every year since before Maria Martinez could remember her family had spent every summer in Cousins with the Fisher's and Conklin's. after the death of her mother Maria needed this summer to be the same as any other, happy, carefree, loving. little d...
when i was 1 my parents got divorced. not that big a deal when you're literally 1 year old. my mother moved us from Barcelona, Spain to Seattle, America. my brother, Luis, and i spent november to january in Barcelona, february to may in Seattle, june to august in Cousins, september to october back in Seattle then it all started again.
i like to tell people that i've made Seattle my home but that's not true. i like to tell myself that Barcelona is my home because that's where i'm from and i prefer it there for the music and the dancing and the general culture but if truth be told like the whole truth, the only place i've ever actually felt at home is in that summer house, with those families on the beach in Cousins.
Luis is a little different. he prefers Seattle to Barcelona. if it was up to him he'd never go back there, he can barely even speak the language anymore. he's more of a big city socialite jock kind of guy who needs people around him to thrive while I could quite easily be locked in a dance room with only taylor swift music and myself for hours and hours... and hours!
i've done all of my schooling in Seattle but my love for music, dance, writing and theatre comes from the people around me. Laurel and I are really close because of my love to write. she helped me to perfect my last 2 plays but the piece i'm working on now...that's the one that'll take me to fame! my taste in music comes straight from Susannah, she introduced me to Taylor Swift...i will never be able to repay her for that blessing. she also gifted me my piano god i LOVE that piano! composing and bringing music to life makes my heart soar! i also love to dance, i've been dancing since forever, it was always my Mom's thing and that's why i care about it. she made it my most beautiful passion.
our financial situation is a little...bipolar. while my Mom works all hours and barely makes rent, Dad comes from old money. a lot of old money. i can't prove it but i'm pretty sure he's got something to do with the mafia. that's why they split up, Dad likes to buy things while Mom won't accept help. it makes family life...complicated with Luis wanting to go to a fancy football school and me wanting to go to Columbia. you see? complicated.
Let me tell you about my dream to go to Columbia. Although the arts are my passion, i've always known my purpose is to make something happen in the world. something meaningful. i want to study social science so i can work with people, helping people. Jeremiah's gonna come with me. ever since i can remember that's been our goal. Columbia!!!
Mom had been friends with Laurel and Susannah since college so when she died...well my godmothers took over. Dad came to Seattle because we needed a "legal guardian" or whatever but he didn't help. he just threw money at the whole thing. thankfully summer came not long after the funeral. he wants to take me back to Spain with him. I don't want to go. I already live so far away from the people that mean the most to me, i don't want to go further! Luis got that, he's 18 and desperately trying to get temporary custody just so i can finish school in Seattle. he doesn't have much hope for success but i do. i have to.
Charlotte Vega As Maria Martinez
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