Being naive and green behind the ears leaves one vulnerable to predators.

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After several temper tantrums, Cindy’s parents agreed to allow her to attend Howard University in Washington DC. Her parents initially wanted Cindy to attend Spelman College so that she could continue to live at home while attending school. They were concerned about Cindy living away from home, in a college dorm. The Coopers has always protected their daughter, who is their only child, by monitoring her friends, activities, and whereabouts. Cindy and her best friend Michael have been friends since they were babies. As a matter of fact, Michael is her only friend. Michael’s dad and Cindy’s dad are second cousins. Michael’s parents, the Blackmans, raised him with similar values to how Cindy was raised; however, Michael was not raised with as many restrictions as Cindy. Michael participated in sports and attended parties in high school. At the age of sixteen, his parents bought him a car. Michael is the reason why Cindy’s parents is allowing her to attend Howard University; because, Michael is attending Howard. They both will live on campus in a dorm. Michael vow to look after Cindy while they are at school.

Two weeks prior to school starting, Michael’s parents drive with him, in his car, to Howard. The Blackmans fly back home after spending a day in Washington with Michael. Before flying to Washington, Cindy’s parents ship items they knew she would need for school and for her dorm room. The Coopers arrives with Cindy one week prior to the start of school. They helped Cindy fix up her room and made sure she was well familiar with the locations of her classes, the school library and the school security station. Cindy’s parents flew back home two days later after having dinner with her and Michael. Cindy was excited and nervous at the same time about finally being able to be separated from the strong-arm control of her parents. Michael promised Cindy’s parents that he will check in with her every day. He keeps his promise by calling or texting her daily. 

Cindy made an appointment with the Dean to discuss obtaining two degrees within the time frame for obtaining one degree. Her hope is to have the general course credits applied to both degrees, so that she would only need to take the major course for each degree separate. She feels it is a waste of time and money to take the general courses twice. Cindy arrives ten minutes early for her appointment. She was called into the Dean’s office by someone who looks to be her age. “Hello Cindy, please have a sit. I can tell by the look on your face you are surprised to see someone my age as the Dean.” Cindy nods her head up and down without speaking. “Well, let me introduce myself. My name is Gerald Brown. I am an intern for Dean Anderson. I started my internship at the end of last semester. Although I have obtained a master’s degree in education, I am currently in the process of obtaining a PhD in Education. Not that it is relevant; but I am twenty-five. In Dean Anderson absence, I am more than qualified to handle his affairs. With this being said, how can I help you today. Cindy talks to Gerald about her desire to combined courses in obtaining two degrees at the same time. Gerald informed Cindy that it was obtainable, and she would need to only pay the additional amount for the major course classes in the second degree. Gerald was smitten by Cindy beauty and her quiet shy personality. He called her several times after their meeting to follow up and make sure all is going well. Once Gerald saw that Cindy was settled with her new class scheduled, he called her to ask her out to dinner. She thought, Gerald is an attracted man, but I am not thinking about dating anyone while I am in school. She never had a boyfriend or dated anyone therefore, she did not feel comfortable. Her classes were consuming all her time. Cindy thanks Gerald for his interest before politely declining his offer for dinner. Gerald was not giving up so easy. He could see that Cindy was green behind her ears with very little to no experience in dating. Gerald decided to take it slow by gradually digging a place in Cindy’s heart for him.

He would leave a single rose or a very small bouquet of flowers outside her dorm room from time to time with a handwritten note on a small card. The note always had a happy face with his initial and the word “heavenly”. On evenings Cindy did not used her meal card, Gerald would order a healthy meal to be delivered to her dorm room with a note stating “your physical health is just as important as your mental knowledge. Enjoy the meal”. Gerald would also text Cindy inspirational pictures or quotes in between her classes’. He was careful not to distract her during class time. On many occasions, Cindy found herself daydreaming about Gerald when she was at the library. She begins to wonder what it was like to have a boyfriend. She didn’t know how to kiss and was frightened to ask Michael. She would catch Michael and his girlfriend kissing in the student recreation hall. In November, Cindy being in ear shot of the students’ conversations overheard many discussing their plans for Thanksgiving week. She discovered many students were going home for the week. Some students were going home with other students to celebrate with their families. To her surprise, many students were staying on campus during Thanksgiving week. She decided to stay so that she can use the time to study. Michael informed Cindy that he was going to fly home instead of driving. He asked her if she wanted to travel on the same flight as him. Cindy told Michael that she was staying on campus to study and complete some assignments that would be due after Thanksgiving. Cindy’s parents were concern about her being on campus without Michael but respect her decision. They wanted her to excel in her courses as much as she did.

After the students left for the week, Gerald ran into Cindy eating in the school cafeteria. Walking with a tray of food in his hands, he stops at her table and asked to join her for dinner.  As Cindy looks up at him, her heart beings to jump like flowing butterflies. She thought back to all the gifts, food, and text he sent in the past three months. She invited him to sit. They sat there and talked for hours. She couldn’t believe that she was able to engage in a conversation with someone other than Michael for hours. Gerald and Cindy spent the entire Thanksgiving week together. She received her first kiss on Thanksgiving Day. Gerald sensing that he was her first, took it slow. This allowed Cindy the ease needed to follow Gerald led. She found herself enjoying kissing. She didn’t want to stop. Gerald took short breaks in between kisses in order to show Cindy that you have to come up for air. Cindy asked Gerald as an intern why was he given such a great deal of Dean Anderson responsibilities. Gerald explained that last semester internship was to complete the requirements for his master’s degree and this semester’s internship is actually a paying position. It’s helping to pay for his doctor’s degree but it’s not enough. He let Cindy know that he might have to drop out of school to find a better paying job in order to pay down his debt. Cindy asks him about getting a student loan. “Cindy, I have max out the amount of loans I could qualify for without an income. I am not making enough money to qualify for a personal loan.” Cindy felt sorry for Gerald. She wanted to help but knew that her grandparent’s inheritance is for her education and was being controlled by her parents. Gerald begins to fondle Cindy as they laid in her bed kissing. She allowed his fingers to penetrate her to the point of ecstasy. It blew her mind. Gerald spending time in Cindy’s room fondling her became a biweekly thing. Cindy emotions is all over the place. She can’t stop thinking about Gerald. She doesn’t want him to drop out of school. She needs him.

Cindy begins to research the requirements outlined in her inheritance. She was able to find a loop hole that allowed her to take out $20,000 without her parents’ approval. She informed Gerald of the good news. Cindy paid in full the amount required for Gerald to receive his doctor’s degree. At the end of the school year, Gerald graduated with a PhD in Education. His family drove to Washington DC from Philadelphia to attend the graduation. Gerald was so excited about graduating he didn’t think about Cindy. He assumed Cindy went home, last week, for summer break with the other students who wasn’t graduating. He figures by the time Cindy return to school for the fall semester he would be back in Philly. Little did Gerald know; Cindy delayed her fly for 10 days in order to attend the graduation. Because Gerald never talked about his family, she assumed no one would be there to cheer him on. Besides, she wanted to talk to him about their future together. After the graduation, Cindy carrying half a dozen of balloons is running across the field to Gerald. From a distance, Cindy sees this lady running across the field carrying a dozen of long stem yellow roses. She thinks to herself, I should have bought Gerald some rose as well. The lady with the roses stops in front of Gerald. She hugs him with one arm while holding the roses. She kissed him on the lips before handing him the roses. This must be a family member thought Cindy as she approaches Gerald. Gerald, congratulations shouts Cindy. Gerald turns around, sees Cindy then passed out. Gerald’s fiancée takes the roses out the vase then pours the water on Gerald’s face. Gerald jumps up and begins to run. Gerald fiancée shouts across the field as he is running asking him where he is going. Cindy not sure what is happening introduces herself to the lady as Gerald’s girlfriend. By this time Gerald’s family see what is going on begins to run across the field to prevent the fiancée from spending another three days in jail for knocking out one of Gerald’s so call girlfriends. They were not sure if they would make it in time as they watched the fiancée take off her shoes then reached to pull off her earrings. Gerald’s brother made it in time to grab the fiancée around her waist and pull her away from Cindy just as she was getting in position to swing. Cindy still confused asked, “what is going on”. Gerald’s brother tells Cindy; I just saved you from a TKO. I don’t understand shouts Cindy. Gerald’s brother proceeds to speak. “I do not know who you are; but this is Gerald’s fiancée and the mother of his three-year-old daughter. I could tell from a far by the way Gerald fakes a faint then got up and haul ass off this field, you must be someone he messed around with here at this school. You are not the first; but I am sure you are going to be the last. It’s getting harder for me to hold Gerald’s fiancée still, so my suggestion to you is “get the hell off this field as fast as possible. The last time Bertha came to this school to see Gerald, she ends up in jail for three days after knocking a girl out who introduced herself as Gerald’s girlfriend. Cindy turns and runs off the field. One of Cindy’s female professors was observing the entire incident. When Cindy ran past her, she followed her to the dormitory.

The teacher knocks on Cindy’s door. “Cindy, this is Mrs. West your psychology professor. Please let me in Cindy.” Cindy opens the door, she is crying. “Cindy, listen to me. You cannot beat up yourself because someone lied to you by not revealing the truth of their life. Everyone plays a fool sometimes; there is no exceptions to the rule. It doesn’t matter how much experience one has in relationship or wisdom in life; emotions will override it all. Emotions sometimes controls our ability to think clear. Emotions sometimes controls what our gut instinct is telling us. Especially when the emotions feel like love. Please do not give up on school or on finding true love in the future. Please allow me to counsel you when you return to school in the fall. I am more than a psychology teacher. I am a licensed psychologist who works with the hospital. Based on what I observed on the field, you need to heal from that experience to recognize and accept into your life a healthier relationship.

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Thank you to all who have purchased my book title “A Thirst That Never Ceases” on Amazon. Please be so kind to leave a review on Amazon; hopefully five stars 😀

Judy Owens