Within the Walls of Silence

About the Book

While working they engaged in small talk about clothing sales and catching up on what was going on in their lives.  Imani had already finished washing and drying the dishes.  She had finished cleaning the microwave oven.  Terri and Imani scrubbed the burners and cleaned the stove.  They cleared off the table, and were in the process of scrubbing the walls when Imani´s ears tuned into the conversation in the living room.  

Lelani was in the living room complaining to Ruby about Ryan´s discriminatory actions against Thomas.  “Stewart and Thomas have grown up together," Lelani complained, "and Ryan came by and picked up Stewart to go and play basketball together and did not invite Thomas.  I don’t appreciate that one bit.”  

“I agree” Ruby said, "Ryan should not make a difference between the two."  

Fussing and making it clear, Lelani continued, “Yes I don’t want a wedge coming between them.  They grew up like brothers and Ryan is not going to be playing one against the other.”  

Ruby responded,  "I am going to speak with Ryan about that.  Ryan should not be making differences like that.  If he is going to pick up Stewart then he should pick up Thomas also."  

Imani could not believe what she had just heard.  "What, not be partial?  Not be left out.  How dare they even have such conversations?"  Imani walked into the living room with the wet towel in her hand and said “I know exactly how Thomas feels.  I know how it feel to be left out.  And it doesn’t feel good.  I’m grown and have been left out my entire life.   My daughter is a child and over the years the reinforcement of Chantel being alienated has taken its toll on me too.  I know how it feels to be isolated and not included by family and it doesn’t feel good at all."…….

“You shut up tramp.  Go ask Mrs. Quayle to take her," Imani´s mother yelled.  "You counted them as your family with your old dope attic butt.  You ran away and sat there and told that lie about you were raped."  

Matthew Ray immediately dropped the wall paper job in the bathroom and screamed to Chantel, "get up and lets go.”  Ruby went on yelling, "you weren’t raped, telling us that lie.

“Mother, you have always said that.  I don’t believe you´re even saying this again after all these years."  It had been almost twenty years since the incident.  Imani was standing near the front door about to leave, tears began to fall down her face. “I was kidnapped and raped," Imani insisted screaming to the top of her voice, out of control.

“You were not," Ruby and Imani yelled at each other.  

“I was too.”  Matthew Ray was trying to push Imani out of the front door to get her to the car.  He had mixed feelings of hurt for Imani, and concern for his mother in law´s health, He instructed Chantel to "get in the car now."  It was real intense in there by now.  Leo Mace yelled out, “she was raped, I was there."  

Imani was still crying.  “Thanks Leo Mace," not knowing what he meant by “he was there.”  Imani was just glad someone had finally validated something.  Lelani jumped in and said, “she was raped, I was there too.”

About the Author

Naomei Will, born in California, survived a tumultuous life that included kidnap and rape, abuse, betrayal, and rejection by her family. She is a wife of over 20 years to Mark, and mother of one daughter. Naomei is now a respected Minister, Marriage Counselor, Author, Playwright, Businesswoman, Executive Producer of “Naomei's Family,” pilot, Song Writer, and C.E.O. of the [U R LUV'D] non-profit organization in northern California. She is also an advocate for married couples and families, and speaks out against child abuse, for all ages.