Charity Began at Home, Pt. 05

Charity began at home, p5

Copyright © Catcher78. All Rights reserved.

Author's notes: This is a work of fiction and fantasy. There's no underage sex. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is strictly coincidental. Constant collaborator, Challenger69, assisted as always. None of my stories use AI technology, not now and not ever. There are vague references to non-consensual rape, but no depiction of the event. It is critical to understand the main character's backstory.

We first met Charity here:

Part two was here and opportunity meets talent happened here:

Part three Charity goes to church and meets a six foot nine inch Husky girl-baller

Charity moves into the dorm at U-Dub.

In part four Charity meets Taylor Mackie of Ford Models who wants to sign her to a contract and pushes her towards getting an agent with Creative Artists Agency (CAA). I did sign with Ford Models and my agent with Creative Arts Agency is Jen Tobias and all was in compliance with the NIL rules.

Coach Stephens and I flew into Ontario International Airport on Alaska Airways Sunday October 3, 2021, for the 2021 BNP Paribas Open. She rented a Toyota Sienna minivan and we drove to La Quinta Resort & Club which was a mile away from the venue. I said, "Do you mind if I work on my second serve, supposedly they have fifteen courts?"

Her response was, "After you're loose, twenty five and twenty five first serve, then second serve."

When we got there, I said, "Ima shower and wear my high school colors so nobody knows me."

She said, "That is a very good idea."

After I got loose, it was 'BOOM' then 'THWACK', I was wearing my Medical Lake Cardinal colors. I quit at fifty and we gathered up our balls. There were maybe one hundred or so people and a guy taking some pictures, coach said, "Smile and give them your name and no more."

The photographer said, "What's your name?"

"Charity Andrews."

"Where you from, " he asked.

"Just west of Spokane."

And we were gone and inside

My first round opponent was Mayar Sharif of Egypt. She was tall at five foot eleven, but had nothing on either of her serve. I broke her in the first game and won six-one and in the second set six and zero. We were on one of the backcourts un-televised. I was wearing purple Nike shoes, gold panties and purple skirt and a gold sports bra, my hair in a ponytail. Eighty four percent of my first serves were in and six of then hit her.

On the winning serve in the second set I hit one thirty three. I ran up to shake her hand and she said, "Who the fuck are you?"

I winked at her and said, "I'm Charity Andrews," then I trotted over and shook the hand of the chair umpire. Coach Stephenson gave me a hug and lifted me off the ground. Mom and Dad were waiting for me off court and I felt so wonderful as we hugged each other.

I turned and there was Taylor Mackie who gave me a big hug. I said, "Taylor this my mom and dad, Bill and Aida Andrews."

She shook Dad's hand and hugged mom and said, "You have raised a lovely young woman and apparently a world class tennis player."

Mom said, "Have you heard her sing yet?"

She said, "Are you good?"

I said, "I sing better than I play tennis."

She shook her head and said, "Well I have to hear that."

I said, "Perhaps after the tournament?"

She said, "I don't mean to intrude but can I buy dinner for you?"

I watched Mom and Dad and they said, "Sure," at the same time.

She took us to this place called Vicky's Of Santa Fe. I thought that meant Mexican food, but no it was really rooty-toot and everything was so expensive and I had never had anything like this and then I found 'Chicken Pot Pie' and I said, "I bet this is better than Swanson's Chicken Pot Pie!"

Taylor looked at me with sadness causing me to look down, blushing."

Mom said, "I'm Bill's second wife. Charity's birth mom was a whore and Charity spent most of her first fourteen years living in a single wide trailer home, her birth mom's partner raped Charity, hurt her bad. "We were married then and stationed in England at an Air Force. Bill had shared custody, but being in England did not allow for Charity to come and see us. We came home and you have no idea how much she is loved by Bill and I and her three brothers would die for her. We eat better than what she was having, but not like this, so she likes chicken and salmon and lots of round steak and we buy Turkeys when they're on sale too. This is very tall cotton for all of us. We will do anything for Charity."

The ferocity in her eyes and as she looked at Taylor was palpable.

Taylor said, "I do not have any children yet, but I'm hopeful. I'm very protective of all my models; ma'am and I will keep her out of trouble. What if I order for everyone and have it served up family style?"

She ordered wedge salad and a roast chicken and pot pie, meatballs and rigatoni. It sounds like a lot of food but we all got a bite of this and that and I made sure I drank a ton of water. Taylor got Mama talking about being a teacher and my brothers and I could see her relax.

Taylor said, "Tell me about your singing."

"I'm Catholic and I sang at our home parish and also in Seattle at the parish just off campus. I have a pretty big range."

"What type of music do you like and what do you like to sing?"

"I like sixties and seventies rock plus some newer stuff, folk music, Pat Benatar, Sierra Ferrell, Ray Lamontagne, the Stones, Lake Street Dive."

Just then Jen Tobias of Creative Arts Agency approached the table and I stood up and hugged her and I turned to Daddy and Mama and said, "Mrs. Tobias this is my mother and father Bill and Aida Andrews," they stood and she shook their hands.

Taylor said, "Let's go into the bar, Charity is going to sing for us, okay Charity?"

This felt orchestrated, but I was fine with it, I'd sung this a lot and especially loved Dave Van Ronk's version of what I was going to sing and I said, "Sure."

We went in and the restaurant manager was there and asked me if I needed the microphone on and I shook my head no.

I started tapping my right foot and I turned inward and started to sing softly:

"Oh, Jesus met the woman at the well, Lord

Oh, Jesus met the woman at the well

Oh, Jesus met the woman at the well, Lord

And He told her everything she'd done"

Nodding my head, clenching my fists, I was wailing

"He said, "Woman, woman, where is your husband?"

He said, "Woman, woman, where is your husband?"

He said, "Woman, woman, where is your husband?"

And she said, "Oh, oh, Lord, I have none""

I went up an octave and belted!

Mmm, He said, "Woman, woman, you have five husbands"

Well, He said, "Woman, woman, you have five husbands"

Oh, He said, "Woman, woman, you have five husbands

But the one you have now, he's not yours"

Dropping back down, singing softer, I pointed at Taylor.

"Oh, she went runnin', runnin', runnin'

Runnin', runnin', runnin' on to the city

She went runnin', runnin', yeah, to the city

She went runnin', oh, runnin' on to the city

And she told them, "Found me a man

Told me everything I've ever done""

The room burst into applause. Jen came up and hugged me and asked me, "Can you do one more?"

This song was about my birth mom at least when I sang it. I sang this softly in my mid-range.

"Corrina, Corrina

Gal, where you been so long?

Corrina, Corrina

Gal, where you been so long?

I been worryin' 'bout you, baby

Baby, please come home

I got a bird that whistles

I got a bird that sings

I got a bird that whistles

I got a bird that sings

But I ain' a-got Corrina

Life don't mean a thing

Corrina, Corrina

Gal, you're on my mind

Corrina, Corrina

Gal, you're on my mind

I'm a-sittin' down, thinkin' of you

I just can't keep from crying"

More applause and I knew they wanted more so I sang one more by Leo Kottke called "Louise" also about my birth mom.

"They said that Louise was not half bad

It was written on the walls and window shades

Though she'd act a little girl

A deceiver, don't believe her, that's her trade

Sometimes a bottle of perfume

Flowers and maybe some lace

Men brought Louise ten cent trinkets

Their intentions were easily traced

And everybody knew at times she cried

Oh, but women like Louise, they get by

And everybody thought it kind of sad

When they found Louise in her room

They'd always put her down below their kind

Still some cried when she died this afternoon

Louise rode home on the mail train

Somewhere to the south I heard them say

Too bad it ended so ugly

Too bad she had to go this way

The wind is blowing cold tonight

So goodnight, Louise, goodnight"

There was no sound when I finished and then the room erupted.

I started to walk back to the table, but Mama stood up and pointed at me to stay.

"These are all covers but here's one a little more upbeat.

I was rocking and grinding, I thought George Ezra was a cutie pie.

"My house in Budapest my, my hidden treasure chest

Golden grand piano my beautiful Castillo

You oh, you oh, I'd leave it all

My acres of a land that I've achieved

It may be hard for you to, stop and believe

Everyone was standing clapping, now.

But for you oh, you oh, I'd Leave it all

Oh, for you oh, you oh, I'd leave it all

Give me one good reason why I should never make a change

Baby if you hold me then all of this will go away

Give me one good reason why I should never make a change

Baby if you hold me then all of this will go away

You oh, you oh owe

You oh, you oh owe

So many artifacts, the list goes on

If you just say the words I I'll up and run

But to you oh, you oh, I'd leave it all

Oh, to you oh, you oh, I'd leave it all

Give me one good reason why I should never make a change

Baby if you hold me then all of this will go away

Give me one good reason why I should never make a change

Baby if you hold me then all of this will go away

You oh, you oh, I'd leave it all

You oh, you oh, I'd leave it all

Give me one good reason why I should never make a change

Baby if you hold me then all of this will go away

Give me one good reason why I should never make a change

Baby if you hold me then all of this will go away

You oh, you oh owe

You oh, you oh owe"

I waved at everyone and walked back to the table and Dad hugged me and I sat down.

Jen said, "They were all good, the first three came from your gut. The last one is a hit right now."

Taylor was intensely staring at me and looked so sad, "Is she alive?"

"I don't know, I've not spoken to her in almost five years. She's got our home phone. I would not disrespect my real mom by even acknowledging her."

I stood up and said, "I have a match at two o'clock tomorrow. Jen it was wonderful to see you and Taylor thank you for dinner, my goodness."

She stood up and walked to me and hugged me, then hugged Mama.

On the way back to my hotel Mama said, "You're better than you used to be, you're in touch with yourself and your pain and it's good for you, because it helps you let go."

I said, "Mama you saved me, I never knew love until I found you. Know this."

She said, "Oh Charity, thank you that is so sweet," she was crying.

I leaned forward and put my hand on her shoulder.

I went up to my room and called the front desk and asked for an eight thirty wake up. When I went to bed I masturbated to first George Ezra and then Taylor was making love to me and I had an enormous orgasm. I'd been falling for her since the first time I saw her and she knew it. She probably had a thing going on with the queer girl who pinched my ass during the Nordstrom's shoot. I'm so stupid, who wouldn't sleep with her, rich, gorgeous, empathetic, her smell was probably ten thousand dollar perfume.

I dreamt of her and it was not the first time. The phone call to wake me up got me up and I put on my Medical Lake stuff and went to the gym on the second floor. I ran on the treadmill for forty minutes in a slow pace to get all the stiffness out of my legs. Coach Stephenson came in as I was finishing and said, "Do you want to get breakfast?"

I said, "Yes, do I need to clean up?"

She shook her head no and said, "There is a casual café, splash your face."

I did so.

We went to the place and I had scrambled eggs, bacon, no toast, oatmeal and yogurt with blueberries.

"Is that your typical breakfast?"

I said, "At home it is, I've lost weight since I've been in the dorm. Seven pounds."

"What's up with Taylor Mackey?"

"Nothing what do you mean?"

"There's a picture of her hugging you in a bar."

I was furious, "But not the one of her hugging my mom and dad?"

I stood up and she said, "Sit down."

I said, "We had dinner last night my mom and dad and her and then Jen Tobias was there and they asked me to sing in the restaurant's bar, I sang four songs and the crowd went nuts."

"Did you drink?"

"I drank a pitcher of water at dinner. I have never touched a drop of alcohol. You need stop right now, I've not done a thing wrong and you're out of control."

"Her hand is on your ass."

"Fuck off, it's either been photoshopped or you're perving me. If she wanted to be my lover, I'd know. She has not. I'm someone she can make money off of, just like you."

I walked out of the café and went to the elevator.

I showered and shaved my legs and underarms. It was ten fifteen and I picked up my phone. There were a bunch of texts. Five from Taylor and the most recent one said, 'Call me.'

I did.

"Charity have you seen that photo, it's been altered, we put out a press release saying that it had been altered and that I'm in a long term relationship."

"I had breakfast and my coach who is gay was jealous and accused me of sleeping with you, but I've not seen the photo."

She said, "Check your email we've prepared a statement to come from you that says, that we are not lovers and you are straight."

I said, "If it's what you think I should say, go with it. But Taylor, I'm bisexual. Not something I've acted on and I'm not going to act on it until I'm done with college and on the Tennis Tour and doing runway events. I am not a slut though."

She was quiet.

"You told my mom that you take care of your models. So take care of me, I do not want to disrespect my parents okay?"

She said, "Sorry, I was typing on my lap top. Perfect. Good luck today."

I hung up and threw myself on my bed and wept. George Ezra was probably married too.

End part 5

Coming soon Part six

How far does Charity get in the tournament?