I was back at my house, standing at the front door, staring into the eyes of the best looking man that I had ever seen in my life. I barely got a ‘hello’ out while I fumbled to open the screen door. Lord God in heaven, where did this angel come from? I caught myself staring and then came to my senses. “Won’t you please come in?”
“Sure.” he said and then smiled a heart-wrenching, knee-weakening smile at me. “I’m A.J.”
“Um, I know, I’m…” Oh God help me. “I’m Shauna.” I started giggling. I hadn’t giggled in a decade. Did I just forget my name? I thought to myself. “Actually, just let me get my purse and we can go. Ok?” Why am I sounding like a complete idiot? I had to get a hold of myself. |
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“There is a Code Enforcement inspector here and she is about to have the Chitlin trailer towed away.” Tonio was out of breath.
“Put her on the phone.” I heard a click and some muffled voices.
“Hello?”
“Why are you going to tow my trailer?”
“A commercial trailer can only be parked on the road for 48 hours and your 48 hours are about to be up.”
‘Had they been watching me?’ I wondered. “And are you over there waiting for my 48 hours to run out?” I wondered if all the other businesses in Hyattsville were being held to this standard. “Please wait until I get there.”
Wet nails and all, I jumped in the car and drove straight to the restaurant. As soon as I got out of the car, the officer held her hands up in apology.
“Hey, I want to see a Black business succeed. I want you to do well. I’m just doing my job.”
What did that comment mean? I thought. Why does it matter than I’m a black business? “Will you give me two hours and I’ll get it towed into my driveway?”
“No. You can’t put it in your driveway. You can’t park a commercial trailer on commercial property.”
“But I can park it on residential property, which mine still is because the City of Hyattsville still has not approved my permit for a sit down restaurant and they keep sending out people like you who are obviously trying to sabotage my business.”
“Can you move it right now?”
“No and do you want to know why?” I didn’t wait for a response. I got mad. “I can not move my trailer right this second because my pick up truck is in the shop being fixed. Do you know what is wrong with it?” The inspector moved back a few feet in response. “Someone PUT A SCREWDRIVER THROUGH THE RADIATOR – THE THIRD ACT OF VANDALISM THIS MONTH AGAINST MY BUSINESS. And that is why I can not move my trailer RIGHT THIS SECOND.”
“You have two hours.” And the officer walked away. |
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The Queen of Chitlins |
Shauna Anderson is the ‘Queen of Chitlins’. Her online retail outlet, Chitlins by Shauna was recently named as ‘the’ source for cleaned Chitlins by Saveur Magazine and her preservation of the Chitlin cooking tradition has been recognized by the Smithsonian Institute. Shauna has also been recognized in national press for her other businesses and real estate investments. |
Shauna was recently diagnosed with DID, Dissociative Identity Disorder, a personality condition that she believes has helped her rather than hinder her with her business success. Shauna Anderson is living proof that a person can remain highly functional while facing serious mental and emotional challenges. |
The Ghostwriter |
Elizabeth Latrobe Place has been writing professionally for 22 years as a marketing communications specialist and non-fiction ghostwriter and co-author. She is the co-author of Raising Athletic Stars, also published by First Books. She is currently working on the screenplay for OFFAL GREAT. |
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Elizabeth and Shauna, along with their 14 year old daughters, have struck up a friendship over the course of writing the book. |
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