Aiesha's Blessing

Aiesha’s Blessing

Written by Patricia Lewis

FADE IN:

AIESHA (young black girl) recently graduated from high school and is living with her aunt TERESA (young black woman).

INT. TERESA'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY

TERESA walks into the kitchen with groceries. AIESHA is sitting at the kitchen table looking at her tablet.

AIESHA

Hi Aunty.

TERESA

How is the college search going.

AIESHA

It is going good. I received acceptance letterS from two colleges.

TERESA

Great.

AIESHA

I am going to get ready for bed. Good night.

TERESA IS PUTTING THE GROCERIES AWAY.

TERESA

Good night.

INT. AIESHA'S BED ROOM - NIGHT

AIESHA is walking towards her room and notices her aunt's bedroom door is open. She sees a Little Black Box on her dresser that she has never seen before. She walks toward the room and her cell phone rings.

AIESHA

(answers phone)

Hey, I will meet you there tomorrow.

AIESHA looks at the Little Black Box before walking into her room.

INT. RESTAURANT - DAY

AIESHA and JULIA (young white girl) are sitting at the table eating their food.

JULIA

How have you been doing?

AIESHA

Doing well. I received two acceptance letters from two colleges.

JULIA

That's great! I am going to community college.

AIESHA

We are on our way.

JULIA

How is your aunt doing?

AIESHA

She is doing ok. She has been distant lately.

JULIA

How?

AIESHA

She does not really communicate with me. She says hello and that is it. I wish my mother was still here.

JULIA

I know you miss her.

AIESHA

Yes, I do miss her. My aunt left her bed room door open last night and I saw a Little Black Box that I have never seen before.

JULIA

Could it have been a jewelry box?

AIESHA

No, she has a jewelry box. This box has a lock on it.

INT - TERESA'S HOUSE - MORNING - DAY

TERESA knocks on AIESHA'S bedroom door.

TERESA

Aiesha, I am going to run some errands. I will be back later.

AIESHA hears the door slam and she gets out of bed and gets dressed. She goes into the bathroom, washes her face and brushes her teeth. She walks to her aunts room, open's the door looking for the Little Black Box.

It is not on her dresser. She looks in the closet, sees the Little Black Box, picks it up and takes it to her room. She tries to open it and it is locked.

INT. TERESA'S HOUSE - DAY

AIESHA walks down the stairs and walks to the kitchen, picks up a knife and runs back to her room. Using the knife, she hears a clicking noise and she is able to open the Little Black Box. She looks inside and picks up the Bible and opens it.

Her mother, MARILYN (deceased black woman), has written her name in it. Aiesha holds it close to her chest. She places the Bible back into the Little Black Box and picks up the black note book. She opens it, removes a document and reads it.

Last Will and Testament of Marilyn Lewis

I Marilyn Lewis, leaves my daughter, Aiesha Lewis a lump sum of $20,000 and I also leave my daughter our family Bible

AIESHA

Why didn't my aunt tell me about this?

AIESHA places the black note book back in the Little Black Box and places it in her back pack. All of a sudden, she hears a loud noise and realizes that someone has broken into the house. She locks her door and she hears heavy footsteps running towards her room. The door knob turns, someone begins to break the door and it opens.

It is a man with a stocking cap covering his face. Aiesha screams and hits the man in the head with her back pack. He falls to the ground. She runs to the window, climbs out and jumps onto the ground. She runs next door, calls 911 and hides until the police arrives.

INT. POLICE STATION - EVENING

AIESHA is sitting in a room, trembling. SERGEANT MICHELLE (young hispanic woman) walks in.

SERGEANT MICHELLE

Are you hungry?

AIESHA

Yes.

SERGEANT MICHELLE

I will have someone bring you something to eat. You are safe and I want you to relax. Tell me what happened.

AIESHA

I was in my room reading a document I recently found and I heard someone break in the house. They broke into my room and I hit him. After he fell on the floor, I climbed out of my window and ran next door until the police came.

SERGEANT MICHELLE

You live with your aunt, correct?

AIESHA

Yes.

SERGEANT MICHELLE

Where is your aunt?

AIESHA

She told me she was going to run some errands.

SERGEANT MICHELLE

I see. What kind of document were you reading?

Tears are running down Aiesha's face.

SERGEANT MICHELLE (CONT'D)

It's ok, no one is going to hurt you. You are safe.

AIESHA pulls the Little Black Box out of her back pack, pulls out the note book and gives it to the SERGEANT MICHELLE. She opens the note book and removes the document to reads it.

SERGEANT MICHELLE (CONT'D)

Does your aunt know about this Will?

AIESHA

She had it hidden in her closet. I found it yesterday. My aunt never told me my mother had a Will.

SERGEANT MICHELLE

I want you to stay here and I will be back. I will have someone bring you some food.

AIESHA holds her head down. A POLICE OFFICER (young white man) walks in with food and sits it on the table. ¬AIESHA begin to eat.

SERGEANT MICHELLE walks in.

SERGEANT MICHELLE (CONT'D)

Aiesha, how was to food?

AIESHA

Good, thanks.

SERGEANT MICHELLE

We found your aunt.

AIESHA

Is she ok?

SERGEANT MICHELLE

She is in the hospital.

AIESHA

Hospital?

SERGEANT MICHELLE

Yes, she is doing fine. The man that broke into your house is your aunts boyfriend.

AIESHA

I did not know she had a boyfriend.

SERGEANT MICHELLE

Apparently, she has been dating him for six months. She told him about the Will and he assaulted your aunt in order to get to you and the Will.

AIESHA

Where is he?

SERGEANT MICHELLE

He has been arrested. Your aunt will be released from the hospital sometime this evening.

AIESHA begin to cry. SERGEANT MICHELLE places her hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

SERGEANT MICHELLE (CONT'D)

Your Aunt is alright and you are safe now.

INT. TERESA'S HOUSE - MORNING

TERESA is laying down on the sofa. Aiesha brings Aunt Teresa a tray of food to eat.

AIESHA

Here you go Aunty. Can I get you anything else?

TERESA

Thanks Aiesha. This looks good.

TERESA looking at Aiesha.

TERESA (CONT'D)

I want to apologize to you.

AIESHA

Aunty, you don't...

TERESA

I have not been the best aunt and I am sorry. Me and your mom were very close. We had our disagreements but we loved each other.

AIESHA

Is that why you were distant?

TERESA

After your mother's death, I went into a deep depression. My plan was to tell you about the Will after you graduated from high school. I am sorry. Will you forgive me?

AIESHA

I appreciate you taking care of me after mom passed and I love you very much.

TERESA

I love you too and I will always be here for you.

TERESA and AIESHA embrace each other.

INT. TERESA'S HOUSE - AFTERNOON

AIESHA is getting ready to leave for college. JULIA has helped Aiesha pack and they walk down stairs into the kitchen.

TERESA

I am so proud of you. If you need anything, let me know. I love you.

TERESA and AIESHA embrace each other.

AIESHA

I love you too Aunty.

JULIA

Do you have everything? Are you ready?

AIESHA

Yes, I am ready.

EXT. TERESA'S HOUSE - OUTSIDE - DAY

AIESHA and JULIA are placing the luggage in Julia's car and TERESA is watching and smiling.

FADE OUT.

THE END