Hello, dear readers! I’m using this NaNoWriMo to complete a book I began writing earlier this year. So far, NaNoWriMo has put me in a writing mood, and I’ve been working on the book little by little each day. Barrin Heights is a paranormal story about a young black woman and her nephew, and the experiences they have after they move to a brand new subdivision in a newly developed town. I’d like to post a small sample from the current rough draft. Enjoy.

Lena wasn’t in the habit of leaving dirty dishes in the sink overnight, but this night she made an exception. Between shopping and unpacking, she was just too tired to clean everything. She looked over at the sink one last time before she headed to her bedroom. Two plates and two glasses, and some silverware. She had already washed the pots and frying pans she cooked with. The rest can wait until tomorrow, she thought. She yawned as she walked down the hallway. She stopped at James’s door, and knocked on it. It was already open, so she leaned into his room. “Everything okay?”

James was sitting up on his bed, flipping through the pages of a comic book. He looked up and nodded. “I’m okay.”

“Okay,” Lena said. “Don’t stay up too late, okay? I want to go by our schools tomorrow, after the cable guy leaves.”

“Okay,” James said.

“Good night,” Lena said. She continued her short journey down the hall to her own bedroom. Shower and sleep, she thought. Shower and sleep, shower and sleep…

Lena awakened early the following morning, and dragged herself into the kitchen. When she walked past James’s room, his door was closed, but she could hear movement. She was thankful for that; he was already awake and hopefully getting dressed. She was about to make herself some coffee, when she remembered the dishes in the sink, and decided to tackle them first. She stepped up to the sink, and paused. The sink was empty. She looked over at the dishrack, and found the plates, glasses and silverware from the previous night. 

Down the hall, James’s door opened, and he came strolling out to the kitchen. “Good morning,” he said. 

“Good morning to you, too,” Lena said. She wrapped her arms around her nephew. “Thank you for washing the dishes. That was very nice of you.”

James laughed at her and said, “What are you talking about?”

“The dishes,” Lena said nodding towards the sink. “You washed them?”

James snorted. “Nope.”

Lena slowly released him. “James?”

“Aunt Lena, I didn’t wash any dishes,” James said. 

Lena turned, and stared at the sink. I was tired last night, but I know I didn’t wash them. Did I? No, no way. I was tired, but I wasn’t that tired. “You know what? Never mind. Let’s have breakfast, then get dressed. Hopefully the cable guy won’t keep us waiting all day. He’s supposed to be here between nine and eleven. We’ll see how that goes.”

A technician from Verizon rang the doorbell at a quarter after nine. Lena had barely finished washing the breakfast dishes when his van pulled into her driveway. As she walked to the door, Lena decided to play a little game with herself. If he’s black, I owe myself a Pepsi. She answered the door, and smiled at the technician. “You’re nice and early.”

“Thanks,” the tech said. “My name is Jamal. Are you Lena Scott?”

“Yes I am,” Lena said. “Come on in.” She stepped aside and let Jamal enter. As she led him to the living room, she thought, I owe myself a Pepsi. 

“Have you ever used Verizon’s service before?” Jamal asked.

“No, this will be my first time,” Lena said. “My nephew and I just moved, and I was told there was a discount for new customers.” She leaned forward slightly, and whispered, “Do you live around here, Jamal?”

“Uh, yeah,” Jamal said. “I do. Why?”

“Are most of the residents in Barrin Heights black?”

“Pretty much.”

“Wow.”

“I know. It kinda messed me up, too, when I first got here.” He looked around the living room, then asked, “How many televisions do you have?”

“Just this one,” Lena replied, nodding towards the tv resting on the wooden entertainment center. “And the wifi will be up today, right?”

“Oh yes,” Jamal said. “I just need to grab some equipment from my van. I’ll be right back.” He ducked out of the house, and walked to the side of his van. 

James entered the living room, fully dressed in a pair of black jeans,  his “Straight Outta Compton” shirt and of course, his hoodie. “Is the cable guy here?” he asked.

“Yeah, he’s here,” Lena said, studying James’s shirt. “Uh, James is this what you’re wearing today?”

James looked down at his clothes and smiled. “Yep. Why?”

“Remember what I said about first impressions?” Lena asked. “We’re going to your school today. I don’t think wearing that shirt is a good idea.”

James looked down at himself again. “What am I supposed to wear? A suit and tie?”

Lena folded her arms. “How about a shirt with a different statement?”

James sighed heavily and spun around, tilting his head back as he walked away. “Fine! I’ll change my shirt.”

Jamal returned with a box and a set of cables. “This won’t take long, Miss Scott,” he said. “I’ll set the cable box up for you, and the router will have the password on a label on the bottom of the unit. Of course, you can change the password if you want to.”

“Thanks,” Lena said. 

Jamal completed the set up of Lena’s cable and wifi and was out of her house in under twenty minutes. Lena thanked him, and after he left she decided to check on James.  He emerged from his bedroom as she was walking down the hall. “How’s this?” he asked.

Lena looked at his Baltimore Ravens shirt and thought, Well, any Falcons fans we run into won’t be happy but I guess it’ll have to due.  “Cool,” she said. “Let’s get going. We’ll stop by my school first, and then yours.”

Barrin Heights will be coming soon!