Black

Chapter 1

Tonya Sanders smiled brightly into the mirror. She could hardly contain the excitement she felt. Tonight would change her destiny. Tonight she would be noticed. The one thing she knew for certain was that she had to get out of this neighborhood; this place that had a way of taking one’s soul. It had a way of making you disappear, of turning you into nothing. She worked hard to get her high school diploma, which was the first step in her plan of escape. It was not an easy task, but a challenge she accepted with vigor.

All around her, Tonya encountered distaste for anything educational. Her fellow students viewed school as a social entity, there for the moment, but nothing to build a future on. She made up her mind that this would not be her. She would be the one to make it out. She would be a success. She could not believe that most from her neighborhood still believed the only road to success was through entertainment or professional sports. She watched with horror as so many young men wasted their chance by simply flunking out in school. Sure they had athletic talent, but so many just forgot the fact that they were in school. That they were good on the field or on the court to them meant that they should be excused from the pesky fact that they may actually need an education. For the bulk of these budding superstars, after they quit school, they spent most of their time playing street ball. They were forever waiting for an NBA scout to come discover them.

Tonya put on her little black dress and couldn’t help but admire her figure. She was hot and she was talented. This was her chance. She would show the world just how good she was, but first she had to show the talent scouts. She had heard of the VIP parties, but had never received an invite. She heard there was great food, great music, great people, and it was all free. Tonya knew a girl that had attended one of these parties, but said that she had never gotten a follow-up call. This didn’t surprise Tonya. After all, that girl had no talent whatsoever. She remembered her from school and that bitch could hardly read or write. Hell, she was a skank. No wonder they didn’t want her. Tonya had her diploma and she knew her stuff. She knew she would make the cut.

The two people that she knew for a fact had been to a VIP party both spoke of the fabulous time had by everyone. Tonya often wondered who could afford to sponsor such a thing for so many people: free food, free beer, and a DJ --that was heaven on earth. To top it off, all the guests were escorted to the party by a bus service. That must have really cut down on the drunk driving, she thought. The invitation made it clear that there was no admittance on the bus without an invitation. No one knew where the invitations came from or who paid for these parties. Maybe it was some big wig looking for the next big star, and Tonya wanted to be that star. All through high school, she sang and danced, and even tried her hand at acting. Too bad the rest of the student body wasn’t on board. The school could never raise the interest let alone the money to even have a drama department. No matter, she thought. If washed up jocks and would-be rockers, singers, and rappers could act, she sure as hell could. The invitations gave instructions to meet at an intersection just outside of Tonya’s neighborhood. As the sun set on this wasteland of humanity, it surely was on the rise in her brave new world.

There were about 50 people gathered at the bus stop. Everyone was bright and happy, with smiles bright enough to generate electricity. Each one was dressed in his or her finest clothes, and each one with the same dream as Tonya. Every woman there eyed each other with distaste, while every man eyed every woman with lust. There would definitely be a party.

The bus looked brand new, as it opened the doors for the passengers to board. The driver, a portly little guy with a potbelly, greeted the riders with a wide smile. He seemed pleasant enough as he gathered their invitations. As the bus filled to capacity, he announced, On behalf of VIP Parties, I would like to welcome you aboard. We should arrive at the party site in about 20 minutes. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. The bus slowly pulled away, and soon the city was well behind them. Tonya truly enjoyed the view because it looked clean and beautiful from a distance, untouched by what most viewed as civilization. Some of the riders watched and sang along with the music videos being played on the bus monitors. This was one classy organization, much better than to what they were accustomed.

Chapter 2

John Woods looked over the party site and broke out into a big grin. Once again he had put together the ultimate party experience. The massive tent was large enough to comfortably hold 300 people, and tonight’s party would only have 200 or a little more. The tent had areas for dancing, easy access to bathroom facilities, and even a space for first-aid. Nothing here was taken for granted. VIP Party guests were in for the time of their lives. They surely would never forget this night. John felt so proud of the work he did, and even more, he was grateful to have such a high paying job.

John was no slacker. He worked his hardest at whatever he did. Having been without work for over a year and a half, he was truly excited to land this job. At first he thought it to be some kind of joke -- no interview, no application, nothing. He just received a letter from a lawyer that offered him $5,000 for each party he supervised. To date, this was his seventh party. With a troubled economy and in his impoverished state, John was not going to turn down this gig.

John usually got a packet of information that gave him detailed instructions on how everything should be. It was his job to make sure everything ran, and ran smoothly. He was to handle any and all problems that came his way. The party set-up was simple. Soft drinks and food were unlimited. A two-beer maximum eliminated drunken partygoers -- a problem that John had never had to encounter. These parties were about being seen, not getting messed up. John was ex-military and had seen plenty. The partygoers were not from the upper crust of society; they were young people looking for a break --looking for that shining star.

John often wondered who was responsible for these parties. Who would spend this kind of money for underprivileged kids? But it didn’t matter because in the end he was getting paid. He prayed that the parties would never end. He was happy that these kids could see some kind of hope in their lives. Tonight’s party was set on a beautiful site --almost peaceful. John would show them a good time. They would leave satisfied, having been given a wonderful opportunity to cut loose and forget the troubles of the world.

Tonya enjoyed the bus ride. For her, it was almost as exciting as the party itself. The driver pulled the bus to a stop on what appeared to be a large meadow. Three other buses were already parked. A large, beautiful, almost majestic white tent swallowed up most of the guests’ field of view. To Tonya, it was absolute beauty. It reminded her of a rare outing she had had with her mother years ago. A small circus had come to town. It too was on the outskirts of town, but not nearly as far out as this. It was such a wonderful memory to her --the type of memory that lasted forever.

The guests moved forward until they reached a rope line that led them to the main entrance. Very large burly men with metal detectors waved their wands over each guest. Others looked in purses and bags and checked for anything that might disrupt the evening. Tonya could not help but smile. The night would be much more pleasant without the fear of violence or intimidation. There would be no fear of hidden weapons or drunken idiots. Too many gatherings she’d attended had been marred by violence --senseless acts by senseless people. These people would react, then regret; or worse, have no regrets. Tonya’s neighborhood wasn’t the best, but it was her home. She knew she had to play with the hand she was dealt. Maybe tonight was the start of a new deck. The closer to the party the guests got, the better the music sounded.

Once inside the massive tent, the guests were treated to a sight that few of them had ever seen. Large floor to ceiling speakers pumped out music that put rhythm into the feet of all that entered. Not only did the DJ have the largest set-up ever seen, he also had assistants to help the cause. The main dance floor was open and filled with patrons, delighted to heed the DJ’s call to hit the floor. Tables sat around the outer edges of the tent. Each had four seats and a lovely candle centerpiece. The interior of the tent had the feel of a five-star hotel ballroom, much more elegant than these guests were accustomed to. Sections for food and beverages were clearly visible and people had already formed lines to indulge. Further down from the refreshments was a section called B&R Talent. It too had a line of hopefuls, dreaming of becoming stars in the entertainment business. At the far end of the tent was a small section that was marked First-Aid. The lighting there was low, not nearly as bright as in the other sections. Many of the partygoers were disappointed by the two-beer max, but consoled themselves by the fact that they were free.

Tonya was surprised at how quickly the lines moved. She prepared herself a plate of finger sandwiches and a soda and then found an empty table nearby. She felt restraint was in order and vowed not to eat or drink anything more. After a while, she thought it might be nice to have a beer. A guy approached her table. He was dressed in all black: shirt, pants, and even shoes. Clothing aside, Tonya could not help but notice that he had the best teeth she had ever seen.

Mind if I sit down? he asked.

Tonya nodded her head.

Help yourself. She was afraid he would judge her smile based on the fact that his was so perfect.

What’s your name?

Tonya, came her reply. And yours?

I’m Jackson, he stated. He held his hand out and took hers in to shake. His grip was firm, but not harsh.

"So nice to meet you, he said, as his smile seemed to get brighter.

So, what do you do, Jackson?

I’m a dental assistant. Saves a ton on teeth cleaning. He chuckled. And what do you do?

I work check-out at the grocery store. Best cashier three months running.

The two fell into laughter as the ice around them melted away any apprehensions that remained. Tonya was surprised at how nice Jackson was. Guys always seemed a bit pushy to her. Maybe there could be some kind of a future here. They went to the refreshment line to grab a couple of beers, and then went back to their exploration of each other. Tonya hoped he would ask to see her again, and he hoped that she would.

I would really love to see you again, Tonya.

I thought you would never ask.

He gave her his number and then took hers. He wished he could stay longer but his days started early. The buses shuttled people back on the hour, and his time was up. He turned and flashed his best smile.

I will call. I can’t wait to see you again. Her full smile finally came back.

You better.

The night was more than Tonya could ever ask for. If only her luck with B&R came through, her life would be changed forever. She could not remember ever smiling so much.

Chapter 3

The tent for B & R Talent had the look of a high-class office. A young lady acted as the receptionist and greeted all the applicants that entered. Tonya was instructed to move to the next available agent. The agents were seated in small cubicles, each one separated by temporary movable walls. The very first of these cubicles was open, so Tonya took her place in the seat directly across from an agent. The agent was a short African-American man wearing a dark blue pinstriped suit. His cleanly shaven head seemed to shine in the glow of the fluorescent light. He reached over the desk and offered his hand for Tonya to shake.

How nice to meet you, young lady. What can B & R Talent do for you?

I would like to explore the possibility of something in the entertainment business. I can sing and dance, and I feel I can act as well.

The agent did a little half rotation in his chair, stopping when he was directly facing Tonya.

I have no doubt that you are very talented. Here is how we need to proceed. We need to get you a portfolio and maybe a demo tape. Once we get that in place, we can get your brand out there. He seemed to smile as he laid out this game plan for success. Tonya knew what was coming next.

It had been Tonya’s experience that when anyone led with, you’re going to need this, and it was usually a sign that it was going to cost you some money. B & R had a talent, all right…a talent for taking money out of your pocket. Tonya listened to the rest of the sales pitch. The agent assured her that their agency was instrumental in placing every client they had.

Tonya couldn’t help but think you pay these guys up front, then a percentage of anything you make afterward. She took an application and assured the agent that she would get back to him after filling it out properly. She tossed it in the trashcan on the way out. This proved to be the only sour note on this otherwise wonderful night. It really pissed her off to think that so many people could fall prey to what these guys were putting out. Even she knew that the bulk of the jobs they were talking about were part-time entertainment jobs at the local theme park. Hell, you could audition for those on your own. And even if you got one of those positions, all it meant was that your name went to the top of the list for the next season’s jobs. Well, you can’t have everything, she thought.

As she headed back into the main party, Tonya began to have some sharp pains in her stomach. Maybe a little soda would help to soothe her pain. She slowly sipped on her cola, but the pain would not subside. Even worse, she became a little light headed. How did this happen? , she thought. Just when everything was going so great. Maybe it was time to go. Another shuttle left in about 12 minutes. It was clearly time to go home. She grew ever more dizzy and disoriented. Tonya was not used to feeling this way. She hardly ever got sick. She could feel that she was getting worse. A fear swept over her -- a fear that affects every hard-working person that lives from paycheck to paycheck. This was the fear that this would cost more than you had, or put you in a hole so deep that you could never climb out.

Maybe they could give her something at the First Aid station. This was a classy set-up, so the medical station had to be the same. If, by chance, they had a real doctor there, it would be even better. Tonya started toward the station, using the wall to brace herself. No way was she going to pass out in front of all these strangers. She wished Jackson were still here. She just knew he would take care of her. How did this night turn so wrong so quickly?

Chapter 4

John was impressed with tonight’s crowd. There were no fights, no drunks, and no trouble whatsoever. This crowd loved to dance, and really seemed to feel the music. The DJ was giving them the time of their lives, and they enjoyed every second. There was little or no sitting, and most of the floor staff reported no drug use of any kind. John remembered a couple of parties ago; a few guys got caught trying to sell ecstasy. They were escorted off the grounds, but only after the threat of getting the police involved. A special security car was used to transport them back to the city.

John was pleased. He felt important. Not only was this a great paying job, but it was a job that made a difference. He felt that this was a safe place for young people to come. It was proof that a good time could still be had, even with so many bad influences in play. And this was possible without even the slightest hint of violence.

John’s thoughts were cut short by the sight of a young woman hugging the wall. She looked horrible, struggling to keep herself upright. She could not possibly be drunk -- not from just two beers! Maybe she had