Black Beans 'N Rice

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Novel: Black Beans 'N Rice

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Synopsis:
Spooney was old enough to be her father but he didnn't care. It made him feel like he still had it and that made him feel good.It's not all about how you do what you do because Binx was young and didn't know any better.  She had fallen head over heels for him because he was different.As Binx applied the finishing touches to her face, her mother walked in and stood next to her, a questioning look in her eyes. She glared from the mirror and said something Binx would never forget."You too pretty of a girl to be with such a old man. You're young and smart... he's just taking away all of your youth."  She was quite solemn in the way she spoke.What her mother didn't understand at that time was the damage had already been done and she stayed not because she wanted to, but because she had to. She suffered Spooney's abuse both physically and mentally and walking away wasn't easy because she was afraid.

EXCERPT:
Binx was early to rise and eased out of bed.  Spooney was still asleep and this gave her a running start.  She stuffed four pillow cases with her favorite things, quickly loading them in the car she parked in front of the building.
“I get the dog and I’m home free…” she thought, stepping inside the apartment door.
“Good morning lady… you up early.” Spooney greeted as she walked in.  He was standing in the middle of the hallway, his back facing the bedroom door.  “So where you headed to so early?” he asked, a suspicious look in his eye.
She held her nerve trying to remain as normal as possible.  “I thought I would go to the laundromat early, beat the crowd you know?” she said impulsively.  “I just came up to get Moosie since he hadn’t been out.”  she told him locking the leash on his collar.
“Aw I could’ve walked him for you this morning.  That way you can go on and get up to the laundromat and come on back here.”  he glared toward her rubbing his hand between his legs, sending a message.
Spooney stood about six feet and weighed two hundred pounds.  He was fifteen years her senior and Binx was twenty-two and very petite.  He pulled the last straw the night before the way he treated his mother at the dinner table.  His behavior replayed over and over in her mind, and made her sick to her stomach feeling she couldn’t spend the rest of her life in fear.  She recalled the day he struck her face solely based on his speculation that she was seeing another man much younger than he was, and this took him over the edge.
She smiled back at him taking Moosie in her arms.  “That’s ok, I can walk ‘em it won’t take long.” she said, keeping in mind he never liked the dog in the first place.     
“Well let me help you take your stuff to the car then.”
She quickly replied, “I’ve already done it.”  Making her way toward the door.
He turned up his face nodding his head.  “I see… I guess you did wanna get there early.”
“Yeah…” she replied, reaching for the door knob.
He tried to speak through the big yawn he gave.
“What…?”
“I said I don’t get a kiss?” he repeated, squinting his eyes.
She gave a short sigh and stepped toward him.  Moosie couldn’t stand him and defended Binx as she moved in growling, then showing his teeth.
“That little joker sumthin else.” he laughed, slightly irritated by his behavior.
Binx held Moosie to her side as she kissed him on the lips.
“You’d better hurry up and come on back here girl.” he grinned, easing one hand between her legs.
She pulled away giving a polite smile.  “It should only take a few hours.  Then we’ll have a wonderful day.” she said, shutting the door behind her.  She stood for a moment releasing a big sigh, her legs shook as she headed down the stairs, and her heart beat nearly out of her chest.  “This is it Moosie…” she said, holding him tightly.  “This is it… I can’t believe how easy that was.” she grinned, giving a sigh of relief as she left the building. 
Spooney stood from the window watching as she led Moosie across the street.
“Don’t give him a reason; just stick to the plan… just stick to the plan.” she reminded herself, seeing him from the window.  She waved as they continued around the corner on foot, and waited five minutes before heading back to the car.
She made her move taking a quick glance toward the window, noticing he was nowhere in sight.  She put Moosie on the front seat and quickly shut the door.  She sat behind the wheel and began to panic unable to locate her purse with her keys inside.  She felt beneath the front seat and ran her hands across the back frantically hoping to find them.  She hung her head over the steering wheel in utter disappointment, her eyes began to swell and she cried hard.  “Oh my god what did I do…?  How could I have been so stupid, how could I have been so stupid.” she repeated in disbelief.  She turned toward Moosie, sitting in the passenger seat, and he hopped over wagging his tail, licking the tears from her face.  
“We gotta go back up there…” she spoke softly trying to pull herself together.  She took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, heading back up stairs.
She knocked on the door and he opened it.  
“Oh… you decided to come on back up here and take me up on my offer huh?” he grinned.
She took hold of her nerves putting her best foot forward.  “I forgot my purse and my keys.” she told him.
“Ok…” he paused, “Now you can stay for a minute if you want too.” he tried to convince her, giving a boyish grin.
“Old ass fucker!” she screamed inside, wanting to slap him in the face.  “Nah I gotta make it up there before the crowd comes you know?”  She grabbed her purse with keys now in hand, and she stepped toward the door with Moosie by her side.
Spooney gave her a questioning look.  “I thought you walked the dog already?”
“Yeah I did.” she said without thinking.
“So why you taking ‘em with you now?”
She paused for a second trying to think. 
“You ok lady?” he said becoming suspicious.
She popped her lips shrugging her shoulders.  “I guess I wasn’t thinking I can’t be walking up in the laundramat with a dog.” she laughed, trying to play it off.  Her heart sank as she led Moosie back into the apartment.  She kneeled in front of him unsnapping his collar and squeezed him gently with her left hand.  The tears pressed hard against her lids but she refused to allow one to hit her face, she couldn’t at this point she felt her life depended on it.
Spooney stood behind her watching as she came to her feet.
She didn’t turn around sensing he’d notice something was wrong so she headed straight out and down the stairs.  “I have to go but I’ll be back in a few hours.” she called.
“Alright baby.”  he grinned, shutting the door.
Binx took her seat behind the wheel, tossing her purse on the floor.  “Moosie I’m so sorry… I’m so sorry Moosie.” she cried out, starting the ignition.  She headed down Chicago Avenue and noticed a pay phone at the corner of Lake Street and stopped, parking her car on the side of the road.
“Lord what am I gonna do…” she thought aloud, rocking back and forth, holding her hand to her mouth.  “I can’t go back there… I never wanna see that man again.  I can’t do it…” she shook.  She caught her nerve and stepped out of the car, running across the street to the pay phone, deciding to give her best friend Hershey a call.  Her wallet was empty and she had to call him collect.
“Please answer Hershey… please be there.” she muttered.
The phone was answered by the forth ring.
“This is the operator with a collect call from Bianca, will you accept?”
“From Binx…?  Yeah I’ll accept the call.” he replied feeling she’d better have a good excuse for calling him collect.
“Thanks Hershey.” she immediately spoke trying to keep her composure.
“Aw honey what’s the problem?”  The sound of her voice made him nervous fearing the worst had happened.
“Hershey I need you to do me a favor.” she stated, trying to catch her breath.
“Girl what is it… what’s happened?”  
“I don’t have long Hershey I’m scared… I’ll tell you all about it later and I’ll pay you for this call—”
“Don’t worry about that.” he interrupted.
“I’d like to know if you could three way this call to my house.”
“You mean call you at home?” he listened carefully trying to make sense of it all.
“Spooney is at the house right now and I want you to please three way me to him but not say anything on the phone, you can’t say anything Hershey you hear me?” she warned.
He dialed the number without hesitation, keeping his promise of silence.
Binx swallowed hard feeling the knot in her throat.
“Hello…” Spooney answered.
“Yeah it’s me.”
He grinned taking a seat on the sofa.  “You missing me already girl?”
Hershey had a great distaste for Spooney, feeling he was old enough to be her father.  Spooney never liked him because he was gay.  He held on strong trying to keep his lips sealed.
“Spooney I have something I need to tell you.”
“Oh yeah… I love you too.” he said, feeling a bit full of himself.
“No Spooney I want you to leave.  I want you to leave my apartment.” she said modestly, trying not to upset him. 
Hershey’s mouth flew wide open and he took a seat at the dining room table.
Spooney took a short pause, thinking about what she’d said.  “Now say that again?  No wait a minute…” he stopped in mid sentence.  “Where are you, let me come up to the laundramat.”
Hearing this, her heart raced fearing he’d catch her out on the street and beat her to death.  Her hand began to shake and she held the phone tightly.  “I’m not at the laundramat, I’m at a pay phone.”
“A pay phone where?” his voice deepened to a harsh tone.
Hershey came to his feet pacing back and forth in the room, a complete wreck, hoping she wouldn’t disclose her location.
“I—I just wanted to call you and tell you that I want you to leave.  I want you to take all of your stuff and I want you out of my house and out of my life forever.  I don’t want to see you again, I don’t ever want to be in the same room with you.” she told him.
“I don’t understand where this is coming from…” he shook his head trying to wrap his mind around what he was told.  “Have you been talkin ‘ta that mutha-fucker Hershey?!” he lashed.
Hershey squeezed his eyes clinching his teeth together tightly, raising his hand to the heavens above.  “I can come ovah there and cut ‘yo dick off right now you old fool…!  Lord you’d better help me.” he thought, taking a deep breath, clutching his chest.
“I can’t believe—why are you doing this?  You are calling me from a pay phone, let me come where you are so we can talk about this… please.” he begged, trying to lower his tone.
“I don’t want to see you because I’m afraid--”
“Am I that big of a monster?” he said, raising his voice.
“Spooney if you don’t leave I’ll call the police and have them get you outta there.  I mean for you to go, please.”
“…humph, so you would actually call the Oak Park Police on me…?  Have twelve got-damn cars out there waiting to take my ass to jail?  You know how they do out here, this ain’t no Chicago.”
“I’m sorry Spooney I just want you to leave and leave me alone.” she took a short pause, “If you don’t want to leave the apartment just stay and keep everything… I don’t want it.  Just let Moosie out and he’ll find me.”
He could see Moosie lying across the front door waiting for her to return.  “Why don’t you come and get the dog?”
“No, I won’t be back.”
“Well what’s going to happen to ‘em?” he asked, cutting his eyes in his direction.
“I won’t be back for a few days that should give you enough time to leave.  You don’t have to worry about Moosie, feeding him or anything he’ll be alright.”
“So you just goan leave ‘yo dog huh?”
“He’ll be fine until I can see ‘em, I won’t be back to the apartment though.” she explained, hoping he wouldn’t harm him.
“I don’t have much here just a few clothes…” he sighed deeply, taking a long pause.  “You don’t have to leave your apartment, I’ll go ahead and leave.” his voice weakened and he began to weep, feeling his back was against the wall.  “I wish you would let me see you though, I love you.  I wouldn’t do nothing to hurt you.” he said, then changing his words. “I mean I know I hit you before, but all I’m trying to say is that’s something I would never do again, if you could just please…”
“It’ll never work Spooney, I’m too afraid of you and I don’t want to spend my life in fear like this.

Book Trailer for "Black Beans 'N Rice"

Black Beans ‘N Rice
“An incredible story… I couldn’t put it down, I completely
enjoyed it!”
~Emmy award television and radio host
Paul Lisnek WVON 1690AM~

“ Dena your book was written with such candor, honesty and
sadness. Difficult at times to even comprehend, as I read I was still
moved to keep going. In the end it makes you feel you can
overcome anything as you did.”
~WGN9 Midday News Dina Bair~

“You are a wonderful author, Black Beans 'N Rice is a great read
about how to overcome an abusive relationship. Keep up the great
job with your head held high!”
~Art Norman
27-year award winning journalist at NBC Chicago~

"Thanks for sharing your pain to peace ride and thanks for teaching
forgiveness. I highly recommend this book to all teens in love!"
~Ron Jackson
Author, Sunday columnist/ Kankakee Daily Journal, youth advocate,
jury commissioner, and also radio show host WKAN 1320AM~

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You can also order direct from the Author.
Get your Autographed Copy
here!

Black Beans 'N Rice Is drama-suspense-redemption-love and the search for happiness.

It immediately starts where I escape an abusive relationship from a man 15 years older
than I was who gave me a place to live when I otherwise didn't have a place to go and
begin my new life's journey at 22 finally finding the strength to walk away and the courage
to let go. You journey with me as I struggle to overcome the scars of low self esteem and
lack of self worth one day finding real love for the very first time at 25 years old.

In Black Beans ‘N Rice, love is powerful in meaning and even stronger as it pumps
through our veins running deep touching the core of our soul. You reach a crossroad
between life and death and for love the decision of sweet revenge takes control. I was
stalked by a man that refused to let go. In my blindness I pitied him and wanted the very
man that said he loved me… beat me… to one day find happiness for himself. They say
that love concurs all and sometimes in love we find friendships are made that can never
be broken.
The story takes place in 1980 Chicago's west side, Oak Park and the Hyde Park area of
Illinois.

Binx—everybody knows her. She is a daughter, niece, sister, cousin,
friend, neighbor, student, co-worker. Young, vulnerable, beautiful,
smart, and trapped by that thing called fear. In “Black Beans ‘n Rice”,
the author takes you on a fast-paced reading journey from pain to
peace with all the ups, downs, twists, and turns in between. It’s just
under 300 pages, but the pages turn fast as you sense every fear when
her abuser’s name is mentioned, every lump in the throat when the
phone ring as you scream, “Binx, don’t answer it.” Only relaxing when
you learned it wasn’t “him” this time.You will hate those who mistreat
her and worship the real friends she has. You’ll cry with her, and in the
end, you are right there smiling when she finally learns to trust again,
and allows herself to be loved. Binx finds happiness while teaching
the world how to forgive.

Ron Jackson,
Columnist
Kankakee Daily Journal

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"Black Beans 'N Rice"
The Pathfinder -Urban Booksource
Author Dena Tyson has written a wonderful yet, abusive story about
love, pain, friendship, and finding one’s self despite the suffering,
heartaches and other emotions that are sparked and triggered when
one is involved in an abusive relationship. The only way out is to
escape by any means necessary. You feel the pain and loneliness that
will sometimes feed doubts into the mind of someone trying to escape
from such a situation. Dena touches upon the tenderness, warmth,
love, pain and horrors of what it takes to get through an abusive
relationship.
Bianca also called Binx is the protagonist. The story revolves around
her naivety, impressionable choices and decisions that she made at a
rather young age. Unsure of her faith and what awaited her in life, a
young Binx encounters Spooney an older man. Captivated by his
maturity, and the manner in which he dealt with her, Binx fell head over
heels in love with him. Soon thereafter, the control factor began along
with the abuse. Unsure and afraid Binx confides in her gay friend,
Hershey. Hershey was a constant in her life as she contemplated her
next move. Hershey listened and advised her on what to do and what
not to do concerning Spooney. After getting up the nerves and courage
to walk away from Spooney, Binx encounters Eason. They immediately
fall in love. Unbeknownst to Binx, Spooney finds out. Not one to give in
rather easily Spooney made his rounds. Binx eventually tells Eason
about Spooney but instead of being there for her, he chose his cocaine
and his friend Sweets instead. Sweets would end up raping Binx, but
love is bliss and despite the turmoil that he had put her through Binx
reached out to Spooney who came to her rescue. Sweets was quickly
taken care of.
Believing he now had a chance; Spooney was back in his comfort zone
once again. Binx needed to let go and for an instant she fell into that old
trap. She made love to Spooney with a lot of reservation and doubts.
She knew what she did wasn’t the best thing to do. She questions not
only her own motives but Spooney’s as well. Would he want her back?
What if she told him she didn’t? Would he walk away and leave her
alone? Would she ever find true love? Was there someone out there
much closer to her age awaiting her? These were some of the
questions Binx contemplated.
I loved how Dena intertwined her naivety and impressionable behavior
throughout the story to display Binx’s remarkable maturity despite her
young age as the story progressed. I loved how she used Binx, to
dictate each characters role and how they were defined in the story.
She didn’t allow any of the other characters to upstage Binx and vice
versa. Binx was the initiator and in spite of her friendship with Hershey
whom I thought was funny as hell (no pun intended) and Spooney’s
stalking mentality she didn’t allow them to take away her hurt, pain,
love and redemption when she needed it. This story is about walking
away from an abusive situation and having the courage to do so.
Kudos to you Dena Tyson, one of the better books I have read so far.

What did you like about the book?
I loved her writing style and the manner in which she maneuvered each
character. The storyline was believable.

What did you dislike about the book?
Nothing!

How can the author improve this book?
It’s good as it is! She doesn’t need to do anything.

JOB WELL DONE!! 11/18/2009
REVIEWER: D. Abella
Congratulations Dena! I can't wait to add this book to my collection.
I have to be completely honest with you though...I don't like to read.
My entire life I have never finished a book from start to finish even
with college textbooks, I would just skip around and glance at the
stuff that was relevant. However, hubby and I went to Vegas a few
weeks ago and at the last minute I decided to grab "Black Beans 'N
Rice" and stuck it in my purse. I started reading it on the flight and I
could not put it down! I read the entire thing in one trip! Even hubby
was reading over my shoulder and couldn't wait for me to turn the
page! The entire story played out in my head like a movie.
So I just have to say, JOB WELL DONE! I am a complete fan and
can not wait to make some time to dive into the next book!
Luv ya!
Dami
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The Bomb!! , 07/10/2009
Reviewer: Beverly "Dimples" Rowley
OMG, this book is the book, amongst the rest of Dena Tyson's book.
This book makes you smile, cry and most of all its a page turner.
When you try to put it down, you find yourself wanting to see whats
on the other page. I loved this book and you will too. All of Dena
everyone in some way or another and trust me, everyone knows
someone like her characters. Keep on writing.. Hope to see them on
Big Screen soon...
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Black Beans 'N Rice , 07/10/2009
Reviewer: Brooklen Borne
This is a wonderful written book with a great plot. Mrs. Dena Tyson
had put her foot in the making of this tasty dish of Black Beans 'N
Rice. This is a must read for sure. Outstanding job!!!!
_______________
Outstanding!, August 9, 2009
By James
What an incredible read. Dena out did herself with this one. The
story was most captivating the characters were amazing. I love the
way she writes. It's as if you're right there in the room apart of it all.
She keeps it real and her stories never lag, she keeps you wanting
more. It's a breath of fresh air, I laughed, I cheered and just hated for
the story to end! Fantastic read and I can't wait for your next book.
Buy the book people... you won't be able to put this one down.

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