them! We need more like you! Thank you for taking time to read the manuscript, and thank you for your positive comments! Thank you, Dayanna Shelby, for your soothing manner and
comforting hands—you are a great mom, and I admire your business savvy!

  To Donna Tanner Harold, Hattie Paulk, Kim Seward, and Gigi and Norm Lambert: I admire you so for all the years you spent working to make the lives of displaced youth better. To “my girls” Shemika, Laura, Kia, and Kim: if I didn’t say it right or do it right, I’m sorry, but know that I love you and I will NEVER forget you, and God hasn’t, either—He loves you! To my school girls, my two Briannas, Adrianna, Tasheba, and LaToya: I love you all, and I expect great things from you! To DeMario, Marlon, Justin, Gerald, Ricardo, and all my other young men: stay strong and look to God to be your Father!

  Thank you, Joyce Jones, for telling me and showing me so many years ago that God loves me! Truly your words and actions were the catalyst for my walk with God. Thank you, Imani, for the sister-girl gift many years ago; what one does in anonymity I believe is truly from the heart! Thank you, Mrs. Elaine Harmon, for talking with me and encouraging me from the workplace during difficult times.

  Thank you, Denise Stinson, for Walk Worthy Press! God certainly has blessed writers of Christian books by anointing you to be so successful in the publishing industry. I feel personally blessed that through your company I’ve been afforded this wonderful opportunity as a first-time writer to have these words I’ve written from my heart published. I am grateful that God filled you with the fortitude, experience, and intelligence to create Walk Worthy. I knew when I heard your voice that you were about business, and I immediately thought, “That’s the person I want to work with!” Thank you for your supportive words, the new title, and your comments. God has been my main partner throughout this endeavor, and all other help meant so much to me!

  A special thanks to Frances Jalet-Miller for excellent editing! I am so glad we got to work together; hopefully we will again soon.

  Thank you, Reverend B. J. and Mrs. Tatum, for being kind to me during rough times in my life; and thank you, Reverend Harold Davis, for your moving ministry. A special thank-you and lots of love to Bishop and Sister Gwin of the Church of the Living God, for being so loving all the time. I came to the church long before you even knew me; you helped me and were loving to me, and it was the love I felt that brought me back for more, years later. Thank you to the Love Corner family for allowing God’s love to shine through you as well. It is love, love, love that changes us and can change the world!

  I cannot say how much the ministries of T. D. Jakes, Bishop Eddie Long, and Joyce Meyer have impacted my life. Whenever I need worship and a word from the Lord, you bring it to me in my home. Those times have been many for me in the past years, and God has used you on many occasions to speak to my heart and circumstances. Thank you to TBN for being an outlet to bring the Word to so many.

  To Daddy: I wish that I’d had a longer time with you, but I’m thankful for the moments we had. I looked into your face and saw my own, and I know you gave me what you could: your love for music, your laughter, and your lessons in “street-smarts.” I love you and I miss you. Thank you, Beverly and Donna Jean, for accepting me with open arms. You didn’t have to, but you did, and I will never forget your kindness. Grandmother, I wish I’d known to love you when you were here, but I know that your spirit watches over me and that we will one day be together again.

  To Mrs. Heath, you encouraged me to write a book and now I have. I know that you are with the Lord now and you are proud. I’ll miss you.

  To anyone I’ve forgotten or not mentioned: I appreciate your presence in my life as well. Thank you for the good times and the laughter, and even more important, thank you for the difficulty; thank you for the tears. It is through the difficulties that I’ve learned to lean on God, and so they have truly been a blessing in disguise.

  And finally, thank you to all the young people I have had the pleasure of meeting throughout the years. YOU are my heroes, and it is you who have filled me with the truest joy of my life. Your vigor, determination, and intelligence in spite of difficulties give me all hope for the future. Always remember that your life is no accident. God has a plan for you, and whatever hardships you may face today can develop character in you for tomorrow’s challenges.

  No matter what life hands you, never, ever give up! Keep on pushin’, fight the good fight, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back in the race, and whenever life hands you lemons, make a big ol’ pitcher of lemonade! In other words, tell yourself whatever is necessary to keep you striving for your goals. Know that even in your hardships God loves you and that these tough situations will make you strong and give you the ability to be compassionate toward others. Never, ever forget that ALL things work out for the good for those who love the Lord!

  Dream high, believe in yourself, be positive, strive to do the right thing, listen to the people God puts in your life to help guide you, and always, always, always keep your head to the sky! God loves you!

  John 14:2

  In my Father’s house are many mansions:

  if it were not so, I would have told you . . .

  1.

  Runaway

  The girl looked worriedly up into the dark sky when she heard the first roar of rolling thunder. The thick humidity weighing down the night air foretold the coming storm, and with one hand she reached under the old baseball cap she wore, and wiped beads of moisture from her forehead. With a frown, she impatiently looked again at the traffic light, waiting for it to change so she could cross the busy street.

  “Hey there, girl, what you know good?” a gravelly male voice said from behind her. The man seemed to have appeared from nowhere, and when the girl felt his feathery-light touch on her elbow, she turned to look at him. His shadowed features seemed ominous to her. Her surprise swiftly changed to fear once she saw the red-rimmed, faded brown eyes of the old white man. With a gasp, her mouth fell open, and she shuddered at his wide grin with its many dark gaps where his teeth should have been.

  Truly scared now, the girl quickly pulled in her elbow, and in her haste to escape the gray-haired man, she began to step into the crosswalk, with no thought of the oncoming traffic. Right at that very moment, as if in answer to her need to cross the busy intersection, the red Walk light changed to green and she took off across the street. Without one glance backward, she began to run, darting in and out of the crowds of people walking down the avenue. She ran faster and faster.

  Suddenly a huge fork of lightning split the dark sky directly in front of her, and the steamy night was lit brightly for a moment. Then, seconds later, an explosively loud clap of thunder shook the ground, followed by low rumblings in the distance, which only added to her alarm. The smell of the imminent spring rain wafted into her nostrils. Sensing that the downpour would begin at any moment, she instinctively began to look for shelter.

  Ahead, the girl spied a small alleyway, and with a quick, furtive glance over her shoulder to assure herself that she wasn’t being followed, she disappeared into the darkness of the alley. She gathered several pieces of heavy, stiff cardboard scattered around a large metal trash bin in the alleyway, along with some thick plastic and a large corrugated box. Quickly she built herself a makeshift shelter in an area behind the garbage container.

  Moments later, in response to the howling wind, she huddled in the corner of the box and tucked her head between her knees. The rain started to pummel her shelter. Her small body was paralyzed with fear, at least until another loud thunderclap caused her to jump involuntarily. When the heavy rain finally began to drip into her cardboard coverings, she could be brave no longer. Tears began to fall one by one from her eyes, and she sobbed from fear and frustration.

  The girl’s thoughts wandered back to the home she’d left behind, and to what he had tried to do to her before she ran away tonight, and suddenly her tears flowed even more profusely—only now she cried from anger, too. Forgetting about the storm, the girl harshly wiped her wet eyes and her runny nose, and as she rubbed her damp hands on her pant legs, she vowed aloud, “I don’t care what I have to go through—I will
never go back there again! Never!”

  2.

  Night Visitor

  Tamara Britton sat straight up in the bed. She tilted her head sideways and listened. Suddenly fully alert, she threw her legs over the side of the bed and slid her feet into her fuzzy slippers. She grabbed her robe from the end of the bed, wrapped it around herself, and tied it quickly as she walked down the long hallway toward the front door.

  “Who could this be?” she whispered to herself. She glanced over at the wall clock when she walked past the living room, and noted that it was almost three o’clock in the morning.

  At the front door she peered through the peephole and looked directly into the worried face of her coworker Lynnette Moore. The woman was accompanied by a fair-complexioned, scowling, skinny girl who looked to be in her early teens.

  Lynnette Moore and Tamara had worked together for the past seven years at the Care for Kids Agency. Both women worked in the Child Protective Unit, which offered a wide variety of services for children and their parents. Counseling and other services were available for families struggling with domestic issues. The more structured Stabilization Services, whose goal was to keep families intact, helped parents at risk of losing their children to Child Protective Services. Tamara worked in Stabilization, while Lynnette was a field caseworker for the Foster Care Division.

  Taking a deep breath, Tamara tightened the belt on her flowered terry robe, unlocked the deadbolt, and then opened the door wide.

  “Hey, girl . . . what you doing?” said Lynnette saucily, as if she had just stopped in for a casual visit and it were not the wee hours of the morning, when most folks were sleeping.

  “Hi, Lynnette,” she replied, and following the woman’s lead, she made no acknowledgment either of the lateness of the hour or the unexpectedness of her visit.

  Then, in what seemed to Tamara to be a strange manner of self-introduction, the young girl accompanying Lynnette clicked her tongue loudly, put one hand on her hip, and looked at both women as she said derisively, “Excuse me, but do we have to stand in the hallway?” Her gaze locked on Tamara, and with disdain apparent on her small face, she added, “What’s up with the housepitality?”