New Places
Imagine getting sent to a place you’ve never been to and staying with people you’ve never met. Scared and nervous doesn’t even begin to cover how I feel. But as Mamá said I am a proud Mexican and I absolutely can NOT show any weakness to anyone. My family was able to convince my uncle (more like older brother) to take me with him to the Estados Unidos when he left to go into the military. He isn’t that close to me, so I was quiet soprendido when he allowed me to go with him.
There are somethings that are best left unspoken, and the relación problemática [relations problem, the problem between them] between me and mi tio [my uncle] is one of those things in my family. Yet, Mamá thought that If I stayed in ciudad de Mexico that I will end up pregnant by next year. A four-hour plane ride later, and we land in what I consider the most dreadful place in the world. Los Angeles.
I put on my shades and let out a sigh.
“ Awe, pobrecita. Tu es mucho cansado?” Gerardo asked me in Spanish. [Awe, poor thing. Are you too tired?]
“No estoy cansado. Aunque lo sea, no es asunto tuyo. “I spat at him, frustrated. [I’m not tired. Even if I am, it’s none of your business.]
I stormed out of the plane as soon as we were allowed to walk out, stomping over to the baggage claim with him tailing.
“ Hey. HEY! Bambi! No puedes ir corriendo sin mí!” He yelled after me. [You can’t run off without me!]
“Ni siquiera quiero estar aquí. Quiero ir a casa. Quería quedarme. ¿Pero alguien me escucha? ¡No!” I yelled back [I don’t even want to be here. I want to go home. I wanted to stay. But does anyone listen to me]
He sighed at me and then hugged me tightly, which quite frankly I am surprised.
“Hey, I know this is going to be difficult especially since you don’t know much English. But I promise you things will be different. You and me will be different here.” He released me and looked straight at me. “¿Está bien?” [You good.]
I simply nodded and he kissed me on my forehead. And with that he grabbed both of our bags, heading towards the taxi area.
“Besides Bambi we will be living in the city of angels. You might be able to do that singing thing you like.”
I looked at him. “Fat chance.” I said my accent coming through heavy, while you couldn’t hear his at all. “It no happen without licking some butt.” I told him, my bad English apparent because he began laughing.
“It’s kissing Bambi. Not licking.”
I scowled at him and huffed. Folding my arms across my chest we stayed in awkward silence until I noticed we were in a neighborhood similar to the one I grew up in in Mexico.
“¿Cuál es el nombre de este lugar?” I asked him. [What is the name of this place]
“This is South Central LA.” He told me “Here you can speak Spanish without judgement. Majority of the people will understand you.” He looked at me and smiled “Aside from me of course.”
We finally stopped outside our new house. After we got all our bags and exited. Gera was immediately greeted by the neighbors. Allot of whom were older women.
“Is this your girlfriend? She’s so pretty.” One stated
“Aye que no!” We both exclaimed simultaneously [Of course not!]
“Es mi tío.” I told them. The lady looked directly at me this time. [He’s my uncle]
“Oh, cariño, lo siento mucho. Yo soy María. ¿Sólo hablas español? ¿Nada de inglés?” She inquired. [Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. I’m Maria. You only speak Spanish? No English]
I swear this lady looked like she could be J.Lo’s twin, only her hair had more greys in it.
“Sí, señora. Apenas lo conozco y siempre sale mal.”
[Yes, ma’am. I barely know any and it always goes wrong.]
“Pobrecita. Voy a conseguir que mi hijo te ayude. Te gustará. Tiene tu edad.” She turned toward her house which was a pale pink with bright blue edges. It reminded me of my grandma’s house back in Mexico City.[Poor baby. I’m going to get my son to help you. You’ll like it. He’s your age.]
“Juanito!” Maria yelled
“What?!” a deep voice yelled back
“¡Ven aquí, ahora!” [Come here, Now!]
“I’m coming. I’m coming.”
Gera coughed “Well I’m taking my stuff inside. I know Maria isn’t gunna take no for an answer.” He whispered to me in my ear before standing up “See you inside Bambi” He said as he bounded into our bright blue house, just as I heard a screen door slam.
This guy looked like all kinds of trouble. He was wearing a white wife beater shirt that hugged his muscles tightly, with grey sweatpants, white socks and flip-flops. I couldn’t help but giggle.
“What you want Ma?” He said oblivious to my presence.
To which Maria smacked him upside the head and gave him one of those looks that spoke more words than what was said.
“Watch it you wanna be thug. This is Bambi. She came straight from Mexico today and she is going to need some help around here. I want you helping her out.” To which he gave me THAT kind of smirk, earning him another smack upside his head from his mom.
“Not that kind of help. Be nice and show her around and help her practice her English. Not like you got anything to do while schools out for the summer.” With that Maria left and walked back inside her house. Juanito turned toward me and sighed to himself. He looked down at the 2 suitcases and 1 backpack I had around me.
“You sure don’t have much to unpack, do you? Sh*t” He cursed to himself “Sólo entiendes Español, verdad?” [You only understand Spanish, right?]
“Entiendo inglés, simplemente no puedo decirlo muy bien.” I spoke to him softly. [I understand it, I just don't speak it well]
“Aight. Good enough for most people here.” He reached down and grabbed the other two back packs, then he smiled at me.
“I’ll have to get use to have a beautiful neighbor.” He winked then followed my uncle inside. I trotted in behind him as my uncle told him where my room was going to be. So far, I had only a small white vanity on one side and a mattress on the other. Of course, my uncle hadn’t bought any furniture yet. I rolled my eyes at the sight of it. My new friend just shrugged.
“Not bad. Not good either but not bad.” His statement was followed by awkward silence from me as I simply stared at the room, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill down my face. I guess he noticed because when I realized he was hugging me, the tears and sobs just came.
“No, le digas a nadie que he llorado.” I managed to choke out between the sobs. [Don't tell anyone that I have cried]
“I promise I won’t.” He whispered, “Amigos por vida.” [Friends for life]
I have only been here a few hours, but now I have a friend for life.
Amigos por vida.
