Chapter Six: 1994 Poetry Convention In Washington, D. C.

Dominica and her loved ones attend a poetry convention held in Washington, D. C.

In the summer of 1994, I went to a poetry convention in Washington, D. C. with Aunt Doris, Grandma Feldman, my mother, my brother Avery, and his girlfriend Dee Dee Wilson. Dee Dee's mom and her sister Merredith, gave us a ride to the Kalamazoo Airport in their van. At the airport, Avery was in a bitchy moon, accusing me of living off of Aunt Doris's money. "What the f**k. Aunt doris is using her own money from her inheritance for this trip, when it could be used for something constructive. She's paying for all of us to go to a f****n' poetry convention whose contest your not going to win anyway. Why the f**k don't you get off of your God damn lazy a*s and get a job to earn money to pay your student loans and credit cards, instead of waiting for Aunt doris to pay them off." he shouted while knocking my suitcases out of my hands and sending them crashing to the floor.

Dee Dee and Merredith got furious with Avery. Merredith was the first to speak up. "My God, Avery, that's no way to talk to your sister. Chill out." she said sternly.

"That's no way to treat anyone. And furthermore, Avery, as you'll recall, you are the one who ran up Dominica's credit cards when you took some b*****s out for a good time years before you ever met me. In fact, you got money from your sister and ran up her credit cards by lying to her about what you really needed the money for, not to mention the fact that you still ask your Uncle Davis and Aunt Doris for money all of the time. Not only that, but my mom just gave you a hundred dollars for spending money for our stay in Washington, D. C, so shut the f**k up when it comes to anyone else living off the money of others." Dee Dee shouted.

Avery started cooling down his temper by the time we got on the airplane. Like me, he got a seat closest to the window. We took pictures of the land below as it got smaller and smaller and disappeared into the clouds. When we arrived at the Stanton-Camden Five Star Hotel, our rooms weren't ready yet. Avery got impatient. "God Damn. Aunt Doris, you pay out good money for our hotel rooms, and now when we get here, the f****n' receptionist tells us that the rooms aren't ready yet. What the f**k are we suppossed to do for the hour it's going to take for them to get our rooms ready? We have to sit in the f****n' lobby with our suitcases and wait."

By that time, Dee Dee had had it with Avery, and she told him off while clenching her teeth. "Avery, chill. There are lots of people here. The help is doing the best they can. In the meantime, we can go through the line to pick up convention materials made available to the guests, while your sister goes in the other line to get the special materials made available for the poets. The least you can do is thank your Aunt Doris for taking us all on this beautiful trip, and you can graciously congratulate your sister on the beautiful award she will be receiving when she is honored tomorrow during the time of which she is to give her reading of her poem. Since the start of this trip, I have yet to hear you do or say anything, other than b***h and holler at your sister, your Aunt Doris and at your grandmother."

Just as we were all about to get in line for the convention materials, the bellhop informed us that, "your rooms are ready, folks. I apologize for any inconvenience. Now, if you'll follow me, I'll gladly take you all up to your rooms."

Once we got settled into the hotel rooms, we went downstairs to get our convention materials. I went into the special line that was for the poets. Mr. Ackley was in charge of the Educational Department for the convention. He handed me my three cassette tapes that featured my poem Rain Upon My Soul on them. He instructed me as to which line I was to go to next. Because my name fell under the category of M thru P, I was to told, "you would go to the line of Mrs. Thomas J. Fenton, Sr."

That can't be the President of the United States's wife he referred me to, could it? Maybe I didn't hear Mr. Ackley right. I thought to myself. But sure enough, no sooner than I got into my designated line and made it to the table, standing before me was Mrs. Margaret Fenton. She spoke to me graciously. "May I have your name, please?"

"My name is Dominica Moore, ma'am." I happily responded.

She flipped through the files, and pulled out my materials and handed them to me, and said, "Here you are, young lady. And I hope you enjoy you stay here in America's Capitol."

"Thank you, ma'am. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." I told her while accepting the materials from her. I trembled with joy as I left the line. I wanted to get her autograph and get my picture taken with her, but I didn't dare ask, because the lady was working and there were lots of other people behind me waiting to receive their convention materials.

My mother arrived at the hotel the following afternoon. We met up with her in the hotel lobby upon her arrival with the shuttle bus. Avery took her suitcases to carry them up to her hotel room she was to share with Aunt Doris, Grandma Feldman, and me, after he introduced her to Dee Dee. My mother pissed me off with her over enthusiastic response upon her meeting Dee Dee for the first time. "Honey, it is so nice to finally meet you. Avery has told me so much about you when we chatted on the telephone. And I'm pleased to welcome you to our family." She then embraced Dee Dee, which made me want to puke, because she had never been that way with me, her own daughter. From there, she embraced Avery, and said, "Avery, I would be proud and honored to have Dee Dee for my daughter-in-law." The way my mother talked, one would have thought she didn't already have a daughter of her very own. She gave me a nonchalant helllo, as if I were a stranger or an outsider. Then she greeted Aunt Doris and Grandma Feldman. From there, we went up to our hotel rooms, where my mother got settled in. She then asked Avery and Dee Dee how they met and asked if they had any wedding plans, while ignoring me the entire time. My mother just pushed me aside as if I were in the way. I especially got that hint when she said, "I'm trying to talk to the young lady," in a harsh tone after I asked her how her plane ride was, and about the weather in Florida. This trip was supposed to be for me. She was supposed to be in Washington, D. C. for me, because of the award I was to receive. But no. Her main purpose for coming was to get to acquainted, "with my future daughter-in-law." Avery and Dee Dee had never discussed wedding plans or the notion of marriage, especially considering the fact that they had only been going together for almost a year. My mother had some nerve, especially when she never gave a thought to the way her own words and actions made me feel throughout the entire time she was in Washington, D. C. with us.

From there, we went downstairs to attend some convention activities. First, we went to the Poetry Marathon, where poets signed up to read their pieces of poetry. From there we went to a seminar that was given by star of the screen and stage, actress Ms. Vicky Dawson. She talked a little bit about her life, how she got started in show business, and what it was like growing up poor. She also talked about how her mother has been her biggest inspiration. I asked her if she had ever written any books of poetry, herself, but she said no. Like Mrs. Margaret Fenton, Ms. Dawson was a beautiful, gracious, lady. She was at the convention with her husband and her grandchildren. Ms. Vicky Dawson then signed autographs. She said, "I will also be available at seven-thirty tonight to sign autographs and take pictures with folks who have to leave the seminar early to give their readings and receive their awards."

When my turn came to present my poem and receive my award, I read my poem Rain Upon My Soul. "Although days are somber, the nights are cold. I hope to grow with every layer that is peeled away from my soul, and let my spirit bleed out the rain that consumes my tired heart. Let long days and chilled nights be not the darkness of my life, but, instead, let it rain upon my soul and become the shield to protect me, and transform into the light that guides me."

As I gave my presentation of my poem, my mother filmed me with her video camera. Avery, Dee Dee, Grandma Feldman and Aunt Doris took pictures with their own cameras. From there, we went upstairs to our hotel rooms, changed our clothes and went back to the lecture hall to get autographs from Ms. Vicky Dawson, have our pictures taken with her.

Author's Note

What do you think of the dialogue?

Reviews

[Lyndie Bolt aka JustRac..]

Ok par #1 we are finally back to Grandma Feldman, quite a jump from Ch 5. Para #3 we don't know who is speaking unil the end of the paragraph-- needs to be sooner- and what is DD doing, what does she sound like, what does she look like-- use these descriptors to break up her sermon. I wouldn't think Avery would calm down-- more likely to fume in quiet.

Why in hell doesn't Doris get pissed at Avery's rant? Why is DD the one who speaks up? I'd also think shed tell him to "Shut the f**k up" Then maybe temper it with "chill" and then either she or Doris could give the speach on behalf of the hotel staff. DD's speach is to long!

You never give Avery and DD's reactions to the mother gushing. How does Grandma and Doris react to the mothers behavior?

People know that there wasn't a President Fenton during the Gulf war-- is this character important? If not make her someone elso, or a real person at a real event that ook place during this time. Same with Dawson-- calling her " star of the screen and stage, actress Ms. Vicky Dawson" seems contrived and awkward. Once intorduced you don't have to refer to a character by a whole name a again. Call he Ms Dawson and Mrs. Fenton, unless it is a part of a spoken conversation (introductions)

Is this the whole poem? What kind of award did it get? How did Dom feel about reciting it in front of this audience and getting the award? Again you neglected to give me a true insight to what she was feeling. Got how her mon affects her, but what about the rest? Avery seems like a loud mouth abnoxious selfish brat, but Dominica is coming off as very self-involved, kind of flakey but tortured. Is this how you want them to look? (ch 1-6 so far)

Lyn