Terrell Carter - Problem Child

Advance Praise for
Problem Child

Terrell, were still feeling the goosebumps.

Quincy Jones

My beautiful baby boy, even more beautiful on the inside, and he sings even better than that. Now Ms. Patti is giving him his wings to fly among the greats.

PATTI L a BELLE

A POST HILL PRESS BOOK

Problem Child

2020 by Terrell Carter

All Rights Reserved

ISBN: 978-1-64293-431-1

ISBN (eBook): 978-1-64293-432-8

Cover photo by Clyph Jean-Philippe

Interior design and composition, Greg Johnson, Textbook Perfect

All people, locations, events, and situations are portrayed to the best of the authors memory. While all of the events described are true, many names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of the people involved. All dialogue and events for which the author was not present have been reconstructed based on conversations with those who were, to the best of their memories and understanding.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author and publisher.

Post Hill Press

New York Nashville

posthillpress.com

Published in the United States of America

This book is dedicated to the memories of
Lela Carter, Oda-Lee Clay, and Mae Burder.

contents

In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth. Now the Earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, Let there be light, and there was light. God saw that the light was good and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness he called night. And there was evening, and there was morningthe first day.

Genesis, 13

S ome scientists would have you believe that a bunch of asteroids traveling randomly through space collided into each other with such force that they started a massive rotation we now know as our solar system, and that those nine enormous pieces of rock that randomly collided are now uniformly spinning around a ball of fire. All nine planets started to take on their own identity, as well as becoming perfectly round in shape. Some are frozen over or full of molten rock. One in particular, according to this theory, formed just the right conditionssuch as gravity, water, and airupon which a thing called life could emerge and subsequently survive. Some kind of primitive, microscopic organism grew out of this randomness and began to take shape, multiplying and feeding off their surroundings. Over millions of years, these organisms began to collect and form different types of characteristics, from insect to beast to animal, until finally evolving into the human race as we know it today. During this evolutionary period, the Earth continued to revolve around the sun, and even more incredibly, its still on the same course. Nothing has changed, no random shifting on its axis, no random collisions with other materials. Throughout this evolutionary period, humans developed into such amazing beings that they have not only devised ways to move themselves from one place to the other in moving and flying vehicles, they have created technology that has permitted flight to other planets, like the Moon and Mars. We humans have also created ships and crafts to take us across and to the depths of the sea, and constructed buildings to withstand the elements.

If youll recall, according to this theory, everything we know, and everything we dont know, came about because of a random coincidence that had to do with some floating rocks that appeared out of nowhere and played bumper cars with each other. Sounds unbelievable, right? Well, maybe thats because it just might be. Personally, I dont believe in coincidences. In other words, I believe that the Big Bang is about as much of a coincidence as the story Im about to share with you now.

I was in New York City at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel for one of the most exciting nights of my career so far, waiting for my publicist to let me know that the car had arrived to take me to the premiere for season four of the hit television show Empire . I began playing the character Warren Hall in the final episode of season three, cast to play the nephew of Phylicia Rashad and cousin of Taye Diggs. Wow! I couldnt have asked for a better introductionuntil my first scene. The camera slowly pans up with a shot of me singing one of the most captivating songs ever, Born to Love You, to Jussie Smollett who plays Jamal, my love interest on the show. After two months of waiting, I finally got the offer letter and was bumped up to series regular. I realized that this was the opportunity of a lifetime, one I had been working toward my whole life.

So here I was, looking out over the New York skyline, thinking about how far Id come and how much further I still wanted to go, enjoying the feeling of success that I had worked hard to achieve. It was a huge moment for me, although I have to admit, my mind briefly wandered to the thoughts of the other actors on the show and how, for them, a night like this was almost routine. But not for me. Not yet, anyway. Before this Id worked with Tyler Perry in his touring theater plays including Madeas Class Reunion, Meet the Browns, and Whats Done in the Dark , and its where I learned how to really kill it with an audience every night, all of which I owe to Mr. Perry. Tylers first movie, Diary of a Mad Black Woman , was my first film. I played the young pastor singing the soul-stirring gospel song Father Can You Hear Me. This movie went straight to number one, which I still regard as being nothing less than miraculous.

But tonight was all about Empire , man. What a show, a forerunner in black entertainment, going mainstream for all audiences, of all colors and backgrounds. I loved watching it and now I was a part of it. In my heart and soul, I knew this was a portent of greater things to come as I stood there feeling like, fuck yeah, Ive worked my ass off to get where I am, and now Im ready. I was sure that nothing, not one single thing, could stop me from enjoying this night to the fullest. That is, until I noticed a series of Facebook messages light up my phone.

Looking at the display and the names that kept popping up, I noticed various family members and people I havent heard from in years. Even before I read the messages, something sunk in my soul, hitting me like a Mack truck, and I knew. Momma died. Even though my heart froze, I gotta be honest and tell you my first thought was, Thank you, Momma, for ruining my night.

My publicist, who always kept a key to my room, knocked briefly, then came in all excited, gushing, Its time! I was silent. Whats wrong? she asked.

Momma died, I said without emotion.

Oh my God, Terrell! Your mother died? Im so sorry.

No. Momma was my grandmother.

You called your grandmother Momma? she asked, looking at me with empathetic eyes.

Yeah, she raised meand Candy. Anyway The puzzled look on her face told me she was still searching for the words to comfort me while thinking, What the hell are you talking about? Youre probably wondering the same thing. Yes, Momma was my grandmother. And my mother? Well, thats a whole nother story. In fact, its the story. I know its all a bit confusing right now, so I wont leave you hanging. How about I tell it from the very beginning? But you better be ready for a wild ride. Get yourself a glass of whatever you like to drink and sit yo ass down. This shits going to make the Twilight Zone look like Disneyland. And dont worry, well get back to this Empire night soon enough.