A Woman Needs Love from a Real Man

Copyright © 2013 by Gail Slaughter.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 05/18/2013

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[email protected]

94195

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

IF YOU ARE A REAL MAN, HOLLER!

I have dreams for my book, A WOMAN NEEDS LOVE FROM A REAL MAN, to be an inspiration to all the women in the entire world. There are real men out there that will search for your love. Women that have been in bad relationships should have an idea of what a MAN is. There is a difference between a man and a REAL man. A man is selfish, inconsiderate, immature and often disrespectful. A REAL man is loving, mature, passionate and supportive of everything you accomplish in life. I also want the women that are reading this book to know that you have to love yourself before you could love anyone else.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Praise God
To God be the glory

I thank God for my loving family. Also, I want to thank God for my church family at God’s Miracle Temple. I want to thank God for my pastor, Charles Patterson, and his loving wife Evangelist Mable Patterson. Thank you for all the love, prayers, and support. Amen.

Also, I want to thank God for my loving daughter Theira Ziegler, who took the time out to edit my work. I also would like to thank God for Amanda Jo Mayo who edited my work so beautifully, she is a blessing. I truly thank God for all of my siblings, I love you all.

We as women should love ourselves first and God will take care of the rest.

In loving memory of Carolyn Slaughter and my Aunt Penny who raised me. To my niece, Quianna Richburg, keep on striving for the best.

Stay tuned for Part Two, the sequel to A Woman Needs Love From A Real Man, where secrets of this book will be revealed.

FOR UPDATES ON THIS BOOK, THE SEQUEL, AND ALL OTHER THINGS GAIL SLAUGHTER-RELATED, PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE at www.authorgailslaughter.com.

God Bless Your Life. Amen.

IF YOU ARE A REAL MAN, HOLLER!

A real woman knows how to treat real man.

Cindy Williams grew up in Harlem, New York. She is a 25-year-old dental assistant, looking for love in all the wrong places. Cindy thought she had found the man of her dreams, but when it all boiled down, she realized this man liked to play games like all the rest. No sooner do you start trusting them, they will have you eating out of the palm of their hand. The last relationship she had turned out to be bitter and abusive. She was tired and just about ready to give up on men completely.

Hank Junior Nelson was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Hank was a pro basketball player, tall with light brown skin, hazel eyes and a lean, cut body. He was intelligent too and always gave back to the Brooklyn community where he was raised.

Hank had just come back home after winning this year’s championship game with his team. Each year, when the basketball season is over, he participates in his aunt’s community block party in Harlem. He couldn’t’wait to see all of his relatives there this year and do some good for his aunt’s community as well.

Cindy’s cousin Sheila Brown invited her to come to the block party that was going on down the street. Cindy was not in the mood but Sheila convinced her to go after begging her for 30 long minutes. She knew Cindy had been through a lot lately, so she just wanted her to go out and have a good time. Cindy and Sheila are real close first cousins. They have done everything together since they were little and Sheila hated to see her cousin so unhappy.

Girl, you need a good man in your life! Sheila told Cindy. You are beautiful and you deserve the best. You really just want to keep going home to your cat every night?

Yeah, you’re right, but there are no good men out there, Cindy said. Cindy works around the clock, pretty much blocking out all love and happiness. After the first two bad relationships she figured she would try harder at the third one. When the third one ended up the same as the other two, she said, This is it! and really gave up.

Every man is either taken, in prison, or on the down low, Cindy told her cousin. "There is no Mr. Right.

So, anyway, what time is the block party going to start? she asked Sheila.

It starts at 12pm, Sheila said.

I hope I have a good time but I’m not looking for a man at this party, Cindy cautioned her. She really was keeping her guard up.

I hear you girl, Sheila said. Life is a trip! Sheila was married to Darryl Brown and they have two twin girls. They have been married for seven years. Sheila is a Fifth Grade school teacher and Darryl is a construction worker. They live in a brownstone six blocks away from Cindy. They always giving to the community and keeping young people motivated. They really are a picture-perfect down-to-earth couple.

Sheila has always been concerned about her cousin Cindy because she’s seen her struggle with abusive, mental, and physical relationships. Cindy’s the kind of woman who always just wants to take care of her man, and she has no idea what it’s like to be taken care of in return. Sheila’s always trying to set her up with a real man so she could be happy, but Cindy is at the the point where she wants nothing to do with men at all. Sheila is hoping that her cousin is at least more social at this block party. Who knows? Mr. Right might actually be there.

Sheila made potato salad, macaroni salad, and barbecue ribs for the block party. Cindy brought napkins, paper plates, and bags of ice because she really didn’t feel like cooking. She didn’t even want to go to the party in the first place.

Cindy was usually never able to come to the block parties each year because she was always working late; she always had an excuse. Now she was finally on vacation so she couldn’t say no to Sheila or come up with any excuses!

Girl, I just want to have a good time, Cindy told her cousin.

I hope you meet a man while we are there, Sheila said, smiling to herself. Sheila is a firm believer in God; she goes with her family to church every Sunday and bible studies throughout the week. She is always telling Cindy that prayer changes things and, even though Cindy already believes in this, she hasn’t been to church in awhile because she’s lost her faith in God.

Cindy is the baby of four siblings, so she gets a lot of the attention from her parents, who usually call her every week to make sure she’s all right. They would like for her to go back to church but they never force the issue.

I am going to keep it real with you cuz, Sheila said. You know me and Darryl’s marriage hasn’t been easy. We both had to pray to God to help us through our marriage. When you love someone, you have to be willing to fight for it! Whenever Sheila talks about her faith her eyes light up with passion.

We both manage to put our love and support together to make it work, she went on. Lord knows I wanted to throw in the towel but I held on tight. All marriages have arguments but you deal with the issues and then move on!

I’m glad you and Darryl are still married because he is a good man for you! Cindy told her. You guys are definitely meant to be together. But just because you found Mr. Right doesn’t mean that he’s out there for me.

Come sit next to me on the couch, Sheila beckoned her cousin over and Cindy reluctantly sat down. She knew she was in for a speech.

There are two kinds of men in this world, Sheila said. A man wants you to always listen to his needs and wants, cater to him 24/7, criticizes you and he can be a momma’s boy! Cindy was nodding her head in agreement. She’s heard this all before.

Now a REAL man, Sheila went on, Gives you his 100% attention, uplifts your spirits, expresses his feelings about you, and stands beside you through thick and thin. Sheila smiled to herself. She knew she was right.

Well, I’m hoping this real man is out there for me, because I actually want to settle down soon and have a few kids like you, Cindy told her.

Yes I can’t wait for you to find a handsome husband for yourself. Sheila really wanted the best for her cousin; she just wished she would open up her heart a bit more instead of closing herself out all the time.

She patted Cindy on the leg and stood up. Well Cuz, let’s go party and enjoy the beautiful weather! I’m getting hungry.

You are ALWAYS hungry, Cindy laughed. I’m ready when you are, She She.

The block party was crowded with a lot of people, food, and music. Everybody on the block was invited and people brought everything necessary to make this party popping!

The young children were playing games while the teenagers were rapping on the stage. The crowd was dancing and gyrating their bodies to the loud beats. Everything was going good so far.

Most of Sheila’s friends were married couples dedicated to the church but Cindy didn’t mind talking to them. She was enjoying herself by laughing, eating and dancing to the music. She needed this kind of fun because she was always working so hard.

Three years ago she came out of an abusive relationship and since then she has not dated anyone, afraid she would end up the victim of someone else’s problem once again. She promised herself she would never let another man control her life and she was just not ready to be in another relationship at the moment.

It’s so funny how life has their twists and turns.

Standing seven feet away was a tall, slim, young man; it was Hank, Jr. who came to the block party every year to help out with the community. He especially had to visit his favorite Aunt Hattie; after all, this was her block.

Everybody knew Aunt Hattie! She was a kind, sweet-hearted, brave woman that kept all the younger and older generations in check. They all respected Aunt Hattie. Even the drug dealers respected her. She always spoke to them