“One ticket for Westwood Central Please!” I said as I took my jar o’ silver dollars and slid 'em on the top of the counter. I ‘member the ticket teller raising his eyebrows, guessing he don’t see them kinds a coins too often.
“You got some ID young lady?”
I took out my wallet and handed it over too him, and after countin’ my coins he gave me my ticket. Something about holding that little piece o paper had me all excited!
Thing was the train wadn’t gon be there for about another hour or so. So with the time I had left I went on over to the gift shop and bought myself a small baggie to stuff my coins in, a map, a pamphlet of the city, and some markers! It was a long wait for the train so I needed to make sure I had something to do while I was waiting.
Normally if Daddy were here he’d hand me his CD Player and I’d listen to all my favorites on it. A lot of time I usta fall asleep in his lap, takes me back. I wonder if he and momma ever rode on a train together a’fore…?
While I was waiting I took out the pamphlet and started highlighting everything there was to do. First place on the list, was this restaurant called shipwreck.
It usta be this big ol cruise liner, but after it got all old, the owner decided ta turn it into a tourist attraction. Now you can go in there and get a good ol taste o El Lugar and get some trinkets on your way out.
Then, the next thing I saw was an arcade in downtown that just opened up and it looked like it had all sorts of games in it. Daddy ain’t never bought me one of them home consoles, but we did used to have one by our house. I used to go spend almost the whole day there, a’fore it got shut down.
Finally there was this little store called “Hechizo!” They sold cards, magic kits and all sorts o stuff. Place was named after the magician who owned the store and everyday he’d put on a magic show! I always watched on TV but I never got to see one up close afore!
I done marked off the location o each place and how long I was gonna spend there. Just needed to make sure I was back on board by 4 P.M. So I could get home a'fore Daddy did.
After about maybe a half hour o waiting the train finally arrived.
You’d think I ain’t have no manners the way I done rushed inside. Once I was in I found this spot near the window had my face glued to it the whole ride over.
Going to the city was always exciting! Cause no matter where ya looked, you could always see the ocean. The sky was so serene and felt like it went on forever, it was like it was its own little world.
The breeze was always gentle, the sun was always shining, and doggone it–! This window seat wadn’t doin none of it justice! Once we pulled into the station, I rushed on out as quickly as I came in. I pulled my map up to my face while I was running and charted my course.
“Okay, accordin’ to this here map, Shipwreck ain’t too far, bout a block away!”
I made my way on over as quick as I could, but by the time I got there, there was already a line, a REAL long one. Darn thing stretched about half the block, just my luck. I guess, considerin’ it was a tourist attraction I wadn’t too sure what I was expectin’.
“Shucks…” I muttered to myself. Guess I was gonna have to wait for a good minute. I hated waiting.
I’m somebody who’s always on the move, always jittery and full o energy. When I was a kid I could barely even sit still most o the time.
While I was waiting my eyes started wandering and that’s when something caught my eye, a couple o’ fellers up on the roof.
What were they doing up there…? I couldn't see too much but it looked like they were tryna climb the buildings, flipping, running and jumping n some such. “How were they doing that…?” I thought to myself. However they did it, it sure was more fun than standing around here. So I ran outta line and did my best to keep my eyes on em.
They looked to be heading deeper into the city, but I wadnt’ gonna be able to catch em up at this pace. I knew one way that I could, but I had to make sure no one was around to see. So as I kept running I cut through some alleyways and put my track skills to use, hopping n jumping over some of the obstacles in my way. After a minute thought I came up on a dead end. Just what I was hoping fer. From where I was standing though, it was gonna take one heck of a jump to get up to the roof from here.
“Just member what Pa told ya…” I muttered to myself.
“When yer using yer powers think of it, like lightin’ a fuse, let it simmer and then let it loose.”
From there I let that warmth well up in my body while I was running and concentrated that energy down into my hands, as I made a running start. “Light the fuse…”
After a few steps I raised my hands up above my head and rolled into a handspring. “Let it simmer…” and right when I was about halfway through my flip… “And then…!”
BOOM!
As I shot into the air I felt a tickle in my tummy like I was riding on the wind, a big ol smile crossed my face. But that was only half the distance, I wadn’t out of the woods yet.
Using that momentum from my flip I found myself almost upside down in mid air, at least 15 feet off the ground. Almost there, one more jump to go. Just needed to keep rememberin’ my training.
“Just remember ya gotta focus your fire when that momentum fades get your hands in position for how ya want yer next one to go.”
“Right…” With my new positionin’ I'd concentrate my power again and face my hands towards the ground, letting it all just flow through me again.“Here I go…”
BOOM!
My body went shooting up at a bit of an angle. But thang was, this time I put too much into it and not only did I overshoot the rooftop but I couldn’t slow down neither.
“Uh-oh…!”
I was in it now, and a’fore I knew it, I done smacked my head on the end of a water tower. After that I dropped chest first onto the floor of the building, Shee-yoo. The back o my head was hurting but hey at least I made it.
“Oww…”
Thankfully, I could feel the injury healing itself up, nice n easy like. Unfortunately though, I done lost track o’ them fellers who was hopping across them buildings on account o my blunder. But that’s okay, cause now that I was up here I don’t think I’d ever seen the city look this pretty a’fore.
“Oh-wow…” if’n I thought it looked good in the train, nothing could beat this.
You could see everything from up here. All the tall buildings, the beach, and even some of the mountains out in the distance. There was even a friendly little blackbird right beside me. Now this was a way to live.
As I was taking in the view my eyes wandered back over towards the line I left and it barely moved an inch. “Heh…Guess Shipwreck can wait.”
From where I was standing the city in front o me might as well a been a super sized jungle gym. Just looking at it had my whole body shaking! Wonder if it had anything to do with me being closer to the sun? Or maybe it was just cause I was excited? I know daddy said not to use my powers out in public but, how can I not!? Flying around was way more fun! So I pulled up my little map and started planning my next adventure. “The arcade ain’t too far away, maybe I’ll head there next!” so with another blast I raced on off to my next destination, hopping, skipping n jumpin.
I made sure though to be careful where I landed so ain’t nobody catch wind o’ me.
When I got there though hoo-ee this place had everything, skee-ball, a basketball machine, and all sorts o’ arcade machines. I always loved these little things, and I couldn’t wait to try em all out!
I traded in some of my silver dollars for some coins for the machine and took my seat right in front o’ my favorite arcade machine and booted up a game. It was a two player racing game but the cabinets had dividers so you couldn't see the other person's screen.
But just a’fore I could even pick my vehicle these big ol bright letters came up on screen that read. “A NEW RACER HAS ENTERED THE TRACK!” as soon as I saw that my eyes lit up! I wadn’t the best at these kinda games but I loved competition.
The first few challengers were easy enough. And after a while I was running the cabinets. But then all of a sudden when I got to my last challenger, something excitin’ happened. They were good, like real-real good. They kept hitting them corners with speed I ain’t never seen a’fore. Darn near drained me o my quarters. We were neck and neck, turn fer turn, it was just me and them. By the time we got down to the final round things were getting down to the wire.
As the timer was about to run out and just as I was about to clinch that photo-finish. “DRAW GAME” both our cars passed the finish line at the exact same time.
The screen flashed a countdown timer asking to retry, but I guess they ain’t wanna keep going. Since they let it wind down.
“Aww…” I thought to myself. Ain’t no way they was gonna let it end like that! Wanting to keep up the fun, I stuck my head outside o’ my little cabinets divider and looked towards my partner.
“C'mon now one more race–” but just then that's when I saw her. Long red hair, green eyes and that all too familiar lil’ freckle face,Cindy. She was staring back at me with about as much disbelief as I had for her…it only lasted fer a couple seconds but still. “C'mon Cindy…the rest of class is waiting.” I heard somebody say. She ain’t say a word and just headed away. She wore a bright yella shirt that read “Eagle’s Landing class of 99’…” my old middle school.
I done forgot we were scheduled to have a class trip this summer to celebrate us all moving up to the 8th grade. I was s’posed ta go but on account o my incident I wadn’t allowed too. I knew that couldn't a been a coincidence, couldn't no one bring out the best in me the way she could. By the looks of her arm them burn scars were still there. Seeing em kinda makes me wonder what she thinks of me? Would all the fun we just had, get washed away just cause she saw my face…? Guess I dunno…?
“Cindy…I’m so sorry.” I stood there practically frozen fer a second collecting my thoughts. “Maybe coming here was a bad idea…” My emotions were weighing on me and just as quickly as I got there I turned back around and headed off. I just needed to be alone…
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
So after buying a quick snack from the food stand, some Salchipapas. I found a nice quiet rooftop and watched the clouds go by as I munched on my crispy fries. And while that combination of mustard n sausage was heavenly, all I could think about was something my daddy said.
“Don't you ever stop feeling that way, you ain’t sick ,you just different.”
I kept remembering em’ to keep me strong, but right now after seeing Cindy's face and being reminded of what I’d done. That wadn’t exactly a weight I felt like liftin’ again. Wish my powers could make that pain go away…
As I finished my food I let my little plastic cup get blown away in the wind and I'd lean back and just lay there for a sec. I tied my jacket around my waist and let myself soak up some of the sun, it always tickled and the warm fuzziness always made things easier. And fer a minute there it was nice n peaceful, but it wouldn't stay that way for long. Cause even as pretty as this place was, even a pearl like El Lugar had its cracks. Just a few minutes later a door done burst open, with a loud snap. I turned my head and saw a man get tossed right through it.
Honestly it was less of a toss and more like he “FLEW.” The sound o the metal creaking almost made me think the door was ‘bout to bust right off. I was stunned at the sight. I ran over as quick as I could to see if the old man was okay after getting blasted through that door.
When I got to him there was a pool of blood coming from his right side, a grisly looking wound. A busted arm with the bone sticking out right in the middle of that space between his forearm and his bicep. A red river of blood stainin’ the white cloth.
I done seen so much worse nowadays, but something about that sight had me shaky. Not just cause o how it looked but cause of the pain he musta been in. And if someone coulda done that to him, what the heck could he do to me…? I tried to get his attention but a’fore I could I heard the faint laughter o’ somebody making their way up the stairwell. I turned back towards the door and remembered hearing this tap, tap, tappin’ like something was smacking against a railing.
The old feller looked like he was trying to come too, but the pain musta been too much. Looked like he could barely open his eyes, least I knew he was alive.
“Of all the places to run…why the stairs…trying to save me the trouble by taking a swan dive yourself…?” echoed a voice as them footsteps got closer. The tapping turned to a scrape like he was dragging something along the ground.
I wadn’t never too worried about fighting, heck I was actually kind o excited. However the fact that I coulda wound up like the old feller wadn’t something I was looking forward too, healin powers er not. But now wadn’t the time for that…cause if’n I don’t stop this feller things might o’ only gotten worse fer the old man, just need to remember what I said to Pa.
“But what about other people, can’t everybody fight like me?”
“If you wanna take care o others, you gotta take care of yourself first.”
So long as I had these powers I was gonna be fine. The older fella couldn’t take care o himself so now it was my turn. If Pa was here he wouldn’t let this man go and get himself beat up and I ain’t bout too neither. Whenever I got these sorts o jitters there was always something I done told myself.
“Ain’t nothing a little sunlight can’t fix!”
So I turned and faced the door, and after a minute there he was Mr. Tough Guy. I tell ya, he was sure was something else. He wore this real fancy looking suit, white blazer and a black dress shirt.
He stood about twice my height, and with how fitted that shirt looked I was willing to bet he was hiding some serious muscles under them fancy duds o’ his.
“Eh…a gringa here?” he done said with a twirl of his bat, a red stain splattered right on the end of it, that spilled right in front of my feet.
I raised up my fists as he came closer. “Dejelo en paz, e-estúpido, o si no!” That was my way o saying, “Leave him alone you dummy, or else!” My spanish wadn’t perfect but I knew that much.
“¿En seria? ¿O si no que? ¿Eh? ¿Que vas a hacer?“ based on them words he was practically tauntin me, cause what he was saying was: “Are you serious? Eh? Watcha gonna do?”
Hmph, that only made me clench my fists even harder, no backing down now. He stepped a bit closer and spun his bat one more time, another splatter of blood this time hitting the floor.
“Beat it, pendeja!”
CLANG! Before I knew it That bat done cracked me in the jaw something FIERCE! All I remember was feeling my jaw snapping outta place as my teeth sliced through my cheeks and out the other side on my mouth. A few seconds later when I landed on the ground, blood started drooling from the missing spaces between my teeth, and drizzled down onto my shirt.
“Stupid Gringa…”
I let out a hack as I gasped for breath and felt the small holes in the side of my face pulsing from where the teeth done tore em open.
I was a mess! If’n you compared how I looked when I hit the chain link fence. To how I looked after taking that bat to the kisser you’d think I was a beauty queen.
I could see Mr. Tough Guy taunting me outta the corner o my eye as I was struggling to breathe, what kind of foul person gloats over hitting a little girl.
But just like clockwork. I could feel the sunlight washing away all that pain, like a nice hug, all warm n cozy like.
In just a couple seconds my teeth were poking back through my gums, and the bones in my face were coming back into place, good as new. Never really hurt like I figured it should’ve given my powers. You shoulda seen when Mister Tough Guy got a look at me, I tell you he looked like he done saw the second coming.
“W-what…? How are you…doing that!?”
As I stood up to my feet and wiped the blood offa my mouth, I smirked at him, my nice pearly whites all back in place.
“Wanna try again?” I said with a big ol chipper smile, what’d I tell ya!
Stunned, he quickly reached inside of his pocket and tried to pull something out, I think it mighta been a gun. But while he was fumbling his way through it, I got a running start towards him. In a matter o’ moments I sent a small burst o sunlight right through the back o’ my legs n’ arms as I shot myself forward.
Before he could even blink, I cleared that distance something quick. My head smashed into his chest as hard as my body woulda let it.
BAM! Right on target. He stumbled back clutching his chest and I swear I could hear a bone crack when I made contact. Wadn’t sure if it was one a his or mine.
He landed like a rock on the hard concrete floor. A wet cough coming from his lungs once he hit the ground. Sounded like he was choking on a fish hook.
Mighta been risky to use my powers like that, but if he was about to pull out what I think he was, there was gonna be some real-real trouble, for me and the old man.
But I gotta say in that moment, once I knew he couldn’t hurt me that was one heck of a thrill.
After a minute I attempted to get up to my feet, but for some reason my vision was all blurry. Thankfully my body responded to that and cleared me up. Which was more than I could say for Mister Tough Guy.
“Hija de puta…” he groaned.
When I turned and looked his way I saw that he was still keeling over, never letting that anger leave his eyes. He was practically setting me ablaze with his gaze.
Once I got my bearings I looked back and stuck my tongue out at him.
“Serves you right, I warned ya!”
Now that he was all laid out it was time to tend to that poor feller who was still bleeding out.
“You okay Mister…?”
He ain’t say a word, all that pain musta taken him out. I needed to get him outta here real quick like.
Thang was I wadn’t exactly strong enough to help him get up off the floor, but I think my powers had a way to handle that.
“Hang on Mister lemme getcha to a hospital!”
See he was a heavy fella, or at least heavy for me. And while I wadn’t too book smart I knew a thing or two about a workout.
See whenever you try to lift up something heavy your muscles tend to take an itty bit of damage.
Now I ain’t know it at the time but cause o the way my powers worked, but my body was healing the damage instantly! And the more I kept doing it the stronger I was getting, haha! Eventually after about a minute o effort I was able to get him off the ground like it weren’t nothing.
“There we go…c’mon we gotta get you somewhere safe.”
Now that I had em in my hands I was able to get him down the stairs and carry him to the hospital.
Once we got there, the doctors took him from me and started asking him for ID. While they were looking him over I managed to hear someone call out his name.
“Ernesto Reyes! Get him to a room quick!”
After I left I made sure to write his name down next to the hospital on my map so I could remember to come back and see him make sure he was okay.
I wonder what he musta done did to get them fellers mad at him? And if I’m ‘membering correctly Pa done told me one time that them fancy fellers in suits are called the “Cartel.”
Some nasty folk who sell bad stuff to people out in the streets. Wonder how Mister Ernesto got all wrapped up in that, maybe I can ask him tomorra!
But now with him off getting rest at the hospital I still had another problem on my hands, my bloody clothes.
“Now what…? If’n Pa see’s my clothes like this he’s gonna flip.”
I looked up at the clock and realized I spent most o the morning out here, cause it was already 2 P.M.
I oughta get goin sooner rather than later but with my shirt all covered in blood I needed to get my hands on a new one right quick.
I ain’t really have no concept o money back then, heck still don’t now since I’m kinda on my own. But I took out my little jar o silver dollars and thought.
“This itty bitty, chunk o change oughta be enough to get me a new shirt right…?” I had bout 8 dollars left…
Anyhow, I ran on over to the nearest clothing store and headed inside. Once I got there I grabbed a nice new T-shirt that looked real-real similar to the one I had on.
After scooping it up, I made my way up to the register with my little coins. The cashier looked at me on the other side o the counter with a raised brow and I shot him a big toothed smile as I laid down my jar o coins.
And well without even needin’ to count em all he said was, “Next!” I ain’t need to know how to speak Spanish to know what that meant, dangit…!
With that being a bust, I took my little sandals and marched my way out the store and took a seat on the sidewalk…man…
“Ay, que pasa mija…?” said a real real soft voice. I looked over and saw this nice old lady starin at me.
She was real pretty like, had long black hair and wore it tied up with a little purple hair band. I tried to say something but I couldn’t think of the right words.
“It’s alright, I can speak English if you’d like, what’s wrong?” she’d respond. I let out a sigh of relief, guessing it was pretty obvious I wadn’t a native, and I was still trippin up on my spanish.
“Well…I done got my clothes dirty…and I need some new ones…” I said as I leaned back and showed her my shirt. The lady frowned and extended her hand to me.
“Is that so…? Come with me.” I’d take it and we’d walk right back with me into that store, to the youth section. “Which one do you want…?”
I pointed out the shirt I was looking for amongst the rack o clothing. “That one…” I’d take it and she would walk with me over to the counter and pay the nice man for it.
“There you are…no more trouble.” she’d say to me with a smile as she handed it to me. As I held the piece of fabric in my hands I looked up at her.
“Thank you Miss…how can I pay ya back! I thank I got some coins left…” I’d say rummaging through my jacket to offer her some of my silver dollars.
“No, no don’t worry mija…just pay it forward, it’ll come back to you in time.”
I nodded my head but I sure wadn’t too sure what she meant. Anyhow with my new shirt fresh off the rack, I headed into the fitting room and put in on. But by the time I came out she was gone. Somehow though I knew I’d see her again, just had a hunch.
But with all that settled…between fighting with Mister tough guy, running through the city, and playing at the arcade guess it was time fer me to get going back home.
Stinks too, fighting that feller up top made me miss my magic show. Guess I'll get my chance eventually. The day wadn’t what I wanted but at least It was eventful.
Fighting that varmint was an unexpected surprise, and the Arcade was fun too! But, I sure hope Cindy is having fun on the trip with the others…even if’n I’m sure she hates me. For now though I needed to get home. I hope that nice man was gonna be okay.
All the train ride home I couldn’t stop thinking about who that feller was that attacked him and what they wanted with him, if it was enough to break his arm it couldn’t a been good. But I guess that’s an adventure for next time.