God Has Spoken (13 page)

The school year went by pretty fast for Eleanor. After a few weeks, she felt as if she had never left. Eleanor decided to take five CXC exams: mathematics, English, accounting, Principles of Business, and biology. She had passed all the preparatory tests that her teacher gave her with flying colors. It was looking really good for these exams.

“I have to pass theses exams,” Eleanor played over and over in her head. “I have sacrificed and lost too much to turn back now.” And like an obsessed manic, she studied religiously. Eleanor did all her chores in the morning, despite Mama Pearl's objection as she wanted her to concentrate on school. She went to classes in the evenings. After getting home at night, she locked herself in her room and studied until the wee hours of the morning. Soon it was time for her first exam, mathematics.

“You are going to do fine,” Mama Pearl told Eleanor as they sat on the couch in the living room that morning. “You have been preparing for this, and the Lord is going to see it through. Okay, my dear?”

Eleanor nodded reluctantly, her face etched in concern. “I'm just very nervous, Mama Pearl,” she said, shaking her legs and cracking her knuckles. “I never knew I would ever get this opportunity again. Now that it's here, I don't want to blow it or let you down.”

“And you won't, Eleanor,” Mama Pearl assured her.

“I'm so grateful that you and the guys paid for my CXC exams,” Eleanor said, struggling not to cry. “You have done so much for me. I love you all.”

“And we love you,” Mama Pearl replied as tears glittered in her eyes. “Come and give me a hug.”

Eleanor reached over and hugged the woman who had changed her life.

“Now I know you had some difficulties with the math, but Robert helped you with that and you aced the prep test, right?” Mama Pearl said once they pulled apart and sat facing each other again.

“Yes,” Eleanor responded softly. Math was Eleanor's least favorite subject. She had always found it challenging since high school. Luckily for her she had a mathematics professor on call who helped her work through the kinks.

“You better get going before you're late,” Mama Pearl said with a wide smile. “Go and make yourself proud.”

“Thank you.” Eleanor gave her a kiss on the cheek. She stood up and grabbed her book bag that was beside her, before hurrying out the door to catch the bus.

That afternoon when Eleanor got home, she noticed the cars parked in the driveway and on the street outside the house. Worried, she hurried inside to find out what was going on.

As she entered the living room she saw Robert, Alwayne, Sydney, Gerald, Omar, and Mama Pearl sitting on the couches. They jumped to their feet when they saw her.

“What's wrong?” Eleanor asked as she looked from one face to another. “Is it Mama Pearl?” She walked over to Mama Pearl looking her up from head to toe.

“I'm fine.” Mama Pearl waved off her concern. “You had your first exam today.”

“
That's
why you are all here?” Eleanor asked in an incredulous voice as she looked from one smiling face to another.

“That's right,” Alwayne replied lightly. “We are here to let you know how much we care about you.”

“And we are supporting you now and always,” Sydney added with a big grin.

Eleanor hung down her head and cried.
I am the luckiest girl on earth,
she thought.
I really don't deserve these people.

Over the next few days, Eleanor took her other exams and felt confident about the results.
“You can only do your best, baby,” Aunt Madge had told her a few times. “And only your best is good enough.”

Eleanor had to wait to see if her best would give her the results that she wanted.

 

 

It was the summer of 1980 and Eleanor fell back into her old routine now that she had completed her classes and taken her exams. She woke up early and helped Mama Pearl with breakfast. She cleaned the house from top to bottom, did the laundry, swept the yard, and went grocery shopping as needed. Once her chores were completed, she would retire to the living room or her bedroom where she read books she borrowed from the public library or watched television. In the evening she prepared dinner when it was her turn to do so.

“Okay, this has to stop right now,” Mama Pearl said one day as she walked into Eleanor's bedroom where she lay on the bed reading a book. “You are a seventeen-year-old girl living like a seventy-year-old woman.”

Eleanor looked up at her and smiled. “I'm fine, Mama Pearl. I'm not bored at all.”

“No, you need to meet some friends who you can hang out with and have fun with,” Mama Pearl said to her.

Eleanor winced when she heard the word “friend.” She had a friend who she had fun with, or so she thought. It was that friendship that contributed to the hell she found herself in. The same friend who later turned her back on her for a nasty, lowlife man.

“No, thank you,” Eleanor replied quickly. “I don't need any friends. I have you and Omar here.”

“That's not the same, and you know it.” Mama Pearl frowned. “Well, how about a little part-time job to get you out of the house from time to time?”

“Really?” Eleanor sat upright on the bed. “I would like that very much, Mama Pearl.”

“Okay, let me speak to the boys and have them look around for you,” Mama Pearl said in a beaming voice, excited that she finally had an idea that Eleanor liked. “I'll be asking around as well.”

“Thank you, Mama Pearl.” Eleanor jumped off the bed into Mama Pearl's arms.

The following week Eleanor started her job as a part-time cashier for a hardware store in Cross Roads. The store owner, Mr. Kennelly, was a good friend of Alwayne. Eleanor worked from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday. This gave her enough time to help around the house before she left for work. She loved her job and enjoyed the different people she met on a daily basis. Her boss was also a very friendly, jovial person. Eleanor knew she was blessed.

A few days later as Eleanor walked into the house after work, she saw the entire family gathered again in the living room. “What happened this time? I didn't get a promotion,” she joked.

“No, but you got something else,” Mama Pearl said elatedly. “You got
this!
” she waved an envelope in the air.

“Oh my God. Is that what I think it is?” Eleanor asked, stunned.

“Yup,” answered Gerald. “It's your CXC results.”

“I called all of them to be here,” Mama Pearl said gently. “Whatever this piece of paper says, even though I already know deep down in my soul, we are here for you.”

“Even if I failed them all?” Eleanor asked as she walked over to Mama Pearl and took the envelope from her outstretched hand.

“You didn't fail,” Omar said confidently. “Go on and open it.” He nodded toward the envelope.

Eleanor took a deep breath. Her knees felt like Jell-O. With trembling fingers, she ripped the envelope open and took out the piece of paper inside. Silence surrounded the room as everyone looked at one another expectantly.

“I can't look,” Eleanor said nervously. “Here, you read it and tell us.” She handed the piece of paper to Omar.

Omar quickly grabbed it out of her hand and looked at it. His brows knitted in a frown as he stared at it without saying a word.

“Man, what are you waiting for?” Robert asked impatiently. “World War III?”

“I'm sorry, Eleanor,” Omar began dramatically, sniffing as if he was about to cry. “You didn't pass one—”

“
What do you mean she didn't pass?
” Mama Pearl snapped. “Boy, give me that letter.”

“—You passed
all
of them!” Omar screamed. The room exploded in cheers. A weeping Eleanor was passed from one to the other as she hugged and kissed in congratulatory bliss.

“Girl, you really mashed up those exams.” Mama Pearl allowed the tears to flow freely down her face. “Didn't I tell all of you that God never makes a mistake?”

Her sons nodded and grinned happily. It was truly a milestone in Eleanor's journey to success, but redemption would take a little longer.

Eleanor got accepted into Excelsior Community College the fall of 1980. Again, Robert and Sydney made some contacts and called in some favors. Even though Eleanor had passed her CXC exams, she didn't have a copy of her birth certificate as required. She decided to take four preuniversity A-level courses: business management, English language, accounting, and principles of business in the evening school.

To accommodate her school schedule, Eleanor reduced her work hours from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Her classes were from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This left her mornings free to do her house chores, and Sunday was reserved for church.

“I think you're doing too much,” Mama Pearl complained to Eleanor one day. “You don't have to work now that you have started school, Eleanor.”

“I can manage, Mama Pearl,” Eleanor reassured her. “I've reduced my time at work, and I attend school in the evening, so I have it covered. Don't worry, I can do this, okay?”

“All right, but if you ever feel overwhelmed I want you to let me know,” Mama Pearl said in a serious voice. “You are too young to be taking on all of this by yourself.”

But Eleanor never felt overwhelmed. It was actually the opposite. She welcomed the opportunity to be busy. The more she worked, the less time she had to think about Aunt Madge and the baby. “I don't even deserve this chance,” she often reminded herself. “But for some reason the Lord sees fit to give it to me. Why? I'm not sure, but I have to make the most of it.” And she did.

One of the few things that Eleanor took real pleasure in, outside of school and work, was going to church. She grew up in the church. Aunt Madge was a long-standing member of Worship and Fellowship Church of God, and as such, Eleanor spent a lot of time at church since she was a child. She attended church service every Sunday, Sunday School, Bible Study, prayer meetings, and sang in the junior choir. Her entire life revolved around church—until Dolly came along. It was then that everything started going downhill. Eleanor walked out of the presence of God into the arms of the devil.

It was different this time around. Eleanor started attending church with Mama Pearl because she wanted to make a good impression on her. However, as time went by, something got ahold of her heart and her soul. She was held captivated by the word and the power of the Lord.
It makes sense what the pastor is saying about God being a merciful God,
Eleanor thought as she sat in service one Sunday morning.
Look at what God has done for me after everything I have done. He saved my life and gave me a wonderful family to live with. There may be hope for me after all.

So Eleanor began to read her Bible more, pray a little more, and hope for more.

Before long, after almost two years of hard work and dedication, nineteen-year-old Eleanor completed her preuniversity course at Excelsior Community College in May of 1982. She aced all four A-level exams, earning a certificate in business administration.

It was a bittersweet experience for Eleanor. The runaway, homeless teenager was elated that she was accomplishing her academic goals, but the teenage mother who abandoned her child was still held captive in despair. It was as if she was winning the battle but losing the war.

At times Eleanor's mind was so consumed with Aunt Madge and Dupree, she was unable to eat or sleep. Her daughter was now three-years-old, and she had no idea what she looked like. She didn't know her mannerisms or her personality. She knew nothing about Dupree. But through it all, Eleanor knew in her heart that Dupree was well taken care of. After all, Aunt Madge raised Eleanor, so she was confident that Dupree would receive the same love and nurture.

 

 

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Eleanor, Omar, and Mama Pearl were all sitting in the backyard under some big mango trees with the cool Jamaican breeze fanning their faces. As they conversed, Robert walked around the side of the house into the backyard.

“Hey, baby. How are you?” Mama Pearl greeted her son happily. “I didn't know you were going to stop by.”

“Hi, Mama.” Robert walked over to his mother and kissed her on the cheek. “Hello, Eleanor. Omar, how are you?” he said as he lowered himself into an empty chair beside Eleanor.

Both Eleanor and Omar returned Robert's greetings. They all noticed the big grin on his face and looked at him puzzled.

“Okay, what's going on?” Mama Pearl asked, not known for her patience. “You look like you just won a million dollars.”

“This is even better.” Robert winked at her. He turned around and faced Eleanor, who was watching him with a puzzled look on her face. “So are you ready for this?” Robert asked her excitedly, rubbing his hands together, beaming from ear to ear.

“Huh? I guess so,” Eleanor replied hesitantly, watching his face intently for a clue to his excitement.

“You are going to give that girl a heart attack, Robert.” Mama Pearl laughed and rested her head back on the lounge chair where she sat.

“He is going to give
me
a heart attack,” Omar said impatiently. “Out with it, man.”

Robert reached out and took Eleanor's hands into his. “How would you like to attend the University of the West Indies this fall?” he asked in a loud, animated voice.

One could have heard a needle drop in a pile of cotton.

“What did you just say?” Eleanor asked as her body began to tremble uncontrollably.

“Come again?” Omar asked almost simultaneously, leaning forward to stare at his brother.

Mama Pearl, for maybe the first time in her life, was speechless.

“You got in!” Robert yelled happily. “You have been accepted into the Undergraduate Human Resources Management Program.”

“Lordy, Lordy, Lordy,” Mama Pearl chanted, shaking her head from side to side. “Lordy, Lordy, Lordy.”

This was too much for Eleanor. She bent over at a ninety-degree angle, rested her throbbing head in her lap, and bawled. Heart-pulling sobs pulsated throughout her entire body.

Mama Pearl, Omar, and Robert gathered around her, rubbing her back, her head, and whispering words of comfort and congratulations in her ears. But they allowed her this well deserved cry.

Minutes later the crying faded to sniffles. Eleanor lifted up her head, snot and tears staining her face. Robert handed her his handkerchief, and she wiped her face and blew her nose. “I don't deserve this,” Eleanor said in a hoarse voice. “I'm grateful for this opportunity, but I can't go.” She burst out in tears again before she jumped to her feet and ran into the house.

Mama Pearl, Omar, and Robert looked at one another in shock.

“What just happened?” Robert asked perplexed. “I had to jump through hoops to get her into this program. I thought I was doing the right thing.”

“You are doing the right thing, my son,” Mama Pearl said as she sat in the chair that Eleanor occupied earlier. “This isn't about you or even UWI. This is Eleanor's demons rearing their hungry heads.”

“What can we do to help her?” Omar asked in a troubled voice.

“We
are
doing it, baby,” Mama Pearl replied gently. “We just have to continue to love and support her and let the Lord to do the rest.”