26/07/2022
The Flood gates- Confessions of a preacher’s kid
Chapter 1 – Faith
Every Sunday morning, it was our usual routine that mom would flip through the house blasting gospel; to wake my sister Hope and I up. It was an absolutely a must that we were up and on our feet, well on our knees first, to give praise and thanks to God. But next in line was ensuring that we were ready in our best dressed Sunday clothes, so we could await in the pews at Sunflower Baptist church for our dad “ Pastor Simon Starks to prepare the morning sermon.
“ Faith and Hope, ya’ll better hurry and get downstairs, don’t make me come up there”
Mother yelled to us from beneath the stairs, daddy was probably already at the church getting ready for his faithful members to arrive. Momma and daddy had been married twenty years, Hope was 13 and I was 16. And I’m sure they been saved their whole lives.
We were the epitome of what Black excellence looked like. Daddy was a pastor and mentor for young adults and couples, and was a detective for Houston Pd during the week. Our mom aka “ First Lady Charece is a nurse at the federal prison. So to most we appeared well off, we went to a private school in Katy. Life was great or at least for now things appeared to be.
“ Hope, u better hurry up and get yo clothes on, because momma gonna beat us if we don’t beat her to the car”
I warned my sister, as she tossed on her yellow silk dress with ruffles tipped around the edges, along with her white stockings and little white shoes strapped across the front.
“ oh girl, I’m going as fast as I can don’t rush me”
Hope replied to me. I smiled at her as I flew down the spiral staircase, trying not to trip in my two inch heels; that I was ever so happy to be in after begging and pleading with momma and daddy to let me wear.
I was dressed in my soft pink dress, atop with my white heels. I was finally getting enough curves, for my dress to make the perfect fit, not much b***s yet but I was definitely content with the way things were looking. I made it down the stairs without error, I called out for momma but got no response in return.
I went and p*ered through the window, and I could see that momma had in fact beaten us to the car. Not but moments after, Hope came flying down the stairs. We in unison burst through the door like a bolt of lightning, joining momma in the car.
“ Well it took you two long enough”
Momma sneered, she put the car In drive and sped off. Within moments, we pulled into Sunflower not long before the crowd in the parking lot began to thicken. We quickly took our places at the front of the pews. The church filled up quickly, dad took to the pool pit and church began. After 3 hours of church service, praise and worship, altar call, tithes , finally church let out.
“ Loved that sermon today pastah, you really preached a word; it’s true what you said Obedience is truly what God is asking from his children”
Said, Sister Jenkins. An older lady who made sure to be in attendance every Sunday. She was also one of the deaconess in the church. Sweet lady but stern.
“ Well, well sister God just uses me to deliver His word, but I’m glad you enjoyed the sermon”
Daddy said, as he leaned in to give Ms. Jenkins a hug. Hope and I began to leave out so that we could head back home with momma. But instead we noticed momma approaching us. Once she reached us, she told us she was staying over to teach the women’s Bible retreat, and that we would be riding home with daddy.
After we got home, I rushed to take another shower because I was hot and sweaty in church and those handheld church fans wasn’t cutting it. Hope ran to her room and daddy headed to his office to conduct more church business I was sure. The shower was speaking to my soul, like God was speaking through those who shouted all over the church during praise and worship.
Once I got out, I ran to Hope’s room. As I got closer to her room, I started to hear muffled noises. I busted in the room, from panic to see daddy with his hand over Hope’s mouth as he was mounted on top of her. I couldn’t believe my eyes, as I ran to her rescue.
Snatching and hitting him, screaming and yelling “ daddy get off of her” he quickly swatted me off of him. Briefly he got off of Hope. I could see tears flowing down her face, I thought I had saved her as daddy had gotten up and headed towards the door to lock it. In that moment, that I was doomed too. As he locked the door, he came towards me slapped me, and scolded me for interrupting. He snatched my underwear and bra off, as he pinned me down on the floor.
He snatched my legs apart as he entered inside me, I fought and I screamed but my pleas couldn’t be heard. He looked me in my eyes and said “ a disobedient child doesn’t live long” as he continued to r**e me. I cried, Hope sat in silence if she hadn’t passed out from the pain.
Finally what seemed like an hour of torture had ended Daddy got up , pulled his pants up and walked away. I rushed to Hope, to see if she was okay, her yellow dress was now stained with blood. My heart racing a mile a minute.
“ Hope, Hope wake up I pleaded but got no response. I quickly but quietly left her room to go to my room and grab my phone and called momma immediately. As the phone rings, tears continue to fill my eyes. I don’t know what got into daddy had to be the devil for sure, because he had never done this before. Suddenly my mom answers, and for the moment I feel I’m okay.
“ momma, momma please get home hurry daddy has gone crazy he r**ed me and Hope”
I hear silence, “ mom are you there did you hear me ??”” Suddenly the silence breaks, as she says “ well Faith the Bible says honor thy mother and father does it not? Now don’t call my phone again while I’m teaching the woman’s retreat here at the church!”
The line disconnected, I fell into the floor in disbelief. If mom wasn’t going to be there for us then where was God?. I quickly fumbled through my drawers to find some clothes to throw on, so I could hurry and get back to Hope. By the time I made it back to her room, daddy was already there calling into his partner about Hope. I could over hear from the hallway as he said “ yeah I’m gonna need ya help with this one, because she has no pulse and remember you owe me .”
I took off, but in silence not to alert daddy. I quickly grabbed the keys off the barstool. I had to get out of here as fast as I could. I ran quietly out of the back into the garage and took the other Mercedes that had been parked in the garage for some time . I was a beginner driver, but I knew enough to get me by. Cell in hand I p*eled out the garage and took off. I knew one thing though, and 2 things fa sho I was about to bring the flood gates behind my sister and seeing how momma wasn’t going to be any help it was gonna take God himself to stop me.