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Morning Passion, Blood Stained Sheets, And Crime Scene Drama: The Day I Lost My Best Friends

Her hair was a natural Honey Blonde. The golden locks ran the length of her back and her appearance commanded the attention of every male who’s eyes ever rested upon her. The small petite frame of Lydia Franklin was a sight to behold, many would say. To me PL (Pretty Lydia) was family. I met her during my teen years when I worked  with her Dad at Tony Linhart’s (Baltimore Colts Great) Direct Marketing Association. Summer BBQ invites to the Franklin Home in Sandtown resulted in PL and I bonding, hanging out, and becoming inseparable it seems. Lydia would use me to get out of the house. Her Dad only trusted me taking his Daughter out because he saw me as a good Kid. That would have ended had he known we would separate as soon as we were out of his eye sight! We had to be careful though, sometimes when I came over Mr. franklin would quiz me about what Lydia and I had been up too. Teddy Franklin was a Tall lumberjack looking dude with Native American and Trinidadian Heritage. Needless to say, Ted Franklin walked with a big stick. One summer as Lydia and I walked along the Harbor in Fells Point, we bumped into a childhood friend of mine name Steve Lancaster. I began to introduce PL and Stevie but realize that there was no need too. Their eyes were affixed upon each other as if and act of God was happening right before my eyes. I have heard the old cliche “Love at first sight” before, but if I have ever experienced it in this life, it was the day that Ted’s little girl met this poor kid from East Baltimore. I spent the next few weeks fielding calls from PL and Stevie, each asking had I seen the other, and begging me to play match maker. I told Stevie and Lydia the exact same thing you guys have already met what do you guys need me for. I hatched a plan to arrange another meeting with them which resulted in the exchange of their phone numbers and the rest was history. I had a hard time selling Steve Lancaster to Big Ted Franklin though. I remember as it were only a few hours ago, the day I brought Stevie to a BBQ in Sandtown. Big Ted kept asking me who is this guy Lydia been with all day? I eventually had a sidebar with him about Stevie, and I got the shock of my life. The entire time I was briefing him about PL’s New Boyfriend, Mr. Franklin had a look of complete disdain. I actually wondered if I would leave the Franklin Home alive, because I knew that Lydia was his entire World. After I was done Ted was silent for a while, leaned forward in his seat as I quivered in mine, and he began to speak in a soft tone. “Well, that’s a surprise. I thought for sure you were going to marry my Daughter”. I was like, huh? I had to explain to Big Ted that I had never so much as kiss his Daughter. He leaned back in his chair, looking down, and appeared disappointed. We set there silent for a while both looking extremely puzzled. Had he known I did bed a lot of her Friends after Lydia had played match maker, he probably would have thrown me out of his Home. So, he began to quiz me about Stevie asking where I knew him from, was he a good kid, and whether he was using a condom with his Daughter. I quickly responded, “Whoa, whoa Mr. T”. Your asking about stuff I can’t answer for you. He went on to say to me that I should know how he is and that he wasn’t ready to be a Grand Father. I set him at ease and explained that I had groomed his Daughter well, and that wasn’t an issue. Ted Franklin asked me, “So, you approve of this”? I couldn’t believe that he was asking for my word on this. I recall us talking a little longer and ending the conversation with Ted telling me to bring Stevie by the house a few more times. He wanted to get to know him more before he understandably, felt comfortable with letting this kid date his Daughter.

Things went very well for PL and Stevie. They were never seen apart as far back as I can remember. Then in the Summer of 1991 Steve Lancaster, with a fresh Bachelors Degree in his hand from Bucknell University, married Lydia Arnell Franklin, who was a recent Florida State Graduate herself. It seemed as the love they shared wasn’t marred by distance as they attended College miles apart from each other. In the first few years life went extremely well for PL and Stevie as it seemed they were a match made in heaven. They were both hard working educated people with a new Home in the Baltimore Suburb, Randallstown, MD. I lost contact with the Lancasters for a while as life became busy for us all during our earlier responsible adult years. We would eventually reunite and the Summer BBQs were on and Poppin at Ted Franklins house. We always had a good time when with plenty of food and drinks. In fact I slept a many of nights on the Franklin sofa after a little over indulgence and Big Ted refusing to allow me to venture on home under the influence. One summer I began to observe my Friend Steve displaying signs of distance and removed from those infamous Franklin BBQs. I also noticed he had a a disturbing glare at Lydia when ever she was engaged in conversation with other men. I never knew Stevie to be a jealous type and there didn’t appear to be a reason for him to be either. So, I approached him about it as a concerned friend. Stevie explained to me that he had a suspicion that Lydia was having an Affair. I rebuffed him and told him, Bruh your talking nonsense. Lydia loves you, and always has since the first time she ever laid her eyes on you. It was at that moment that Stevie Lancaster gave me a look I will never forget. The kind of look that was unreadable, dark, empty, and filled with malicious intent. I became concerned, looked over at Lydia, and gazed back at Stevie. His eyes had never been taking off me. Scary and frightening to say the least. I knew then that everything wasn’t as peachy crunch in the Lancaster Home as everyone had thought. I asked Stevie what gives? Where is this coming from? Stevie began to tell me about the strange male garments he had found stuffed in laundry bins in the basement, the scent of cologne around the house that he doesn’t own, and the cigarette buts in ash trays in the den. I told Stevie be reasonable about this. The Cologne could be from anyone stopping by the house, like a Salesman, neighbor or anybody. The strange men clothing could have been left behind by family guest, and you know that Lydia’s best friend Shaliece smokes. Stevie says to me, “There not her brand”. “The cigarettes”. “Shaliece doesn’t smoke those”. Nothing I said seemed to cheer him up nor convince Stevie that Lydia had been faithful to him. I just let it go. It was nearly a year before I saw Lydia and Stevie Lancaster again. I bumped into Stevie at Mondawmin Mall one fall, asked how he was doing, and more importantly if he still felt his wife was having an affair. Stevie became agitated by my inquiry into his marriage. I understood that because although we were childhood friends, we were grown now and some things friends just need to mind their business about. We made plans to hang out and do the BBQ thing at his In-Laws and said goodbye. That was the last time that I would ever see Stevie again. I remember watching the local news one evening and saw a news clip about a double Homicide in Randallstown. The neighborhood appeared to be very close to where Stevie and Lydia lived. My subconscious thought did Stevie do something? I quickly dismissed that idea as i knew that level of violence wasn’t in his nature. Sadly though, I watched the news and the Home draped in yellow Crime Scene tape appeared to be the Lancaster’s House. I watched more intently and saw Lydia’s Gold Land Cruiser in the driveway. I immediately picked up the phone and called their home. I became numb when the call was answered by Police whom were still there working the Crime Scene. I learned later that Stevie’s suspicion had gotten the best of him and one day after leaving the house for work, Stevie waited a couple of hours, doubled back to the house, and quietly entered their home. Apparently, the music playing on the stereo was so loud that they never heard Stevie enter the house. The Lancaster house had that thick plush carpet that made it difficult to hear approaching sounds. Stevie went up to his bedroom, heard obvious sounds of sexual passion, opened the door slightly, and discovered what he had suspected all along. Lydia lay completely nude across the bed as a man atop of her joined Stevie’s Wife in loud sexual intercourse. My friend must have snapped. Stevie went to an adjoining room retrieved his pistol and unloaded the weapon on Lydia and the other man killing them both. They tell me that Stevie called the Police and confessed to the shooting, and was found there sitting on the steps inside the home when they arrived. I never did understand my friend Lydia’s actions. Nor did I completely understand her brazing disrespect for their home, and for the life of me how she became so comfortable that she never even heard Stevie come back to the house. I won’t get into details about Stevie Lancaster’s Criminal Case disposition to further protect their identity, but it was this case that made me realize and understand that Love is for the faint at heart, the brave soul with gallantry who dare embark upon her, that love in it’s purest form isn’t without consequences for those who adore her, and in the end love sometimes hurts so very deadly. I know a man name Ted Franklin who probably hurt the most. I never did see Big Teddy again, as I was too ashamed to stop by and simply say hello. I blamed myself for the entire ordeal because I had given Big Teddy my word and stamp of approval on Stevie dating and ultimately marrying his daughter. I did run into a relative of the Franklin family years later. It was at that time I was told that Ted Franklin had died just a few years after he lost Lydia. Probably from a broken heart. The relative also told me that ted understood why I stopped coming around and said if anyone ever saw me again, to tell me he don’t blame me for what happen. i wish i could have had the chance to say goodbye to Big Ted. I drove to the Maryland House of corrections in Jessup, MD to visit my friend Stevie Lancaster, but I could never muster the courage to go in and see him. I will never forget the day Stevie met PL and the way they looked the moment they set eyes upon each other. Perhaps that just may have been the worst day of our lives.

I’m David Adams

The Peoples Champion

David Adams

A Self proclaimed geek, Sympathizer for the homeless, Social Change Advocate, Crime Blogger, Promoter of Awareness for Missing and Exploited Children, and a mobile technology enthusiast. A recognized Journalist and Human Interest Writer championing the plight of the masses whom are without a voice of their own.

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
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Her hair was a natural Honey Blonde. The golden locks ran the length of her back and her appearance commanded the attention of every male who’s eyes ever rested upon her. The small petite frame of Lydia Franklin was a sight to behold, many would say. To me PL (Pretty Lydia) was family. I met her during my teen years when I worked  with her Dad at Tony Linhart’s (Baltimore Colts Great) Direct Marketing Association. Summer BBQ invites to the Franklin Home in Sandtown resulted in PL and I bonding, hanging out, and becoming inseparable it seems. Lydia would use me to get out of the house. Her Dad only trusted me taking his Daughter out because he saw me as a good Kid. That would have ended had he known we would separate as soon as we were out of his eye sight! We had to be careful though, sometimes when I came over Mr. franklin would quiz me about what Lydia and I had been up too. Teddy Franklin was a Tall lumberjack looking dude with Native American and Trinidadian Heritage. Needless to say, Ted Franklin walked with a big stick. One summer as Lydia and I walked along the Harbor in Fells Point, we bumped into a childhood friend of mine name Steve Lancaster. I began to introduce PL and Stevie but realize that there was no need too. Their eyes were affixed upon each other as if and act of God was happening right before my eyes. I have heard the old cliche “Love at first sight” before, but if I have ever experienced it in this life, it was the day that Ted’s little girl met this poor kid from East Baltimore. I spent the next few weeks fielding calls from PL and Stevie, each asking had I seen the other, and begging me to play match maker. I told Stevie and Lydia the exact same thing you guys have already met what do you guys need me for. I hatched a plan to arrange another meeting with them which resulted in the exchange of their phone numbers and the rest was history. I had a hard time selling Steve Lancaster to Big Ted Franklin though. I remember as it were only a few hours ago, the day I brought Stevie to a BBQ in Sandtown. Big Ted kept asking me who is this guy Lydia been with all day? I eventually had a sidebar with him about Stevie, and I got the shock of my life. The entire time I was briefing him about PL’s New Boyfriend, Mr. Franklin had a look of complete disdain. I actually wondered if I would leave the Franklin Home alive, because I knew that Lydia was his entire World. After I was done Ted was silent for a while, leaned forward in his seat as I quivered in mine, and he began to speak in a soft tone. “Well, that’s a surprise. I thought for sure you were going to marry my Daughter”. I was like, huh? I had to explain to Big Ted that I had never so much as kiss his Daughter. He leaned back in his chair, looking down, and appeared disappointed. We set there silent for a while both looking extremely puzzled. Had he known I did bed a lot of her Friends after Lydia had played match maker, he probably would have thrown me out of his Home. So, he began to quiz me about Stevie asking where I knew him from, was he a good kid, and whether he was using a condom with his Daughter. I quickly responded, “Whoa, whoa Mr. T”. Your asking about stuff I can’t answer for you. He went on to say to me that I should know how he is and that he wasn’t ready to be a Grand Father. I set him at ease and explained that I had groomed his Daughter well, and that wasn’t an issue. Ted Franklin asked me, “So, you approve of this”? I couldn’t believe that he was asking for my word on this. I recall us talking a little longer and ending the conversation with Ted telling me to bring Stevie by the house a few more times. He wanted to get to know him more before he understandably, felt comfortable with letting this kid date his Daughter.

Things went very well for PL and Stevie. They were never seen apart as far back as I can remember. Then in the Summer of 1991 Steve Lancaster, with a fresh Bachelors Degree in his hand from Bucknell University, married Lydia Arnell Franklin, who was a recent Florida State Graduate herself. It seemed as the love they shared wasn’t marred by distance as they attended College miles apart from each other. In the first few years life went extremely well for PL and Stevie as it seemed they were a match made in heaven. They were both hard working educated people with a new Home in the Baltimore Suburb, Randallstown, MD. I lost contact with the Lancasters for a while as life became busy for us all during our earlier responsible adult years. We would eventually reunite and the Summer BBQs were on and Poppin at Ted Franklins house. We always had a good time when with plenty of food and drinks. In fact I slept a many of nights on the Franklin sofa after a little over indulgence and Big Ted refusing to allow me to venture on home under the influence. One summer I began to observe my Friend Steve displaying signs of distance and removed from those infamous Franklin BBQs. I also noticed he had a a disturbing glare at Lydia when ever she was engaged in conversation with other men. I never knew Stevie to be a jealous type and there didn’t appear to be a reason for him to be either. So, I approached him about it as a concerned friend. Stevie explained to me that he had a suspicion that Lydia was having an Affair. I rebuffed him and told him, Bruh your talking nonsense. Lydia loves you, and always has since the first time she ever laid her eyes on you. It was at that moment that Stevie Lancaster gave me a look I will never forget. The kind of look that was unreadable, dark, empty, and filled with malicious intent. I became concerned, looked over at Lydia, and gazed back at Stevie. His eyes had never been taking off me. Scary and frightening to say the least. I knew then that everything wasn’t as peachy crunch in the Lancaster Home as everyone had thought. I asked Stevie what gives? Where is this coming from? Stevie began to tell me about the strange male garments he had found stuffed in laundry bins in the basement, the scent of cologne around the house that he doesn’t own, and the cigarette buts in ash trays in the den. I told Stevie be reasonable about this. The Cologne could be from anyone stopping by the house, like a Salesman, neighbor or anybody. The strange men clothing could have been left behind by family guest, and you know that Lydia’s best friend Shaliece smokes. Stevie says to me, “There not her brand”. “The cigarettes”. “Shaliece doesn’t smoke those”. Nothing I said seemed to cheer him up nor convince Stevie that Lydia had been faithful to him. I just let it go. It was nearly a year before I saw Lydia and Stevie Lancaster again. I bumped into Stevie at Mondawmin Mall one fall, asked how he was doing, and more importantly if he still felt his wife was having an affair. Stevie became agitated by my inquiry into his marriage. I understood that because although we were childhood friends, we were grown now and some things friends just need to mind their business about. We made plans to hang out and do the BBQ thing at his In-Laws and said goodbye. That was the last time that I would ever see Stevie again. I remember watching the local news one evening and saw a news clip about a double Homicide in Randallstown. The neighborhood appeared to be very close to where Stevie and Lydia lived. My subconscious thought did Stevie do something? I quickly dismissed that idea as i knew that level of violence wasn’t in his nature. Sadly though, I watched the news and the Home draped in yellow Crime Scene tape appeared to be the Lancaster’s House. I watched more intently and saw Lydia’s Gold Land Cruiser in the driveway. I immediately picked up the phone and called their home. I became numb when the call was answered by Police whom were still there working the Crime Scene. I learned later that Stevie’s suspicion had gotten the best of him and one day after leaving the house for work, Stevie waited a couple of hours, doubled back to the house, and quietly entered their home. Apparently, the music playing on the stereo was so loud that they never heard Stevie enter the house. The Lancaster house had that thick plush carpet that made it difficult to hear approaching sounds. Stevie went up to his bedroom, heard obvious sounds of sexual passion, opened the door slightly, and discovered what he had suspected all along. Lydia lay completely nude across the bed as a man atop of her joined Stevie’s Wife in loud sexual intercourse. My friend must have snapped. Stevie went to an adjoining room retrieved his pistol and unloaded the weapon on Lydia and the other man killing them both. They tell me that Stevie called the Police and confessed to the shooting, and was found there sitting on the steps inside the home when they arrived. I never did understand my friend Lydia’s actions. Nor did I completely understand her brazing disrespect for their home, and for the life of me how she became so comfortable that she never even heard Stevie come back to the house. I won’t get into details about Stevie Lancaster’s Criminal Case disposition to further protect their identity, but it was this case that made me realize and understand that Love is for the faint at heart, the brave soul with gallantry who dare embark upon her, that love in it’s purest form isn’t without consequences for those who adore her, and in the end love sometimes hurts so very deadly. I know a man name Ted Franklin who probably hurt the most. I never did see Big Teddy again, as I was too ashamed to stop by and simply say hello. I blamed myself for the entire ordeal because I had given Big Teddy my word and stamp of approval on Stevie dating and ultimately marrying his daughter. I did run into a relative of the Franklin family years later. It was at that time I was told that Ted Franklin had died just a few years after he lost Lydia. Probably from a broken heart. The relative also told me that ted understood why I stopped coming around and said if anyone ever saw me again, to tell me he don’t blame me for what happen. i wish i could have had the chance to say goodbye to Big Ted. I drove to the Maryland House of corrections in Jessup, MD to visit my friend Stevie Lancaster, but I could never muster the courage to go in and see him. I will never forget the day Stevie met PL and the way they looked the moment they set eyes upon each other. Perhaps that just may have been the worst day of our lives.

I’m David Adams

The Peoples Champion

David Adams

A Self proclaimed geek, Sympathizer for the homeless, Social Change Advocate, Crime Blogger, Promoter of Awareness for Missing and Exploited Children, and a mobile technology enthusiast. A recognized Journalist and Human Interest Writer championing the plight of the masses whom are without a voice of their own.

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
TwitterFacebookLinkedInGoogle Plus

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