"Live and let Love"

Seattle, WA, USA
female, age 43
single
Speaks: English
Joined Jun 7, 2007

more about Coletha Albert »

A Houston Tale

Sharon Hempfeld - One story out of millions

There once was a little woman named Sharon Hempfeld. Sharon was not without talent; she was petite and had a great smile. Sharon was one of the working poor. Sharon was unloved in this world but then again, who really is loved? What Sharon didn’t know was going to kill her one day but she wasn’t going to worry about it. She was too busy trying to live to worry so much about death. Sharon got up on a balmy Houston summer morning to go to work at her temporary assignment with one of the largest global temporary firms. She was feeling good but just a little pensive, she needed a break badly.

This assignment entailed inventorying all of the telephone equipment, noting the serial numbers, location of the equipment and its condition. The ladies at this company were very friendly, smart and nice looking. If you are going to make friends, might as well be with someone who is easy on the eyes. So Sharon took her break as usual but instead of relaxing in the employee break room, she went outside to sit with the smokers. They were all there, the cool chicks. Talking trash, laughing loud and telling secrets about relationships with men, most of these ladies were doing the dating scene at all the fabulous spots around town and life was exciting to say the least.

Sharon caught them at the moment that plans were being made for the night to go to Shine’s, a very posh spot in Southpark in the Kingsgate Center that was owned by an African American newspaper publisher. This night was going to be extra special as it was his birthday. The ladies were discussing the caliber of single men who were likely to attend, namely the cream of the African American newsworthy crop. Sharon was invited by everyone to go. So she went back into work with a lot on her mind. She was excited but scared too. She did need a break but as a single mother with two sons how was she going to get away to go to such a posh place with such short notice. Also, what in the world did she have to wear in her closet?

The dress was black. The dress had never been worn. The dress was dusty? Oh, yes the dress was dusty but did it fit? If it fit, then that would be her sign to go to this darn party. She slid the dress on over her head, closed her eyes and pulled the dress down over her torso and smoothed it along her hips. Gazing critically at her reflection in the mirror, she thought to herself, “It’s going to be a good night.”

She put the boys to bed and then got ready to go out to Shine’s. She arrived at 9:30 pm and all the ladies from work were there sipping on their second and third cocktails. They giggled when they saw her calling her the little church girl trying to be cool for once. She laughed and ordered a cosmo. When the drink arrived it was weak and watery. Well, if there was one thing Sharon knew about such occasions it was how a cosmopolitan should taste. So she went to the bartender and told her that she was a native Houstonian, four generations deep and she wanted a cosmo that her great grandmother could taste, please. The bartender complied with a big grin on her face. As the flavor of the cosmo filled her senses, he walked into the club.

He was average in height. He was not handsome. He was very clean and expensively dressed. He made eye contact as he shook hands strangers and greeted old friends with a hug. Sharon didn’t recognize him from her circles, but why would she everyone in her circle were nice and broke. He looked nice alright but wealthy. He introduced himself to all the ladies and then turned to Sharon. His name was Byron Miles and he was smoothly very pleased to make her acquaintance. The night wore on and the cosmopolitans flowed while Sharon and Byron danced and laughed and connected.

At 11:30 pm, Sharon was ready to go back to her boring life after a couple of hours of bliss. It is what she needed; a little attention from a debonair man, a lot of laughing with some cool chicks and an opportunity to shake what her mama gave her to some good music with some happy people. She made her way over to the guest of honor and wished him a very happy birthday and thank him for a glorious night. He asked her to stay, she declined politely but accepted his business card. As she walked slowly away, careful not to step on anyone’s shoes or crash into anyone, she decided that she would set aside a little money to subscribe to his newspaper. He was a decently nice man.

She said goodnight to the doorman and stepped out into fresh Houston air. As the humid, warm atmosphere enveloped her she felt peace. This was her city and her home, same as it had been for her family for generations and she felt so grateful to live and work in this city. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She felt a gentle touch at her right elbow and she turned with a smile on her face to see Byron. Their eyes locked and he guided her away from the entrance to Shine’s. As they walked away someone called Byron’s name. This man knew everyone…

When he returned, he asked if could follow her or would she follow him for a bite to eat or whatever she wanted… Sharon was completely shocked. This does not happen in her plain, minimalistic life. Well, not since she became a mother and the father abandoned her, but that’s a different story. She let him walk her to her car. She took his business card and promised to keep in touch and drove away with a smile on her face and a sense of contentment.

As she drove away, the old Sharon passed away and was replaced by someone new and improved. When she arrived home, she went directly to her sons’ room and sat down between their twin beds. She gazed at them one at a time as they slumbered peacefully and imagined a different life. A life where she had a savings account and she could afford a babysitter; a life where she went out once a month and she went to the spa once a month; a life where she had her own customers and business cards to hand out to acquaintances.

What could she do? She thought about going back to college. She thought about biting the bullet and moving back home. She thought about opening her own boutique. She thought about creating crafts and selling them at the flea market. As night turned into morning she knew what she would do. She would find out about a state license. Most of the ladies in her family were wives, but of the ones who worked they all had a state license so with that thought she got up from the carpet, gently kissed her sons foreheads and went to her own room to undress and go to sleep.

The very next morning, she called her aunt Janice in Missouri City to ask for help in getting her RN. Her aunt was apprehensive at first but when Sharon explained her thought process aunt Janice was thrilled. They agreed to get together soon to go over details. Sharon continued to work as a temporary on assignments and live from paycheck to paycheck. She also studied and studied and got discouraged, got weary, went to church and studied some more. Half way through, she decided that the human body was disgusting and she started studying for her real estate license to become an agent. She aced all of her classes in one week. With her certificates from George Leonard’s in hand she sat for the state exam. After she answered the last question and pressed the final button, eons passed by before the screen showed her result: Passed.

She was so elated she screamed and laughed out loud. The test administrator sternly escorted her from the room. She apologized and cried and hugged the administrator as the glided out of the building to the parking lot. She sat on the curb and sobbed. Her whole future and the future of her children was riding on this one test and she had passed. As relief washed over her, she wiped her eyes and stumbled to her car. As she slid behind the wheel she began to think of all the different firms around Houston. The next step would be talking a broker into taking her on. This was no easy task. She ended up taking a leasing position at one of the Holly Hall properties near the Astrodome to make ends meet until she could get on with a real estate broker.

Finally, Century 21 called, made an offer that was moderate, Sharon politely accepted the gold jacket and called aunt Janice with the news. Aunt Janice was cautious but congratulatory too. And yes, she would give Sharon a loan until she earned her first commission. Three months later, Sharon arrived at Aunt Janice’s home unannounced with a commission check in the amount of $22,130.00 in hand! They sat on the couch and thanked God and sipped sweet tea all while discussing investing the money. Sharon was on her way now. She had been reborn and the old Sharon and that old life was a distant memory. Now, where did she put Byron Mile’s business card again?