[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.He took the gun out of Julio s hand and put it inhis pants.Julio trembled with pent up rage, and walked up toPapo and yelled from the pit of his gut, Enough! You better get out my face, bitch, Papo said. Enough! Julio didn t budge. Enough, enough, enough! Yo, Papo, let s bounce, man, the cops are coming, LooneyTunes said.Julio turned and shouted at Looney Tunes Enough! and thenhe went to Davey and Chin-Chin and repeated, Enough! Then helooked across the street to the auto glass shops and yelled, Enough! and then he turned to Puti s mother and almost inwhisper said, Enough. Martha and Brenda held on to each other.Debbie left withDamian and the other auto glass guys as Kamikaze drove up tothe scene.Orlando from Rivera s grocery store was handing out rolls of paper towels so that folks could clean up.When he offered a roll toPapo, he smacked it out of Orlando s hand.He glared at Daveyand Chin-Chin. I m sick of all y all. Papo wiped his hands. I washmy hands of all of you niggas.You and the faggots are gonna burnin hell.You too, Chulito.You acting one way and being another. Papo walked casually away as the police and ambulance arrived. Where you think you going? Martha said to Papo, who justturned and gave her the finger.Carlos was not allowed to go in the ambulance with Chulitobecause he was under eighteen.Maria went with Chulito in theambulance and Kamikaze drove Carlos to the hospital.Brick and Julio talked to a female police officer in the travelagency and she filled out a report.Julio pressed charges againstthe two auto glass guys who smashed his window and assaultedhim.Kamikaze drove Chulito, Carlos and Maria back home fromthe hospital.When they pulled up in front of the building, thebodega on the corner was closed, the fellas were not hanging onthe corner, and the block was fairly empty.Only Puti s blood stainremained as evidence of the battle that had taken place. Anybody hungry? Micky D s? Kamikaze said.Maria thanked Kamikaze for the ride but said frostily, I mgoing to heat up some real food.I don t want any of thatMcDonald s crap. Then she got out of the car. I m not hungry, Chulito said through his swollen lips. Not even for a milkshake? Kamikaze asked.Chulito smiled and winced because it hurt. Even all beat up, you re still beautiful, Chulito, Carlos said. Awwww. Kamikaze teased. Shup up, yo, Chulito said.Kamikaze looked toward the backseat at Carlos. So, threeshakes? Not for me, Carlos said. I think momid.thi.Is cooking ismore my style.You coming, Chulito? In a few.I m gonna get a shake. Carlos leaned forward and hugged Chulito, who sat in thepassenger s seat. I ll wait up. He patted Carlos arm. Cool, cause I think you wants to playdoctor. Kamikaze covered his ears playfully. Too much info, bro. Without making eye contact, Carlos thanked Kamikaze andgot out of the car.They rode the three blocks down to McDonald s silently.Chulito knew every inch of those blocks as they passed the orderof auto glass shops, the colors in the giant Tats Cru mural, thecracks in the rose brick wall surrounding the Banknote building,the vehicle line-up of the school bus company and the everchanging oil slicks on the ground at the gas station with theDunkin Donuts.Everything seemed the same, but it wasn t.Whereas before the dirt and the grime were just a part of theneighborhood, he now saw them as disgusting.He had to live withthe dirt all his life because he had no other choice.He had to justdeal with it.But he realized that he had choices and living in HuntsPoint was a choice.He tried to imagine a different life a lifewhere he could love Carlos and not have to fight or watch his back,where there was more good times and less dealing with shit,where he could find a new way of living, where they could wake upfeeling relaxed, go to the movies, eat at restaurants without beinghassled, where they could go to the beach and swim, feeling openand free.Would he have to leave Hunts Point to have this life hewas imagining or did he have the balls to do it here? Was thateven possible?Kamikaze pulled up in line at the drive through. Wantanything else? Fries? Chulito shook his head. Don t think I can handle anythingelse.My jaw hurts like hell. Kamikaze patted his knee. Then don t talk, little bro. But Chulito needed to talk because every punch, shove andkick with which Papo came down on him didn t keep him down.He fought back.He stood up.And even though it felt like every bone and muscle in his body was bruised, he felt powerful. If I have to, I will fight every single day, but I feel like I want togo live somewhere else.Someplace where being with Carlos isnot the end of the world. Kamikaze nodded and listened. Look at me, Kaz, I m wrecked and this was done by Papo.Someone I used to look up to.Someone who s known me most ofmy life. Chulito paused.He wanted to say the one thing he wasafraid of saying to him up front.Maybe it was the adrenaline thatwas still pulsing through his body, but he felt it was now or never. These streets look the same but everything is different, right? Kamikaze moved his head from side to side weighingChulito s question.The car moved up and Kamikaze placed theorder.Chulito closed his eyes and breathed evenly.This was hismoment.He had to let Kamikaze know that he wanted out of thegame.He felt the car move forward again and heard Kamikazepay for their order.His heart began to pick up its pace as he feltthe car move and stop behind the next car.Then he looked atKamikaze, who d been watching him attentively. I m thinking, that,maybe& Chulito paused. I m thinking I should get out of thegame.Find a job doing something.Go legit. Kamikaze breathed in so deeply it sounded as if he d suckedall the air in the car, then he held it for a few seconds before lettingit out slowly. Think about what you saying.Think it through. Hethen looked away from Chulito. How you gonna say somethinglike that when I got your back no matter what, right? I know, but But nothing! Kamikaze slammed the dashboard. Where thefuck is this coming from? Carlos? Is that preppy fuck pressingyou? No, I You have no fucking idea what you are asking. Kamikazegripped the steering wheel and shook it.He banged thedashboard board with his fist and without looking at Chulito said, dashboard board with his fist and without looking at Chulito said, Get the fuck out of the car. Kaz, Chulito pleaded. Out! Kamikaze looked straight ahead, breathing heavily. Now. Chulito turned slowly.Clicked the lock open.Took hold of thehandle.He was expecting Kamikaze to say, Chill.Stay in the car. He wanted him to say or do something to stop him from leaving.Instead, Chulito stepped out and closed the door.When the doorshut he heard the locks click.He couldn t see Kamikaze throughthe tinted glass, so he walked forward to look at him through thewindshield but Kamikaze avoided his stare.Then Kamikazebegan honking his horn andg hee Kam called out, Hurry the fuckup in there! Chulito didn t expect to feel his heart break.It hurt more thanthe bruises on his body.Was that it? Had Kamikaze thrown himout and would he never talk to him again? He held back tears.Hewanted to run home to Carlos, slip into his arms and let go.Let thetears roll.Let the hurt take over and feel the warmth and comfort ofCarlos.He was too bruised to run home to Carlos
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]