Dreamality is a very unique story that takes place in a small, rural town in Alabama. Deon, the eldest child, is always searching for ways to make life better for his sister, five brothers and single parent mother.
With years of him witnessing his mother barely making ends meet, he promise to make life better. Without warning, Deon soon finds himself placed in a position that no one man can possibly handle. He has a choice to take it or leave it. Desperation takes over; so, he seizes it.
Deon later learn that the position is so demanding, he's forced to place his primary promise on the back burner, and his family submerges even deeper. His mother tells him to turn around, and then, ultimately begs.
But, Deon is at that point...the point of no-return. Most would argue that Deon is blessed; some would beg to differ and say he's cursed. Few would say that he's blessed and cursed simultaneously. Is it a "dream" or will you settle for "reality?" You be the judge of...Dreamality.
While Henry and Eve stood and displayed the most apologetic look on their faces, Deon’s mind had rewound back to the days when their faces weren’t so regretful. He was fourteen when he first met Henry, Eve Jackson, and their daughter, Toni, who was also fourteen. Henry was a truck driver and had spent a lot of time away on the road. Eve helped to make ends meet by doing some of the neighbors’ hair out of their home. Whenever the entire family got together (which was rare), they would watch the news. Henry and Eve were always outraged at seeing young black men’s faces in a negative light. And that light was always beaming on one of the four: drugs, murder, drive-by shootings or carjacking. Black-on-black crime was at an all time high. Every other day on the news, another body was tallied to the list of dead. The victims’ parents were always crying for an end to something that seemed hopeless. Henry and Eve wanted nothing but the best for Toni. They’d figured the less she was around young black males, the better her chances for success…and life. Henry had told Toni that he didn’t want Deon near her anymore. Little did Henry know, telling that to a young girl whose hormones were buzzing like bees on warm honey was another thing entirely. And every time Henry came home off the road and found out about Toni, and Deon’s time together, Eve would say, “I told him not to come by, but, he keeps coming.” On a nice sunny day in May, Henry came home early and caught Deon and Toni near a tree in their yard. Furious, he accidentally ran over a trash can with his eighteen wheeler. The brakes were popped on, and a small, burst of dust shot up from underneath the back of the fifty foot long trailer. The door was jerked open and the engine remained running. Henry’s brown slanted eyes had cut a direct path toward Deon as he aggressively approached him like an old, motivated drill sergeant, with a case of bad news! His arms swung wildly, his steps were forceful and his top teeth were clamped down onto his bottom lip. “Can I see you for a minute, boy!” “I think you better run, Deon,” Toni whispered. “I’m not afraid of your daddy,” Deon said, with a dumbfounded gaze. He momentarily gazed around for the best place to run. Eve had come out onto the porch with a lit cigarette in the corner of her mouth. She placed a hand on her hip and slowly bobbed her head. “Didn’t I tell you I didn’t want you near my daughter!” His forceful tone had soured Toni’s cute round face to a frown, and her round brown eyes were preparing for a water fall. “No,” Deon said, and glanced at Toni. “No? You didn’t tell him, Toni?” “No, I didn’t, Daddy. Why should I?” “Because I told you to, that’s why!” “Why you don’t want him around me?” “Why? Because, he’s no good for you! Look at him! He’s not even wearing a damn belt to hold his pants up! Nobody don’t want to see his dirty ass draws! That’s a bunch of apes’ shit if you ask me! Look, boy. My wife told you; my daughter should’ve told you, and now, I’m telling you. Don’t come around my house or my daughter again, or you might find yourself hanging from this tree.” Deon gazed at the tree, folded his arms and began sucking his teeth. “Oh, so you don’t believe me! See what I mean, Toni, this is exactly what I’m talking-- “Daddy, you’re choking him!” Toni yelled, with both hands gripping the top of her head. “Oh my, God! Mama, help! Daddy is choking him!” Eve simply dropped the cigarette on the porch and stepped on it. She leaned her back against the wall, folded her arms, and displayed the same dispassionate gaze. Deon didn’t try to defend himself. A cry for help was silent. His arms remained limp to his side, and his feet slightly dangled mere inches above the ground. His eyes were fearfully crying out for mercy. Air he desperately gasped for, was quickly diminishing. The vein in the center of his forehead had protruded to its total capacity. Toni’s continued loud plea caused him to briefly shift his eyes toward her. “Daddy, you killing him! You killing my best friend!” Finally, Henry released the strong grip from around Deon’s neck, and he gratefully felled to the ground. “You ain’t shit and you’ll never be shit! Just like the rest! Toni need to be around white boys!” “White boys?” Toni blurted out, like her father had really lost his mind. “You damn right! At this point, I’ll settle for a Chinese, Mexican or whatever! Anything except black!” “You’re black, daddy!” “Yeah, so what! At least I’ve never been to jail!” “Deon, hasn’t either!” “Well, he’s on his way! It’s just a matter of damn time! And don’t raise your voice at me! I’m still your father! That’s your problem, you been around this boy too long! I’ll tell you what, Toni! Take your disrespectful butt in the house right now! And you get off my damn property, boy!” “Run, Deon!” Toni yelled, as she hurried away toward the house. “Run!” Deon shamefully began trotting away while he held up his pants. “Come around my daughter again, I promise you, I’ll go all the way and do the world a big favor and kill you the next time, boy! And if I go to jail, so be it! If you ever find your daddy, you can tell him what I did if you want to!” Even with tears in his eyes, Deon clearly saw the grin on Eve’s face as he trotted by her.
About Larry Purcell
Larry Purcell is a retired, 20-year veteran of the United States Army.
Larry always wanted to write, but, really hadn’t gotten serious until his last few months in the military. After he’d taken a few intense classes in writing, he decided to launch his passion. The story idea he had come up with is unique in every sense of the word. He’s about to take his readers to a place where no man or woman has ever gone before.
Anyone out there bold enough to take the ride? Then hop on! Just make sure all your chores are done…including feeding the pet(s), because you will be gone for a great deal of time. Now, buckle up… and, hold on tight.
Dreamality is a very unique story that takes place in a small, rural town in Alabama. Deon, the eldest child, is always searching for ways to make life better for his sister, five brothers and single parent mother. 
Larry Purcell is a retired, 20-year veteran of the United States Army.