To All As the Sands Burn fans... This is ADoP, the founding writer of As the Sands Burn. Back in August 1998, a fraternity brother gave me an idea to write a soap opera about our friends. These friends, mostly Greek, would then have to log on and figure out who I was talking about in the storylines and if the stories were true or not. I liked the idea of writing a soap opera but wanted to broaden it beyond the small scope of my personal friends. I sat one night at my computer and came up with PJ, Bobby, Gregg, Nino, Candace, April, Willie, Ronnie, Buck, June, Miri, of course Mona and the rest of the Ahpla crew. As the Sands Burn was born. Over the years I have acquired thousands of fans of As the Sands Burn. I have been blessed enough to travel throughout the country when I performed with Step Afrika and almost every night I would meet a fan of the soap. ATSB was huge! After 8 years, the Lord decided that it was enough and He sat me down from writing As the Sands Burn. It hurt but His ways are always better than our ways. And He has a way of shutting doors in our lives that no man can re-open. Hence, ATSB ceased without warning. Two years later, I was happy to announce that I had passed ATSB on to a very capable writer and great friend, Lynnette Barrett. She had been a fan of my work for years and we have collaborated on writing projects in the past. She's a bad girl when it comes to writing. I knew coming out of the gate may be rough for her because most of my fans are used to my style. But once she got the episodes going, I knew she could hold her own. I am very proud of her. She is doing a great job with ATSB! (Make sure you order a copy of her book Whispers from the Heart. She is an awesome poet!) So here we are. Back at August. Ten years from when As the Sands Burn made its debut on www.SkeePhi.com. WOW. I am honored to work with Lynnette this month in bringing homecoming to the Ahpla yard. I will enjoy writing the next 4 episodes with Lynnette. It will be like old times for me. It will be like... homecoming. I hope you enjoy us mixing the old characters with the new characters. I know I will. I want to thank each of you whether you are a long time fan, a brand new fan, Greek, not Greek or don't wanna be Greek, it has been your emails and love over the years that has kept me writing. I cannot express to you what you mean to me to be a fan of my work. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. Now stop reading this letter and go read the episode! And as I used to say back in the day...   Enjoy! ADoP Season 1 - Episode 15 We resume our episode this week with Joseph and Melinda, spending time together outside of town at Melinda's rented cottage. The doorbell has just rang, interrupting their romantic evening. Joseph (whispering): Are you expecting someone? Melinda (whispering): No! No one knows about this place! Did you tell anyone? Joseph: Of course not! The doorbell rings again and the knocking gets louder and more intense...... Melinda: Who could it be? Should we answer the door? Joseph: We have to! Your car is outside! Melinda: Oh my gosh! Joe! What if it's Carsen! The doorbell rings again. Melinda: Well whoever it is.......they clearly aren't going to leave. I guess I have to get it. Go to the bedroom and close the door! As Joseph begins to slowly tiptoe towards the bedroom, the knocks get louder and the doorbell starts ringing at the same time. Melinda waits for Joseph to close the door and then walks over to the front door. She takes a deep breath, smoothes her hair down, wipes her palms on the front of her shirt and begins to turn the knob slowly to open the door...... Valerie Edwards(yelling): Pretty Girl! Melinda (surprised and relieved): Diva! Valerie steps inside the doorway and grabs Melinda to hug her. Valerie: Hey Girl! Melinda: Val, what are you doing' here? Valerie: Dag! I thought you'd be happy to see me! Melinda: I am! I just wasn't expecting you. Valerie: Okay I know you are busy with being a University President and all but did you forget that your old roomy was coming into town for homecoming? Melinda: Well, no of course not but I wasn't expecting you so soon. And what are you doing here? Valerie: I should be asking you the same thing! I was taking the scenic route into town and saw your car in front of this place. You bought a new house? Melinda: Um......no........well......yes........I mean.......I'm renting this place. I still have my house by campus. I just use it sometimes to get away. Valerie: Linda, are you okay? Melinda: Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be? Valerie: I don't know. You're acting kinda strange. And you still haven't invited me in! Melinda: Oh of course......come in. I'm sorry. Valerie walks inside and begins to take a look around. Valerie: This is a nice cottage, girl! Melinda: I like it. It's peaceful. So how was your trip? Valerie: It was good. I put on my old skool CD's and I was fine. Melinda: Oh yeah………that’s good. Valerie: Linda, are you sure that you are okay? Melinda: Yeah. I’m just a little tired. Valerie: Me too! So where is my room? Valerie starts walking toward the bedroom that Joseph is in. Valerie: Is this it? Melinda: No, wait! Val! Don’t go in….. Valerie flings the door open to find Joseph sitting on the edge of the bed in nothing but his boxer shorts. Valerie’s mouth flies wide open and her face is filled with surprise and confusion. Valerie: Joseph? Valerie looks back at Melinda who has turned to look the other way. Valerie: Melinda? Valerie looks back and forth between Joseph and Melinda, who are both silent. Valerie: Does someone want to tell me what is going on here? ______________________________________________________________________________________ Scene 2 Our story resumes back on campus, where the members of Zeta Phi Beta have gathered in Krystalyn and Laray’s room, and are finishing up their routine for the Homecoming Step Show. Laray: What is a Zeta! Krystalyn and Sy’Mone: A ZETA is What a AKA ain't What a Delta Wants to be What a GAMMA RHO can't! What the QUES adore What the ALPHAS love, What PHI BETA SIGMA can't get enough of! All: Z-Phiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! Laray: Okay good work, sorors! Sy’Mone: I am so excited! Laray: Neo! Sy’Mone: (laughs): Whatever! Laray: No really, good work sorors. I think we definitely have a chance to win this year. Krystalyn: Right! Hey, Sy’Mone, when is your friend, Joi due? Sy’Mone: Uh….she has 4 months left. Why? Krystalyn: Well I know she was interested in pledging Zeta.  You think she’d want to do it next semester? Sy’Mone: I’m not sure……. Krystalyn: Also, I was talking to Laray and I think we should give her a baby shower. Sy’Mone: The chapter? Krystalyn: No, not the chapter! She’s not a soror so we can’t give her a baby shower through the chapter. Really, I wanted to give her one and I was hoping you and Laray would help. Sy’Mone: Oh um yeah. That would be cool. I’m sure she’d love that. Krystalyn: Cool. Do you think we should make it co-ed? Jovan seems so excited. I don’t want to exclude him. Sy’Mone: Um…..no….maybe we should just keep it for the ladies. Krystalyn: Okay. Well I’ll at least ask Patrick if he can come and take pictures for her scrapbook. Sy’Mone: Patrick? Krystalyn: Yeah. You know he took that photography class last semester and now that’s all he talks about.  I figure it will give him something to do. Sy’Mone: If you say so….. Krystalyn: What? Sy’Mone: Oh, um…….nothin’. Laray’s cell phone begins to ring. Laray: Hmm, I don’t recognize this number. Laray presses the ignore button. Laray: Oh well if it is important, they will leave a message. Laray’s cell phone starts to ring again with the same unknown number. Laray: Who the heck is calling me from this number? Laray flips open her phone. Laray: Hello? Laray’s eyes open wide and her face is filled with excitement. Laray: Z-Phiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! Krystalyn: Who is that? Laray! Who are you talking to? Laray: It’s Soror Miya! She’s parking her car and wants us to come and help her with her stuff! ______________________________________________________________________________________ Scene 3 Across campus, the brothers of Omega Psi Phi are watching a game at Kyle and Armani’s apartment. Kyle (yelling at the TV): Oh you idiot! You fumbled! Armani: That’s cause your team sucks! Armani and Sherrod laugh. Kyle: Man, whatever! And how many games did your team win last year? Armani: We not talkin’ bout my team right now. Kyle laughs Kyle: Yeah that’s what I thought. Sherrod’s cell phone rings. Sherrod: Hey baby… Sydney: Hey baby!  Just wanted to see what time you were coming over. Sherrod: Um, I’m not sure. I’m hangin’ out with the bruhs right now. Sydney: Oh….. Sherrod: Come on, girl, don’t act like that. You know when you get around your sorors, you like to hang out, too. Sydney: I know but I just wanted to spend some time with you before this weekend. Homecoming gets so crazy. Sherrod: Yeah, I know.  I don’t know but I promise I’ll come through tonight, alright? Sydney: Okay! Call me. I’ll be up. I love you. Sherrod: Okay……me too. Later. Sherrod hangs up. Armani: Kyle, you see how Sherrod didn’t want to say I love you to Sydney cause we here? Kyle starts to laugh Sherrod: Whatever, man…..I don’t care bout ya’ll.  I still got my playa card. Armani: Yeah, right! Sydney got you on lock! You ain’t had your playa card since you met Syd. Sherrod: Kyle has a girlfriend too. Armani: Yeah but Kyle still doin’ his thing. Sherrod: Whoa…….did I miss somethin’?  Everything alright with you and Stasha? Kyle: Don’t listen to this fool.  We straight. Armani: Yeah I also know Karissa been tryin’ to throw it at you for a minute. Sherrod: Her line sister, Karissa? Kyle: Yeah…. Armani: What you need to do is go ahead and tap that.  Sherrod: Stasha still ain’t givin’ you none? Kyle: Nah, man. She’s a good girl. She wants to wait. Armani: All I know is if it was me……..she might be waitin', but I wouldn’t be! If Karissa was throwin', I’d be catchin’!  And you know why! Armani gets up and begins to hop around the room. Armani: Cause I’m the Ace Dawg! Sherrod: YEAH! Armani: I like the…….. Just then, someone starts banging loudly on the door.  Armani goes over and opens the door to find Ronnie and Buck. Ronnie and Buck (barking) Armani: What up Que! Ronnie and Buck walk in and Armani and Sherrod jump up to greet them. Sherrod: We weren’t expecting ya’ll til tomorrow! Buck: I know, dawg, but my wife wanted to come early to see her sorors……. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Scene 1 continued..... Valerie looks back and forth between Joseph and Melinda, who are both silent. Valerie: Does someone want to tell me what is going on here? Silence Valerie: Melinda? What is this? Melinda bursts into tears and falls into the couch.  Joseph gets up and rushes past Valerie to go comfort Melinda. Joseph: Linda, don’t cry….. Melinda (crying): Joe, I think you should go. Joseph: Melinda…….. Melinda (crying and speaking loud and firm): Joseph, please! Just go! Melinda starts to cry harder. Joseph: I am not leaving you like this! Melinda (crying): Joseph, please listen to me! Just go! Joseph, feeling rejected and helpless runs into the bedroom and hastily gathers his things.  He throws his clothes on and comes back out. Joseph: Linda, are you sure? Silence Joseph: Call me later, okay? Valerie: Joseph, just leave. Joseph walks slowly towards the door to leave and turns. Joseph: Val, it isn’t what it looks like…. Silence Joseph shrugs his shoulders and reluctantly leaves the cottage. Valerie: Melinda….what is going on? Melinda (crying): What does it look like, Val? What do you want me to say? Valerie: I want you to say that my best friend in the entire world is not having an affair with someone else’s husband. Melinda: Well I can’t say that, Val so if that is what you are looking for, then I’m sorry. Valerie goes over and sits down beside Melinda.  She hands Melinda a tissue from the end table. Valerie: Linda……. why? Melinda: I don’t know, Val. I’m so ashamed. Valerie: Okay, take a deep breath and start at the beginning. I mean…..how long has this been going on? Melinda blows her nose and takes a deep breath before she begins to speak. Melinda: About five months, I guess.  Carsen is the new President’s Council Chair so I started seeing Joe again at University events and it’s like….everything that happened…..it just all came back.  It started off so innocent.  Just a lunch here and there and next thing I know we were renting this cabin. I didn’t plan this, Val. You have to believe me. I didn’t plan for this to happen! Valerie: What about Clyde? I thought you two were going to counseling and trying to work through your separation. Silence Valerie: Does Carsen know? Melinda: Of course not. Valerie: Melinda, this is a mess. Melinda: I know. But I don’t know how to stop. It’s just spun so far out of control and I don’t know how to stop. Valerie: Just stop, Melinda.  Stop.  This is dangerous.  Someone is going to get hurt.  How would you feel if someone was sleeping with Clyde? Did you ever think about Carsen or how she would feel? What about Sheena? They have a daughter, Melinda! Melinda: I know….. Valerie: Melinda I love you.  You know that you are my best friend. You are my child’s godmother.  You were the matron of honor in my wedding!  But this is wrong, Melinda.  This could affect your job! This just has to stop, Melinda. You’ve worked too hard to get where you are to let something like this ruin it. What did you think was going to happen? Did you think he would just leave Carsen and you two would run off together and get married? Melinda: No….. Valerie: Then what? Melinda (in a defensive tone): I don’t know! I wasn’t thinking, Val.  It was…….it is a mistake. Haven’t you ever made a mistake? Valerie: Yes, I have Melinda and luckily, I had a friend like you who loved me enough to tell me when I was wrong just like I’m trying to do for you.  Do you understand, Melinda?  I’m not judging you, Melinda.  We all make mistakes. What I am trying to do is stop you from ruining your career and your life!  I know that you and Joe have a history, but it’s just that, Linda…..history. I understand what you’ve been through with him. I know it was special. I was there from day one……..but he’s married, Melinda….. Melinda starts to cry again Melinda: Oh, Val! What have I done? Melinda starts wailing and she feels her head begin to pound and her stomach tighten up into knots.  Her breathing gets rapid and deep, and she curls up into a ball, hiding her face in her own lap.  Valerie moves closer to her and grabs her friend to hug her.  Valerie begins to cry as well. Valerie (crying): It’s going to be okay, Linda……..get it all out…….I’m here for you….I love you…. Melinda lays her head onto Valerie’s shoulder and cries all over Valerie’s blouse.  Valerie hugs Melinda closer and the two of them sit there on the couch, crying together for hours.  Melinda cries for mistakes made, love lost, and obvious regrets.  Valerie cries for Melinda, and for all the pain that she knows her friend is feeling. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Scene 2 continued........ The ladies of Zeta Phi Beta, Sy’Mone, Krystalyn and Laray rush downstairs to welcome their alumni soror Miya Ferguson back to the campus for homecoming. Sy’Mone: I can’t wait to meet Soror Miya. I’ve heard so much about her! I can’t believe crazy Mona is her sister! Laray: Yeah! Aint that a trip? Sy’Mone: Wow! Isn’t that hot that the president of the university’s daughter is a soror! Krystalyn: It’s real hot! Maybe it will win us the step show! (Laughter) Laray: If that’s the case, it should help the AKAs more than us. Her other daughter is an AKA and she is one too. Krystalyn: Yeah but her other daughter is crazy! (Laughter) The sorors exit the building and see Miya and another soror at the trunk of the car. Laray: Z-Phiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! Miya & Sharonda: So Sweeeeeeeeeeet! The younger sorors rush to greet their older sorors. Everyone is hugging and introducing Sy’Mone. Sharonda: It’s nice to meet you soror. Sy’Mone: You too! I’m so happy to meet my prophytes! I love you all! (Laughter) Miya: We love you too. Now grab these bags. (Laughter) Sharonda: So what’s the happening party for homecoming? Which one is everybody talking about? Krystalyn: The Kappa joint. Theirs is gonna be hot! Sharonda: Then I’m there! Laray: Miya, what in the world is up with your big sister? Did you hear about the dumb rules she… Miya: I know! I know! Don’t remind me please! I keep telling sorors that I was found on the side of the road in a plastic bag! Mona is not my sister. (Laughter) Sharonda: Yeah okay, I’m gonna tell Aunt Linda you said that! Miya: So… (Silence) Miya: …okay just playin’! Just as the Zetas get to the front of the building, they hear another soror behind them. Z-Phiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! They turn around. Laray: Deniece! Deniece is throwing up the sign from the passenger side of her car. Her husband begins to park. Miya: Oh my gosh! Deniece! Miya runs past everyone to greet Deniece. The other sorors follow toward the car. Deniece gets out slowly. Miya: Hi Niecey! Hi! Deniece: Miya! Sy’Mone whispers to Sharonda. Sy’Mone: Wow, I’ve seen pictures of Deniece. She ummm… Sharonda: Gained weight? She’s pregnant, Neo. Sy’Mone: Oh… wow… ummm… I think I heard about all the drama with that situation… I think. Sharonda looks at Sy’Mone and smiles. Sharonda: You want me to fill you in on the drama? Just ask. Sy’Mone laughs Sy’Mone: Yeah. Fill a sister in. Sharonda: You’re probably gonna hear about this all weekend, if we hook up with frat at least. Crazy tension. But, to make a very long story short… when we were all here in school, Deniece was dating frat named Brandon. They were like the it couple on campus. He’s a twin. They all grew up together, high school, then Ahpla. They were very much in love. (Silence) Sy’Mone: Okay… Sharonda: They broke up… and she fell in love and married his twin brother… Brendan. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Scene 3 continued..... Scene 3B Buck’s wife, June is walking across campus. June thinks: “Oh my God… it’s been so long since I’ve been here. The students look like… little kids. Two students walk by talking about T Pain. June thinks: T who? June walks up to the AKA plot and she stops. June thinks: “So let my life like the Ivy be, a help to man and a wreath for thee.” She wipes her eye and looks up at the clock on the library. June thinks: I gotta hurry up if I’m gonna catch PJ in her office! She continues on toward the Miner Graduate Hall to see her line sister PJ. As she enters the building, she sees PJ in her office packing up her things. She sneaks up behind her and puts her hands over her eyes. PJ: What the… June: Who is your favorite line sister? The one who loves you the best and misses you the most? PJ: Ummmmmm… Mona? June: What! PJ turns around and hugs June. PJ: Hey Girl! June: Hi sands! Good to see you! PJ: So you and Buck did decide to come early huh? June: Yeah, he wanted to be with his bruhs. You know how they are. PJ: Yeah. But that’s good, gives us an extra day to catch up. April will be here tonight and Katrice lands in the morning. June: Cool! Cool! My lovely sorors! PJ: Yeah! June: So how’s grad school? PJ: It’s funny, I thought I had a lot of work when I was in undergrad. I would love to go back to that amount of work now. Not to mention, I'm broke! June laughs. PJ: How’s married life? June: It’s wonderful but definitely a learning experience. Buck can be so hard headed. PJ: All men are. June: You’re not still man-hating are you? PJ: Who told you I hate men? I don’t hate men, I hate Mona. They both laugh as there is a knock on the door. Gregg is leaning against the open office door. Gregg: Excuse me ladies… but can you please direct me to the Alpha Kappa Alpha homecoming reception? June: Gregg! Gregg: Hey June. Gregg and June hug. He looks over her shoulder at PJ who is staring at him. Gregg: How’s Buck? June: He’s great. You’ll see him on the yard. Gregg: Good. (Silence) June: Uh, I’ll let you two have a minute. Peej I’ll be outside. PJ: Okay sands, I’ll be right out. June smiles as she walks out of the office. Gregg slowly closes the door. Gregg: Peanut butter and jelly! PJ gives him a smirk. Gregg: It’s good to see you. You look great. PJ walks toward Gregg and he opens his arms. She walks into his arms and he wraps them around her. They hug slow and long. Gregg whispers: I missed you baby. (Silence) PJ steps back. As Gregg leans in for a kiss, PJ punches him in the mouth...   Back to Episode List ______________________________________________________________________________________

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