[Ricky"s pov; age 6]"Mommy, mommy look!"
I rush over to the kitchen and hand her my paper.
"I got a 100!"
She wipes her hands off on her ap.r.o.n and looks at the paper.
"Oh Ricky, eres un chico tan inteligente."
(Oh Ricky, you"re such a smart boy.)
She pats my head.
"Ve a lavarte, la cena estará lista p.r.o.nto."
(Go wash yourself, dinner will be ready soon.)
I happily skip to the bathroom and wash my hands.
"Mommy said she was proud of me! Maybe she"ll let me have some Tres Leches today!"
I walk back into the kitchen and help set the table. I hear a car pull up outside and my mothers face turns pale.
"Mama, are you ok?"
I look up at her as she gives me a fake smile,
"Estoy bien bebe Termina de poner la mesa, ¿de acuerdo?"
("I"m fine baby. Finish setting the table, okay?")
"Sí mama."
My mother waits by the front door for my father to enter. He burst in staggering.
"¿Dónde está mi cena, mujer?"
(Where"s my dinner, woman?)
He"s drunk again.
"Acabo de terminar de cocinar. ¿Por qué no te sientas y te hago un plato?"
(I just finished cooking. Why don"t you sit down and make you a plate?)
He pushes her away and sits down on the couch.
"Aye, Ricardo! Get in here!"
My legs feel heavy and I can"t move.
"Dije entra aquí pequeña perra!"
(I said come in here little b.i.t.c.h!)
I slowly walk into the front room.
"Yes papa?"
He grabs my face,
"Look at this tv,"
He turns my head so I can see it.
"Can chu tell me why it is on dis channel, eh?"
My lip starts to quiver,
"B-because I was watching tv yesterday."
I say in a low voice.
"¿Y qué dije que pasaría la próxima vez que folles con mi televisor, eh?!"
(And what did I say would happen the next time you f.u.c.k with my TV, huh?!)
His voice feels as if it"s making the house shake.
"Manuel! Let go of my son!"
My mother tries to help me but he strikes her with his hand.
"Mama!"
I run over to her and help her up.
"Go to your room mijo, i"ll keep your dinner warm."
She wipes the blood from her lip and picks herself up.
I run to my room and lock the door.
I can hear them yelling at each other. Going back and forth for no reason. There"s a loud banging on my door.
"OPEN THE DOOR RICKY!"
I run into my closet and curl up into a ball, hoping that he leaves.
He breaks my door down and yanks me out of my hiding place.
"Get out here boy!"
He pulls me by my hair until my feet can"t touch the ground.
"Oww! Let me down! Please!"
He throws me to the ground and pulls off his belt.
"¡Pequeña mierda! Esto es tu culpa!"
(Little s.h.i.t! This is your fault!)
He beats me with the metal part of his belt. I squirm around in the floor, desperately trying to get away from him.
He tires himself out and leaves me on the floor, beaten, bruised, and b.l.o.o.d.y.
Night time comes and i"ve made my decision. When i"m older, i"ll leave this place, me and mother. We"ll leave this house and finally be a real family.
***
[10 years later]
"Ricky, school called again."
I throw my bag on the floor and turn the tv on.
"Ok, and?"
She s.n.a.t.c.hes the remote from me,
"Your teacher said that you"ve been in three fights this month! What"s going on?"
"Nothing,"
I hear a car pull up and I walk to the door,
"I"m going on a walk."
I head down the street with my hood over my head and my hands shoved into my pockets.
There"s a faint sound of footsteps behind me. I speed up and so do the footsteps. I don"t dare look behind me, instead I start to run.
I run as far as my legs can take me. I turn down a dark alley and try to catch my breath.
"Looks like i"ve found you."
There"s a girl standing in front of me. She looks around my age but her face is covered in scars.
"Why are you following me?"
"You know those older guys you hang around?"
"Uh, yeah?"
"They borrowed money from my uncle and he"s not too happy about that."
"What"s your point?"
She hits me in my stomach and covers my mouth with a rag that"s been drenched in something.
"We own you now Ricardo Hernández."
***
"Well, well, well. Look who"s awake."
I try to sit up but i"m chained down to a bed.
"Where am I?"
I look around and see that i"m in a large room. It"s not decorated but it looks nice.
"You"re in my uncles home, you"ll be staying with me from now on, ok?"
I struggle but the chains won"t let me move.
"Like h.e.l.l I am! Let me outta here you crazy b.i.t.c.h!"
She rubs my face,
"You"ll learn to love it here Ricky."
***
Years pa.s.sed by and I learned that the girl that kidnapped me was named Layla. She was wild and ambitious.
Her uncle was indeed in charge of this town. I was forced to join his gang, the Red Spiders to make up for my debt.
I ended up falling for Layla and becoming the second in charge. Although I missed my mother, I was happy, or so I thought.
***
"C"mon Ricky, it"s just one night out."
"Alright, but one drink then we leave."
Layla pulls me towards the bar and orders
shots. I take a few and she does the same.
"I"m gonna go dance!"
I nod and she runs out on the dance floor. The blaring music and flashing lights aren"t really for me, so I head outside for a smoke.
"Hey, you Ricky?"
"Who"s asking?"
The man hold out his hand,
"My name is Carlos Sanchez."
"Ah, you"re our newest member huh?"
He nods.
"Alright, lemme show ya around."