Anthony’s Academy

Akimmy Nedina Wheeler

Description

Eighteen years after witnessing a murder, Miricle Moore decides that she must revisit the site of the crime in order to find proof that the event actually took place.

Sujets

• Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: Xlibris US
• Date de parution: 15 janvier 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781669862345
• Langue: English

Extrait

Anthony’s Academy
Akimmy Nedina Wheeler

Copyright © 2023 by Akimmy Nedina Wheeler.
ISBN:
Softcover
978-1-6698-6233-8

eBook
978-1-6698-6234-5
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
 
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
 
 
 
 
Rev. date: 01/13/2023
 
 
 
 
 
Xlibris
844-714-8691
www.Xlibris.com
842346
Contents
Going Back
Dilemma
A Stop In Tennessee
What’s Eating Michael
The Assembly
There Was, There Is
The Cold
Psalm 23:4
Andy, Andy, Andy
Be Seated
Andy, Andy, Andy
Three-Peat
Andy, Andy, Andy
Stealing Away
Back
Moore’s

You were more than a whisper in the breeze, see you again Bean
Going Back
Four in the morning, the road belonged to the traveler and a few truckers.
The ride was to Lansing Kansas, not too far from Leavenworth.
It was one of those rides you take when you were wanting to be alone.
The choice of transportation was a dark gray Toyota Camry. No music was played, it was quiet, save for the whispers provided by the heat through the car vents.
Fall had introduced itself weeks ago. The air held a chill, it was cloudy with a temperature between fifty-seven and sixty degrees.
Miracle Moore was going back not just to a place, Lansing Kansas. Ms. Moore, should her imagination allow it, was also headed back to a particular time.
It had been nearly eighteen years since any of them had been back to the school. The year that the school fight happened, was also the last year that they all saw and were in contact with one another.
“Eighteen years,” she said aloud to herself as she shook her head.
Eighteen years sounded long as she spoke it, yet felt like it was just yesterday. She always wondered about time, what made it stand so still?
For years now, the images of the event played in her mind like a movie without sound.
Curiosity had finally gotten the best of her and prompted her to drive from Florida to Kansas.
She simply had to see if the place had remembered her, just as she had remembered it. She wanted to see if the wind- or just anything would reach out and ask, “You still see it too?”
Dilemma
It was the last week of school before fall break, spirit week. The year was 2003, the place was Lansing Kansas, technically. However, most folks agreed it was Leavenworth, Kansas.
The Moore’s migrated from Tallahassee, Florida to Leavenworth, Kansas. Vivian Moore, the father of the Moore children had recently passed, and their mother was in need of work.
A friend of the family, Lauren Wingo, offered a job to Erica, the mother of the Moore children. Should Erica be willing to move to Kansas, she was guaranteed a decent-paying job.
Late spring of that year, Erica decided to do what was best for her family and accepted the job.
With the help of Lauren, the Moore’s found a residence in the Knoxwood Projects and made it their home.
Judy Moore, who was in the fifth grade, Miracle Moore, the third grade, and Ester “Essie” Moore, who was in the second grade, were set to attend St. Joseph Academy that fall.
Residing directly to the Moores’ left were their neighbors, the Brown’s, and directly to their right were the Adams’s.
The Browns and Adams moved into The Knoxwood projects days apart from one another. This year, made three years of living in Knoxwood Projects for them.
The Browns had four children. Their family consisted of Anthony “Ant”, who was in the fifth grade, Jewel” Jew” was in the fourth grade, Robert “Rob” was in the second grade, and Michael “Mickey” was in the first grade. Their mother was Ms. Sharon Black, Michael sr., their father, had been absent since the birth of Mickey.
The Adams’ consisted of Douglas “Pen”, who was in the fifth grade, Michael, was in the fourth grade, and Lawrence “Larry”, was in the first grade. Their mother was Mrs. Terri, and their father was Mr. Jonathan.
“Jude. Judy!” shouted Erica as she bent down to tie her shoes.
“Ma’am?” replied Judy as she walked into the living room where her mother stood.
“I want you to follow the Adams’ and Browns boys to school. Make sure Miracle and Essie stay away from the road, and I mean it, Jude.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“And after school, You know the Williams girls? I want y’all to go over there. I’ll come by and pick y’all up around seven. Don’t you dare go anywhere else! I mean it. You hear me?” Erica said, pointing her forefinger at Judy.
“Yes ma’am.” Said Judy, nodding her head.
“Now, get your sisters and wait on the porch for the boys.”
Judy ran upstairs to grab her backpack, and to get Ester and Miracle ready for school.
“Judy, I’m headed out! Make sure to lock my door, you hear me?”
“Yes ma’am!” Shouted Judy, as she searched the top drawer for a shirt that would fit Ester.”
Not too long after their mother left, the girls were dressed and ready for school. Judy looked both girls over, confirming that they each had their backpacks and appropriate clothing on.
“Alright, come on y’all.” Said Judy as she opened the front door.
The girls rounded the corner of the apartments and were met by one of Anthony and Pen’s many arguments.
“Let’s go through the woods, it’s a shortcut,” said Anthony.
“Man, it ain’t no shortcut!” shot back Pen.
“Yes, it is.” Said Anthony in an annoyed tone.
“How do you know Ant? Have you been through there before? Your Mama won’t let you walk to the store up the street, I know she didn’t let you walk through the woods.” Pen said.
With a look of disgust on his face, Anthony looked Pen up and down, sizing him up.
“Are y’all about to fight? If so, hurry up, because my Mama said we can’t be late to school again,” said Judy with her thumb in her mouth.
“Take y’all behinds to school, and I mean it!” shouted Neil Williams, who was referred to as Mr. T by all of the local children.
Mr. T was the father of eight girls.
Many of the elementary-aged girls in the neighboring area were babysat by one of the eight Williams girls after school.
Anthony squinted his eyes at Pen, and Pen bucked at Anthony.
“I said I mean it!” Shouted Mr. T. from the parking lot.
Everyone clutched their backpacks and began their treks to school. Fifteen minutes into the trek, Pen turned towards everyone to ask who their homeroom teachers were for spirit week.
“I’m in Mrs. Sapp’s class, Rob is in Ms. Smith’s, Jew is in Mr. Mack’s class, and Mickey-Mic is in Ms. Pinch’s class,” said Anthony.
“Essie is in Ms. Smith’s class with Rob, Miracle is in Mrs. Deuschet’s class, and I’m in Mrs. Sapp’s class too.” Said Judy with her thumb resting against her bottom lip.
“Lawrence is in Ms. Pinch’s class with Mickey, Michael is in Mr. Mack’s class with Jew, and I’m in Mrs. Sapp’s class with y’all.” Said Pen.
“Ant, I’m tired!” declared Mickey.
Looking towards the front of the group where all of the younger kids were placed, Ant found Mickey’s tired head and body.
“Judy, I’m tired too,” whispered Essie to Judy.
“How much longer man? My sister is tired.” Shouted Judy.
Looking down at his wristwatch, Ant responded with, “We’ll reach school by seven - or ten minutes after seven. So, about twelve more minutes until we reach school.”
“Do you want to get on my back, Mickey-Mic?” Asked Ant. Mickey nodded yes. Anthony rotated his backpack from his back to his chest, he sat in a squatting position, low enough for Mickey to climb onto his back.
Just as Anthony had said, the group reached the school ten minutes after seven.
“Welcome back students of Saint Joseph Academy, and happy spirit week!” shouted Mr. Red.
“Good morning Mr. Red!” shouted each child as they passed the beloved music teacher.
The children filed into a line that fed into the cafeteria once the doors were open.