The Grove Chronicles

Chapter 1

              May 18 1990 " Mija!" "Mija!" " Get up for school!" shouted Eduardo.  The Recently turned 14 year old Esmyra, was still knocked out 7:15 am. Eduardo sighed, realizing his daughter wasn't getting up. He barged into her room standing over the bed. " Hey sleepy head!" " Up and at em!" Esmyra groaned tossing around the bed. " Noooo!" " 10 more minutes yo." 

" I'm not your yo, now let's go ." Eduardo said sternly.  Esmyra exhaled deeply, yawning, trying to wake up. After showering,  she proceeded to get up, going to her dresser picking out, what to wear for school. " This was already worn." "This is ugly." Esmyra said rolling her eyes. Finally she decided to throw on some Guess jeans along with a long white T-shirt, illustrated with a Mexican flag. 

Esmyra picked up a 14kt gold necklace, nestling it around her neck. After she went into the kitchen to fix a quick breakfast. Bacon toast, and a Nutri Grain bar. " Esmyra I'll be home late." " Have to  help your uncle move some stuff after work." " Esmyra sucked her teeth. ' Fine papi." Eduardo sulked. " I know baby." " I want to spend as much time I can with you." " Why do you have to help Uncle Hector?" " That man is a lazy ass." 

" Hey watch your mouth child." " He's still my kid brother." " I'd never turn my back on him." Esmyra pouted. " We were supposed to go to the mall and get ice cream." " Sure I can go with my friends, it's not the same with them though." " I'll tell you what." " Saturday, we can go to the movies, to see Back to the Future 3." Eduardo suggested. 

" Mmm....okay cool." Esmyra perked up. " Eduardo did his best to raise his children without their mother, Consuela who passed of breast cancer five years ago. Abraham, the oldest child, was currently in college at UMass. So, the house had only two members. Eduardo and Esmerya Ivanez.

" Later dad!" Esmyra shouted out walking out the door. "Have a good day girl!" The Ivanez family lived on 117 Floradale Drive on the Cedar Grove's Eastside. The upper/middle class neighborhood. Eduardo was a manger at the local chemical plant. Providing a modest, yet stable living  Esmyra waited for the school bus, standing on the corner. The walkman had the song " Escapade" by Janet Jackson playing.  

Finally the bus arrived. Esmyra hopped on quickly trotting to the back with the rest of the "cool kids."  "Hola girl!" screeched  Esmyra.  "Wasup girl." " 1 more month till school is over!" exclaimed her friend Selena Serrano.   Selena has been her best friend since  the age of five. Their mothers were also friends growing up.  In the back of the bus the kids  were being rowdy, despite the early morning. 

" Girl I can't wait." " Think about it, we gonna be high schoolers in September." Selena boasted.  "Hell yeah, we aint gonna be kids no more." Esmyra agreed. Next, a ball of paper hit Selena square in the face. " Yo who threw that shit!?" she barked. " Selena, say you want me girl." a tall boy remarked. "Psssh!" " I rather shoot myself, with a 38 special." A ball of paper then hit Esmyra. " What about you My My?"

" Hit me again motherfucker........ don't let my long hair or soft voice fool you." " Ah what you gonna do little girl?" the tall boy unsavorily said.  " Leave us alone Mark." " Take a shower too." Selena demanded. " Man forget him." " Tell me what outfit, you plan on wearing to the dance?" Esmyra asked. " I don't know." " Whatever it is, heads will turn." Selena giggled. " Yeah okay, you made a similar statement last year." Esmyra shook her head laughing.

The school bus arrived at  Fox Middle School. All the students were loud running around the campus.  " See you later little My My" the tall boy teased.  Esmyra's blood boiled. " I got somethin for him." she thought. 

Later during 4th period, Esmyra came up with a plan to leave school early. Mainly to spend time with her boyfriend, already in high school. Entering the office, she used her charming smile, to convince the main office, secretary to use the phone.  " Excuse Mrs. Dittle, may I use the phone, to call my dad?"