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southernswampmamma · 20 days

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Magic Man: Chapter 9

Original! Male Character x Original! Black Female Character

Chapter Warnings: Slow Burn, Age Gap,

Summary: Yolana Humphry spent her entire life stuck in Tapioca, Alabama, under the thumb of her controlling Aunt Freda. Until a stranger comes along and swoops her off her feet. A charming man, that everyone but herself seems to know; who easily bypasses her fragile walls and embeds himself in her heart. Escape, however, doesn’t seem to be the end of Yolana’s journey. With her newfound freedom, she now has the opportunity to pursue something she never thought she could obtain.

Chapter Summary: After a long drive back to Nathan's home, both Yolana and Nathan have a hard time processing their new situation.

Please Enjoy!

Chapter Nine

21753 Wesley Way

As great as Nathan drove, it still did nothing to stave the riding fatigue that Yolana had after the three-hour trip. If Nathan had not stopped for both food, then gas, Yolana would have gone insane. As soon as she could hop off the bike, she was getting distance from the thing, walking off to stretch her body. To Yolana, Nathan seemed like he was fairing well, well physically. Yolana had no clue how he was otherwise, considering they barely spoken full sentences to each other since they left. Couple that with the nonexistent eye contact that neither could give, it was fair to say they both weren’t doing so well, mentally. The first hour of the ride was good. Yolana barely noticed it was silent, but afterwards she started thinking, and after the first stop when words were scantily spoken, the discomfort began to settle in.

It obviously didn’t help the anxiety that was already occupying her chest, but Yolana knew it was best for the both of them to stay quiet. She was thinking things over, and so was Nathan. However, it was strange that the passion they shared escaping Tapioca stayed in Tapioca. Once they were on the road away from Belvin and free from Freda, the adrenaline eased out of them and their brains gained full control again. The sweat beginning to cool from the wind whipping around them and their heartbeats slowing down to its regular steady rhythm.

At the first break, the food break, Nathan asked Yolana what she wanted before she moved towards the bathrooms. When she came back to him, he was quietly waiting at the table for their number to be called. When she approached, he gave her a gentle smile, but said nothing. They ate in silence as well. Even his bites seemed quieter. So, Yolana’s knee started bouncing, and the air began to feel thicker. It was unlike Nathan to be so restrained, especially when eating. Usually, he would start several varied conversations, but instead, he was more focused on the goings on outside the establishment, so Yolana focused on her food. During the gas break and second restroom break, Nathan didn’t even look at her. He pumped the gas while Yolana stretched in the distance. He did look at her, though, sneaking glances at her from his spot. Nathan watched Yolana as she bent forward and touched her toes, then dipped down into a squat and back up a few times. He knew it was unlike himself to be so silent, he also knew that Yolana noticed and didn’t like it, but he couldn’t fix his mouth to say anything to her. He felt he might have overstepped, not at all thinking things all the way through. Nathan thought over the whole debacle. He told his grandfather he was going to invite Yolana to come with him, but he didn’t technically do that. He asked Ms. Patty to help with Freda, though the old woman had no idea what was going on, she did it anyway. Mrs. Henderson called him first and Nathan didn’t know how she got his number, but she informed him that it wouldn’t be gentlemanly of him to go without saying goodbye to Yolana. So, Nathan simply had her let him know when Freda left the house. He went the sneaky way about things, which made him feel like he might have overstepped. Yolana honestly thought that he regretted everything and though she tried to get her breath to come in and out lighter, it only got worse as time went on.

Yolana was tired. If it wasn’t for the fact that she was on top of a vehicle except inside one, she would have been dosed off. She found it was getting easier and easier, and her eyes were getting heavier and heavier. But soon something changed. Except for the fast-paced, loud traffic, the surrounding movement slowed. It seemed they were getting close to their destination. They were actually really close, for a few turns later they were approaching a small paved road with an elegant brick sign sitting adjacent to it. “Wesley Estates” is what the sign said. “Estates” sounded fancy, and rich. Yolana knew Nathan made a lot of money, so it made sense he would live in a place with such a chic name. She didn’t know how much money he made, but now she knew he made “estate” money.

The bike crawled down the slim paved road, every minute or so passing by a large home. Yolana marveled at the size and distance between each home. They all sat so far apart for them to all be in one neighborhood, separated by grassy land or a mini forest. All the homes were a minimum of 2 stories tall, with brick or colored siding. Expansive porches and excessive windows were a popularity in the neighborhood. The houses were no cookie cutter homes. Every home was a unique building, most likely picked or curated by the owner. Yolana was in awe. It was out of her scope; her realm of reality to even think she would ever have something like that. Also, the land. To afford both grand properties and keep it maintained, the owners must be wealthy, if not filthy rich.

Passing another few acres of trees, the two turned into a white stone driveway that led to a two-car garage. Yolana waited until Nathan stopped fully before taking in the structure in front of her. Like the other homes, Nathan’s was unique, as in it wasn’t like the others. His home was two stories, dark grey paneling, with large picture windows. The window panes were held by black frames and the trimmings on the home were white. Between the garage and the primary structure of the house was an area with a large two-story window. Yolana could see both floors from that window and she wondered how long it took to clean.

It was a dark house on the outside, but Yolana felt like it fit Nathan and liked that it didn’t go along with the other brightly colored homes. He didn’t simply get a brick home or one of those standard colors. Suddenly, Yolana felt a fresh wave of nervousness. She was about to enter Nathan’s home. The place he relaxes and sleeps. It reminded Yolana of the distance she just traveled and how far she was from home. She’d never been so far and the first time she commutes anywhere, she is introduced to a bachelor’s home. But what did she expect? Where else was he to take her? How could one person even live in such a place by themselves and not get lonely? Maybe it was easy for Nathan, but Yolana, not being far from her aunt at all times, could never. ‘Well, you won’t be alone anyway’ is what her brain told her. They both would be sharing the space together, at least for tonight.

Nathan shut the ignition off, and that was Yolana’s cue to get off the motorcycle. He instinctively brought his hand out to help her, and Yolana instinctively grabbed it. She steadied herself before she reached for the helmet, but Nathan’s fingers were there first. There he was again, helping her with the helmet, face so close Nathan swore he could feel the wind from her thick eyelashes. He was thinking while they were coasting through the neighborhood. The last thing Nathan wanted was for Yolana to be uncomfortable, and he would be damned if he took her back to Tapioca. She was vulnerable right now, never been this far away from home, ever, and he couldn’t make himself force her to stay with him, so he was thinking. While their faces were so close, they had no choice but to face each other. It would be best to speak his mind then and there.

“Lana?” it came out hoarse, so he cleared his throat. “Lana, I think, in the morning, we should go see my mother.”

Nathan didn’t know what to expect from her when he said it, but silence and unwavering eye contact wasn’t it. He was about to ask if she heard him when she sucked in her bottom lip and hurriedly nodded. Moving her eyes away from him. Nathan felt defeated. He was going to say more, but the way she looked elsewhere, it was probably best that he didn’t. That was their most awkward interaction yet. Yolana couldn’t look him in the eye and Nathan used taking off the helmet as an excuse to not interact again. When he was finished, Nathan sat the helmet on the bike and turned for the door.

“I’ll get the bags later. I want to show you around first.”

Yolana left the motorcycle where it was and followed Nathan inside the house. She timidly stepped over the threshold and was immediately introduced to the beautiful, natural sunlight streaming from the windows. Why Nathan didn’t close his curtains was beyond Yolana. She was sure his light bill was low, maybe his air conditioning made up for it. They were in a short hallway with a few doors along the wall. Everything was closed off, so she didn’t get to see much until Nathan led her down the hall. The inside felt almost as big as the outside as they walked. It didn’t help when they got to the kitchen and Yolana saw the open floor plan. The kitchen, the dining area, and the living room all shared the same massive space, each area having its own enormous chunk of it. To her left was the kitchen with deep forest green counters with cream-colored marble countertops and dark stained wood handles. The cabinets above were eggshell with the same stained wood handles with the refrigerator matching. Yolana never seen a refrigerator match the cabinets. It almost looked like a cabinet itself, if not for the ice maker sitting dead center on the left door. To her right was the dining room. Nathan seemed to like darker colors in his home, for the dining room furniture was all dark wood with maroon place mats at each chair. Those two rooms were hard wood but in front of Yolana was the living room and it had a comfy looking tan carpet covering the floor.

Though the entire house was bright, the living room seemed the brightest, and when Yolana looked up, she could see why. There was no ceiling. Well, there was, but there was no ceiling separating the first floor from the second. There was just the roof and an elegant light that hung from the ceiling. Yolana didn’t think Nathan was the type to have a chandelier, but considering it was made from deer antlers, she supposed it was masculine enough to fit him. On her way back down the cotton white walls, she eyed the four large picture windows that let all the light in from outside, before returning them to Nathan. When she saw him watching her, she almost flinched, but she stiffly cleared her throat instead. He had a gorgeous home, and he caught her in awe, drooling at the mouth. He gave her another gentle smile.

“Would you like something to drink?” again Nathan’s voice was hoarse. He probably needed the drink more than Yolana did. After the drive and constant thinking, Nathan had worked himself into a nervous frenzy. It was a level of nervousness he hadn’t felt in a long time. On the outside, he was as cool as he always was. Easy going Nathan Bard. However, on the inside, he was still battling himself. Nathan goes with the flow, but going with the flow doesn’t always work with Yolana. He made it work for the two weeks he was in Tapioca, but the whole Candace situation and how much Freda affected him, Nathan caught himself not taking things so easily. So, since Yolana was at his home, maybe illegally, he found himself nervous.

Yolana agreed on water and Nathan went to the refrigerator to go fetch it. There was no handle, Yolana noticed, and she was curious how he was going to open it. Nathan put his hand up to where the handle should be and pressed on the surface. To Yolana’s amazement, the door popped free for Nathan to open. That time, Yolana couldn’t pick her jaw up from the floor fast enough for Nathan not to see. When he turned around, bottled water in hand and saw her face, he looked behind him to see what the matter was. He turned back to Yolana, still confused. She pointed at the cabinet-refrigerator.

Nathan looked at her, sheepishly. “Yea. Pretty neat, huh? The builder didn’t tell me about it, and I didn’t notice until everything was said and done. Well, firstly, I couldn’t find the thing. So, one angry call later. There it was. I was a little embarrassed ‘cause I couldn’t figure how to open it either.”

Yolana expected he was still a bit embarrassed, considering he was holding the back of his neck. He shouldn’t’ve been, it would have taken her longer. Yolana approached Nathan in the kitchen, running her hands over the wooden handles, not able to stop herself.

Nathan handed Yolana the cold water bottle and watched her take a sip. “Well, as you can see, there is the living room and dining room.” He pointed at the two before walking with her to each.

Yolana liked how cozy Nathan’s living room was. Big cushiony sofas and armchairs, a random sponsored blanket hanging off one arm of the sofa, and folded bags of treats neatly tucked under the coffee table. There were a few other things scattered under the coffee table, like magazines and lighters. The subtle things in his living room were good temporary distractions from her discomfort.

Moving on from there, Nathan showed Yolana to the pool and the backyard, then up the stairs where three bedrooms were. All the bedrooms were furnished with a bed and dresser, as if visits were common in his home. The one that Yolana picked overlooked the backyard where the pool shined and even further where the trees swayed gently from the wind. Dark blue curtains and decorative pillows accented the room and bed. The connected bathroom too had a dark blue theme. Nathan let Yolana know where the other upstairs and downstairs bathrooms were, as well as his room, which was downstairs too. Across from his bedroom was his office towards the front of the house. If she couldn’t find him, that’s where he would be.

Nathan left Yolana in her temporary room to go retrieve her bag. Since they were to be leaving again, there was no point in having all her things, just the main bag for the night. Yolana sat on the bed; it was soft, softer than hers at home. Well, at her former home? She didn’t know yet, and she shook her head. It was better not to think about that part for the moment. The bed didn’t creak once when she shuffled back on it, letting her legs dangle off the side. She slowly breathed in and out, her breath coming short again since she was alone. Her eyes were starting to water to add on to the madness and her heart rate was gradually picking up again. So much had just happened. Never had she really done anything bad, but in one day she had done so much. Running away. High-speed chase. Crashing at a man’s home. Those were such serious things that could have so many consequences. Also, Yolana was sure Nathan regretted everything already. He might not show it on his face, but how much different he acted versus his usual self let her know everything.

Her back hit the bed, and she blearily stared at the ceiling. What’s supposed to happen to her now? They’re supposed to go see his mother, but what does that mean for her? Yolana had no plan. She hopped on his bike because she was upset and ready for a change and knew Nathan could be that change. She was down for whatever, but she wasn’t living in a hallmark movie, she was living in the real world. People in the real world don’t jump into decisions and it magically works out for the better. For all she knew, Nathan was going to come back to her and tell her to get back on the bike and send her ass back to Tapioca. Back to a distraught uncle and furious aunt.

He didn’t, though. Instead, Nathan climbed the stairs and dropped off her bag. He didn’t mention her red eyes; he ignored them like she hoped. Rather, he asked her about ordering food and something about making some calls, then left. He stayed gone until the food arrived, then left again for the rest of the night. Yolana didn’t know what to expect from him. It was a little disheartening being shut up in that room by herself, but it wouldn’t have been any better out and about around the house. She wasn’t in the right head space to do anything but what she was doing at that moment, staring at nothing, letting the worries of her mind paralyze her.

Nathan felt like an asshole. He brought Yolana to his home only to disappear after an hour. He ordered the food she wanted, then withdrew to his office, where he sat at his desk with his phone to his ear. He began rubbing his palm up and down his thigh while the phone rang. He told his mother he would call as soon as he arrived in Tennessee and he was off by a few hours. That wouldn’t matter when he told her why he called.

“Hello~,” a calm voice said on the other end.

“Hey Ma!”

“Hey Butterbean!” her voice lifted though it was still its usual deep softness. Nathan could hear random people talking and a few animals hollering in the background, and knew that she was probably busy on the farm.

“I’m back home, just calling to let you know that I’m settled in.”

“That’s good sweetie. You still going to come over this weekend?” she spoke over the noise.

“Um.” Nathan paused. “Well, I was thinking maybe I can come over sooner, like tomorrow.”

“Don’t you have work tomorrow? Why so much sooner?”

Nathan waved his hand in the air dismissively. “Don’t worry about work. They can go without me a few more days.” He stopped, trying to gather the words he needed to answer her other question. “I, um, I brought a friend with me, and I think you should meet her.”

A very loud gasp came from the other end, and it caused Nathan to dramatically roll his eyes to the back of his skull.

“You brought a girl back home with you?” a pleased mother said.

“Now Ma, don’t go and start thinking too far now,” Nathan pleaded.

“What do you mean? You brought a girl home. It’s been so long since you last saw someone. I would love to meet her.”

“It’s not like that, Ma. We’re not seeing each other. She’s just a friend in a bad spot and I wanted to help.” Nathan was leaning forward, elbows on his desk and head in his hands.

“Bad spot? What’s wrong with her?”

“Nothing’s wrong. Do you remember a man named Belvin Friday? She’s his niece.”

It was quiet while she thought. “Kinda sorta.” Came from the phone. “I have no recollection of any niece, though.”

“That’s fine. I just want you to meet her tomorrow. I kind of brought her here, not thinking if she was willing to stay here... with me,” Nathan said quietly.

“Oh honey. We don’t mind you bringing her here. You know we love guests!”

Nathan smiled. His parents were always ready with arms wide to let someone in. He didn’t know why he felt so nervous about telling her. They’ve done it 12 times before for other people; he wouldn’t be surprised if they did it 20 more. Their ranch was so big; they had plenty of room and throughout the years she had homed many people. Whether it was family, friends, or her workers and their families, Remy and Lincoln Bard always had a room for them. Nathan didn’t know much about his paternal grandparents, he only visited them a few times throughout his young life, but he knew the loving hospitality of Remy Bard came straight from Elijah’s genes.

“I know, mom. You are always there for me.”

“Of course, sweetie. I’ll go ahead and make a room for her. You’ll stay in your usual room, sugar.”

Nathan nodded. “Yeah, well, I’ll let you go. Kind of had an exciting day and I’m wrung dry on energy.” Plus, he could tell with all the noise coming from the phone that her attention was needed elsewhere. “Tell Dad I said howdy.”

Remy sighed on the other end. “OK, my love, I’ll see you tomorrow. But Nathan? Is she pretty?”

The question caught Nathan off guard, and it put a little pink to his cheeks. He didn’t need to feed into any preconceived notions his mother had.

“Mama, stop!” He whined.

“It’s just a question! You don’t have to be involved to think she’s pretty!”

“Goodnight Mama. Love you.”

“Night, night, Butterbean.”

Nathan brought his hand to the door, taking a moment to collect himself, then knocked on the wood. He was clueless if Yolana was even up or not, so he tried not to knock too loud and startle her. He stood there waiting for her to answer, and after a minute of staring at the door in the dark hallway, it opened. The light from inside the room lit his features as his eyes adjusted. They landed on the smaller figure of Yolana, who slowly opened the door. Nathan went to sleep feeling shitty and woke up feeling shitty. However, as he looked down at Yolana with sleepy, puffy eyes that were left over from the tears of the day before, Nathan felt even more like a piece of shit. Looking further down, he saw she still wore her Sunday clothes, and that made it difficult for him to speak his next words.

“Can I have your bag?”

Yolana simply looked at him and nodded her head before moving away from the door. Nathan stopped her, though.

“You can shower if you like. You don’t have to go like that if you don’t want to.” He got the same response as before, a nod and retreat.

“Shit.” Nathan sighed before going back down the stairs. Another long drive with a dreary mood.

Yolana met Nathan downstairs with her bag in tow, and he led her out the side exit where both his truck and car sat in the garage. Yolana got to pass by the mudroom where the large two-story window was and looked through the clean glass panes. There was a mezzanine right above her on the second floor. The outside view was much prettier up there. The motorcycle sat right outside the garage in the sun. Their helmets still sat there on the seat, but nothing else. Nathan loaded her things into the backseat of his Highlander and opened the door for her. It was another long drive. Another three hours from Nathan’s home to Athens, where his parents lived. The car was filled with the sounds of the road and the tunes that were played on the radio. Also, the ruffling of to-go bags from where they stopped and ate. Yolana wanted so badly to say something. She and Nathan have never been this quiet around each other for so long. It was killing her, and her heart hadn’t slowed since she woke up that morning. If it didn’t slow down soon, Yolana could see herself on the side of the road, shaking and out of breath. That would only add to the uncomfortable tension between her and Nathan. She needed to get a grip.

Yolana tried to close her eyes. Leaning her head on the window, she tried to let the ride soothe her. It didn’t work, but she kept her eyes closed, pretending. If she pretended hard enough, it would stave off the panic attack… maybe. Yolana was close to one before she went to bed, but all she did was cry instead. Nathan didn’t cry, nor was he on the brink of a panic attack. He just felt, and probably would, continue to feel shitty until Yolana spoke to him. Or at least looked him in the eye; maybe a smile. He knew he wasn’t getting any of those; didn’t deserve them, so he sat in the driver’s seat and drove.

They’d finally made it to an expansive piece of property that was mostly lawn. The only indication that it was all one large lot was the wood fence that went along the border. There were large squares of land that were lush grass and other squares that were just dirt. In the far back center was a massive farm style home with various attachments connected to it. This was the ranch, and when Yolana ultimately opened her eyes and saw it, she was in awe. Nathan’s parents owned all of this? She thought it was a small farm. It was so much space, so much land. She would never have thought she would be around people of this caliber.

The driveway was long. It took four entire minutes to make it up to the circle driveway where other cars were. By the time Nathan got out and was walking to her side, Yolana could feel herself tipping over. She held on to the door for dear life so Nathan couldn’t open it. When he tried and it didn’t budge, he looked at her tentatively.

“Can you give me a minute?” Yolana said through the window. He looked at her, confused, so she repeated herself, then his face relaxed. He bleakly nodded, looking kicked and disappointed, then retreated.

Yolana watched as he climbed the big steps leading up to the large front door and disappeared inside. As soon as he was gone, she ducked her head down into her hands and rapidly and brutally rubbed her palms over her face.

“Get it together. Get it together.” Yolana repeated to herself.

She could feel the tears coming in hot and no amount of squeezing her face and hitting her cheeks could stop them. Her knee bounced as they started to fall, and her breath came out with an audible whoosh sound as she breathed through her teeth. It was OK that the tears started coming as long as she could stop the madness before she started shaking and losing feeling in her fingertips.

“God, please make it stop. I can’t leave and face these people this way.” Yolana pleaded, annoyed that she couldn’t get a handle of herself quickly.

She took her head away from her hands and looked frantically around the vehicle. Her eyes landed on Nathan’s keys, still hanging from the ignition. Yolana moved before thinking and turned the car on before fiddling with every knob in the fancy car, getting the air conditioning blasting from the vents. She turned the knob to the coldest setting and planted her face directly on the vent.

Cold air was the most effective in situations like this. Whether it be cold water, a cold compress or at that moment blaring air conditioning, cold anything did the job. It was the shock of a different temperature. It must have some effect on the brain to make it reset. Yolana used the air to bring her back, not letting up from the vent. Not after her eyes began to hurt from the cold air, and not even after her breath finally slowed. She stayed right in that spot with her face frozen until she felt like it was safe. That was 5 minutes later.

She slowly sat up, squeezing and rubbing her eyes to unfreeze them. Yolana blindly turned the air off, then the ignition. After opening her eyes, she sat there hollow, but soon, without thinking too much about it, got out of the car, and dismally walked towards the steps. She was on autopilot and was doubtful about what she looked like. She didn’t know if her eyes were red or what her face looked like. Yolana probably had a large, obvious grill mark on her forehead from leaning on the vent. Her nose was probably red too, because she was sniffling, and by the time she got to the door, she regretted not checking herself before. Yet Yolana was already at the door, about to knock.

She was holding herself when Nathan opened the door. Her eyes met his, and she decided to smile for him. Well, as best as she could. Being around Freda, she learned how to somewhat genuinely smile when she didn’t want to. Nathan’s body relaxed when she gave him the poor smile, and he smiled back. He reached for her, delicately rubbing Yolana’s upper arm before leading her inside by the small of her back. If Yolana wasn’t so preoccupied with keeping herself together, she might have been able to observe her surroundings, but instead she blindly looked ahead of her. The details blurred in her mind. Looking but not seeing.

Nathan kept his hand behind her, leading her through the home until they were in a very large and pristine white kitchen. Yolana didn’t focus until they stopped and immediately wished she didn’t. Three sets of wide blue eyes stared back at her, and Yolana wished she could hide behind Nathan’s large body. The three people in front of her had welcoming smiles, albeit worried looking. They looked at her like at any moment she was going to pass away, and Yolana felt the same. It was easy to tell who was who without Nathan’s introduction, but she listened while he did, anyway.

The only other man in the room standing at two damn big to be natural was Nathan’s father, Lincoln Bard. They shared significant features like their height and hair and how they both leaned on their right leg with the other one pointed out. Very comfortable and confident. Their eyebrows were the same too, in that they were thick. Lincoln was thinner than Nathan, but that could have been because of age. It certainly didn’t make him any smaller. The older man smiled towards Yolana, and she noticed he had dimples and a narrow gap in his teeth.

Next to him was Nathan’s mother, Remy and whatever Lincoln didn’t pass on to Nathan, Remy’s genes took over. Other than his hair and stature, Nathan looked exactly like his mother. They shared the same calm eyes and gentle smile. Their faces held similar angles and cheekbones, though Nathans were sharper due to him being a man. They even had the same nose and hairline. Yolana could tell, even behind the curtain of hair over Rammy’s forehead. She was tall too, though, significantly shorter than her husband and son, but still taller than her daughter and Yolana. She looked far younger than her husband, but they both looked good and complimented each other well.

Lastly, was Catherine. She and her mother shared blonde hair and facial structure and most everything else. Although 2 little dimples dotted her cheeks and her eyes matched her father’s. She looked around Yolana’s age, though her height gave the illusion she was older. Even though they all had smiles on their faces for the stranger their family member brought home, Catherine’s smile held a little more than southern hospitality. She was amused, Yolana concluded. Her smile carried amusement, and Yolana wished she could share that amusement, but she couldn’t think of anything that was funny.

“And y’all. This here is Yolana Humphry.” Nathan said, presenting Yolana to his family.

Yolana tried her smile again, hoping that was enough of a greeting.

“It’s nice to meet you, sweetheart.” Lincoln said. He sounded like Sam Elliott to her.

“Yes! We love meeting Nathan’s new friends. Especially a lady friend, since he hasn’t had one in a long time.” Remy rejoiced.

Yolana didn’t realize Nathan’s hand was still at the small of her back. Until she felt the fabric of her shirt pull.

“Mom.” Nathan pinched.

Remy looked around. “What?”

Yolana didn’t think Remy would have such a sultry, deep voice, but she liked it coupled with her country twang.

“So, how did you two meet?” Catherine asked. Her amused smile was still on her face.

“A little get together at the fire station. It was for her uncle.”

“Well, that’s nice. Come sit. I’ll get you something to drink.”

As Remy went to the refrigerator to get something for Yolana, Catherine led her to a cafe style table in the corner of the kitchen. Yolana looked for Nathan to be behind her, but he wasn’t. He was still in his place, having a private conversation with his father. The two men looked her way for a short period before going back to their conversation. Yolana quickly looked away, pretending she didn’t see them while accepting her water from Remy. As the older woman sat down, Yolana could see in her peripheral the two men leave and go down the hallway. When Nathan was out of sight, Yolana turned her attention back to the ladies.

They both stared at her unblinkingly, with fixed smiles on their faces still. Both heads off kilter to the side and blonde hairs falling over their shoulders. They were taking her in as much as she was them, but Remy would be the first person to say anything.

“So Yolana. How was the drive?”

Well, she couldn’t stay quiet forever. Talking was the last thing she wanted to do. Yolana didn’t trust her voice and when she squeaked out a small “fine”, she was right not to. She took the water to her face.

“I know long rides are exhausting, but the motorcycle, to me, is so much worse. He should have drove the car. At least so a pretty girl like yourself would have air conditioning.”

Pretty? Yolana felt everything but pretty in that moment. She still had no idea what she looked like, and she wanted to throw up.

“I can only survive 15 minutes on that thing.” Catherine sighed. “And he made you ride 3 hours? God, no.”

“So what’s your story? What made you want to come to Tennessee?”

Yolana should have known that she was going to be asked these questions, eventually. Especially by the mother of the house. Yolana imagined if she was in Remy’s position, and her eldest child brought home a stranger, she would immediately want to know that person’s intentions. Remy probably cared what Yolana was doing in Tennessee, but as a mother, she most likely cared more about why Tennessee and why her son. It made Yolana hyper aware of herself. Her hair, her face, her stature, and honestly her skin tone, too. Again, she wished she would have at least checked her reflection before leaving the car.

“Nathan invited me.” It wasn’t a lie, it also wasn’t the full truth, and it wasn’t enough information for Remy.

“So, you just came down?”

Yolana nodded.

“Must’ve been hard taking off from work. What do you do for a living?”

“I’m a phlebotomist.”

“Phlebotomy is important work, Mom.” Catherine added.

“It is. Anything in the medical field is important. How’d your family feel about you leaving for the trip? Especially by yourself and on such short notice.”

“Um… not too fond of the idea.” Yolana’s voice broke again, but except for taking another sip of her water, she just looked down at it.

Remy gave the girl a sympathetic look. Catherine saw the look and immediately recognized it from the 10 other times her mother had done it. It didn’t matter how many questions Remy asked Yolana; the answer was going to be the same. Remy understood the difficulty in moving away from family and was sure Yolana suffered a lot with the process. When Nathan called Remy about Yolana, all that was told was the girl was in a bad spot. She wondered what happened for her to have to leave.

“I know how that feels. My daddy wasn’t too happy when I left Tapioca, either.” Remy straightened herself up. “Do you have any children?”

Yolana shook her head.

“Thank God. I’m tired of everyone having kids. It’s depressing.” If Catherine had a nickel for every friend that had a baby announcement over the past two years, she’s sure she would have at least $0.65.

“How long you plan on staying?”

Yolana had no answer for her. She just opened and closed her mouth like a dying fish. She would stay as long as Nathan would have her, which might not be long at all.

“I see.” Remy said. She reached out across the small table to place her hand over Yolana’s. Remy clasped on to the younger woman’s hand and squeezed.

Yolana could feel the pressure of her embrace all the way up her arm and to her heart. As her eyes moved from their contrasting black and white hands, Yolana looked up to Remy’s sweet and compassionate eyes. She found herself nearing another episode of crying.

“It’s OK. You’re always welcome-“

“Honey?”

All three women turned towards the voice at the entrance of the kitchen. It was Lincoln, leaning in, beckoning for his wife. He knew he was interrupting something touchy feely, so he stood there, awkward and unwilling to step any closer. He just watched on, a floating head and arms as Remy gave their new guest a small smile as she stood from the table. With nothing else said, the two left the room and Yolana was left with just Catherine.

“I think what she was going to say was, you’re always welcome here at the ranch.”

Ohh. Yolana thought. She could barely answer her questions without her voice giving out. How was she inviting her to stay?

“Thank you, um.” Yolana paused. “I don’t want to be a bother and Nathan-“

“You won’t be,” was all Catherine said, and it left them in an awkward silence.

Yolana avoided the woman’s eye contact while she visibly stared at Yolana. After a few more seconds, though, Catherine finally decided to speak. She clasped her hands together. “Would you like a tour?”

After explaining everything to his parents, Nathan was going on breathless. After mentioning the BBQ, the rides to work, Yolana’s Aunt Freda and Uncle Belvin, and the “Great Escape”, Nathan was sure they had everything they needed for the conversation. Though his mouth wouldn’t stop there. He told them of his worries, uncertainties, and how Yolana had never been outside of Tapioca. He told them of his promise of protection and how much it meant to him to follow through. With all his rambling, he didn’t know how cute he looked to his mother, fussing over a woman. They might not be together, but Remy saw that there was already a strong connection amongst friends.

“Nathan, son. It really is OK. She can stay here as long as she needs. You know we don’t mind.” Lincoln was at his desk, leaning over the dark wood with his wife behind him, stroking his back.

“And don’t be so hard on yourself. I’m sure she would understand once you talk to her. But Nathan, you need to talk to her. She looks like a scared mouse out there.” Remy followed after her husband.

“I just don’t want her to think I’m throwing her away. Bringing her out here and throwing her off somewhere. I don’t want y’all to think I’m handing off my responsibility to you.” Nathan paused, leaning against one of the large bookshelves. “I just acted. I just wanted to get her away from there. I didn’t think if she would want to be with me or not. I mean, I have plenty of room for her, but I didn’t think if that would be OK with her.”

“So you wouldn’t mind taking her home?” Lincoln asked.

Nathan shook his head. “No, I haven’t lived with the woman since… my engagement, but I wouldn’t mind. But Yolana has never lived with anyone else but her aunt.”

“Well, the first step is asking her, don’t you think? Whatever answer she gives you, make plans accordingly.”

Nathan stared at his father. With all that had happened, asking Yolana what she wanted was something he didn’t think to do. Maybe because from the moment he took her bags and loaded her on his motorcycle to that very moment in front of his parents, Nathan had been in protection mode. He thought of Yolana as his responsibility, so he had to make all the decisions. Nathan decided that Yolana would be better off with his parents than with him. He simply couldn’t comprehend her being comfortable in the same space with himself. But she trusted him to bring her there. Why wouldn’t she trust him at his home? Well, it’s simply different. But again, Yolana had trust in Nathan from the very beginning. Allowing herself to be with him alone in his vehicle, taking her long distance to a bar and experiencing her first ride on a motorcycle. She confidently wrapped her arms around him and pressed herself to him, not at all able to see over his shoulder, but trusted him all the same to get them where they needed to go. So why suddenly would she not trust him that time?

“Yoo-hoo? Nathan, you still there?” Lincoln called to his son, who was staring directly through his head.

“Uh, yeah, Dad.” Nathan said, coming back to the present moment. “I’ll definitely ask her.”

Yolana calculated that if she was to run from the front door to the rear of the house and back, she would have run a full mile. She didn’t know a single building that wasn’t a skyscraper or a hotel that could have so many rooms and leisure spaces. There were 12 rooms in the two-story home, 6 bathrooms as well, with three leisure rooms. Seven of the 12 rooms were occupied, but stepping inside two of the vacant rooms, each room was large enough to be modified from a single person room to at least a four person room. Yolana couldn’t help herself from asking why there were so many rooms.

“When mom and Dad decided to invest in a plot of land for the business, they wanted enough rooms for the workers here. Some of our employees migrated here from Mexico. If they needed a place to stay, we had room for them.”

Yolana thought that was very nice of them to do something like that? Also, to build an entire mansion, not just for yourselves and the business, but for your workers as well, is something to admire. It took a special type of person to let people into their home to have a fair chance at life. Yolana couldn’t see any of the ladies from church doing anything like that, not even the first lady.

After walking the halls of the large ranch home, Catherine showed Yolana the ranch itself and the animals that were there. The farm was pretty small, like Nathan had mentioned. It was more than Elijah had, but still small in the amount of animals and space it took up. They had chickens and pigs and mules and a few cows. Turkeys and goats as well were scattered around the place. Scattered indeed. The goats and turkeys seemed to have free rein of the place. Yolana understood, though. The goats were probably out for grass maintenance and turkeys usually don’t stray far from their coop like chickens. Since the chickens are probably there more for their eggs, it would make sense to keep them in their area to limit the amount of randomly lain eggs across the yard.

Farm hands went about their business around Yolana and Catherine. Only speaking when they needed to be where the two girls were standing. Which seemed to be every spot they stopped on their way to the stables. It didn’t seem busy there, just steady, constant work. It slowed all the way down once they made it to the entrance of the stables.

Catherine slid the barn door over, introducing Yolana to a clean, well lit area covered with dirt and hay like the rest of the place. Though the hay was more strategically placed than the disarray outside. It smelled of horses, which was an astute observation by Yolana, since there indeed were horses lined in the stalls.

“These are our horses. Our money makers, as Juan Carlos says. He’s our handler. He had his own farm in Mexico, where he hosted rodeos.” Catherine said.

“That sounds fun. Why would he come here?” Yolana asked as she peeked a look at one horse. A spotted white and brown one.

“A little over 10 years ago, the cartel shot all of his horses and set his land on fire.” Catherine sadly explained.

“Oh,” was all Yolana said, not sure how to follow that up.

“Yeah, it sucks, but he always has a smile on his face. Says he’s blessed because he still has all of his family.”

Yolana smiled. You could lose your entire likelihood in a day, but that means nothing when you still have the ones you love. Though days were hard, Yolana still had Belvin and Mrs. Henderson. Though they couldn’t do much, they did enough to keep her sane.

“This is Lola, Ford, Big Ted, Beetle, Sunny and her sister Sunshine.” Catherine showed Yolana the first six horses, then named the other six on the other side. “Coal, Webster, Isabelle, Lucky, Tarot and King. These are our star horses. For right now, we only have these 12 star horses, but we plan on getting four more by the end of the year. At the other hall are our other horse stalls. We try to separate performing horses from non performing horses.”

Yolana looked back and forth between the separated bunch. The stars were more pretty, but they all were housed the same. And by pretty, the stars seemed to have fuller mains, bigger builds and shinier coats. They were probably a different breed altogether.

“Do you get a lot of movie deals for the horses?” Yolana asked, while peering inside the stall of one of their biggest, Tarot.

“Actually, yes, you wouldn’t think that there would be a lot of horses needed for movies other than westerns, but everything from big budget to low budget needs a well-trained horse or two. We got a Marvel deal not too long ago for Coal here.”

Catherine let Yolana walk past all the stalls, watching her randomly peer inside a few. “What do these other horses do? Things around the ranch?” Yolana asked.

“When I say non performing, I just mean non acting. These here are a mix of background horses and workhorses. Some are both. The star horses are the horses you might see the lead actors riding on. The ones that have to perform for the camera. Tricks and death scenes and all that.”

Yolana nodded her head while she admired the horse from the stall she was leaning on. It lightly ran its whiskers around her knuckles while Catherine explained their process. On that side of the stables, there were twenty horses. They all were boarded in the same hall, while the stars got a hall all to themselves. If that wasn’t a mirror to the ways of current society. The horse that moved from tickling Yolana’s hand with its whiskers, to nibbling her fingers with its lips, was named Mcmahon. Like Vince Mcmahon of WrestleMania. Yolana looked at the tan horse with his soft brown eyes. He kind of looked like Vince Mcmahon too. Yolana chortled.

“Come on, I’ll show you the photography studio and the corral.” Catherine waved Yolana over.

The walk from the studio, to the corral, and back to the house was a long one, and Yolana found herself nice and tired by the time Catherine brought her back to the steps of the back patio. But as soon as she took a breath under the shade of the pavilion, the back door opened and Nathan stepped out. It was hard for Yolana to exhale when he leisurely approached her under the shade.

“Oh! You done hiding?” Catherine said with the cheekiest of smiles on her face.

Nathan smiled and speedily reached out to grab at the ends of her hair and pulled. Catherine barely had her hand around his to stop him when her head jerked down from the pull.

“Ow! Dick!” she screamed.

“Can you mosey off somewhere so I can talk to Yolana privately, please?” He said, so sweetly. Like he didn’t just accost his sister.

Catherine hit him on the shoulder. “Jerk.” But that’s all that was done before she walked back into the house.

Nathan brought his attention back to Yolana, who hadn’t yet exhaled. Lifting his hand towards the direction she came from, Nathan asked if she would walk with him.

“I just came from the corral. I don’t think I can walk back out there,” Yolana explained.

Understanding, Nathan nodded. “How about we sit, then? We really need to talk.”

There was a large tree a little way off with two white iron chairs sitting under it. A smoking spot of sorts, with an old ashtray sitting on the ground between the chairs. Yolana was grateful for the seat and shade and was happy she would at least have that while Nathan gave her whatever bad news he had. She knew it would be uncomfortable regardless when it took him a minute to open his mouth.

“First, umm. I want to apologize.” Nathan swallowed. “Since we left, I haven’t properly communicated with you nor asked how you were doing. I ugh, I’m sorry about that.”

For the first time, while he rubbed his hands up and down his leg, Yolana saw Nathan’s nervousness. It was hard to see, but the rubbing of his leg and flitting of his eyes to and from her face were positive tells.

“When I was younger, I was prone to make impulsive decisions. I thought that I grew out of it, but yesterday proves that I still have those adolescent tendencies in me.”

Ohh. Yolana thought. He regretted everything, just as she thought. He’s going to take her back.

“Though this time is very different. I never took a person before.” Nathan looked into Yolana’s eyes. “How are you feeling?”

Yolana bit her lip, not answering the question but asking her own. “What are you going to do?”

Nathan’s eyebrows met his hairline. “I’m going to do what’s most comfortable for you.”

“Do you want me to go back?”

“Do you want to go back?”

Lips bitten, Yoanna slowly shook her head. Nathan slipped in a small smile.

“Good, because I don’t want to take you back.”

Yolana finally felt like she could exhale. Nathan didn’t want to send her back to Tapioca. He didn’t regret bringing her. Yolana felt half of her worries slip off her shoulders and into the grass below her. She stood there not knowing what was going to happen, but knowing she wasn’t going back to Tapioca.

“The reason I brought you here to my parents’ house was because I didn’t think it would have been respectful of me to have you stay with me. I didn’t think you would want to.” He paused. “I am aware, now, that I didn’t think to ask you either.”

Yolana nearly jumped out of her chair. “I don’t care. I mean, staying with you. I don’t mind.”

Nathan mirrored her posture, leaning nearly out of his seat. “Are you sure? This place has plenty of room for you and my parents are the nicest people on this side of Tennessee.”

“No offense, Nathan.” Yolana practically cut him off. “But I don’t want to be dropped off here like I’m a dog you found on the side of the road. I’ve been feeling pretty lousy these last 48 hours, worried to death you regretted everything. I don’t want to stay here. As nice as it is, I don’t. As long as you’ll have me, I would like to stay with you.” She took a breath. “It’ll be a little awkward, but I trust you.”

Yolana felt like the ranch would have been a wonderful place to stay. She was sure she could have come up with some kind of arrangement with Nathan’s parents to pay for her stay. However, Nathan wouldn’t be there with her and she couldn’t be surrounded by complete strangers right then, she just couldn’t. She needed Nathan, even if only to be a familiar face.

Nathan stared at the truth in her eyes and couldn’t stop himself from reaching out for her. He sat one of his gigantic hands over hers on her knee and rubbed his thumb over the soft skin. Yolana’s lip went back between her teeth in response to his soft touch and sweet smile he gave her.

“That settles it then. Yolana Humphry, you’re coming back home with me.”

#magic man #original fiction #original male character #original female character #black female lead #black female character #black reader #magic man chapter 9 #magic man chapter nine #southernswampmamma

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ratjay-art · 2 years

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A friend started up a Pathfinder 2e game using the Rise of the Runelord AP (no spoilers please!) and we were given fairly free reign on characters going into it. I ended up making a Kitsune Gunslinger entirely because I looked at these two things and went ‘oh this race’s lore and views on gender is neat as fuck-’ after already deciding to pick gunslinger.

So this is Theo Valdemar, the bastard child of Ethram Valdemar’s eldest son Antony (created for this game). They were raised as part of the house with the understanding that they had no claim to the family’s titles. It’s a half-kept secret that (the now deceased) Antony’s child isn’t human, but considering how this town seems to be on the verge of something crazy at all times, Theo is keen on not confirming any rumors of what their race is by going out in their true form. (undercut is some random nonsense for anyone who cares about the justification of the Kitsunes in Sandpoint)

So kitsunes being in Sandpoint is almost entirely justified by Kaijitsus’ ties to Tian Xia in later APs which involves putting Ameiko on the throne- a group followed the Kaijitsus out of Tian Xia, and settled in Sandpoint. Theo’s mother, Shizuku, is one of them, and ended up in a relationship with the then head (and unmarried) of the Valdemar family, Antony.

Antony himself was created in part due to us running into references of the previous head of the family passing and the seat returning to Ethram. Theo being his child also helped us avoid fucking with plotlines tied to Kaleb & Belvin by giving them a child. (Won’t stop this boyo from being upset when he finds out what happened to Uncle Kaleb though!) Also gave us a good justification for why Kaleb & Belvin weren’t family head after the death of the last one as both are old enough- Ethram wants whoever takes over the family to be married and with a legitimate heir before he willingly gives it up again.

#pathfinder #ttrpg #ttrpg art #Character Design #original character #character art #OC art #kitsune #gunslinger #Theo Valdemar

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fstcaredublin · 2 years

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What is the fair deal scheme?

The Nursing Home facilities are available at different prices. But not everyone can afford to pay for the entire sum at once, which is why there are different med claim options and government programs that are meant to help people pay for the long-term stay at the nursing home without any worry. Such programs are meant to provide some sort of financial assistance to the people who are in need. The government is ready to pay for a sum of the amount for the nursing facility while the remaining is to be paid by the family. The decision is made based on the financial capabilities and the assets available. After the decision is made, the monthly payment is made on time. You can look for a fair deal at Beneavin house to know which of the nursing homes accept this facility, and you can use it to save money. No doubt, it is a great way to provide your loved one with proper care without any worry about the heavy Nursing Home deals. To get the best for your loved one, you can contact First Care. They provide fair deal options. Besides, they have got expert professionals who will be there to provide proper support 24/7. As a reliable center, they will take care of every need and bring out the best. For more details call at-(01) 864 8516.

#belvin house #beneavin nursing home #nursing homes ireland #Care homes

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victorianhouses · 6 years

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flickr

Belvin Street, San Marcos, Texas by texastravel3

#house #victorian #gingerbread #san #marcos #texas #central #hill #country #belvin #street #historic #district

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ask--star · 3 years

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“ What’s up Moon? “

“ Uh, I wanted to apologize for my behavior before you left. I didn’t hear you out, and I’m sorry for projecting the way I did. “

“ Don’t worry about it, Moon. It’s out of the ordinary to hear you apologize like this though. “

“ Lets get this over with. I can’t stay here for too long at this hour, some of the townsfolk are asleep and I reckon a few of them misplaced their Lunar Wings. “

“ They aren’t very far away either. They reside around Belvine Town, but we only have the rest of today to encounter them before they slumber for the rest of the year. “

“ Belvine Town? We can get there by using Drifblim Airlines in Quart Town! If we’ve only got today then we should pack up and head out tonight so we don’t waste any time. “

“ ...I’ll tag along. I’ll be keeping an eye on Darkrai though, just to make sure he doesn’t try anything overnight. “

“ Then its settled! Lets pack up for the adventure and meet in front of the house. Once we’re all set, we’ll be saying goodbye to Crestelia Town for a while. ”

“ I’ll be on my way then. I’ll be with you once you take to the skies, just to make sure you both get there safely.”

#plott #pokemon #star miltank #moon pikachu #kahli darkrai #pokeask #q #ch1 - s2

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romancatholicreflections · 6 years

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13th September >> Daily Reflection on Today’s Mass Readings for Roman Catholics on Thursday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time (1 Corinthians 8:1b-7, 11-13, Psalms 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 23-24 & Luke 6:27-38).

Lectionary: 440

Praying Ordinary Time

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer

An invitation to make the

Online Retreat

Hmmm, no parable today, but an extensive list of directives: “love your enemies…give to everyone who asks…pray for those who mistreat you…stop judging”. This is quite a “To Do” list for a Christian. And as a mere mortal, it is a bit overwhelming to take in, let alone try to incorporate it in my daily life.

Learning to be merciful or to stop condemning takes a long time. Knowing myself, I know I will not be able to get to that place where I can always follow the instructions Jesus laid out for us in today’s Gospel. So, do I just give up? Or do I ask for help as in today’s Psalm: “Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.” Maybe I just got lucky or maybe God is trying to reinforce the idea that asking for help is not a bad idea as shortly after I said that prayer, I ran across The Grace of Silence, (Pantheon Books, 2010) by Michelle Norris. Her description of the response of African American World War II veterans to the racist treatment they suffered reminded me of today’s gospel. Her book provided models of everyday people who embodies Jesus’s directives.

“…I’ve since spoken to black World War II veterans, who like Belvin Norris [her father], endured slights and indignities while and after serving their country. To a man, they’d kept their stories to themselves, refusing to discuss them with their lovers or wives, their children or coworkers or fellow church members. Tales of bitterness or victimization did not jibe with the narratives of themselves they’d created….The treatment of black veterans during and after World War II is a hard truth for America to embrace. Unlike the civil rights struggle of the sixties, which enshrined clear-cut heroes and villains, discriminations suffered by black veterans challenges the country’s core values (page 124)…The story of these men and women instances a special brand of grace: they had every reason to stoke their anger at America but chose instead to seek a higher ground. While they hoped for and, in some cases, demanded the right to vote, fair wages, and equal housing, they were also asserting a much more basic claim. They wanted the right simply to be ordinary: to be able to walk into Woolworth’s, order a ham sandwich and savor it on the spot; to be able to fly a kite with a son or daughter anywhere in a park without fear of retribution…..” (Page 125).

The conclusion she came to in trying to understand her father’s silence about his experience of police brutality right after he was discharged from the Navy, was that he did not want his life or his children’s lives to be defined by that trauma. While his silence carried a high personal cost, his daughter Michelle, was able to grow up believing she could be anything she wanted. His silence protected her and gave her the confidence to become who she is, a successful journalist. Her live was not defined by fear based on her father’s experience. His silence created a space and opportunity for her to pursue her dreams and empowered her not to believe her life would be limited by the color of her skin.

The African American WW II veterans seems to personify the directives Jesus laid out for us today. Their grace and their dignity in demanding to be able to vote or just to be able to use a restroom helped us become a better nation and we have all benefited from their sacrifices, not just their sons and daughters. Their bravery in asking America to live up to its core values paved the way in dismantling a system that restricted people’s lives based on the color of their skin. Not that we are past that issue. It is a long journey to create inclusive communities where all are welcomed. By being “do-ers of the word, not hearers” these brave veterans moved us closer to the vision Jesus laid out in today’s gospel.

Along with Jesus’ tough instructions, I will remember the line from today’s first reading: “love builds up” as I try to follow in the footsteps of the World War II veterans and act so I ‘build up’ everyone.

by Julie Kalkowski

Creighton University's Heider College of Business

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architectnews · 2 years

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Barrow House, Lincolnshire Property

Barrow House, Lincolnshire Property, Modern Architecture, English Real Estate, Building Photograpgy

Barrow House in Lincolnshire

2 Jan 2022

Architects: ID Architecture

Location: North East Lincolnshire, England, UK

Barrow House

Located in the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), this stunning, partially subterranean private property has scooped multiple prestigious awards including the celebrated Grand Designs House of the Year Longlist 2021, which featured on Channel 4.

Barrow House sits in its rural setting surrounded by wildflower meadows and overlooks an extensive private pond. From the public views the barn is modest in size and simple in form, carefully designed to resemble a brick and pantile barn, adopting the agricultural language of the area, whilst to the private side the living spaces are superbly connected to the extensive views over the Lincolnshire Wolds and towards the Bonze Age Barrow. It is one of the largest ’round barrows’ in Lincolnshire, measuring 30 metres wide and three metres high.

Our Clients approached ID Architecture with this previously farmed arable site in the open countryside, to create a family home for their young family. The wonderful open-valley surroundings dictated a Paragraph 55 (now P80), which required extensive consultation and liaison with the Planners, local community and other stakeholders.

These types of application require the design to achieve such a degree of innovation, exceptional quality, and sensitivity that they can be considered to actually improve their locality. A tricky brief in an area of outstanding natural beauty and so close to the Barrow – a scheduled ancient monument.

Hailed as a “worthy and standout winner” of the prize at the grand final of the 2019 LABC National Building Excellence Awards in December, it features 18-metre-long sliding doors and a projecting master bedroom pod offering impressive views over the natural landscape and Bronze-Age Barrow. The simple above-ground barn form is true to the agricultural aesthetic of the area and was built with durable steel cladding – designed to gradually rust, turning orange then brown , as it is exposed to the elements.

This structure sits on the semi-subterranean concrete plinth forming the ground floor entrance level, with the wildflower planted flat roof continuing, and connecting with the surrounding meadow. An extensive scheme of landscaping, local orchard planting, wildflower meadows and new tree planting all help in creating a home that is sensitively embedded within the landscape, reinstating the type of rolling meadow that would have once been abundant in the Wolds.

The planning process was positive, and thanks to open minded and trusted clients the application was unanimously supported at planning committee. The delivery of the project on site was aided by the Client’s family business that delivers civil engineering projects. Simple but crisp detailing further reinforced the simple forms and importance of the landscape that establishes Barrow House within its setting.

Barrow House in Lincolnshire, England – Building Information

Architect: ID Architecture

Project size: 340 sqm Site size: 9165 sqm Completion date: 2019 Building levels: 2

M&E Engineers: EB7 Project Management: Belvin Construction Principal Contractor: CLS Civil Engineering Structural Engineer: GGP Consultant Local Authority Building Inspector: NELC LABC

Key products used: Corten Trespa GGBS Concrete

How is the project unique? Approved under paragraph 55 of the NPPF. Winner of the 2019 LABC Building Excellence Awards, National Best . Grand Designs House of the Year 2021 Longlist.

Photographer: Andy Haslam

Barrow House, Lincolnshire Property images / information received 020112

Location: Lincolnshire, eastern England, UK

Lincolnshire Buildings

Lincolnshire Architectural Designs – selection:

Caistor Arts & Heritage Centre Design: Jonathan Hendry Architects Caistor Arts & Heritage Centre

‘Eyes Wide sHut’ – 21st century beach hut, Mablethorpe Design: Feix&Merlin Architects Lincolnshire beach hut

East England Architectural Designs

Buildings in eastern England

Oastler Building at the University of Huddersfield Design: AHR Architects image courtesy of architects Oastler Building at the University of Huddersfield

Lincoln Think Tank Design: marks barfield architects Lincoln Think Tank

Comments / photos for the Barrow House, Lincolnshire Propertyproperty by ID Architecture page welcome

The post Barrow House, Lincolnshire Property appeared first on e-architect.

#e-architect

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xiii-jb-46 · 6 years

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Mysterious Serpent

A/N I was watching Downtown by Anitta an J belvin. I loved the story that the MV had and I was like why not.

_________________

I walked up to my friend Reggie's house. Veronica and Josie was gonna meet us at Reggie's house and damn did I feel good.

(Can change anything if you want this is just what I based the story off.)

"Wow Y/N you look amazing." Reggie says opening the door.

"Thanks, Is Veronica and Josie here?" I ask walking in.

"Yeah we were waiting for you." I laugh at my lateness. Always me.

I walk into the living room and their sat my two best friends. "Hey girls." They look up from their phones and Veronica sighed.

"Your wearing sneakers to a club? Honey heels."

"But they are so uncomfortable and plus they have wedged in them so technically I'm wearing heels." She sighs and we all leave in Reggie's car. When we got their the bouncer eyed us suspiciously.

"Hey you in the leather jacket. Can I see some ID." He looks at me dead in the eye. Shit. Here comes the act.

I gasp at him and he is completely confused. "I have you know sir that my father owns this club and I could you fired for not letting his precious princess into his club. You know what I'll call him right now." I grab my phone from the pocket of the skirt but the bouncer stops.

"Ah no need ma'am sorry for my rudeness. You and your friends can go straight in." I walk straight in confidently and when the bouncer couldn't see us I let out a huge breath.

"Damn you know how to get into places." Josie says as we grab a booth.

"Yeah not the first time I've done it. Some bouncer don't accept money so you make it like they are gonna get fired."

"Well anyone want to dance?" Veronica asked and we all nod. I walk down the stairs to dance and soon Reggie accompanied me.

"You know you look hot Y/N." We sway our hip together.

"I know I do." I wrap my arms around him and from the corner of my eye I see a tall handsome guy leaning against the wall with his in front of him taking shots. I dance with all my friends but I can't help but glancing at the mysterious stranger.

"Hey were gonna get some drinks we'll be back." I nod as Veronica, Josie and Reggie leave together. The strange man walks to me and the more I see him I knew who he was. He was the one who challenged Archie to that fight thing as pay back.

"Hey princess." I laugh dancing with him. We both dancing in sync with the song Downtown by Anitta and J Balvin. We grind on each other. This what I was looking for. Someone to meet in the night. He looks down and I look up. Damn his eyes we're everything.

"You look amazing."

"Thanks cutie." I could feel the tension and I knew he could feel the tension between us. He leans down and I tilt my head I lips grazed before he was pulled back.

"Back off serpent. You shouldn't manipulate girls. She's drunk. " Drunk? Wow lying much. One of my rules no drinking till 18 even though I go clubbing I still don't drink. They were about to fight but I walked away. I hate the whole South Side is dangerous. If only they knew I used to live there. Reggie left chasing after me. I knew he had a crush on both me and Josie but who cares.

We get into the car and I drive since they are all drunk and Reggie was a angry hot head.

"Why we're you even with him? He is a serpent they are trouble." Blah blah blah. I looked straight at the road and smiled to myself looking back at the mysterious serpent I met at the club.

______________________

"Hey what was that about?" Toni asked taking shots with fangs.

"Nothing." I lean back on my wall putting my hands in my pocket. I felt a small paper and when I brought it out. It had a number and lip print on it. I smiled to myself as Toni and fangs walk out to the dance floor. I chuckled to myself and put it back in my pocket to go join my friends.

#sweetpea imagine #sweetpea x reader #southside serpents #sweet pea #clubbing #reggie mantle #veronica lodge #josie mccoy #toni topaz #fangs fogarty

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morbidology · 5 months

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On the 25th wedding anniversary of Harry and Harriette Moore, celebrated on Christmas Day 1951 in Mims, Florida, the couple, prominent civil rights activists, unknowingly became the first martyrs of the early civil rights movement in the United States.

In 1934, Harry established the Brevard County, Florida, chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The NAACP, under Harry's leadership, advocated for equal pay for teachers of all races, challenged segregation in lunchrooms, and worked towards registering voters of color in the region.

Despite facing opposition, they achieved some success during the burgeoning civil rights movement, witnessing an increase in voters of color in Florida during the late 1940s. However, their activism cost them their jobs at the school where they both worked. The 1940s and early 1950s saw rising racism and violence in Orange County, with the Ku Klux Klan gaining influence and becoming increasingly aggressive.

On that Christmas evening, Harry and Harriette celebrated their anniversary with family. Around 10:15 PM, after a joyful day, they retired to bed. Moments later, an explosive blast rocked their home, as 3 pounds of dynamite had been planted under their bedroom floor. The force of the explosion destroyed the bedroom, shredded the front porch, and left the house's frame in ruins. Harry succumbed to injuries on the way to Stanford hospital in a relative's Buick, the nearest hospital that treated people of color. Nine days later, Harriette passed away due to severe internal injuries, witnessing her husband's burial before her death.

When the police arrived, a sniffer dog led them to Dixie Highway, abruptly stopping without yielding further clues. Sheriff H.T. Williams found footprints at the scene, but they were compromised as he walked through them. Officially unsolved, FBI documents suggest the Orange County Ku Klux Klan's involvement. Four high-ranking Klan members—Earl J. Brooklyn, Tillman H. Belvin, Joseph Cox, and Edward L. Spivey—were identified as suspects. Despite evidence against them, no arrests were made, and all four suspects have since passed away.

#civil rights #history #true crime

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authorklbelvin · 4 years

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I am loving the feedback on the Ebook Cover. Thank You.

Decided I was going to bet back to writing and finishing the projects I placed on hold. The feedback from the cover of my new Ebook short story was a blessing to see. I decided I am going to give the Ebook away for free and see if I can spark an interest in my writing and my current and future books.

I decided to go on FB Live to offer my thoughts and thanks.

_________________________________________________________________

Coming soon is Keith "K. L." Belvin's new book "Lukewarm Saint 2: Fox in the Hen House

#LukewarmSaint2FoxInTheHenHouse

_________________________________________________________________

To contact Keith "K.L." Bevin, MHSC, MS Ed.

for Personal or Family Counseling / Coaching Sessions (1st half an hour is free), Prayer request, Interviews, Panel Discussions, or Speaking Engagements call

the

Counseling voicemail /:

(302) 314-3802 or via email: [email protected]

_________________________________________________________________

For Publishing or literary services contact Keith's Publishing company,

Bravin Publishing LLC's

his website is

BravinPublishing.com

For Publishing info the literary voicemail is

(347) 921-0443 or via email: [email protected]

To connect with Keith on Social Media

Facebook - Keith K. L. Belvin

IG - @Keith K. L. Belvin

Make sure you check out Keith's books. Click the book to order from the website.

from Blogger https://ift.tt/2XUddAc via Naik

#Used marine engines for sale #used marine diesel generator for sale

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thisisheavynews · 5 years

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25 worst Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees ever

Simone Joyner

CLEVELAND, Ohio — It’s that time of year again for people to get enraged. That’s because the nominations for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020 are due any day now.

But before we get to whether newly eligible acts like Oasis, The Notorious B.I.G. and Weezer will make the cut, or if longtime snubs like Depeche Mode, Doobie Brothers or Kraftwerk will finally get in, let’s take a look back.

Like most Halls of Fame, the Rock Hall can be polarizing. While, you can make an argument for just about any artist that has been inducted, there are a few dozen fans will swear have no business in music’s hallowed ground.

In an effort to upset as many people as possible (Not really, but it’s inevitable), we ranked the 25 worst Rock and Roll Hall of Fame selections of all time. You know, the ones that had you scratching your head wondering why them and not [insert snub here].

This is just one man’s opinion, of course. Just remember: They’re all good, if not great artists. But were they Rock Hall worthy?

25. Ritchie Valens

Inducted: 2001

Better option: Link Wray

Associated with “American Pie” (“The Day the Music Died”) after passing away tragically in a plane crash alongside Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper, Valens is a legend. But digging deeper, his Rock Hall resume is pretty light. Yes, he was the pioneer of Chicano rock. And yes, “La Bamba” was a huge hit. But that alone should not have earned him induction when you consider other genre pioneers/one-hit wonders such as Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and Big Mama Thornton have never even been nominated. There were several better options for the Class of 2001 when it comes to 1950s rock and roll pioneers, top among them being Link Wray.

Victoria Will

24. Darlene Love

Inducted: 2011

Better option: Mary Wells

You’d be hard pressed to find a Rock Hall Inductee more lovable than Darlene Love. An essential figure in Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound, Love was (and still is) a great singer. That, along with “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” are her two main arguments for Rock Hall Induction. But you can’t help but wonder why her and not The Marvelettes or Mary Wells, two essential acts for early Motown with bigger hits to their names.

Chris Ware

23. The Dave Clark Five

Inducted: 2008

Better option: Lonnie Donegan

Well, this is sure to upset a lot of baby boomers who still geek out to “Glad All Over.” The Dave Clark Five was a very popular British Invasion act of the 1960s, and the second British act after The Beatles to appear on the “The Ed Sullivan Show.” But The Dave Clark Five’s resume, even compared to just other acts of the 1960s, makes them a borderline Rock Hall candidate. Are they that different from The Crystals, Tommy James & The Shondells, The Shangri-Las or Paul Revere & the Raiders: All acts you could argue for or against? A better choice would have been Lonnie Donegan, the most influential recording artist in British history before The Beatles came around.

Getty Images

22. Cat Stevens

Inducted: 2014

Better option: Nick Drake

Cat Stevens had a great run during the first half of the 1970s, with two very essential albums and a string of hits. But you have to wonder how the Rock Hall landed on his name instead of a wide variety of 1970s acts that have never even been nominated, from Doobie Brothers to Emerson, Lake & Palmer to Jim Croce. Even in his own genre, you could make a better case for Nick Drake who, as time goes on, feels like a better choice than Stevens, given how the former’s influence continues to be felt in the artists of today.

Keystone Features

21. Small Faces/Faces

Inducted: 2012

Better option: New York Dolls

It’s easy to see why fans of bands like Mott the Hoople, J. Geils Band or Little Feat might cry foul that their favorite act isn’t in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Small Faces/Faces are. We’re dealing with a combination of two acts here, a la Parliament-Funkadelic (Though, far less significant). The talent and, to a lesser extent, influence are there. Both the Small Faces and, more so, Faces’ back-to-back to basics style and care-free attitude would influence several acts of the 1970s. But in that regard, the impact of, say, the New York Dolls was much greater. After all, Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood were going to get in anyway.

Getty Images

20. Donovan

Inducted: 2012

Better option: Phil Ochs

A lesser Bob Dylan? Sure. But you could say that about any folk artist really. Donovan’s impact runs deeper, primarily in his merger of folk music with psychedelic pop. But where Donovan falls short is in having just a handful of hits that resonated in the States. That’s not enough to justify his induction over artists who came before such as Phil Ochs or Judy Collins. And how the Nominating Committee saw fit to nominate Donovan years before Joan Baez is beyond me.

19. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band

Inducted: 2015

Better option: John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

Let’s face it. Before being nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame multiple times, most mainstream music fans had never heard of The Paul Butterfield Blues Band. That doesn’t mean the band wasn’t impactful. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band was integral in bringing Chicago blues to white, suburban audiences in the 1960s. But the band’s lack of “Fame” and the fact that an landmark blues artist like Son House shockingly can’t get a nomination makes you question how The Paul Butterfield Blues Band got on the ballot, let alone chosen over Kraftwerk, Nine Inch Nails, Chic and others nominated for the Class of 2015.

Hulton Archive/Getty

18. Electric Light Orchestra

Inducted: 2017

Better option: Jethro Tull

When you take into account Jeff Lynne’s production legacy, then you can make a solid case for Electric Light Orchestra’s Rock Hall worthiness. But the band on its own — I’m just not seeing it. ELO got in as part of the Nominating Committee’s surge in recent years to include B (or maybe even C) level classic-rock acts. But nothing really puts Electric Light Orchestra ahead of other 1970s acts s like The Guess Who, Bad Company or Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Then again, I wouldn’t induct those bands either.

AP/Los Angeles Times

17. Laura Nyro

Inducted: 2012

Better option: Judy Collins

Laura Nyro is one of the first names that comes up when people list the least deserving members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And it’s easy to see why. It feels like her nomination was plucked out of thin air. That doesn’t mean she wasn’t a great artist. Nyro most certainly was. But she feels somewhat fringe compared to almost any other inductee. She’s sort of like a lesser Randy Newman, where as the Rock Hall could have opted for someone with more influence like the aforementioned Judy Collins.

Getty Images

16. Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers

Inducted: 1993

Better option: Billy Ward and His Dominoes

Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers were nominated for the Rock Hall every year since the beginning until they were inducted in 1993. Why did the Nominating Committee have the group on par with the greatest rock and roll acts of all time. Sure, Lymon has a compelling story as a child star who died young. But while the lack of noteworthy catalog has kept other influential 1950s acts out of the Rock Hall, namely Johnny Ace and Jesse Belvin, it didn’t affect Lymon. Maybe in the “Early Influences” category this makes sense. Otherwise, can most people name anything besides “Why Do Fools Fall In Love?”

Stephen Lovekin

15. Little Anthony and the Imperials

Inducted: 2009

Better option: Ben E. King (solo)

Little Anthony and the Imperials’ longevity is impressive. Of all the acts come out of doo-wop and move into R&B, few, if any, had a longer run. But the significance of that run is debatable, especially when you start rifling off the list of influential R&B artists that aren’t in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Joe Tex, Mary Wells, Junior Walker & the All Stars, Ben E. King (solo), The Crystals, etc.

George Konig

14. Del Shannon

Inducted: 1999

Better option: Chubby Checker

It must have been easy to get behind the idea of Del Shannon being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when artists like Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne practically worshiped the ground he walked on. But Shannon is one of those artists whose legacy is really built around just one song in “Runaway.” Yes, it was a No. 1 hit and Shannon had a distinct style. But why him and not someone like Chubby Checker or Tommy James & The Shondells.

Getty Images

13. Bobby Darin

Inducted: 1990

Better option: Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

Looking at the list of successful artists of the 1950s, Bobby Darin certainly has some of the deccade’s biggest hits, including “Splish, Splash” and “Mack the Knife.” But how much those songs resonated in the decades that followed? Darin was a famous star who became an actor. But musically, it would have benefitted the Rock Hall to have pushed for an artist with a more unique style and sound.

Ian Showell

12. Chicago

Inducted: 2016

Better option: Procol Harum

Saying Chicago was a successful band during the 1970s would be an understatement. But even after selling all those records, they never really felt like a larger than life act. And when they came close, they morphed into a lame soft rock act with songs like “You’re the Inspiration” and “Hard to Say I’m Sorry.” Yes, Chicago brought horns into rock in the 1970s. But they weren’t the first or, arguably, the best at it, considering the Mothers of Invention and Electric Flag haven’t been nominated.

Plain Dealer Historical Archive

11. The Lovin’ Spoonful

Inducted: 2000

Better option: The Shangri-Las

I’m okay with kicking The Lovin’ Spoonful out of the Rock Hall based on the band’s Induction Ceremony performance alone. Yes, the band had some hits during the 1960s. But they weren’t a game-changer the level of peers like Grateful Dead or The Mamas and the Papas. And in terms of the 1960s as a whole, you have to imagine the impact of act like Joe Tex or The Shangri-Las stretches much further. Heck, I’d take The Monkees over these guys all day, everyday.

Robert Cianflone

10. Bon Jovi

Inducted: 2018

Better option: Iron Maiden

If we’re talking just commercial appeal, record sales and longevity, by all means Bon Jovi belongs in the Rock Hall. Influence and authenticity? Not so much. I could get behind the band’s induction more had Desmond Child been included, since there’s something to be said for the songwriting on choruses to songs like “Livin’ on a Prayer.” As it stands, however, I don’t see any significant changes to the history of rock music if Bon Jovi never existed, other than the Goo Goo Dolls never becoming a band or there being fewer songs to sing along to at weddings. Why Bon Jovi and not Boston, Thin Lizzy or Bad Company?

9. Journey

Inducted: 2017

Better option: Duran Duran

The arguments for and against Journey and Bon Jovi are the same. Only, Journey fans are even more passionate, and, thus, more likely to slash the tires on my car. Yes, “Don’t Stop Believin'” is an indelible pop song. But you know who else made at least one indelible pop song? Duran Duran, Whitney Houston, the Go-Go’s and INXS, each not in the Rock Hall despite having more influence on today’s music landscape than Journey. Whose getting in next: Nickelback?

M. McKeown

8. Gene Pitney

Inducted: 2002

Better option: Harry Nilsson

There’s a case to be made for Pitney in a specialty category, considering his work as a sound engineer and songwriter on hits like “He’s a Rebel” and “Hello, Mary Lou.” But as a “Performer” it doesn’t make much sense. His impact during the 1960s doesn’t measure up to other acts that aren’t in the Rock Hall like Love, Dick Dale or Jan and Dean.

Getty Images

7. The Moody Blues

Inducted: 2018

Better option: King Crimson

The Moody Blues made good (if not boring) music, some of it great. But this an example of the Nominating Committee and its Boomer voters preferring a second- or third-tier classic rock act rather than a top-tier band from a later decade. The Moody Blues certainly weren’t the kind of groundbreaking act snubs like T. Rex, The Jam or Kraftwerk were.

Plain Dealer Historical Archives

6. Bill Withers

Inducted: 2015

Better option: Lionel Richie and the Commodores

Bill Withers is a fine R&B act with a handful of great soul songs. But even within his own genre, maybe (MAYBE) he rates as one of the 100 most important R&B acts of all time and certainly isn’t in the top 50. The Nominating Committee seemingly pulled Withers’ name out of thin air and voters went for it, despite there being several better options in the forms of Chic, Luther Vandross, Kool & the Gang, Barry White, Rick James, The Commodores and The Ohio Players. I could go on.

Getty Images

5. Jeff Beck

Inducted: 2009

Better option: Dick Dale

If prior to 2009, Jeff Beck felt like a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, it’s because he was as a member of the Yardbirds, and rightfully so. But there was no reason for him to become a two-time inductee, other than the Rock Hall wanting to put together a guitar showcase at its annual ceremony. Beck is undoubtedly one of the greatest guitarists of all time. But his solo career leaves something to be desired in terms of significance.

Promotional Handout

4. The Dells

Inducted: 2004

Better option: Teddy Pendergrass

If you find something significant that separates The Dells from a large group of other like-minded R&B/doo-wop acts from the same period, please let me know what it is. The Dells have one (“Oh What a Nite”), maybe two (“Stay In My Corner”) essential hits, which somehow got them into the Rock Hall ahead of The Dramatics, The Stylistics, Harold Melvin, Teddy Pendergrass, The Dramatics, The Spinners, The Del Vikings and The Chi-Lites, among others.

Ethan Miller

3. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Inducted: 2015

Better option: The Runaways

This concept of Joan Jett as the archetype of the female rock star is a bit weird. Yes, when you think of a woman with a guitar, she comes to mind. But she did not invent that or do anything with it that hadn’t been done before. In fact, her two biggest hits are cover songs. The fact that Joan Jett & the Blackhearts are in the Rock Hall and The Shangri-Las aren’t is a bit absurd. That’s not to say Jett doesn’t belong in the hall. She’s just in there with the wrong group. The Runaways were far more essential.

Timothy A. Clark

2. Percy Sledge

Inducted: 2005

Better option: Joe Tex

There’s a thought among some people that a push for Percy Sledge to get into the Rock Hall was made after he performed at Steve Van Zandt’s wedding. I’m going to ignore that, only because, if true (which it may very well be), it’s INSANE! Sledge has one hit. That’s not discredit his other work. That’s just a fact. “When a Man Loves a Woman” is all anyone knows. Does that make him influential? Sledge was an important artist in terms of southern soul in the 1960s or, better yet, “When a Man Loves a Woman” was an important song, one of the essential hits of the decade. But, in terms of body of work, there just isn’t much else there.

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

1. Stevie Nicks

Inducted: 2019

Better option: Tina Turner

If the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were to admit Stevie Nicks was nominated because she finished first in the “Voice Your Choice” in-museum fan vote, I’d let this go. However, the Rock Hall Foundation has said the vote had no influence on the committee. So we’re left to wonder why Nicks was worthy of becoming the first two-time female inductee. To say Nicks has more than one essential album or song would be a reach. And while she’s an influential figure, most of that (if not all of it) can be chalked up to her time with Fleetwood Mac. The list of women who have had better solo careers than Nicks is too long to list here. So, I’ll just list the women who would have made better two-time inductees, which includes Tina Turner, Diana Ross and Grace Slick.

from Heavy News https://thisisheavynews.com/25-worst-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-inductees-ever/

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lauraramargosian · 5 years

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Fortnite is modern day card collecting, and we love it!

Fortnite is “modern-day card collecting”, and we love it!

It’s true, Fortnite is modern-day card collecting and we absolutely love it.

Yep, Fortnite Chapter 2 has drawn new gamers in, all because of thousands of people staring a black hole for 2-days.

The hype is there and we don’t see that changing anytime soon.

While Pokemon cards and Yugioh cards are mostly a thing of the past for most people, Fortnite is dominating the gaming industry.

In fact, it’s almost like collecting your favorite past card games or even pogs.

Isn’t it true that we spent between 6.50-100 bucks for certain collections and decks?

Unfortunately, there are people out there who say the game is addicting in a negative way.

Although, it’s not much different from collecting basketball cards, baseball cards, Pokemon cards or dare I say POPS?

Fortnite Chapter 2

Fortnite Chapter 2 is absolutely amazing and it’s been a huge turn for Epic.

I mean… people watched a black hole for days and couldn’t wait to “drop into a new world,” as epic showed on their website, getting players pumped to check out the new island for Fortnite Chapter 2.

DROP INTO A NEW WORLD CHOOSE YOUR LANDING SPOT AND EXPLORE AN ALL-NEW ISLAND FEATURING 13 NEW LOCATIONS.

The Fortnite Chapter 2 map has some interesting locations and a lot of exploring, which you earn XP for simply by discovery. The XP earned through playing allows you to earn new Fortnite skins, emotes, and gear to show off in the game.

Since Fortnite’s birth, you have been able to buy what’s called a battle pass, allowing you to earn additional XP leading to even more rewards.

As mentioned above, it’s comparable to collecting cards before the millennials switched things up, and it’s crazy to see how much has changed, don’t you agree?

Fortnite creates new friendships

Whether you choose to play Fortnite or Save The World, you’re still going to be gaming with others (if you choose to fill your squads up with stranger friends). Further allowing you to talk with, laugh, dance and share emotes in a build while spray painting together before your final attack in order to be the last to survive.

Fortnite has always been a game that brings people together. The game has even brought families together, playing in the same room, rather than just staring at Snapchat they get to attempt survival on the island, laugh, scream and maybe cry a little when defeated (at least I do).

Fortnite World Cup 2019: Building better and faster!

Indeed, Positive Celebrity has made a few friends while visiting Twitch and playing Fortnite’s Save The World. We’ll just call him M-Dawg but he’s one of the good guys in the game and we’re thankful for his friendship!

What is the prize for winning the Cup?

Being that you can win a huge prize of up to 10 million-dollars, teens, and adults play in the contender league which now includes, solo or squads (a team of up to four).

In fact, the game is now considered an e-sport! According to TechCrunch, there have been some major wins in contender leagues, in Fortnite Season X.

“The big winner in today’s solo challenge was 16-year-old Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf, who won $3 million for beating out the competition in the solo tournament. And, as sports writer Darren Rovell noted on Twitter, Giersdorf’s prize pool is only $850,000 smaller than the pot for the winner of the U.S. Open, which is set to begin in a few weeks at the same stadium.

Indeed, the esports prize pool is one of the biggest awards for a popular competitive event. Wimbledon winners took home less than $3 million and Tiger Woods won $2 million for besting the field of competitors at the Masters.”

Fortnite Save The World

Fortnite Save The World lets gamers go through different missions all while battling some intense zombies.

You get different rewards that help you progress in the game but it takes a lot of time and grind to achieve and complete the game as a whole. But it’s also a lot of fun because you can team up with a squad in Fortnite Save The World as well.

If you purchase Fornite Save The World before it’s release then you do get a couple of perks and couple skins with a pickaxe. I personally thought it was worth it.

Fortnite Save The World has been growing over the last few months with more and more players.

With that in mind, there’s an interesting phenomenon happening in that game, where players will attempt to scam new players into dropping their loot, mats, and guns, so never just join in and go into what’s called a “trade box,” you are likely about to get scammed.

Fornite Save The World scams are popular enough that I will say there are some YouTube heroes out there protecting the squad.

These YouTubers will go into Fortnite Save The World and essentially “scam the scammer,” my nephew was the first to show me the videos and they are hilarious, check some of them out below.

You will laugh, the scammers who get scammed for their crime end up watching their weapons get destroyed, leading to screaming and crying, and even attempts at saying their “cousin works at epic,” absolutely hilarious.

youtube

Fortnite Rare Skins and more

The Fortnite “rare skins,” are exactly like collecting holographic Charizard Pokemon cards. For example, the Fornite skins today have dropped and they include the one, the only Skull Trooper.

Skull Trooper is just one of the most popular skins to have and we have no doubt that almost everyone who can afford has bought it.

They even have the Skull Trooper dressed as a female, catching the eye of those looking for Fortnite girl skins.

Skull Trooper officially has a girlfriend and her name is Skull Ranger.

Positive Celebrity Exclusive: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle’s Peter Renaday talks TMNT, charity and more!

Fornite skins in Chapter 2 have included a bunch of fun Halloween editions as well, so be sure to log in and check them out every 24-hours a new set of skins, gliders, emotes and axes arrive into the Fortnite item shop.

Be the first of your squad to collect the skin, and be sure to let us know which ones you’ve loved the most in Fortnite Chapter 2.

What is Fortnite Chapter 2 and the new world?

Basically, there are many theories right now trending on Google about Fortnite Chapter 2 and it’s a new world.

As a matter of fact, the whole map seems to be some kind of base, which also includes a bunker and the very house of “the visitor,” which will likely make more sense as we progress through the season.

Not to mention, The Visitor in Fortnite X is the one who caused all the chaos and led us into Fortnite Chapter 2. As a matter of fact, we did not think we’d be able to visit his actual home on the new map.

Further, the house is filled with memorabilia from Fortnite Season X, as he’s brought many souvenirs with him, including the clock from titled towers, a statue from Sunny Steps, and according to Forbes there’s even a hidden basement.

“In terms of his general living space, he has his control center in a secret basement you have to break through either the floor or a cabinet to access.”

Besides, it’s a pretty interesting storyline and as it’s as though we are part of “the movie,” and being able to watch the LIVE events make the game feel even more interactive for Fortnite gamers.

Celebrities who are playing Fortnite Chapter 2!

Richard Tyler BelvinsBen Simmons Lil Yachty Deadmau5 Karl-Anthony Towns Travis Scott Finn Wolfhard David Price Gordon Hayward Chance The Rapper Richard Sherman Gordon Hayward Drake Joe Jonas Norm Macdonald Derek Carr

youtube

Be sure to add us! We love to give free skins away on Twitch!

To end, we’re pretty excited to see what else Epic has in store for us regarding Fortnite.

Finally, feel free to let us know what you think about the Fortnite Chapter 2 in the comments below.

Blessed be.

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jerseydeanne · 7 years

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This Lucy is totally Marisa Gonzalo 2.0 with the eastwoods replacing the belvins. It is a joke, same bs different names. He went with Marisa on a boat trip and to Texas and he even spent thanksgiving at her family's house. Last about 3 months then it was over, people who saw them and took pics with them at a club called her mrs. superman lol see it is always weird with Henry...

This one’s going to be worse, we got intel not confirmed yet that Dany signed her or is about too. This one bragged to CDAN he told her to get a tattoo with Superman on her private parts. She can’t get along with other strippers. Another car wreck.

Thanks anon

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blackkudos · 4 years

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Billy Paul

Paul Williams (December 1, 1934 – April 24, 2016), known professionally as Billy Paul, was a Grammy Award-winning American soul singer, known for his 1972 No. 1 single "Me and Mrs. Jones", as well as the 1973 album and single War of the Gods, which blends his more conventional pop, soul, and funk styles with electronic and psychedelic influences.

He was one of the many artists associated with the Philadelphia soul sound created by Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Thom Bell. Paul was identified by his diverse vocal style, which ranged from mellow and soulful to low and raspy. Questlove of the Roots equated Paul to Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, calling him "one of the criminally unmentioned proprietors of socially conscious post-revolution '60s civil rights music."

Life and career

Early years

Paul was raised in North Philadelphia. His love of music began at a young age, listening at home to his family's music collection.

He recalled: "That's how I really got indoctrinated into music. My mother was always...collecting records and she would buy everything from Jazz at Philharmonic Hall to Nat King Cole." He began singing along and tried to emulate the records he heard: "I always liked Nat King Cole. I always wanted to go my own way, but I always favored other singers like Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald – I loved Ella Fitzgerald. There are so many of them. Nina Simone was one of my favorites – Johnny Mathis, They all had a style, a silkiness about them.... I wanted to sing silky, like butter – mellow. I wanted to sing mellow you know what I mean. One of my favorites is Jessie Belvin – they used to call him Mr. Easy. A lot of people forgot about him you know – Sam Cooke is another one of my favorites."

Paul explained why he was particularly influenced by female jazz singers: "I think the reason behind that is because of my high range. The male singers who had the same range I did, when I was growing up, didn't do much for me. But put on Nina Simone, Carmen McRae or Nancy Wilson, and I'd be in seventh heaven. Female vocalists just did more with their voices, and that's why I paid more attention to them." Perhaps the female vocalist who had the most impact on him was Billie Holiday, whom he called "a BIG influence." He began developing a vocal style that would eventually incorporate traces of jazz, R&B, and pop.

He began his singing career at the age of 11, appearing on local radio station WPEN, then owned by the local Philadelphia Bulletin newspaper. He attended the West Philadelphia Music School and the Granoff School of Music for formal vocal training. He recalled: "Well you know, it was something that my mum would say I needed, holding my notes you know, and delivering my notes. It gave me assurity, cos my mother was 100% behind me and it created the style and uniqueness of Billy Paul. All my life I wanted to sound like myself, I never wanted to sound like anybody else. How that occurred was cause I always wanted to be a saxophone player....I took my uniqueness and treated it like a horn, which created a good style for me."

When I was 16, I played the Club Harlem in Philly and I was on the same bill as Charlie Parker. He died later that year. I was there with him for a week and I learned what it would normally take two years to pick up. Bird told me if I kept struggling I'd go a long way, and I've never forgotten his words.

Paul's popularity grew and led to appearances in clubs and at college campuses nationally. He changed his name from Paul Williams to Billy Paul so as to avoid any confusion with other artists such as songwriter Paul Williams and saxophonist Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams. He explained: "I had Jules Malvin, who was like my play father. He was my manager at the time. He took me up to the Apollo and I warmed the Apollo for six weeks and that’s where he gave me the name Billy Paul. I didn't question it."

First recordings

In 1952, he traveled to New York City and entered the recording studio for Jubilee Records. Backed by Tadd Dameron on piano and Jackie Davis on the Hammond organ, Paul released his first single that April: "Why Am I" with "That's Why I Dream" as the B-side (Jubilee Records 5081, both written by Bernard Sacks and B. Sidney Zeff). Billboard reviewed the tracks favorably, saying of "Why Am I" that it was "Expressive warbling of a moody ballad, by the label's new 16-year-old chanter", and of "That's Why I Dream": "Organ and piano lend the singer a hand in this slow-paced etching of a romantic number".

In June 1952, Paul released his second single – this time collaborating with the Buddy Lucas Orchestra – "You Didn't Know", backed with "The Stars Are Mine" (Jubilee Records 5086). Billboard was again positive, saying about "You Didn't Know" – "Billy Paul, new young singer, makes an impressive bow on the label with a strong performance of a weeper ballad which should pick up spins and plays. The Lucas ork furnishes okay backing. A good disk" and about "The Stars Are Mine" – "Paul sings this new tune more quietly, over a smooth ork reading. Side is not as exciting as flip and tune is not as strong." A few weeks later, Jubilee took out an ad in Billboard to promote their artists in anticipation of the annual NAMM Show – the music industry trade convention put on by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). Jubilee plugged Paul's latest single and noted: "He's New – He's Hot!" Despite Jubilee's efforts, none of the tracks by the young singer made the charts.

Army years and resumption of professional career

Paul's career took an unexpected turn when he was drafted into the Armed Services. He recalled:

I went in, in 1957, and I was stationed with Elvis Presley and Gary Crosby – Bing Crosby's son. We were in Germany and we said we're going to start a band, so we didn’t have to do any hard work in the service. We tried to get Elvis to join but he wanted to be a jeep driver. So me and Gary Crosby, we started it and called ourselves the Jazz Blues Symphony Band. Some famous people came out of that band; Cedar Walton, Eddie Harris and we toured all over Germany. Elvis didn’t wanna join us. I used to see him every day but he drove the jeep for the Colonel. He didn’t want to join our band. He wanted to get away from music for a while, while he was in the service you know.

Paul and the other members of the 7th Army Band, including Don Ellis, Leo Wright and Ron Anthony, used the service to further their musical careers as best they could—careers they knew would continue once they returned to civilian life. Paul said: "I sang in the service, I sang with a jazz band. So when I came out I sang Jazz, going to clubs and so forth.

Paul also did some boxing in the Army – a sport he had grown up with, as he explained in a 2012 interview: "Yeah we had a gym and all my friends from my neighborhood were boxers. Even during my army days I boxed as well as singing. Actually I still go to the gym; both me and my wife have trainers... Miles Davis would always say: 'Come to the gym! I'm gonna beat your ass!' Then one time I got hit too hard and I said no I'm going to sing!... That made my mind up."

After his discharge, Paul formed a jazz trio with hard bop pianist Sam Dockery and bassist Buster Williams. In 1959 he joined the New Dawn record label and released the single "Ebony Woman" backed with "You'll Go to Hell" (New Dawn 1001), both written by Morris Bailey Jr. In 1960, Paul recorded "There's a Small Hotel" (Finch 1005, written by Rodgers and Hart), backed with "I'm Always A Brother" (Finch 1006, written by Leon Mitchell and Charles Gaston). None of these songs charted, but Paul would resurrect and re-record both "Ebony Woman" and "There's a Small Hotel" in later years.

Paul was a brief stand-in for one of the ailing Blue Notes with Harold Melvin. Paul remembered: "Well, I didn’t want to dance so Harold Melvin fired me (laughs). I had a six month stay with the Flamingos – I was with The Flamingos for a while." It was around this time that Paul established a lifelong friendship with Marvin Gaye—both singers filling in with other groups. Paul recalled: "I was one of the Blue Notes at one time and Marvin Gaye was in the Moonglows.... We were such good friends. We never did a record together and that would have been one of my dreams. And you know what one of my fascinations is? What we would be doing if he were here today. I think about Marvin every day. The love I have for this man is unbelievable. We were close, we were like brothers. When I would go on the road out in California, he would go round to the house – he and Blanche (Billy's wife) [would] make sure Blanche’s mother would take her insulin because she was a diabetic. I would heavily depend on him to make sure she ate and took her insulin. That’s how close we were. You know sometimes, even today. I wake up and hope it was a dream, but it’s real – it’s real you know."

Philadelphia soul years

In 2012, Paul was asked how important the city of Philadelphia was to him and what the Philly sound is: "It's very very important to me. I was born here and so many great and influential artists come from here as well. Its a city of its own and has its own sound. I think what makes it different is the drama; you know how they say everyone marches to their own beat? Well i think Philly has its own beat as well, and it's distinctive. It sounds easy, but it's hard to play."

Neptune and Gamble releases

Paul and his wife and manager Blanche Williams were in the process of recording his debut album when they met Kenny Gamble. Paul recalled:

I was singing in a jazz club called the Sahara. He had a record shop on South St & Philly – right round the corner and I was singing with a trio at the Sahara club on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. He came over and said 'I am starting a record company and I would like to sign you.' Low [sic] and behold I took all the material I sung every weekend and I did an album in three and a half hours – a whole album. I had this album, and I produced it – me and my wife. And we gave him this album called Feelin' Good at the Cadillac Club to help start the record company and that was the album that helped start it up. I was singing totally Jazz then, but when I heard the Beatles and heard the gospel influence and everything I just said: 'I can make jazz with R&B.' That transition came when The Beatles came out to America. When I heard The Beatles that was my turning point. They were like my mentors. You know the funny thing about that, when I heard (Billy sings) 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand', at first I said these guys are like a flash in the pan. But the second album when they started doing all this, I had to like take all that back. John Lennon – one of the greatest writers in the world.

Paul's debut album Feelin' Good at the Cadillac Club was released in 1968 on the Gamble label. Largely a collection of jazz covers of songs popularized by others, it was a studio album that attempted to recreate the feel of Paul's live club performances. Neither the single "Bluesette" nor the album reached the charts. The album was re-released in 1973.

Paul's second LP, Ebony Woman (1970), was a more commercial release on Gamble & Huff's Neptune label. Paul cut a new version of his 1959 single and made it the title track. Gamble & Huff were firmly in control of the production. Merging jazz and soul, the LP achieved some modest success reaching No. 12 on the Billboard soul chart an No. 183 on the pop chart.

Philadelphia International releases

After Neptune folded, Gamble and Huff started their third label – Philadelphia International Records (PIR) – and brought Paul with them. Gamble and Huff signed a distribution deal with Clive Davis and CBS Records.

Going East (1971) was the first Billy Paul album released on the Philadelphia International Records label, making full use of the label's regular group of ace musicians MFSB at Sigma Sound Studios. As they had done on the previous LP, Gamble and Huff sought to find the balance between Paul's jazz roots and the funky soul that they hoped would bring mainstream success. Paul nearly reached the charts with the single "Magic Carpet Ride" (cover of the 1968 Steppenwolf hit) and the album climbed to No. 42 on the Billboard soul chart and No. 197 on the pop chart.

"Me and Mrs. Jones" and international fame

With each album, Gamble and Huff were moving closer to realizing the sound they envisioned for Billy Paul, and they achieved it with the 1972 album 360 Degrees of Billy Paul and the single "Me and Mrs. Jones". Both the album and song received commercial and critical acclaim.

"Me and Mrs. Jones" was a No. 1 hit for the last three weeks of 1972, selling two million copies (platinum single status), and went on to win Paul a Grammy Award. The gold album and platinum single broke the artist on world charts, including the United Kingdom, where the single entered the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart, reaching No. 12 in early 1973. In the years since then, the song has been covered numerous times, most notably by the Dramatics in 1974, Freddie Jackson in 1992 and Michael Bublé in 2007. Paul recalled the Grammy win and the song's overall success: "Oh man! I was up against Ray Charles, I was up against Curtis Mayfield, I was up against Isaac Hayes. I was in the Wilberforce University in Ohio, I had to go do a homecoming – my wife and her mother went. And when I see Ringo Starr call my name, I said Ohhh... Yeah... The most sobering thing is to have a number one record across the whole entire world in all languages. It’s a masterpiece, it’s a classic."

The song was PIR's first No. 1. In addition, the label was enjoying considerable success with their other artists, including the O'Jays and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Paul remembered the atmosphere at the label: "It was like a family full of music. It was like music round the clock, you know."

"Am I Black Enough" controversy

But Paul's massive success was short-lived. The follow-up single – "Am I Black Enough for You?" – failed to reach the heights of "Mrs. Jones", with the song's Black Power political message proving too much for mainstream radio's taste. There was and continues to be much controversy surrounding the choice to release this track as the follow-up to a cross-over smash hit.

In a 1977 interview, Paul made plain that he opposed the choice from the beginning:

I think though that a lot of mistakes were made at the time. The biggest one was releasing 'Am I Black Enough For You' straight after 'Mrs. Jones'. People weren't ready for that kind of a song after the pop success of 'Mrs. Jones'. They were looking for a sequel or at least something that wasn't provocative. You'll remember at the time that I told you I was 100% against it and history has proven me right. But though it was a company mistake, I'm still satisfied with both CBS and Philadelphia International. However if I had released a different track I may have reached the heights of Michael Jackson.

Decades later, Paul was more philosophical about the song: "That was what I had with 'Am I Black Enough.' I wanted – I'm gonna make it this time and come out. I think it's true to the audience, cos they look for something to come out compared to Mrs. Jones and that was Clive Davis' idea to do that. I think it was Kenny and Clive Davis, but I think it was mostly Clive Davis." For his part, Davis has said that he opposed releasing the song as a single. Still, Davis called it an "all time great record, all time great performance". Gamble, the co-writer and producer of the track, said the song "was great and Billy sounded great doing it". Paul reflected: "Well you know... For a long time I was angry about it, I had a bit of a letdown. Now the song is ahead of its time. I feel as though I let the song down when I went into my darkness. I feel like I abandoned the song. And I'm still going to get to the bottom of 'Am I Black Enough'."

Ultimately, 360 Degrees of Billy Paul reached No. 1 on the Billboard soul chart and No. 17 on the pop chart. Despite the disappointment over the chart performance of "Am I Black Enough", there was no reason to believe that he could not replicate the album's success or reach even greater heights. In May 1973, while still promoting 360 Degrees of Billy Paul, he was asked about a follow-up LP: "I'm afraid that there will be something of a delay. As of right now, there are two sides actually completed. I have to tell you about one of them — Kenny and Leon wrote it especially and it's a definite single at some point. It's called 'I Was Married' and I honestly think it will be bigger than 'Me and Mrs. Jones'. But for me, there are still two singles from the 360 Degrees album — 'Brown Baby' and 'I'm Just a Prisoner'. But, we are starting to work on the album more seriously from May 15." Despite Paul's enthusiasm, neither "Brown Baby" or "I'm Just a Prisoner" were released in U.S., although "Brown Baby" was issued in the UK but failed to chart.

"Me and Mrs. Jones" was such a huge hit that Gamble and Huff decided to re-release Paul's first two albums, Feelin' Good at the Cadillac Club and Ebony Woman. Reissued in 1973, both albums featured new cover art and were a boon to new fans hungry for Billy Paul product who had already purchased his first two PIR LPs. Still, neither reissue was terribly successful, with only Ebony Woman re-entering the album charts at No. 186 Pop and No. 43 Soul.

Paul's next album, War of the Gods, was the follow-up to 360 Degrees of Billy Paul and was issued in November 1973. Unique in Paul's catalog, it contains lengthy psychedelic soul, song suites and marked a conceptual and musical advance for Paul that did not go unrecognized by critics and fans. And while the LP and its singles enjoyed some success, Paul was unable to repeat the kind of wide impact he had with his previous album and "Mrs. Jones". The War of the Godssingle "Thanks for Saving My Life", backed with "I Was Married" as the B-side, was a top-40 hit, reaching No. 37 on the pop chart and a top-10 soul record, reaching No. 9. It also reached No. 33 in the UK.

Paul's 1973 European tour with the O'Jays and the Intruders spawned his first true live album: Live in Europe. Recorded in London and released in 1974, it reached No. 10 on the Billboard Soul Album chart and No. 187 on the pop chart.

Got My Head on Straight was released in 1975 and was an attempt to return to the successful formula of 360 Degrees of Billy Paul. A collection of jazzy, soulful, funky, pop songs, it reached No. 140 on the Billboard Pop Album chart and No. 20 on the Soul chart. It included the singles "Be Truthful to Me" (No. 37 R&B); "Billy's Back Home" (No. 52 R&B); and "July, July, July, July", which did not chart. Despite the attempted return to form, the lack of mainstream success was a major disappointment to Paul, Gamble and Huff, and everyone at PIR.

Jesse Jackson controversy

When Love is New followed in the same vein as its predecessor and had a similar fate. Released in December 1975, it reached No. 139 on the Billboard Pop Album chart and No. 17 on the Soul chart. It included the singles "Let's Make a Baby", which hit No. 83 on the Pop singles chart (the last record of Paul's to make that chart), No. 18 on the Soul chart and No. 30 in the UK, and "People Power", which reached No. 82 on the Soul chart and No. 14 on the U.S. Dance chart.

"Let's Make a Baby" proved controversial and there were calls to ban or alter the track because of its supposed obscene or negative message. Jesse Jackson and Operation PUSH led the movement against this song and others such as Hall & Oates's "Rich Girl" and the Four Tops' "Catfish". The campaign was waged locally, with individual stations making their own choices about how to handle the matter. For example, leading R&B station WWRL in New York City played "Let's Make a Baby" but decided not to announce its title. Other stations went so far as to alter the lyrics. Privately, several black disc jockeys described the controversy as "Jessie's phony crusade against sex on the air." The disc jockeys – who refused to allow their names to be used for fear of reprisals – accused Jackson of being "absolutely dishonest" about the campaign, with one popular radio personality making reference to Richard Pryor's 1975 appearance at one of Jackson's events:

This man suddenly discovered sexy recordings when several of our black recording artists began to stop performing for nothing at his annual Black Expos. Remember, this is the same Jackson who presented at one of his Black Expos the filthiest recording comedian in show business. And that comedian was filthy that night at the Amphitheater. It got so bad that parents and their children could be seen leaving the place.

The disc jockeys further pointed out that Jackson was not critical of other artists, such as Roberta Flack and the Brothers Johnson, who had similarly suggestive songs like "Jesse" and "Get the Funk Out of My Face" but who were supporters of Operation PUSH. Several radio veterans were convinced that Jackson's actions were little more than a publicity stunt, calling it "just another of his gimmicks, which he will soon drop for another, just to stay in the news."

For his part, Jackson responded:

We have not...leveled 'blasts at Billy Paul.' We have carefully and consciously avoided 'blasts' at specific entertainers and instead have focused on specific records – of which Billy Paul's 'Let's Make a Baby' is only one in a whole series, increasingly explicit and dominant in a market almost exclusively directed at children....Love and romance are part of life and we are not suggesting that these subjects should be 'censored' in record lyrics. Our appeal has been directed toward pornographic lyrics that degrade human sexuality rather than uplifting the human spirit. The lyrics change in Billy Paul's record was decided upon independently by WVON radio. Mr. Paul has not protested to WVON about the change. The allegation that we have 'suddenly discovered sexy records' because artists have stopped performing for nothing at PUSH EXPO is patently false....The fact that several artists performed at EXPO who have songs we find objectionable is further evidence that our concerns are directed not at the artist but at the record.

Surprisingly, the controversy only escalated with the release of Paul's next album, Let 'Em In in late 1976. The title track was a funky soul version of Paul McCartney's No. 3 U.S. hit from earlier that summer. While McCartney's version was heavy on personal references and comparatively light on political figures, Billy Paul's version turned the formula on its head to become a kind of civil rights anthem – albeit one with a personal touch due to the mention of his recently deceased twin sister Pauline Williams. As where McCartney only obliquely refers to "Brother John" (John Lennon or brother-in-law John Eastman or John F. Kennedy) and "Martin Luther" (the martyred civil rights leader or the 16th-century theologian), Billy Paul's version is far more explicit in reciting a list of deceased civil rights leaders (Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Medgar Evers, and Louis Armstrong). Furthermore, interspersed with Billy Paul's verses are memorable passages of speeches by Malcolm X and King.

Yet, just as they had done with "Let's Make a Baby", WVON – Chicago's oldest black-oriented radio station – altered the song. This time an engineer at the station spliced in a parts of a speech by Jesse Jackson as a substitute for parts of King's speech. Chicago Tribune columnist Gary Deeb said the station "mutilated" the song, doing so in order to solidify ties with Jackson, and called the whole episode "simply ridiculous". Paul was furious and said that he had the "shock of my life" when he learned of the alteration.

Reverend George Clements, the crusading pastor of Holy Angels Catholic Church on the South Side of Chicago, presented Paul with an award for the song on Billy Paul Day, May 23, 1977, that included a ceremony at the church with the church's school choir performing the song. When informed of the honor by Father Clements, Paul reportedly cried tears of joy. Clements said:

In an age of cynicism, suspicion and outright despair, it's uplifting to hear the kind of message that Billy Paul is giving all of us over the radio. Billy Paul is telling us that the dreamers, like Dr. Martin Luther King, are dead now, but it is time to let their dreams begin to come into our souls and begin to make an impact on our society. Congratulations to Billy Paul. Truly he has made a hit, not just with the general public, but also with Almighty God!

In all, Let 'Em In was Paul's first LP to crack the top 100 pop album chart since 1972's 360 Degrees of Billy Paul, reaching No. 88. Paul also had his usual success on the Soul charts, with the album hitting No. 27 and the singles "How Good is Your Game," "I Trust You," and "Let 'Em In" reaching Nos. 50, 79, and 91 respectively. Paul's version of the Elton John hit "Your Song" cracked the top 40 in the U.K., reaching No. 38.

Final PIR recordings

Paul released Only the Strong Survive in 1977 and it proved to be his final charting album, reaching No. 152 on the Pop chart and No. 36 Soul. The LP's title track was the first single, reaching No. 68 on the Soul chart and No. 33 in the UK. The next time Paul's voice would be heard during the summer of 1977 was on the track "Let's Clean Up the Ghetto", featuring the "Philadelphia International All-Stars": Billy Paul, Lou Rawls, Archie Bell, Teddy Pendergrass, Dee Dee Sharp Gamble, and Eddie Levert and Walter Williams of The O'Jays. The song reached No. 91 on the Pop chart and No. 4 on the Soul chart. The Let's Clean Up the Ghetto album also included the Billy Paul tracks (both written by Gamble & Huff) "New Day" and "New World Comin'". All proceeds from the album and single went toward a program to benefit inner-cities throughout the U.S. Paul followed up the success of both his "Only the Strong Survive" single and "Let's Clean Up the Ghetto" with "Sooner or Later" – another track from his latest LP. Yet the track failed to chart as did "Don't Give Up on Us" and "Everybody's Breaking Up", which was officially released in the U.K. but only issued to radio in the U.S.

Paul's final studio album for Philadelphia International was First Class, released in 1979. It was the first album since his 1968 debut Feelin' Good at the Cadillac Club that did not make either the Pop or Soul charts. The LP's first single "Bring the Family Back" failed to chart but a 12" disco version did reach No. 90 on the Soul chart and No. 51 on the Dance chart. "False Faces" was also released in both single and 12" disco versions but neither charted.

Paul's run at Philadelphia International officially ended with the 1980 release Best of Billy Paul. This double-album compilation included four previously unreleased tracks: "You're My Sweetness," "Next to Nature," "What Are We Going to Do Now That He's Back," and "My Old Flame." The UK version was a single LP titled Billy Paul's Greatest Hits with a different track listing and only one of the "new" songs: "You're My Sweetness". That song was released as a single and reached No. 69 on the Soul chart. Paul's final single for Philadelphia International was an edited version of a song from his first Philadelphia International album Going East: "Jesus Boy (You Only Look Like a Man)", which failed to chart.

Numerous "best of" compilations of Paul's Philadelphia International work have been released over the years, though critics have made plain that most have failed to capture the right balance of singles and album tracks to fully represent the depth and breadth of his PIR output. For example, AllMusic's Andrew Hamilton said of the 2002 collection Super Hits: "If you didn't live and die with Billy Paul's albums when he cranked them out on Philadelphia International Records, you won't have a clue as to what his fans want to hear. To compile a CD from Paul's singles is to compile a mediocre collection; you have to supplement the singles with choice LP cuts. And with a brief ten-track collection like this, some of the singles should have been replaced with a few of Paul's icy album joints." By contrast, Jason Ankeny said that the 1999 compilation Me & Mrs. Jones: Best of Billy Paul "goes far beyond the classic title track in restoring the singer to prominence, showcasing his versatility via superb covers of pop favorites.... [and] the inclusion of R&B chart hits.... it all adds up to a definitive portrait of Paul in his prime."

Paul was on the Philadelphia International label, in all, for nine years and while he enjoyed considerable success – especially with "Me and Mrs. Jones" – critics generally agree that he deserved better. Andrew Hamilton put it bluntly: "Gamble and Huff did a horrible job picking Paul's singles. Some better choices, and his career might have been Hall-of-Famish." Similarly, Jason Ankeny wrote: "Too easily dismissed as little more than a one-hit wonder, Billy Paul was, in fact, one of the most gifted and affecting talents to grace the Philadelphia International stable – the recipient of some of the Gamble and Huff team's most lush and sophisticated productions. His deeply soulful voice bridged the gap between jazz and soul, textured in equal measure by street-smart swagger and touching vulnerability."

Post-PIR studio recordings

Paul made two studio albums in the 1980s. The first, Lately, was released in 1985 and was a dramatic musical departure from the lush Philadelphia Soul of his previous efforts. Recorded for Lonnie Simmons' Total Experience Records, the album's synthesizer and keyboard-driven tracks (typical of music production at the time) were closer to Simmons' work with the Gap Band and Yarbrough and Peoples than they were to Paul's '70s orchestrated wall of sound. The album's title track, a ballad, was released as a single in the U.K. but did not chart. The follow-up single – a slow jam called "Sexual Therapy" – fared better, climbing to No. 80 on the U.K. charts.

Paul's final studio album was 1988's Wide Open for the Ichiban label. Similar in production style to his previous release, though perhaps a bit smoother, it reached No. 61 on the Soul chart. However, the singles "We Could Have Been" and "I Just Love You So Much" failed to chart.

"Retirement" years

Paul announced his retirement in 1989 on stage in London. But like so many artists before him, he could not resist the temptation to continue to play live shows and record. In 2009 he was asked how he was enjoying his retirement in South Jersey: "Retired? Are you serious?"

Post-"retirement," Paul regularly toured in the U.S. and abroad playing small clubs, hotel ballrooms, Las Vegas showrooms, Jazz festivals, and theaters. Asked in 2012 whether playing in Philadelphia held special meaning to him, he said: "I try to feel comfortable wherever I play, but they call it being a native son and I do get a lot of respect there so it is special. The reaction internationally is great as well, so even in Paris or Brazil we have great audiences. Songs like Mrs. Jones are huge everywhere so I do perform a lot overseas."

In 2000 he released a CD – Live World Tour 1999–2000 – on his own label, PhillySounds. Recorded in São Paulo, Brazil; Paris, France; Bermuda, and Philadelphia, it contained the following tracks: "Billy's Back Home," "Love Buddies," "When Love is New," "This is Your Life," "Thanks for Saving My Life," "Let's Get It On/What's Going On," "War of the Gods," "I Believe I Can Fly," "Your Song," "Without You," and "Mr & Mrs. Jones." Two years later, a complete show from that tour was released outside the U.S. on the PID label. Titled Your Songs: Live in Paris, it was recorded in December 2000 at a private event for the RFM TV Channel at Studio 287 in Paris, France. It includes the songs "July, July, July, July", "Only the Strong Survive", "It's Too Late", "Brown Baby", "Let 'Em In", "It's Critical", "False Faces", and "Let's Clean Up the Ghetto", among others.

As these live albums illustrate, Paul's concert set lists were varied, containing both his own songs as well as cover versions of jazz, soul, rock, and pop tunes. For example, his September 16, 2001, Sunday afternoon show at Gloria's Seafood in Philadelphia featured "Billy Boy," "Billy's Back Home," "Just in Time," "Old Folks," "Sleeping Bee," "Ebony Woman," "Thanks for Saving My Life," "Love Buddies," "April in Paris/I Love Paris," and "Me and Mrs. Jones."

His show of June 12, 2011, in São Paulo, Brazil consisted of "Thanks for Saving My Life," "I Will Survive" (performed by backing vocalist Anna Jordan), "Hello," "Purple Rain," "Smile," "Mrs. Robinson," "Your Song," "Me and Mrs. Jones," and "You Are So Beautiful."

"Me and Mrs. Jones" lawsuits

In 2000, Nike began airing a commercial featuring track and field star Marion Jones – the face of Team USA for the 2000 Summer Olympics. The campaign, entitled "Mrs. Jones", depicted the athlete as a half-hidden DJ talking about issues such as education and better pay for female athletes. The ad also featured Paul's studio recording of "Me and Mrs. Jones". Paul saw the commercial and contacted an attorney, who filed suit in a federal district court in Los Angeles against both the sportswear company and its advertising agency, Wieden & Kennedy. Paul sought $1 million in lost licensing fees, arguing that the company had not obtained his permission to use the song. A spokesperson for the ad agency called the decision to air the song without permission "a very stupid mistake."

On the heels of the Nike suit, Paul targeted his former record company for unpaid royalties on his signature song. He claimed that he had not received an accounting statement from Philadelphia International Records in 27 years and sued Assorted Music, its owners Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and Sony Music Entertainment for nearly half a million dollars. At the 2003 trial in a federal district court in Los Angeles, Joseph E. Porter, the attorney for Assorted Music, argued that Paul was only owed about $27,000, explaining that while the company had mistakenly failed to collect proper foreign royalties on the record, Paul actually owed the company about $314,000 for the costs of recording and producing the 10 albums he made for Philadelphia International from 1971 to 1980.

In the end, the jury deliberated for less than an hour and found that Paul did not owe the company anything. Instead, they awarded him half a million dollars in unpaid royalties for his recording of "Me and Mrs. Jones." Paul said through a statement issued by his attorney: "I'm so glad my path to justice has finally come to an end. I've been waiting years to be paid for my recordings." Seymour Straus, who testified at trial on Paul's behalf commented: "There is no question that Billy Paul's royalties had been improperly calculated for many years." Jay Berger of the Artists Rights Enforcement Corporation said: "This case firmly establishes the rights of singers signed to small production companies to receive 50% of the money earned by the major labels that distribute the records." Chuck Rubin the president of Artists Rights said: "The producers will no longer walk off with any of the artist's royalties." Paul's lawyer Steven Ames Brown commented: "It was a stunning victory for Billy. The jury awarded him $12,000 more than we requested. The years of deception and excuses are over and Billy Paul will from now on enjoy the fruits of his talents. Los Angeles juries have no patience for deadbeat record companies." Brown added: "And Billy Paul was Kenny Gamble's best friend. Can you imagine what might have happened to the others?"

Paul's wife and manager Blanche Williams called the decision a "moral victory" and had especially harsh words for Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff: "The jury was...pissed off at the arrogance of G&H, the 'creative bookkeeping' done by Sony, and at discovering how blatantly and systematically Sony and PIR under-reported Billy's earnings.... In addition G&H will have to pay us interest on that money going back to '94 (statute of limitations). Oh yes, 'the chickens came home to roost.' Winning this case opens the door for all of those other artists whose royalties were withheld or under-accounted to go to court and seek justice, and to know that they have a good chance of winning their case. This is just the beginning of G&H's worst nightmare. The avalanche cometh."

Gamble & Huff's attorney Porter said after the verdict: "It was nothing but an accounting (issue). No one said 'you cheated me.'" Still, Paul's case was an important precedent for other artists including Archie Bell of Archie Bell & the Drells and the O'Jays who also sued Gamble & Huff for unpaid royalties.

Feature film

In 2009, the biographical feature film Am I Black Enough for You?, directed by Swedish director Göran Hugo Olsson, was released. Awarding the film three stars, Uncut magazine said "Olsson modelled his film on Let’s Get Lost, Bruce Weber’s 1989 portrait of Chet Baker, saying: "Paul is certainly no fallen demi-genius to set alongside Baker, but he proves an engaging, articulate subject, with a story that stretches back to playing alongside Charlie Parker, and peppered with the usual racial prejudice. His career is, in its way, emblematic of black America’s struggles over the last half century, including a descent into cocaine addiction and recovery, both shared with his wife, who remains a quirky, willful presence throughout the movie. The pair come across as a jazzy Derby and Joan."

Paul explained why he had agreed to work with the filmmakers: "Well I'm not getting any younger and I wanted to express some things that might have been hidden. I wanted to release my heart and tell people about my highs and lows and I think you get that from this documentary.... It wasn't difficult to make. We were followed all over the world by this film crew from Europe and I got to be very good friends with the filmmakers. I would say things and do things as if the camera wasn't even there. They approached me about doing this film, and they are real fans. "Am I Black Enough for You?" is very popular in Sweden and these guys really knew their music. They were serious about it, they flew over and followed me and it got real personal...and I trusted them. It's very important like the relationship I have with my wife is based on trust. I wish everyone could have that level in their lives.... I am now at peace with myself, I think this movie has done a lot for me because it's helped me get rid of a lot of demons.

Later activity

In 2011, Paul participated in an album by French singer Chimène Badi, recording a duet with her on the Motown song "Ain't No Mountain High Enough".

To mark the 40th anniversary of Philadelphia International Records, in 2011 Big Break Records in the UK began remastering and reissuing many of the albums released on PIR, including Paul's works. They included new liner notes, interviews, and bonus tracks. In the U.S., Legacy Recordings issued Golden Gate Groove: The Sound of Philadelphia Live in San Francisco 1973 – a record company event recorded on June 27, 1973, at the Fairmont Hotel. Paul and other PIR acts were backed by MFSB which featured 35 musicians including Leon Huff on organ. Paul's performances of "East" (10:21) and "Me and Mrs. Jones" (8:34) appear on the album. AllMusic's Andy Kellman gave the release 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Awards and honors

In addition to receiving the Grammy for "Me and Mrs. Jones", Paul won several Ebby awards given by the readers of Ebony magazine; was a recipient of an American Music Award, the NAACP Image Award and numerous proclamations and keys to cities across the United States. Paul received the 2015 AMG Favorite Retro Artist of the Year award, as well as being given the Sandy Hosey Lifetime Achievement Award during the Artists Music Guild's 2015 AMG Heritage Awards broadcast held on November 14, 2015, in Monroe, North Carolina.

Death

Paul died on the afternoon of April 24, 2016, at his home in the Blackwood section of Gloucester Township, New Jersey, from pancreatic cancer at the age of 81.

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