CHAPTER 1

Desiree Chase was born during the early Winter monthsin the middle of the 50's decade. The very day thatDesiree was born was exciting to everyone, to say the least.John Chase goes into the street and tells his friends thatRuby Chase, his new wife is about to have the baby andhails a cab. Clarence and Gloria Walker, Ruby's parentsare all coming out to the cab to get in and they all did. Afterclosing the doors to the cab, the cabdriver noticed thatsomeone very important was missing, the mother who wasabout to deliver. In that light moment John opens the cabdoor to tell ruby to come, there was not time to loose.

The day that Desiree was taken home from the hospital,she demonstrated to all around her and to the entire worldjust how powerful and developed a new born baby's setof lungs could possibly be. It was at that point that hergreat-aunt assumed that she was holding a future greatsoprano in her arms. Coming home to a couple of veryproud parents, beholding their very first child, a set ofvery proud, Christian and humble grandparents, futureGodparents and a host of long time friends and neighbors,they all agreed without a doubt that she was a wonderfulsight to behold. Someone who did not know any betterwould think that Desiree was the first baby to ever comehome to the thriving and warm community of a ManhattanCounty Hospital, New York.

These were the times and the years where an entirecommunity took care of each other. These were the timeswhereas people would not even think or consider the thoughtof locking their doors or windows or even their cars. Thesewere the years whereas a grocer would not think twice aboutfeeding a family of a father who may be out of work andnot ask for a dime on the bill. These were the years wherethe children were safe to walk the streets and play withoutparents having the fear of a child being taken or lost withouta trace. These were the early to mid-fifties and for manyof the Black American families, sometimes referred to asNegroes and other times referred to as coloreds, a differenttime, a different place, different people, different thoughts,different mind-sets, different priorities, a different era, adifferent world, President Dwight David Eisenhower was inthe White House.

Some say that it was a better time, a better world.Some say that this was a time that the bond and strengthof the family unit was the very core and foundation ofAmerican society. Some say that the church family and thenever-ending, devoted practices of our religious faiths andtraditions are what held our families as well as our societytogether. Then, there are those that say that these were notthe best of times, but the worse of times. The opportunitiesfor advancement in the labor force for minorities were grimand discouraging. Some lived with the memories of the lossof loved ones to polio disease and spinal meningitis. Otherslived with the memories of the loss of loved ones to the evilof the streets. The evil of the experimentations of a notoriousdrug called Heroin which claimed so many innocent lives,young and old. The paths of destruction that it left of thosewho saw no other alternative to escape the harshness ofdaily living with the formation of the era of the AmericanGangsters of the fifties. Notwithstanding, however oneviewed their places in life during this time, it was for certainthat the world of John and Ruby Chase was perfect in theireyesight, because their baby girl Desiree Chase was borninto the world.

John and Ruby Chase were both very young at this time.They had tied the knot of matrimony barely 6 months priorto Desiree's birth, with the assistance of John's mother CoraLee along with the blessings of Ruby's parents, Clarenceand Gloria Walker. John was born in the heart of Manhattan,Ruby was a child of the southland, born in North Carolinawhere here parents lived until she was 2 years of age.

John and Ruby met while students in junior high school.Ruby's family worshipped at Garden of Gethsemane BaptistChurch. John's family worshipped at Shiloh Baptist Churchwhich was further downtown. Clarence Walker made hisliving and supported his family as a carpenter, and workedout of a unionized factory located in the Bronx, near theMajor Deegan highway (better known as 87 South), whichleads to the east side of Harlem, when crossing the bridge.While his wife Gloria contributed to the family approximatelythree to four days per week as a domestic worker. CoraLee Chase spent many years working in the jewelry districtof Manhattan, New York. Her specialty were the Pearls,all types of pearls, cultured and uncultured. John's father,John Chase Sr. spent most of his time over the road afterhis retirement from the military after serving in World War11. John barely saw his father thus not having as close ofa relationship with him as he would have liked. He oftentimes spoke of his father and wondered quite often if hewas just like him, or was he the exact opposite of his father.Since John's mother and father separated when John wasapproximately 9 years old, Cora Lee Chase would choosenot to speak much about her estranged husband. Cora Lee'smother, Clara Washington, known to all in the communityand to the church as "Mother Clara", helped Cora Lee toraise both John and his younger sister Loretta.

Six months have passed and for the passed months,there was much talk about Desiree's christening. Rubywanted all to go well for her first child's day of, "giving thebaby back to GOD" as the older folks would so often callit. Now this was not all very easy for Ruby, simply becauseshe had promised her first child to her childhood friend,Michelle. Ruby and Michelle were as tight as two peas in apod. Michelle was one year older than Ruby and they had avery close circle of friends. Even though they were all close,it was Michelle who was to be the Godmother of Ruby'sfirst child. Ruby also had another very good friend namedCharles Etta, whom had two daughters and one of them,she gave to Ruby as her goddaughter, and her name wasLorene. As the two girls would grow up through the years,Desiree and Lorene would become extremely close as amatter of fact, Lorene had designated herself as Desiree'sprotector in school, if she should ever need one. Ruby hada handful of friends, but her and Michelle would prove to bevery close. Charles Etta's cousin Amelia Lawson and herhusband William, who lived just down the street, was anotherof Ruby's very good friends. Amelia and William had a totalof seven Children as the years went by.

What made this such a difficult task for Ruby wasbecause her mother Gloria also had a best friend. Sarahand her husband Scott Charles were both very close foryears to Clarence and Gloria. Therefore out of respect forher mother, Ruby had also promised Desiree to Sarah andScott Charles. How fortunate can a child be, sometimes it isdifficult to find one suitable Godparent, Desiree will have two.It was decided that the services will be held at the Gardenof Gethsemane Baptist Church. Rev. McLeay was thepastor and a well known pillar of a figure in the Manhattancommunity at this time.

Deacon Armstrong was the chairman of the Deaconboard of the church. Now it was usually procedure inthe church to have a meeting with the parents and theGodparents when a child is to be christened, just as it wascustomary for a perspective bride and groom to have acounseling session with the pastor and the Deacon BoardChairman.

One day while Gloria Walker was at home, shereceived a phone call from one of the sisters of the churchcongregation. Sis. Smith was very well known to all to bethe busy body and the know it all in the neighborhood. "Didyou get a call from Dead. Armstrong yet, Sis. Walker?", Sis.Smith said. Gloria Walker replied in a very impatient tone,"No, I haven't, why?" "Oh ...' nothin, maybe I shouldn't sayanythin." Mrs. Walker became very agitated at this pointand asked Sis. Smith for the reason for her phone call andwhat did she mean. Sis. Smith became very vague andsuggested that maybe she should call Rev. McCLeay aboutthe christening of your little granddaughter. "I don't want tostart any problems and any he say, she say." Said Sis. Smithto Sis. Walker. She further stated, "Don't say anythin camefrom my mouth Sis. Walker, ha ha ha." Gloria Walker tooka couple of deep breathes, then said to Sis. Smith, "Well, ifya not goin to be more clear in what you are talkin about, I'lljust hang up my phone, goodbye Sis. Smith." With that beingsaid, Gloria hung up the phone, quite abruptly.

Later that afternoon, there was a knock at the door, itwas Deac. Armstrong. Mrs. Walker invited him in, he enteredand took a seat in the living room. As he took his seat, hesaid to Gloria that he did not intend to stay long, or to takeup a great deal of her time. He just stopped by discusssome concerns that he and the pastor had about the littleone's christening. The little one meaning, Desiree. "Whatseems to be the concern?" Asked Gloria. "Well ...' I amnot one to spread idol gossip or rumors, but some of themembers of the congregation have brought some concernsto the attention of the board and as the chairman, I needto address them. Please understand me Sis. Walker, I amonly acting on behalf of the pastor and of the congregation."Stated Deac. Armstrong. Gloria took a seat in her favoritechair across from Deac. Armstrong. She took a few momentswith her hands folded, pressing against her chest whileshe twiddled her thumbs then she replied in a low but sternvoice, "What exactly are you talking about? Speak plainly.

That is the only thing that I understand, Deac.Armstrong." "Well" Deac. Armstrong says, with a stutter,"Well Sis. Walker, I understand that your daughter littleSis. Ruby, may have given birth to her baby a little earlyin her marriage. Please understand ..." I am not sitting injudgment, but the church as you well know can't really putup with certain behaviors of our young persons and we mustdiscourage certain things that are not acceptable in the sightof the Lord." Gloria now sitting with a stern facial expressionlooking at Deac. Armstrong asked him, "Who else are youspeaking for besides yourself and the Lord? As you put it.Are you speaking for the Pastor of the Church? Are youspeaking for the Missionary board? Are you speaking forthe Choir? Are you speaking for the Mother board? Are youspeaking for the Deacon board? Who all are you speakingfor, Deac. Armstrong?" "Well Sis. Walker, I did not meanto upset you, but I have a job that I must do." "Well Deac.Armstrong" Gloria says, "You have not answered any of myquestions. Since you have a job to do, I think that you shouldstart by answering the questions of a member in goodstanding of your congregation. A member who has been andwhose family has been members of this church for years.""Yes, yes I know Sis. Walker. I know that you have alwaysbeen a good and faithful servant to the LORD." Says Deac.Armstrong. "Please understand, this is very hard for me tocome and talk to you about." Gloria taking another momentlooks at Deac. Armstrong, "Now Deac. you and I have knowneach other for years, right?"

Not giving him time to answer, Gloria continues, "Yeahright. Now let's cut all of this out and get right down to it. Mydaughter gets married one month and within 9 months, shehas a baby, is that your concern? Or as you put it, that isthe concern of certain members of your congregation? I amsure that some of the members of the church understandshow all that works or do they need it explained to them?"Deac. Armstrong sits silently. Gloria then says, "Or do youneed it explained to you? Now, let us talk more plainly. Firstof all, please try and explain to me what on GOD's greenearth could a baby, a cherub, an angel, belonging to theLORD, what could she have possibly done to receive thiskind of treatment from church members? All those peoplewho call themselves Christians. Do we need to call PastorMcCleary to get this all cleared up? Or maybe you and I canclear all this up right now and then you can go back to thecongregation and explain to them that the best Christians arethe ones that practice minding their own business, you knowthe old saying, 6 months to mind my own business, 6 monthsfor you to mind yours, sounds like that's a full time job ta me!Don't sound dat way ta you? Gloria at this point was on a rolland definetely was indeed on a mission. She continues ..."

Another sign of good Christians are the ones that do notthrow stones and live in glass houses." Deac. Armstrongsays to Gloria, "What do you mean, Sis. Walker?" Gloriareplies, "Well Deac. you know, when a member of theDeacon Board has a certain kind of friendship with thechurch organist, and that same church organist happens tobe married to another Deacon on the same board. Or whena member of the congregation, who is a relative of a Deaconon the same board, happens to make arrangements forthat relative's daughter to be sent away suddenly and comeback to the same church ..." not expecting anymore. Whatdo you think Deac? I can tell you some more if you like?" Atthis point, Deacon Armstrong stood up and excused himself.When he reached the front door, he says to Gloria, "I will seeyou in church on Sunday Morning."

CHAPTER 2

Michelle took a trip to 125th street to buy Desiree'schristening outfit. When she arrived at the babydepartment, she was so overwhelmed at the beautiful white,long and lacey outfits at Blumstein's Department Store thatshe could not decide, therefore she bought two of them.

When she arrived home, she showed both of them toRuby. Ruby wanted to know what were they going to dowith 2 christening outfits. Therefore, Michelle very softlysuggested that Desiree should wear one outfit for theservices then change into the other outfit for the receptionafterwards. Since this was a day for Godparents and babies,Ruby decided that she didn't stand a chance so she wentalong with the program. Sarah knew that Michelle wouldbe shopping for the baby on today so she decided to stopby to take a look at the christening fashion. Of course alsoto her suprise there two outfits. So the question was raisedonce more by the elder future Godmother as to why thereare two outfits. Now at this point, Michelle began to displaynot such a friendly attitude and made the inquiry, in a veryprofessional but cold manner, why there was such a big dealthat she had bought her Goddaughter two very beautiful longwhite dresses. She wanted her to have them and this was allthere was to them. "I am so sorry, didn't mean to upset youso." Sarah said. Gloria who had already had a rather tryingday, was not in the mood for any manner of disagreementsso she simply rose from the side of the bed and walked outof the bedroom into the kitchen.

Michelle looking at Ruby said that she had to be at anappointment and had to leave. This left Ruby and Sarahin the bedroom staring at each other. The air in the roomwas as tense and as thick as pea soup, you could justcut through it with a knife. Ruby just softly suggested toSarah that she had to check the baby and that she wouldbe speaking with her later. Sarah stepped into the kitchen,spoke briefly with Gloria, then went out of the front door.

It is now two days before Desiree's christening. Rev.McCleary paid a visit to the Walker household. When hearrived, he was greeted at the door by Clarence. "Come onin, Rev." Says Clarence with that very deep masculine butvery friendly voice that all had come to recognize. "So wearis our little star of the moment?" Says Rev. McCleary. "Oh,the baby? she's out for the time, I think her mamma took hersomewheres." Clarence then offers the Reverend a seat. "Ithink my wife is somewhere's in the buildin ..." Rev. Can Ioffer ya somethin?" Rev McCleary responsds, "No, no thankyou Bro. Walker." The door opens and ther stood Gloria,"Oh ..." hello Reverend, have you been waitin long? I amso sorry, didn't know you were here." As she takes her seattin her special winged chair, Clarence says to Gloria, "TheRev only got here a few minutes before you came back,Glo." Clarence turns and walks into the kitchen, while Gloriasits and attempts to entertain her Pastor. Rev. McClearywas not a complicated man. Reverend Larry McCleary wasborn in Richmond, Virginia. He came from a large family,was educated in Richmond during his early childhood, intohis teenage years. This is when his parents migrated toNew York because his father received a better employmentopportunity. Rev. McCleary's father was also a minister whocould not ready very well, but he could stir anyone's soul withhis firery and brimstone style of preaching. While growingup in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Rev. McCleary's fatherwas the pastor of the Macedonia Church of the Disciples ofChrist. Once in New York, he completed his education byattending the Seminary to complete his ministerial training.After graduating the Seminary, he studied and devoted histime to the practice of the Baptist worship doctrine.