Rhonda’s Angels

by Keahara Monroe

Whitney was a straight A, determined young pupil. At the mere age of ten she had big dreams of becoming the greatest defense attorney in the U.S. She maintained remarkable grades throughout grade school, making honor roll every year. She compelled herself to maintain a 4.2 GPA throughout her high school career, by taking several Advanced Placement classes. She took college courses at a community college around the corner from Central Chicago High school during her free time in the summer. In high school she was the valedictorian of her class and got accepted into the college of her dreams, Harvard University. Everything was looking good for Whitney and she couldn’t wait to get out of her broken home.

Whitney’s mother Rhonda didn’t believe in her and her big dreams. She thought her daughter was dumb for trying to get a good career. She felt that all a black woman in the dirty streets of Chicago could hope for, was a man who could pay for everything she needed. Whitney was just the opposite. She didn’t want to depend on any man to get her where she needed, and often didn’t trust men because of the way they ran in and out of her mother’s life, only using her for her money and sex. Her father Malcolm whom everyone in their neighborhood knew as Mal was sentenced to life for trafficking drugs and three counts of first degree murder. He loved his baby girl and wished he could see her off but his bad past had caught up with him. Dealing with her father’s absence only made her distrust men more, feeling as if they would just come in her life, hurt her, then leave her. Coming from this home only pushed Whitney to strive for more. She had waited miserably for the past two months to leave her wretched past behind her and pursue her dream.

Life wasn’t always bad, they never had much before Mal went to jail but her family had stuck it out together. Her mother used to pick her up from school everyday and every Saturday they had a family day. After her father got incarcerated her mother just stopped caring, she lost her job and got on welfare, she spent most of her nights out and brought many different men into their home. Whitney had grown to distrust and dislike her mother for all of the drama she had put her through, but she didn’t let any of it get in her way.

It was mid-August and very hot, almost 94 degrees. Today was the day of the Annual Air and Water show and everyone was hyped up about it. Over two million people went to the Lake Michigan lake front to watch it. She had been going every year since she was 10 and it had become a tradition for her and her friends to attend the event. Although, this year she was packing up the few belongings she owned, she didn’t have much but was glad that she had a full-ride scholarship through a Law Program she was in during the summer. As she got the last of her things into the bag, her best friends Andrea and Nicole entered the room.

“Hey Ne-Ne!” they recited in unison.

“Oh my gosh! You guys I didn’t know you could make it! That no-good mother of mine is too busy laid up with some man to even give me the time of day, but that’s okay, she’ll need me one day.”

“Okay girl don’t even worry about her, this is your day so don’t spoil it. We got something for you so you won’t ever forget us. Okay? Just think of it as a going away gift.” Andrea said excitedly, as she pulled out a shiny gold box with gold lace ribbon around it.

“Aww thank-you! Oh you know I didn’t want anything from you guys.”

“It’s from me and Nicky we pulled together some money from our little summer jobs, girl you know we got you.”

As Whitney opened the box her face became overwhelmed with excitement, she slowly rose the shiny 24 carat gold charm bracelet out of the small box and studied the three charms one was of her favorite character Tinker Bell, the second one was a little stereo representing her love of music and the last one was a picture of her, Andrea and Nicole. The picture was taken a few weeks prior on their outing at the mall. It was built in a heart-shaped crescent and glazed over. As she stared at it in awe, a tear slowly rolled down her cheek.

“I honestly can’t believe this, I know this cost a grip! Man, I love you guys. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” She slowly rose giving each of them a bear hug.

“Girl ain’t no thang but a chicken wang!” said Nicole jokingly, using the phrase they often used, mocking Ms. Johnson an elderly woman who lived in the neighborhood.

As the three friends sat there laughing and crying, Whitney thought about how life would be without them. She was really excited to leave but also very frightened. Andrea and Nicole had been the only true friends she had since 3^rd grade, and over the years they had grown to be the closest people she had to family. When she had gotten her scholarship to attend Sunlight Charter for Gifted Children (SCGC) she was very nervous, thinking she wouldn’t fit in with the more wealthier children who attended the school. Nicole and Andrea had asked her to play with them on her very first day and from then on they were the best of friends. They were always supportive of her dreams and never made her feel unwelcome because of the few things she possessed. They always had her back when her mother was acting obnoxious, and had consoled her when her father went to jail a few years prior.

In the middle of Whitney’s thoughts, Rhonda walked in the room in the same clothes she had left in two days prior. Her hair was a catastrophe, turning in every direction but right, and her clothes hung sloppily off of her body. Her body reeked of old liquor. Whitney wasn’t used to her mother being this way she always kept herself up nicely, before she left she always made sure she looked perfect. However she always left the house dirty, and used all of the governments money on herself instead of her home and her daughter.

“Whitney! Make sure you have this house clean before that shuttle comes and gets you tomorrow morning! I don’t want to live in this pig-sty. Girl you just nasty!” her mother hollered referring to the three dishes she had used earlier, and the clothes that she was packing away.

Do it yourself, I clean this house everyday! Lets see how it will look while im gone! She slowly got up and looked straight at her mother, eyes filled with hatred, and walked down the long hallway into the kitchen and washed the dishes. She made some warm water and put a capful of bleach into it, quickly the air was filled with the stench. Her friends quickly followed behind and helped her tidy up the kitchen and living room. As they finished, her mother stammered in. She had tidied herself up she brushed her long hair up into a loose bun, only a few strands hanging loosely around her face, she had showered and changed into a fresh dress. For a moment, Whitney saw the mother she used to know. Her thoughts quickly faded as her mother opened her mouth.

“Im going out, I’ll be back later...Maybe. Don’t wait up for me.”

“Trust I won’t,” Whitney mumbled.

“Okay you little smart ass!” Rhonda slurred.

Her mother left quickly, and the three girls went back into the room and reminisced until about midnight. They all decided to get some well deserved rest before seeing Whitney off the next day.

That morning came, and she had more excitement than she had anticipated. Her mother never showed up, but she wasn’t surprised. Her mother was known for doing stuff like this so she didn’t let it phase her. Time ticked away as she waited for nine-thirty to approach. She didn’t know how to feel, but she was ready. The shuttle pulled up to the curb trying to avoid the crack heads, gang bangers and drug dealers who filled Whitney’s neighborhood streets.

“Oh my god! I’m going to miss you!” Andrea said as she hugged Whitney snugly.

“Im going to miss you too! I promise to call every day.”

“Come on give me my hug, Jesus Dre takin’ all of my girls love.” Nicole said jokingly

“I’m going to cry guys!”

“Come on we’ve been crying and hugging all morning. N ow, Whitney its time to go. Remember to call when you land. I can’t wait to see you on Thanksgiving break. Okay?” Andrea said, she had always been the more mature one being the oldest of the group and also having three younger siblings of her own.

Whitney climbed into the shuttle as her friends helped her load her bags on. As the bus slowly drifted down the street she waved goodbye until she couldn’t see them any longer. Everything else went by quickly she got off at the airport and decided to grab a bite to eat before her departure. When she got on the plane she drifted off to sleep and when she woke up she was at the Massachusetts Airport. She got off waited about an hour for bag claim, and waited for the next shuttle to take her to the dorms.

She walked in the small cramped room with a smile ear to ear. I finally made it, after all the madness I’m here! Interrupting her thoughts a bright eyed, freckle faced girl walked in.

“Hello, Im Madison...I’m a freshman! Well of course this is a freshman dorm. Haha silly me im just so nervous-”

“Yeah, I’m Whitney. It’s cool I understand, I kinda have the jitters also but you have to chill, because girl..you can talk a mile a minute.” Whitney said jokingly.

“I’m so sorry I’m just really excited! Nice meeting you Whitney where are you from?”

They continued to have small talk as they settled in, Whitney could already tell this was going to be a great year. Her room mate was funny and a little weird but she was glad she didn’t room with some stuck-up mean girl.

The first couple of weeks flew by, she talked with Andrea and Nicole on a daily basis, she missed them a lot but she was glad to be at the college of her dreams. She was beginning to get a bit concerned because she hadn’t heard from her mother. She had left messages on the home phone, leaving her dorm’s number but she never got a response. Her mother had faults but Whitney genuinely cared for her.

“Hey Nicky.”

“Hey wassup, Ms. Harvard Law”

“Girl you crazy, but have you heard from Rhonda? She hasn’t been answering the phone at home and I’m starting to get concerned.”

“No I haven’t but you know your momma, she’ll contact you when she gets a chance.”

“I hope so.” Whitney said, her voice filled with concern. “Look I gotta go. I have a lot of homework but if you hear from her please contact me. Okay?”

“Of course, Love. Be safe out there. And I Love you”

“Love you too Nicky. Bye”

It had been a month since she had heard from her mother and she was really worried One day she turned the t.v on while studying for a test.

“Woman found in Chicago, Illinois brutally beaten and multiple stab wounds, She is in her mid-forties and was found unconscious. She has not yet been identified. No information on how this happened until further investigation. We will be right back, On channel eight news.”

“What! Oh god please don’t let that be Rhonda!”

Whitney quickly grabbed her cell phone and frantically dialed Andrea’s number. She picked up on the third ring.

“I was just about to call you! Are you watching the news?”

“Yes, do you think that could be Rhonda?”

“I don’t know but before you get yourself upset me and Nicky can go to the hospital and see. Okay?”

“Okay Dre, you know how much I love you. Call me as soon as you get any information.”

“Of course.” As they hung up all of the possible scenarios ran through Whitney’s mind.

About thirty minutes later, Andrea called to confirm that is was Rhonda. Whitney was

devastated she had prayed that it wouldn’t be her. She didn’t know what she would do now she had to go home and take care of her mother but she didn’t want to leave her dreams behind.

That night Whitney didn’t get any sleep, she cried and cried, while Madison comforted her and reassured her that everything would be fine. That morning she went to the office explaining her emergency and informed them that she would be taking couple of weeks off. Her friends had bought her a plane ticket, and in two hours she would be back in Chicago, Illinois.

Once exiting the plane and retrieving her bags she caught a taxi to North Western Memorial Hospital. She trudged up the stairs trying to compose her self and prepare herself about the events that were going to take place in the very near future. She went through the big heavy door that read: 5^th Floor Exit.

“Hello, Room 524 please.” Whitney said softly, eyes still bloodshot from all of her crying.

“Are you in any relation of the patient?” The young lady in the white lab coat asked politely.

“Uhh yea...she’s my mom.” She said uneasily. She hadn’t called Rhonda Mom since she was two. Her mother always said that she was to young to be called mom.

“Okay, your two sisters are in with her now, its right down the hall. Make a left at the bathrooms.” Immediately Whitney knew the “two sisters” she was speaking of were Andrea and Nicole and she was very happy that she they were there to support her.

“Thank-you.” She said as she quietly made her way down the hall.

521...522...523...52-...Here I go...Oh Lord please let her be okay.

As she entered the room her friends jumped to her side and hugged her tightly, they placed her bags by the door and walked her to her mothers bedside. When she saw the sight of her mother her face became filled with tears, she was so distraught by the sight of her mother she didn’t know what to do. Her Carmel skin was now a bruised purplish color, her eyes were swelled up and blackened and she had bandages on her shoulders, ribs and breasts. The first thing that came to her mind was who had done something so horrible.

“How long will she be unconscious?” Whitney asked as soon as she noticed the young doctor in the doorway.

“She just sleeping now, her body is very weak but she gained her consciousness earlier this morning. She probably will be able to talk in a couple of days when the swelling comes down. I will need to discuss some important information with one of you about what we found in her labs.”

“That would be me.” Whitney said, gesturing toward herself.

“Okay, could we step into my office?”

“Yes, of course.”

They walked down the hallway and Whitney couldn’t wait until she got out of the horrible place. It had a distinct smell that she couldn’t place her finger on, but she knew she didn’t like it. She observed many patients walking around looking like zombies in their gowns and big machinery hanging from their IV’s, she was beginning to feel sick to the stomach. As they walked into his office she slowly sat down, hoping that the news about her negligent mother wasn’t all bad.

“Okay first off, I want to say im deeply concern besides all of the external issues she’s also suffering from some internal issues as well.”

“Like?”

“Well, I don’t know how to say this but your mother has tested positive for HIV. By the looks of it, it looks like she’s had it quite a while. This is a very serious issue due to the fact that she hasn’t been on proper medication and the effects of this disease is terminal.”

“So you’re telling me my mother is going to die? What am I supposed to do with that? I really can’t believe this. I need to go!” Whitney stormed off to go sit at Rhonda’s bedside.

Over the next couple of weeks Rhonda progressed wonderfully. The swelling went down and the wounds were slowly healing, they were taking a while because of the drug use and alcohol abuse that had been occurring. Whitney helped her mother everyday, bringing in food and making her eat. Talking to her, and giving her baths. She made sure Rhonda was all right before she left her. When Rhonda could muster enough strength up to walk, Whitney walked her around the hospital making sure to keep it at a slow pace until Rhonda could adjust. This was a side of her mother that she had never seen. When she walked into the room, Rhonda’s eyes lit up. They would laugh all night looking at Sanford and Son re-runs. Whitney felt like the hole that was in her heart for the last seven years had been filled She wish it had happened under better circumstances but she still greatly appreciated it.

One afternoon, Whitney had picked her and her mother up a Caesar Salad for lunch. It was really gloomy day. The autumn leaves had fell and the rain was really heavy, winter was approaching but Whitney felt a feeling she hadn’t truly felt in a while. Happy. She approached the building and walked into the building, hurrying to get away from the cold. She got on the elevator and pressed button number 5. As she got off the elevator and entered her mothers room, she noticed that the sun had come out. It glistened in just the right proportion to make her mother look angelic. She walked over to her mothers bedside and kissed her softly on her cheek. Her mother stirred, then turned to Whitney and smiled.

“Hey, Rhonda.”

“Hey, baby.”

“I didn’t want to wake you but I brung you some food.”

“Okay honey. I’m going to get some more rest. Okay?”

“Okay. I love you.”

“I love you too, goodbye.”

That night Rhonda died, she tried to fight it but the HIV took over her body. Whitney was very sad but also happy that she got to know her mother during her last few weeks on the earth. She took a semester off and went back to school in the spring. She finished her education at age 27 and worked for one of the top law firms in the U.S. After establishing her career she opened a STD, HIV/Aids clinic in the heart of Chicago, she named it Rhonda’s Angels.