La Santa Muerte

Memories

maricela: shes never asked about anything really she came to us with big eyes giggling and laughing and i told her im your mami and this is your daddy .. she never questioned it but she is starting to ask about ms maria and where she is how she misses her and i just nod .. what do you say .. i never want her to know gio isn't her real dad i never wanna tell her about the sperm donor huh but i feel like a shitty mom not asking her about maria and what she remembers because i hear her telling javi about her adventures and how when he starts to walk she'll take him to the parks and to all the muesems this and that

maya: she's lil and wants to show him everything she's seen maybe you can talk to her hear her story's ya know? But ms maria must've been a really nice foster mom for her to remember her like that i ran away after the first hit and never looked back said fuck all that

maricela: really?

maya: hell yea .. but look now that i have you here i wanted to talk to you about something

maricela: im all ears?

maya: i dont wanna go to private school and before you ask why i

maricela: i dont care if you dont i send vivi to private school because its safer and gives me i guess some peace i pay a lot for school but you sure about public school mostly out here? do you wanna home school?

maya: i know if i go to rich private school all those girl would bully me i used to fight them back home .. and i rather go with the type of people i know you know?

maricela: in the hood? really? haha

maya: if you let me?

she put the blunt out and got up

maricela: gio!

he walked out and nodded

giovani: what?

maricela: she wants to go to public school

giovani: public school? oo hell naw no you ain't cuz i will beat the shit out some fool nope

maya: ill get expelled from a private school in one day those white girls hate me they think there all that and shit ill beat there head in? in public school i can handle my ground be me and well

maricela: she likes them hood come on we were once 16?

giovani: yea i know thats why i say hell no she'll either like the cholas or the hood ass fools haha

maya: please? i promise to get straight A's and you can drop me off and do all that

maricela looked at him

giovani: your ok with this?

maricela: maya you know what we do where all this money comes from and if someone does anything to you it'll be us dealing with it but also the public schools out here are really hood meaning some kids might know us

giovani: are you ok with that?

emiliano: ok with what? why we outside?

maricela tried not to laugh

giovani: your goddaughter wants to go to public school what do you think?

emiliano: if its what she wants? then fuck it send her to our old high school you know no one will fuck with her once they find out her last name?

maya: no i rather go somewhere they dont know it haha

maricela: that'll be outta state but look at local schools and let me know i have to sign you up he'll take you shopping and we'll get it settled we love you and want whats best but i know if anyone trys you you got those hands and if anything you have a family that'll protect you ok?

she nodded and hugged maricela then giovani

maya: thank you .. and also are there rules on dating?

giovani: oo fuck no i what?

maya: im kidding! im playing haha

emiliano: he went pale look at him haha

giovani: my heart shit come on haha yall got a meeting i got calls to make im here though

maricela: give me a sec emi i wanna go talk to vivi real quick

emiliano: dont trip i got cameras to look at

she nodded and went upstairs

marta: there you are

maricela: everything ok?

marta: i think shes homesick and missing her grandpa a lil more today i heard emiliano talking about Mexico to her and her asking him questions he told her to ask you

maricela: lets see if she asks them but thank you for telling me she doesn't really tell me anything?

marta: shes just like you mari she just wants everyone around her happy

maricela: dont attack me now haha

she walked in to vivis room

maricela: hey you? what ya doing? you like the new room?

viviana: i love it look at the pictures nana helped me put up tio said he'll get me more with him so i can put them up to

maricela: i love them all there so pretty babygirl

maricela looked threw them

viviana: i miss tata .. i wish he was here to see my room to see my new school to meet maya he would've loved her to

maricela turned to her sitting on her bed hugging his picture she side smiled and sat down with her and hugged her

maricela: he wouldve loved her and loved how you did your room he loved animals too

viviana: mami

maricela: hhm

viviana: what if .. what if the kids at my new school dont like me?

maricela: why do you think they wont like you?

viviana: because im new ..

maricela: if they dont like you then its on them they loose the chance of being friends with you .. dont let the fear of having no friends get to you ok? being alone is ok also? i never really had friends girls where mean to me to

viviana: they where mean to you? did you tell the teacher?

maricela: i did but that didnt stop them from being mean but i didnt let them get to me i just kept going getting good grades and i stayed to myself ..

she nodded and side smiled

maricela: but i dont want you to allow them to be mean to you if they are mean to you i want you to come home and tell me i want you to defend yourself you can be mean back too

viviana: haha mami no

maricela: only be mean when they are mean to you always be nice though but dont let no one ever be mean to you .. your my daughter my babygirl you and you never let anyone do anything to you ok?

she nodded and hugged her