When The World Fails You

When The World Fails You Part 4

To be honest, I didn’t want her to go. I hated to be alone.

But she has another family.

Other children she cares for.

Sometimes I’m jealous. I want to be her daughter. Her blood.

Then I think about how selfish that is and I try to get it out of my head.

I’m not close to any of my blood.

But at least I have Maria right?

“Maria lets go swimming!” I got off my chair and went to look out the backyard. I saw the gardeners trimming the trees.

They don’t really like to talk to me. I guess they heard about Rays dad and figured it would be best to keep a distance.

I banged my head on the glass door until it started to hurt.

Everything keeps circling back to me in this town.

I wonder what Ray was doing…

　

Ray

“How did it go today?” My dad looked up from his newspaper and asked me.

I shrugged. “Same old crap, different year.”

“What classes do you have?”

“The same ones from last year, I failed them, remember?”

“You didn’t fail them if you moved up to Senior.”

I grabbed milk from the fridge and opened it.

“Boy, you better get a cup before I hit you!” I heard Mom yell from the laundry room.

I looked at Dad. “How does she know when I’m about to do that?”

He eyed me. “She’s your mother, she knows everything.”

“Where’s Danny?” I asked about my older brother.

“He went to look for a job.”

Money was getting tighter than ever since my dad got fired from his job…but everyone already knew that right?

“Roberto has an opening at his construction site.” Dad told me.

“No Dad, your back isn’t what it used to be…remember?”

He fell from a two story house a couple years ago, painting it. His strength hasn’t been the same.

“Its simple lifting and pulling Mijo.” Dad got up from his chair. He smiled at me. “I’m as strong as I used to be.” He flexed his arms.

I grinned and shook my head. “What about me? I can work…”

“Your going to college.” He shook his head. “I don’t want you to drop out like Danny. Education…that’s what you need.”

“Miranda can go to college.” I put the milk back in the fridge and talked about my little sister. “She’s smart. Me, I’m not smart Dad…let me work.”

“No.”

“We need money.”

“I need you to focus on school. Let me focus on money.”

“Is that what you wore to school?” Mom walked up to me and tugged on my shirt. She snapped her teeth. “Ray we can see your pezones!”

I moved her hand away gently. “Ma, stop. Tell Dad to let me work.”

My mom is beautiful. Light brown hair, dark brown eyes. She looked like an angel. She was the nicest woman anyone knew. But she was stubborn just like my dad.