"Hurry up, compadre!" Pedro shouted at me, from the store "The parade starts tonight and the roads will be closed early!!" I rolled my eyes, while still unloading the truck.
"We could go faster if you could help me!" I argued with him. After saying those words, Pedro disappeared inside the store, mumbling things about 'checking the goods' and 'counting the payment'. Typical Pedro, all the laziness, but none of the work. Which is why the doctor is not surprised my lower back is hurting me more and more these days.
I'm not as young as I once was.
"That was the last, Jose!" I groaned in complain. I immediately climbed into the passenger's seat, to have some relax, but I know it won't be the case, as we have three more delivers to do before the parade's roads are cut. The good part is that I don't have to drive.. The bad part is that Pedro drives like if he was being chased by el Diablo. No matter what, he always looks back to see if someone is chasing us.
One day, I bet he will see the police on his mirror.
Four hours later, and some arguments in between, Pedro and me were able to finish all the deliveries. I headed back home, thinking I would have a couple of hours before the parade. So, I headed to take a nap, after greeting my wife and my kids, who were doing their homework.
I woke up three hours later, thanks to the noise of the street.
The bad side of living by the French Quarter is that they take Mardi Gras very seriously. I haven't seen a community take a holiday this seriously. Part of me is ashamed, as I don't have it deep in my traditions, except maybe Día de los Muertos, but we don't do this big of an issue! Classes are cancelled and store only open half a day, while the rest of the night bars and pubs are open.
Anyway, when I woke up from my nap, my wife realized I wasn't feeling OK. My face gave it away.
"Ay, Jose... You go sleep..." I sighed and kissed her cheek, reassuring her. She's trying to get her English better since she moved here with me. We used to live in the latino neighborhood in Florida. It was easier for her.
"Eva, I'm alright... Besides, the kids wants to see the parade..." Just as cue, my kids appeared wearing hundreds and hundreds of colorful bead necklaces and two maracas in their hands "Ready for Mardi Gras, niños?"
"Siiii!!" they celebrated, before hugging their mother tight "Bye, Mamá!!"
"I'll look out for them, I promise" I promised her, though I couldn't avoid the glint of excitement in my eyes. Eva rolled her eyes and smirked, knowing that I'd be careful too. Grabbing my kids hands, we headed towards the center of the French Quarters to see the parade. The kids were still a little impressed upon the display of the celebration, and they stayed close to me.
Carefully, and gently, we made our way towards the front road to see better the parade. The kids began to jump and wave at the passing parades, grabbing things once in a while. Most of the time, another necklace for their collection, though I wore them, fearing they could be choked with them.
"Papi! You are pretty!!" Amelia, my five-year-old, giggled when she saw me wearing a pink crown she had caught. I chuckled with her and lowered my head so she could take it from me and onto her head.
I couldn't heard it, thanks to the loud music. But I felt it.
I went stiffed in my position. I was simply bending over so my sweetie little girl could take a crown off my head and now, I cannot move. Hugo, my ten-year-old son, realized something was wrong. Very intelligent, that boy.
"Papi? You alright?" I wanted to lie to him, I really wanted to. But I couldn't, my face was twisted in pain and I couldn't move. No lie could be of help now. By now, Amelia knew something was wrong and looked worried she had did something for it. I tried to stand up, to tell them to go back home with me, but I couldn't talk. I feared that if I did, I'd scream in pain.
"Sir, are you alright?" I haven't paid attention to the people standing next to me, too busy focusing on my kids. Next to us there was a family of four. Mother, father, son and daughter. The man was blonde, wearing a white shirt and khaki shorts, with a couple of yellow bead necklaces on him. On his shoulders, a little girl of three, with brown hair and multicolored eyes.
The one talking to me was the woman, who had toasted skin and brown hair. She was dressed like her husband, I could see her wedding band. Shirt and shorts. Her eyes, multicolored like the little girl, were looking at me with worry. Her hand was on a ten-year-old boy, with blonde hair like his father. It was obvious they were all realated.
I couldn't speak. The pain was too much, but she seemed to noticed that.
"Mommy, he needs a hospital!" the boy demanded and I felt compelled into going to one. The woman nodded, before frowning.
"Thomas, do not do it again!" she scolded him, no idea why. The boy nodded meekly, but was serious.
"It doesn't matter, Pipes. He's right..." the man handed to his wife their daughter and walked close to me. Too bad my daughter thought it was a bad thing.
"You won't hurt Papi!" Amelia screamed at him, her face red because of fear and decision. Hugo was trying to pull her away from the way.
"I just want to help your Papi..." the man explained. Hugo whispered something to Amelia, who nodded and let him to grab me to allow me to stand. He helped me to get to the nearest hospital, that was kind of empty. Hugo was taking Amelia with him and the man's woman was carrying their two kids. No one greeted us and I was dying in pain.
"Someone help this man, and help him now!!" the woman shouted, to no one in particular, but every single person wearing a white coat got closer and began examining me. They placed me in a wheelchair and I managed to grab the man's wrist before they took me inside.
"My kids..." the man's look softened and grasped my hand in his.
"You and your kids will be in good hands..." I could glance at his wife shouting and demanding that I get the best medical treatment. I didn't know how to thank them. It was my last thought before I fell asleep.
~oOo~
I woke up several hours later. I was still in the hospital, but I was in a room and my kids were sleeping on the couch next to the bed. The family from before was talking in whispers and looked like the man wanted to argue about something. She rolled her eyes and said something about 'what else we should have done?'
I fell asleep again after that.
~oOo~
I'm finally back home after my emergency surgery. And things improved greatly.
My boss was so upset that Pedro hadn't been working (apparently, he had been lying to him about it) and that he was the cause of my emergency operation, that he fired him. And since I couldn't lift heavy things anymore, I got a promotions with a desk job and a raise. Eva couldn't be happier about it.
I found out who was the family that helped me that day. I sent them a letter thanking them and inviting them to get together sometime. They haven't replied yet (I sent the letter yesterday, anyway!), but I think things will work out alone... don't you?
----
Hello, guys!
First of all, Happy Easter everyone! I hope you all have a good Sunday, no matter how you celebrate it or which is your religion. I'd love to hear about your special celebrations, if you don't mind about it ;)
Anyway, I wanted to tell you that I've been sick lately (allergies, unfortunately) but I managed to wrote a few chapters for you. And to tell you something VERY important...
I made a mistake.
I was recounting and realized that Urgent! Inspiration: Needed will be over BEFORE Mortals: Meet... 2. What means that we have less than 7 chapters for that story to be over! :o
The main point is the same. Until I'm not over with both of them, I won't start any new one. Which means you still have time to vote in my two polls, those are in Facebook...
Back to the chapters, today I'll be updating Mortals: Meet... 2, Urgent! Inspiration: Needed and Percy Jackson, son of Chaos. I'll try to update the rest of Mortals: Meet... 2 by the end of the week, leaving me with Urgent! Inspiration: Needed, Mortals: Meet... the In Laws, Garden Wall, Percy Jackson, son of Chaos and Rise of Ouranos to update before the month is over.
Also, I ask that, if you want to request any chapter or anything, be patience as I have too many delay... I'll fulfill all and every one of them, if I can.
Like I mention all the time, thanks for your patience!
Enjoy Easter! Eat lots of chocolate eggs! ;)
xoxo, SilverHuntresses