http://slow.writerscafe.org/Tina-Castle The original writings of author Tina Bee en-us Copyright 2026 WritersCafe.org 1775986520 WritersCafe.org RSS Generator 15 The sun was setting outside of my front door. Birdswere chirping as the cool of the night approached. It’d been a long time sinceI’d ventured outside without Liam so all this felt new to me.“Let’s go to the park I need air!” I told Jimmy andhe let go of my.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/1200020/ I brought Liam upstairs and proceeded to calm himdown. There was nothing I could do about Greg at this point because things werejust too far gone. I really needed to do laundry and the sooner I got Liam tosleep or at least calm down so he could go downstairs into the laundry roomwith me... http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/1200018/ Three weeks after they arrived Cadence and Greg madedaily visits and took Liam on many outings. By the fourth week Liam hit fivemonths old and was already trying to crawl. Greg had taken it upon himself tocapture Liam’s scooting on camera and played it for me one evening, I cried... http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/1150972/ In my haste I abandoned the stroller and beganfrantically searching the nearest exhibits for any sign of Cadence, but I sawnothing except children walking happily with their parents and older kidsgoofing around with their friends.“Are you ok, miss?” I heard from behind me... http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/1150971/ I didn’t remember falling asleep or even gettingLiam ready for bed, but when I awoke the next morning Liam was still asleep. Itook the time to shower and get dress. I wasn’t even in my room for five minutesbefore my cell phone went off.“I hope you’re still at ho.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/1150969/ “Greg just told me that he hates me more!” I exclaimed to mom who was in the living fixing up some curtains. “Well is that really a surprise?” mom asked me, half listening, “It is to me,” I said and sat down roughly on the couch, Liam wa.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/715252/ "That was really stupid back there," Greg chastised as he drove. "You don't know what it feels like to have your dead beat baby daddy abduct your son!" I screamed at him. "Abduct him? Are you crazy?" Greg asked me in a shrill voice. "I'm just about there," I spat back at h.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/650184/ "Your nose!" Wendy gasped. The inside of the auditorium was already bustling with people trying to set up their booths before opening time. Wendy's voice rose above them all and just about everyone turned to look to see what was going on. "Silly me, I walked into a door last night,.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/588106/ “He isn’t worth all the energy that you’re putting into him,” mom scolded me with Liam in her arms.Just hours earlier I’d beaten up Cadence, the one woman who stood between me and the love of my life: Greg.“My son deserves to have his father in his life,” I .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/587093/ A woman chronicles her lost youth. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/512838/ I hung the dress up in the backseat of the car and climbed into the front with Greg who started the car and pulled off. I saw Wendy peering out the door and when she spotted me in the car she once again narrowed her gaze. "I'll need a ride in the morning," turning down the radio as I spoke... http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/504014/ "So where are you looking for work at?" Greg asked me as we passed by run down gas stations and twenty four hour liquor stores. "You remember that bridal shop you picked me up from last year," I said, "they're looking for a model and I'm going to apply."&nbsp.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/484221/ Back in my room I poured through the classified ads and grew tired quickly of the endless sea of boring jobs. I was just about to give up when I saw an ad for a modeling position with a local bridal shop. I gleamed over it with my heart racing as my eyes gobbled up every word. I was in complete ecst.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/481955/ My avoidance of The Crew remained my top priority. With the diary in hand I wasn't prepared to let Eliza's secrets be known to the world so freely. I kept to myself until mom stapled a three day notice to my door four days after Eddie's departure. "I told you," mom said to me when.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/481420/ When I got into the house I went straight to my bedroom. Liam was still inside of his crib sleeping soundly. I didn't hesitate to take this brief break to shower and wash my hair. I felt like so human once I got out the shower that I decided to flat iron my hair which I hadn't done in weeks. .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/479037/ Once at home Eddie helped me carry the car seat in and then he hugged me, with Liam placed on my opposite hip, before getting into his car and driving away. I hadn't even asked where he was staying, but I assumed at the Clovers residence. I closed the garage door and opened the other one th.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/478833/ Eddie showed Liam and I a good time. He took us to a fancy sit down restaurant on the edge of town. I ordered a double cheeseburger and while we waited I mixed up a bottle for a hungry Liam. "You're a good mother," Eddie complimented. "Thank you, no ones ever said th.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/475755/ I mulled over walking over to the Finster home, knocking on the door, and demanding Greg come outside to see his son. I replayed the scenario each time in my head and it never ended well. Liam moved around in his crib, but never woke up. He was so tired from his exciting day out that he wou.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/475754/ "Jesus Christ!" Crystal said, jumping back. "I'm sorry," the guy spoke to us, "I didn't know anyone would be coming up here." He was a fairly dark skinned African-American man who stood five foot eleven, at the most. He had a faded haircut, with a pair.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/475752/ Day break came and Violetta remained in labor. She wasn't fully dilated, but her water had broken on it's own. Sonny was texting me non-stop with updates while I sat in the garage waiting for Amber and Crystal to come over so we could head out to pay our homage to a dead girl. Liam.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/475750/ It was almost impossible for me to sleep the night before. Liam, my now almost four month old baby boy, stirred in his crib that was located right next to my bed. It was July fourth and our nation had grown one year older. I had celebrated this holiday by sitting on the computer all day lon.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/475748/ Many moons ago the love of my life, Gregory Finster, promised that he would return home to see our son. Of course he had to ditch his wife in order to do all that. My story is not one that many in my neighborhood would repeat to my face, but I can hear their thoughts as I pass them on the s.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/475747/ With the murder of Eliza still unsolved Myra and her misfitted friends band together to catch a killer. Will Myra be able juggle sleuthing, motherhood, and the everyday drama she calls life? http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/475746/ I finished with school at the end of May and celebrated by asking mom to go on a walk with Liam and I around the neighborhood. It'd been a long time since we had any mother and daughter time. Once around the block away from anyone who would know us by name mom told me what had been on her m.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/473939/ April turned to May quite quickly. The days grew longer and hotter. Baby Liam grew stronger, but he still woke me up in the middle of the night for feedings. Neither my mom, my brothers, Celia, or Arthur spoke to me much and I reciprocated the silence. I was so busy trying to complete .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/473936/ Liam and I were released from the hospital two days later. I only had half a nights rest before the crying started. Mom let me know right away that she wasn't looking to play night nurse for me so I was on my own. By the end of the first week I was beyond exhausted. One night I fell asleep and woke .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/473933/ On March sixteenth, ten days after my fifteenth birthday I had just gotten out of the shower when a crippling pain brought me to my knees. Mom and Arthur came rushing up to my room. Everything was happening so fast and the pain was so intense that my nakedness didn't phase me. I remember mo.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/473231/ It's hard to say how we'll react to new situations. I for one know change happens when you're least expecting it. The day I returned home from my long journey of soul searching was the same day Daisy Spins made a miraculous recovery. I knew my ordeal with both she and Kimmi was far from over, but I .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/473229/ Violetta's vacation home provided me with an opportunity to think out my life. It wasn't until the third day of my stay that Langston attempted to call me. He was screaming about the Semper Academy bus still coming by to pick me up and he didn't understand why I wasn't home.  "A.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/473227/ Greg pushed me aside so that he could be in front of me. "What's going on here?" Greg asked David who laughed. "I should be asking you the same thing. Aren't you engaged to Cadence?" David asked. It was hard to make out his facial expressions, but I kne.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/473224/ Many thoughts ran through my head as I made my way toward the DJ booth which was located behind to the left of where Langston and I were seated. I was shocked that they even had one in this hall, but I guess dances were held here too. The booth wasn't that big, but I was able to maneuver ar.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/470389/ I didn't realize just how tired I was until Langston started rubbing my feet as I sat on the couch. One minute we were just watching TV and bam there he was. In my mind I tried to imagine I was a million miles away and it was just me and my baby boy living happily together. My dream soon came to a c.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/470385/ "Cheer up," Langston spoke to me on the ride home. "How can I do that?" I turned to him. "Tonight's the dinner, remember?" Langston asked me. "Oh, I forgot," I replied to him with my eyes going wide. Tonight mom was hosting .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/466830/ This story is based on true events and it chronicles the disintegration of a friendship. Enjoy. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/466596/  By the time the sun shed it's light on our hemisphere I was already up. After Langston's performance I couldn't sleep a wink. I busied myself in the kitchen by sweeping, mopping, wiping, and reorganizing. Anything to keep my mind off the impending doom headed my way. Before I.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/465834/  I woke with a start. Last nights drinking binge with Paula and Whitney had drained me senseless. I knew only drank in excess to compete with them. My life was a sorry one and with each shot mt current situation seemed less bleak. I was twenty-five, single, and childless. We were celebrating .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/462058/ Semper Academy was just as Principal Gellar had described. It was located in the middle of nowhere fifteen minutes outside the city. All their girls who went there were either pregnant or already mothers. Since I had started school at the beginning of November I had a massive amount of catching up t.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/461440/ I continued to visit my assigned nurse practitioner every two weeks and she administered my ultrasounds. At my age I was told I would have to have extra monitoring to make sure I didn't deliver too early, but my baby boy was growing at a healthy pace so that put my heart at ease. On Hallowe.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/461438/ It's not everyday that a pregnant fourteen year old girl moves out of her mother's home and into her own house that her fifteen year old brother owns, but then again I've come to see that I'm not an everyday type person. There was no going away party or celebration, but there was Mrs. .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/459844/ It took almost a week for me to be accepted at Semper Academy. Apparently they had a long wait list, but Mom managed to get me in. In the meantime Langston came to see me everyday. Thursday evening Langston let me know just how sad he was over me no longer going to Graham. "I just hope.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/459839/ After Langston dropped me off I waited for mom to get home from wherever she was so that I could go to my appointment. The drive to the doctors office was monotonous and not much was said. I got a warm welcome at the receptionist's desk, but the kindness ended there. I had to see t.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/459830/ "So you're fourteen years old?" the nurse asked me as she probed my stomach with the ultrasound wand. My stomach was covered in cold jelly and I had to pee. "Yes," I answered. The room was dark and only the light from the monitor that displayed my baby lit up the room.&n.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/458971/ I was in the hallway going back to Mr. Burkedale's class when someone took my hand from behind me. "What do you want?" I asked Langston. "I knew you'd be going this way. I have something to ask you," Langston told me. Since his return all the girls swarmed over him. They a.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/458970/  During the next four weeks the truth about my pregnancy came out to my all of my brothers. Sonny took it the hardest. His reaction was worse than Kevin's. Surprisingly Mike was calm about the whole thing. "You play, you got to pay," is all Mike said to me. It was in that same.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/458969/ "I can't go to class either," I told Kevin and he rolled his eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked which surprised me. Kevin always handled me roughly, but now he seemed more gentle. "Celia had sex with David," I said hoping the Kevin would have a little pity for me. "I .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/458968/ I heard nothing from Linda, Laura, or Langston and for that matter none of The Crew contacted me all day Saturday. I was sitting on MySpace Sunday night just updating my status when I saw I had a new friends request. I thought to myself, 'this couldn't be,' but there she was, Linda Ashburn. I accept.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/458271/ Before I could ask them what in the hell was going on headlights from behind me lit up the doorway that I stood in. "S**t!" I heard Celia say. I turned around and realized that mom and Arthur had just pulled up into the driveway. David worked fast to get his pants on and Celia was .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/458270/ Cameron made it perfectly clear once the game ended that he didn't want to go home. Crystal and Robbie looked befuddled and Amber had to pull Cameron aside and beg him to let them go home. She even offered him gas money to do so. Fighting was not usual for us and the growing tension had me .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/457185/ School was busy with chitter chatter about tonights football game and when the teachers turned their ears off people were excitedly texting about the after party. All the football players would be there including my brothers Kevin and Mike. So many girls were swooning over Kevin's pretty bl.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/457182/ I resembled a zombie for the rest of the school week. Mom and I didn't speak to each other, but I listened to phone conversations while she drove me to school. She was ordering fruits, cheeses, and wines by the bulk. I didn't say anything to her because I assumed she was planning the upcoming weddin.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/Tina-Castle/457181/