From a very young age, Teale Marie Allen was set differently and didn’t understand why - until the death of her grandmother, Vivian. At the age of ten years old, Teale felt like life was already planned for her without her help. She never understood why the only person to give her love and affection had to leave her so soon.
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You would think her mother would have come to her rescue, but her mom, Sierra McAllen, had issues of her own to deal with- until she was charged with murdering her ex-husband because of his own infidelity. On the other hand, her father, Gregory Hall allowed his new family to set a tone to who his daughter was instead of getting to know Teale for himself.
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Let us not forget her dad’s wife, Elissa Hall, who really had it out for her because she gave Greg a daughter (Kimberly) but she could never fill the void he had when Teale was away from him. Elissa had a son named Zachary Miller, and he didn’t enjoy the fact that his mother moved on so quickly after his father’s overdose. So he had no choice but to take his anger out on someone, and Kimberly was out of the question.
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Let’s travel down the dark path of living in the 90’s, living under the well-known adage of “what happens in my house stays in my house,” when that’s always not the case. When Teale moved in with her father and his new family, she caused a few people to be jealous of their relationship, her innocence, and kind-heartedness.
Therefore, when Teale became pregnant at sixteen, she was blamed for being fast because no one really knew the truth or what exactly happened- except her and the other person.
Summer of 1998 (age 6)
I don’t remember much during this time but I do remember moving back in with my grandmother Vivian after another failed relationship for my mom. We moved back from Houston, Texas to Mobile, Alabama. The moving didn’t bother me that much because my mom always made it feel like an adventure and we were the explorers. As a six year old, adventures were everything to me because I got to use my imagination and my mom would join in on the fun. We just finished school and I was finished with the first grade on my way to the second when school begins again.
That summer my grandma Viv became my best friend. With my mom being 21 at the time, she didn’t know how to raise me properly due to her still being young herself, when she had me. My grandma Vivian kicked her out at 18 years old; my mom decided to take me to Houston with her to start a new life and possibly find herself a man. However we are back where she started. Square one. Her mother’s house.
You can bet your bottom dollar that my grandmother was happy to have us back. She made sure that we had everything we needed and wanted to make us happier and comfortable in her home. When she didn’t have to. A few into the summer and being back in Mobile, my mom, Sierra McAllen, found her a new man and didn’t return back for me. My grandmother made it her mission to make sure she gave me all the love plus more. At times I can admit to not really missing my mother or being bothered asking about her because her mother, Vivian McAllen.
Right before school was about to start back I overheard my grandmother telling her friends what my mother did. I could admit she did stop by every once in a while to check on me but when her phone would ring and whomever was on the other line would tell her to leave me. And as quick as she came is just as quick as she left right back out the door. Sometimes I felt like her men were more important than her only daughter.
The greatest question I’ve ever heard someone ask my grandmother was,” Where is her father?”
Great question. No one ever really told me the answer but when I would feel the loss of my mother, my mind would ask myself the same question. But I really didn’t really ask or no one ever told me what was going on. My grandmother figured he was probably up to no good because he was nineteen when began messing with my mother and my mother was only fifteen years old. My grandmother would joke that I am a female version of my dad and that there was no way he could deny me.
Even though life didn’t seem that hard for me then. However little did I know in a few years all that will change. My perfect kid life will come to an end.
Present Day (Back Home- March 2024)
I pulled into my two story craftman’s style home. That has the prettiest brick walkway that leads directly to my front door. With a two car garage that sits so pretty next to my home. Blessed I am.
When I was safely parked in my driveway. I sat there in my car amazed and thankful at how far God has brought me. He has blessed me with the family, the home, the love and life, that was handcrafted just for me. I have two kids and a husband that adores the hell out of me. From feeling no love or barely any love to being filled with love and showered with it on a continuous basis. And on top of all of that a successful business.
Before I got out of the car. I checked my rearview mirror one more time to check my appearance and also to make sure that I was still the only person who’s in my Jeep. When I felt the car was clear and all my work bags and purse in my hands, I made my way out of the car. Once I was out of the car the love of my universe met me on the front steps.
“Hey beautiful. How was your day?” When I was in arm's reach, he grabbed my work bags along with a deep passionate kiss on the lips and he accompanied me into the house out of the hot Alabama weather. It's ironic how the sun is going down but the weather seems to still be around a hot ass eighty degrees.
“Hey baby. My day went well. Busy but well. I just left Doctor Madison’s office. How are you? How was work?” When I was done rambling on with my questions and he had my things in his possession. I wanted to give him a better kiss and a big ass hug because after a long day his love is always the key to my peace.
“My day went well. They have us working at this site downtown fixing the structure of one of the new buildings they’re adding. I made dinner. The kids and I set the table and the only thing missing from the equation is your sexy ass.” He replied back to my question.
“Well, if I’m the missing piece to dinner then let's get into the house. I’m ready to eat. Then afterwards for dessert we can cuddle up in bed.” I explained while grabbing a handful of his muscular man butt as he opened the door for me to enter the house.
No matter the time of the night my husband either meets me at the car or the front porch. He explains that sleeping without me next to him feels weird. So he makes it his mission to make sure I’m in bed before he closes his eyes. I swear I love this man. Plus I can’t remember the last time I opened a door to anything when he’s around.
When Kevin opened the door to our home, JaKayla made her beautiful self towards us at full speed.
“Mommy. Mommy! You’re home. I missed you so much. Why are you home so late?”
“Hey Kayla! Mommy missed you as well. I had an appointment to go see Dr. Madison.”
“Oh no, mommy are you hurt? Did a bad person hurt you mommy?” She asked while scanning my face and entire body for visible injuries.
“Kayla, mommy isn’t hurt. Remember when mommy told you, I go talk to a doctor to help me with thinking through stuff when I was younger?”
“Yes, mommy.”
“Then you know mommy’s okay and that’s where I was.”
“Okay, mommy. As long as you’re okay.” She confirmed then skipped back to her seat at the dinner table . So her dad and I could come all the way inside the house.
Once the front door was closed and locked. I took my work shoes off and put on my house shoes and entered more of my home.
“Hey Jabari. How are you?” I asked while coming around the table where my husband placed my food and kissing my son on the forehead.
“Busy. They’re having us listen to numerous talks about college life or how to prepare for college, or what we need to apply and all of that. Then preparing for the ACTs since some of us missed it last year or didn’t do well. I know I made a decent score last year. I want to retake it so I can get a better score. On top of all of that we have to have all of our teachers sign off on this graduation sheet in order to get our caps and gowns and some of the teacher’s are making us wait until friday to get their signature. Which is slowing up the entire process to be done.” He informed us.
Kevin came back to the table after taking my work bag to our room upstairs.
“Okay. Everyone, it's time to say grace and eat.” Kevin explained. We all grabbed each other's hands and bowed our heads to give Kevin the signal that we were ready for him to bless the food that he had prepared.
I said an extra thank you to the man above because only he could have been the reason why I was blessed with this sexy, chocolate man of mine.
We all enjoyed the food and conversed about whatever came to our minds. We cracked jokes, and laughed at said jokes until no one at the table had food left on their plates. Kevin and I cleaned up any remaining mess from dinner. Hugged a lot. Kisses a lot more. Enjoyed the silence that the night brought on. We placed the rest of the dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Wiped down all surfaces. Turned off any lights that were left on.
I went up the stairs with my man on my heels. We took a shower and laid in bed until we both could find sleep. In my thirty-two years of life sleeping scares the hell out of me because I am constantly reminded of what I had to endure as a child alone. At least I can do it in his arms.