Born at Dawn Read Free

For a nine-year-old he had a strong grip thanks to all those karate lessons.
    â€œDid you have a good time?”
    â€œYeah,” James said smiling up at his mother.
    â€œNo,” Keith said, stomping his foot. Cynthia already knew what was coming next: a complaint. Since turning twelve last month Keith wanted nothing to do with James. “This little punk was in the way all the time. Can I leave him at home next time?”
    â€œDon’t call your brother a punk. We’ll see about that next time,” Cynthia said, holding the cab door open for her two little men.
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    By the time Cynthia got the boys in the bed, her body felt like it had been run over by a street sweeper. She climbed into the king-size bed she shared with Marvin and rubbed her body against his to conjure up some warmth between the two of them. Marvin rolled over to face her and began to kiss her neck. He wrapped his hands around her slender waist and drew her into him.
    â€œYou know I love you, don’t you?” he asked Cynthia, brushing her hair out of her face.
    â€œI don’t know. Do you really love me?” she whispered to him.
    â€œNow why would you go and say a thing like that, baby? You’re my number one.” Marvin kissed her all over her face, stopping at her lips.
    â€œMarvin, you don’t treat me like you love me.” She sighed.
    Marvin narrowed his eyes. “Where are you coming from with all this, and where are you going with it? Who you been out there listening to?” Marvin drew the navy blue sheet back and sat up. “You been letting that bourgeois girl fill your head up with nonsense?” he said, mushing Cynthia in the head. “What did she tell you, to leave me? That you don’t deserve this? Where is she at now, Cynthia? I’ll tell you where; she’s at home alone with no man and you’re going to listen her?”
    â€œIt wasn’t like that, Marv,” Cynthia said, sitting up.
    â€œYou’re dumber than I thought. You’re actually gonna take advice from a lonely chick who just wants someone to join her. Ever heard the saying misery loves company? Did she tell you how it feels to sleep all alone at night?”
    Cynthia shook her head.
    â€œWell, you’re going to find out tonight.” Marvin twisted to the side slightly, drew his knee back and kicked Cynthia out of the bed. She bumped her head on the bedside table as she tumbled out. “Let’s see if you’re still talking that women’s rights mess tomorrow morning,” he said, throwing her pillow at her.
    Cynthia collected her pillow and a light blanket from the trunk at the foot of their bed. She tiptoed down the hall and collapsed onto the couch, hoping her sorrow would get sucked up like a vacuum does loose change between the folds of the cushions. With her hands folded behind her head she stared up at the ceiling and asked herself over and over until she fell asleep, is this marriage really all in vain?
    The next morning she woke up with a stiff neck and an even greater question looming in her mind: what will I do if it is?

Chapter 2
    Cynthia took long strides across Amsterdam Avenue, dragging the boys across the street. Barbara’s words had made a dent in her heart. Maybe all Cynthia needed was a dose of Jesus to relieve all the tension between her and Marvin. She peered up at the overcast sky and hoped the rain didn’t begin falling before she reached the doors of Mount Carmel Community Church. They stopped abruptly at the entrance of Mount Carmel.
    Her eyes fixed on the porthole window in the center of the polished dark mahogany doors of Mount Carmel. It was either Mount Carmel or Convent Avenue Baptist Church where her mother fellowshipped. Cynthia knew she didn’t have the Baptist look down pat. Nor was she in the mood for her mother to parade her around the church. She simply needed to get in touch with heaven. That urgency led her Mount