Chapter 2 (Alex)

I knew that anything could not be better for me. Everything around me was telling me over and over again how luck was I, sometimes just tired of hearing it.

In a starting carrier and living in Hollywood dells would talk by itself of everything. Yeah, I was rich and part famous for my family history, what a lottery winning, uh? But the feelings melancholy was returning to me even more often, I missed her, I really missed her. Nothing could compare to the love I felt for her, the respect, the reverence, the value.

My mother used to be one of the most respected women throughout California, admired for her wisdom and talent. She had won a national championship of tango and had learned to play the piano by her own, not teachers, not instructors, just her and the white and black keyboards every day in every moment she could.

-Alex!- hear a voice screaming to me.

-What? I am awake-

-You better be, we are living in an hour!- it was my dad pissing me off as usual and now coming into my room.

-Why? I’m tired, leave me alone-

-It’s 5pm for God sake, take a shower and put your clothes on, we are having dinner with the governor- say him taking my blankit away and opening the window for a shining sunset.

-you never told me-

-ah yes I did-

-Is Jane coming?- I was talking about my dad’s girlfriend, a plastic Malibu Barbie with more surgeries then real skin.

-no, she is recovering…-

-from another sirgurie, what a new-

-hey! Don’t be unrespectful-

-yeah, whatever-

-have an hour Alex-

-yeah, yeah- I said while I was trying to recover the blankets –Ella!- I scream to the housekeeper, I was not sure were she came from and I really didn’t want to know about it, didn’t want to have problems with the police, besides my mom thought she was to be trust, and well, I will never argue with her, even now.

-Yes Sir- said she, never look at me in the eyes, never knew why.

-I need you to prepare my clothes, the black Calvin Klein pants..-

-the white Dolce & Gabanna shirt, no tie and the matching suit coat black 21-

-yes- while I was going toward the bathdroom, she was still standing in the door with her head down -What?-

-anything else sir?-

-No!, now get out of here-

I took a long warm shower and I didn’t realize how late I was, the limo will arrive in any second. Why in the world am I going to a boring political dinner? That was the magic question of the day. After getting dress I look at myself in the mirror, gave me a sign of approval and went down through the stairs. I slipped in the last one with a wipe.

-WHAT THE… ELLA!-

-yes sir? Where you calling me?-

-off course I were, what in the world is that wipe doing there? IT MADE ME FALL-

-I am… sorry sir-

-there is no time for sorries, you better be more careful next time and you better buy glasses ‘cause you are obviously blind-

-what is going on here?-  appear my dad from the kitchen.

-This stupid woman made me fall down the stairs- yes, I knew it was a little bit of exaggerating, what’s the problem?-you need to hire someone else, she can barely speak English..-

-Alex!- interrupt me-it is no necessary to talk to her like that-

-you must fire her-

-I will not do it, there is no time to hire somebody else, you know how hard it is to trust someone for her position this days-

-then find someone to help her then, she can’t do it by herself-

-I’m really sorry sir- say her without looking at me againg, was she crying?

-what ever…-

-It’s enough Alex, let’s go-

While we were going to the Governor’s house, dad was telling me his speech about proper conduct for this occasion: no drinking (dumb things can happen under alcohol effects), not smart thinking… He knew all about the governor’s son relationship with me and how the medias got our few last fights in some clubs, he said he was tired of it and the court said that next time I will go to jail for it, obviously not him, stupid political immunity. Something that a check with a lot of ceros cannot get.

When we arrive there, was a lot of security people everywhere, I hear rumors about murder letters against the governors family.

-Governor Brown- said my father as soon as we got out of the car.

-Mr. Whiter, what a pleasure to have you here- Smile, hands shake, try to arrange his tie, yeah, I already knew what dad will do.

-Again thank you for your invitation-

-Is not a problem, hey Alex-

-Hello Mr. Borwn- Smile, hand’s shake and fix my hair. Ok, at least I did it different ah?.

-My sin us here somewhere.. ah, Tim!, here is Alex, you guys can talk while we handle you know, business- yeah, and it was supposed to be a birthday party.

I direct my eyes where Tim was, the well known good looking governors son who did not knew what a hair cut was, who was the most pride person who use his “charming” to get everything that he wants, besides of course, his dad’s title.

-Tim- I said with all the hate that I could possible show.

-Alex- he said, I could see in his eyes how he had something prepare, again, to make me look bad. As soon our parents went away he came close to me saying-pretty bastard, did you enjoy the lesson that I gave you at the night’s club?-

-Go away idiot, don’t make me- I knew he had something under his leave.

-Sure pretty face, you know, Hollywood loved your mom for a reason… I saw a picture of her naked the other…- I throw myself to him with Unger. Both of us felled over a table. I remember promising my father to control myself this time, but no one could talk about her like that, not even him. I heard my shoulder cracked and started to feel great pain, I had a competition in a couple of weeks, so I stopped fighting because I knew it could not go anywhere else than worst. I saw his face with some blood, this was not good at all. The securities guards came and separate us from keep fitting.

-Don’t touch me- said to one of the guards- is my freaking shoulder that hurts-

-Alex, what happen?- dad try to touch me but I refused moving my body-I told you not to…-

-Can you take me to the hospital?-

-what?-

-It hurts, it really hurt-

-I will, but we are going to talk about this later-

-Whatever you want, please-

He took me to the limo which drove us to the hospital. It was the most outrageous thing to see.

After waiting 30 minutes for assistance and hearing my dad screaming and complaining for the bad service, I finally got a doctor who made me do some x-rays, and then I went to his office.

-And? - I said with anxiety when he appeared-Will I be able to move it soon?-

-What the x-rays show me is a dislocated shoulder with a superficial fissure, you will be able to move it soon, but a fissure is something to take care of, I give you a month before you do anything then ordinary-

-No! I need to be ready in 2 weeks, you know what the NBDC is?- not a word- the National Best Dancers Championship, and yes I’m on the preliminary’s that are in this coming weeks-

-I am sorry Mr. Whiter, I guess is what you got for fitting the governor’s son- I never expected him to know that.

-Doctor- say my dads nervously-how do you know that?-

-Before your son, I attended him-

Dad turn around and stand on between me and the doctor whispering he told me: -I talked with the governors press chief and we agree not to say a word about what happen-

-so what, the guests surely will say something-

-He spoke with them too, I’m pretty sure they don’t want to go to jail for slander. Do you understand that one more scandal will ruin your reputation?-

-What are you going to do then- I said it not in a question. He turned around with his fake smile, here we go again.

-Doctor…-

-Brown- he said.

-Doctor Brown, thanks for your service, but you will see that anybody can know about the fight, you know, to keep the boy save-

-That’s what he got for fitting-

-We know, I will talk to him later –murder sight to me- how can I be sure that this will be a secret?- he said putting his hand in his pocket ready to take out the wallet.

-Are you trying to suborn me Sir?-

-What?- say him pretending on being confused –no,no, not at all. I just want you to have my card for anything you need- finished him saying confidently has his daily routine.

-I will not accept anything because I don’t believe in suborn and for my professional ethic, but I accept the favor-

-of course, restaurant’s reservations?, social parties?, anything just to reward you-

-I need a job-

-well doctor, I think you have a pretty good one here- I said, apparently interrupting by dad’s biggest sale contract.

-as I said before, the favor is not for me-

-for who then?-

-a girl I know, she need a good job-

-well, I will think about something- really dad?, is that the best you got?

-hire her as a housekeeper, told you that Ella need somebody to help her-

-ok, that’s a… good idea I guess. How can I talk to her?-

-I will tell her everything she needs to know-

-well, you have my card with my address; tell her to be there on Monday. I’m still taking a risk for letting a completely strange to come and work in our house-

-she is honest, and if she cause any trouble I will respond for her-

-you really want to help her ha?- I said not very sure about the doctor’s intention.

-She need it desperly-

-Ok then-

I was surprise how everything turned in a couple of minutes, I was not available to go to the preliminars that were 3 months before the actual competition. I will not stop training no matter what the doctor said, I could do anything I want to.

 

In the name of love (Chapter 1)

Chapter 1 Stephanie

-What is love? Sometimes I found myself asking that, what it really means, what it is its real value- I said.

-Ms Gomez please be clear, we are talking about somebody else`s life here-

-I’m sorry your honor-

-Please explain to me more clearly how are you going to sustain your brother having just 18 years old?-

-I can’t right now-

-Excuse me?-

-I cannot do it right now, I’m just asking for a chance to prove it-

-¿How?-

-Your honor will decide the way-

I saw an indeterminable question mark drawing in the 50 year old women sitting above me. Putting her hand on her chick swinging forward slightly saying: -Ok then, this court will give you the period of time of One year to prove the substantial and material qualifications to sustain your 11 years old young brother, because of the history of your parents, you will not receive any assistance from a civilian born citizen of this country. Will be prohibited marriage or relationship of any kind that influences the agreement established here. Case # 345 closed.-

-Thank you your honor-

-Young lady consider yourself lucky, this is unusual, do not take advantage of anything and do not take risk. God be with you-

-Thank you again-

-Next meeting will in exactly 365 day from now-

-Yes Sir-

In any way I could express the relieve that came to me in that moment, I knew now that I will have with me the last part of my family, and for anything or anybody will let that go.

I had just 15 minutes to go and pick up my brother from school and go to my next work. I live in Jefferson Boulevard, downtown Los Angeles. Some people think that this is the city where the dreams are made of, but for me, when my nightmares start.

I took the bus with the closest rout to go to my brother’s school. I needed to call him.

-John?-

-Sis?-

-Yes is me. I am sorry, I’m going to be late for pick you up, I got out of job late-

-It is ok-

-I am sorry babe, be there as soon as I can-

-All right, can I play with some friends while you come?-

-off course, but you know the rules…-

-Do not go anywhere-

-If you need help you will-

-inform to an adult that you know… you know that I know the rules-

-Ok, I trust in you little body, play save-

-arrive save-

-Thank you, love you-

-love you too-

When I hung up the phone, that feeling of insecurity came back to me, something was not right I was sure. When the bus stopped I run directly to the school having not good thoughts, I knew, I knew for real that something was going on to my brother. Tears started to went down my face while I was running through the street. I saw an ambulance in front of the school.

-John?- I screamed, no answer. - !John?!- I repeat his name over and over again. When i was closer to the ambulance I saw a little boy in the ambulance’s stratcher, I panic, it was indeed my little brother with an oxygen mask on his face, eyes closed and purple lips. -¡JOHN!- I screamed again throwing me over him with the hope of waking him up.

-Ms Gomez?- talked somebody in my back –Ms Gomez?- asked again.

-What happen? ¡For God's sake tell me what happened!- I saw it was the school director Mr. Fitz.

-He was playing with Jonny Lepty and randomly pass out. The paramedic does not know what caused this, is just taking him to the hospital to make sure it's nothing serious.-

-Oh God…-

-Any family to come with him?- said the paramedic.

-I’m his sister- said in reply.

-Ms Gomez?-

-Yes Mr. Fitz?-

-If you need anything please let me know-

-Thank you Mr. Fitz- I wasn’t sure about him, but he always look to be a good person to me. Kindness,such a lost value.

In the ambulance I was holding John’s hand. It was getting colder and colder, my mind was afraid of what could happen to him, one year not a good period of time to lose anybody else again, not again repeat to myself, not again.

I had a flashback from many years ago. We went to the beach and John was a little baby, it was his first time walking and playing with the sea’s water while I was trying to build a sand castle with mom. Dad was trying to make john to say beach as his first word, it didn’t work, Sis was his first word, above everything else, he picked me.

Hour and hours pass and nobody was telling me something about John, I could no freak out more than what I was in that moments. Sitting on a chair, not sitting, laying on it, trying to comfort myself with old memories, not enough to assuage any feelings about anything. With my eyes swollen from both mourn and just before falling asleep, finally saw a doctor approaching me

-John Gomez relatives?-

-Yes Sir, I’m His sister-

-He is now stable-

-What happen?-

-a respiratory attack-

-What? I don’t get it-

-It was caused by the inhalation of air pollution or very fine silica dust that affected the growth of the lung cells…-

-What is that mean?-

-Cancer-

-Cancer?- At that time I stopped breathing, my throat and my mind did not respond either. The panic hit me off guard and cannot do anything about it-Can I… Can I see him?-.

-Of course, but he is sleeping for the medication that we gave him-

-Ok-

He drove me through hallways with hundreds of doors. We arrive to one big hallway door that said “ICU”(Intensive Care Unit) in big white letters. I took a deep breath trying to prepare myself for what was coming. Room 305. He stopped at that door and thousands of butterflies were in my stomach, nervous, of what?

-Ms Gomez there is something I need to talk to you before you go in-

-what is it?-

-Your social security program will not cover all the expenses-

-I will get a job-

-I am really sorry, I wish I could help you any way-

-Do you know anybody that could give me a good job?-

-I will call you if I know anything-

-Thank you Doc-

-You are welcome- as he was opening the door-Here he is, the third bed-

I look inside the room… my baby.

-Ahh John…- walked to his bed and give him a hug, crying. I cry, and cry, and cry until I felt sleep in his lap, wondering if someday anything will get better.