Little Black Girl Lost 2

Synopsis

The second book of the Little Black Girl Lost series reveals all the damaging secrets of the first book. Johnnie Wise, the main character, has a lot on her mind and trouble in her path. Every day Johnnie deals with the fact that she's rich by prostitution, is a high school dropout, has no parents, and is only 16. In the last year, before the second book began, Johnnie went from a church-going good girl, to a prostituting liar.

Johnnie's troubles all started off on Christmas Eve, when her mother sold her virginity to a white man named Earl Shamus. Earl was a regular customer of her mother, Marguerite Wise, also a prostitute. Marguerite is later killed by the KKK leader, Richard Goode, who was also a regular customer. Johnnie wants justice for the death of her mother, and seeks the help of Napoleon Bentley. Bentley is a white Spaniard, who owns one of the hottest clubs on the black side of New Orleans. In exchange for sleeping with him, the married Napoleon grants Johnnie justice, while betraying his own morals. Lucas Matthews, Johnnie's boyfriend and Napoleon's employee, has an affair with Marla Bentley, Napoleon's wife. Lucas' inability to keep away from Marla's lust puts his life on the line. Bubbles, Napoleon's bodyguard and right-hand man, constantly warns Johnnie and Lucas that the things they are doing are wrong and dangerous, but these warnings are meaningless to the naive teenagers.

After Johnnie quits prostituting, she gets a job as a maid for the Beauregards. Though Johnnie doesn't have to work, she wants to get to know the white side of her family. Ethel Beauregard, Johnnie's boss, is unaware that Johnnie is her blood relative. On her first day she meets Katherine, the cook, who believes that she is queen of the house, and that the Beauregards praise her. Her thoughts of her high status are soon crushed when Johnnie sits at the table for breakfast with the Beauregards, and then feeds her sickly grandfather, Nathaniel.

As Johnnie's life progresses and she tries to find the answers to all her questions, Lucas' trouble starts to unravel. One day Lucas is ordered by Napoleon to take Marla to Shreveport, Louisiana to pick out a new car. He doesn't want to go for the fact that he know he will fall into Marla's trap once again. As they make a pit stop, Lucas meets Preston, who pitches the idea that he should start selling marijuana for some fast money. When Lucas returned home, he went to Johnnie's house so they could fix their relationship. He also told Johnnie of his idea to start selling marijuana. Johnnie opposed at first, because Bubbles had warned him of these fast money ideas, but soon changed her mind and helped him carve a safe, secret plan.

As Lucas and Johnnie progress, Napoleon's and Bubble's old enemies return. Vinnie Milano and John Stefano, some ten years ago, wanted to have Napoleon killed in prison, but his attempts failed. The black side of New Orleans was supposed to be Vinnie's, but Sam gave it to Napoleon instead, and Vinnie hated that. So once John heard that there was a race riot over the killing of Richard Goode he asked Sam for permission to terminate Napoleon. When Sam said no Stefano told Salvatore Porcella, his bodyguard, to take a trip to Chicago to pay Vinnie a visit, and get him to do their dirty work. When he returned to New Orleans his life was shortly ended before he could tell Stefano what happened, and that Connie Giovanni knew of their plans. Napoleon still yearned for Johnnie and would stop at nothing to get her, but first he knew that Lucas had to die. So he sent Bubbles to find Lucas' enemy, Billy Logan.

It was now Thanksgiving and, Lucas was on the run for selling marijuana. Johnnie's life was going good until she got that call. Now that Lucas was in jail looking at 15 years, Johnnie was desperate for help so she went to Napoleon. Everything was going down hill for Johnnie, her stock broker stole all her money, Lucas is in jail, and now she could possibly be pregnant. She believes that Napoleon is trustworthy, but he planned all this. Sadie tries to help, but doesn't know how, so she just listens and helps educate Johnnie's young mind on the harsh ways of people. Johnnie can't even begin to think of how to handle all this. "Will God help?" She asks herself, Johnnie Wise's young life was going so great, but she now realizes she can't trust everyone and how cold the world really is.

Characters

Johnnie Wise- Is the main character, who is a prostitute, her mother's dead, and she is a high school dropout. She is involved with some of the biggest gangsters in New Orleans.

Lucas Matthews- Is Johnnie's boyfriend, he used to be the high school star football player, known for fighting. He is now a high school dropout and works for Nepoleon Bentley.

Sadie- Is Johnnie's best friend, who lives next door. Sadie is very smart and always educates Johnnie on things when she needs advice on anything.

Nepoleon Bentley- Is a white Spaniard and one of the biggest gangsters in New Orleans. He dominates the black side of New Orleans, he is a ladies man and loves all women, black and white.

Marla Bentley- Is Nepoleon's wife who constantly pursues Lucas to sleep with her behind Johnnie and Nepoleon's back.

Bubbles- Is Nepoleon's bodyguard, who tends to warn Johnnie and Lucas about mistakes they have made. He is six feet tall and very muscular, so when it comes to intimidation it's not a difficult task.

Katherine- Is the cook of the Beauregard's mansion. When Johnnie started working there Katherine didn't like her at all, she was jealous. Overtime they became used to each and put their differences aside.

Ethel Beauregard- Is the mother of the Beauregard children, and head of the mansion.

Nathaniel Beauregard- Is the grandfather of Johnnie and the Beauregard boys, but doesn't find out until later.

Eric Beauregard- Is Ethel's son who also lives in the mansion. Him and Katherine's affair is soon revealed to Johnnie.

Beau Beauregard- Is the oldest son of Ethel, who secretly wants to fornicate with Johnnie, not knowing that she is a blood relative.

Vinnie Milano- Is a top notch gangster who lives in Chicago, but has a ten-year beef with Nepoleon. He was supposed to originally own the black side of New Orleans, but wasn't able to kill Bentley in time.

John Stefano- Is also a gangster who lives in New Orleans and has a grudge against Nepoleon for causing a race riot and not killing Johnnie and Lucas when he had the chance.

Sam- Is the head man in charge in New Orleans and rules over all the Spaniard gangsters. He tries to keep the drama to a minimum between the gangsters so he can keep his money coming in.

Themes

Keith Lee Johnson is known for writing black urban books that portray young couples and their struggles.

Right and Wrong

When Johnnie's mother was killed her heart sank but she felt that it was also at ease. Since Johnnie knew who the killer was she understood that she would never receive the justice that she deserved. So she went to her friend, Napoleon Bentley. He told her he would give her revenge but at a certain cost.

It was unjust that because Marguite was black she didn't get equal privileges at death. But because her killer was a white man he was able to savagely kill an innocent women and get away with it.

Lies vs. Truth

Johnnie believed she had to tell many lies in her short corrupt life to keep everything she had the way she wanted it. Even though most of her lies soon backfired on her, and made her life worse. Johnnie knew she could just tell the truth but realized over time that lying was much easier. The book contrasts the thin line between lies and the truth, and that taking the easy way isn't always the best thing to do.