Michael's Story

Chapter 5

Coming home was a bittersweet experience. Junie had a strong attachment to her parents. Nothing they did could ever make her dislike them. For the most part, they did a good job raising her and her siblings. As time passed, bills increased, wages decreased, and addiction took over; Their drug of choice: Alcohol.

Junie's father, Jay, drank from sun up til sundown. Liquor was his best friend; He did everything with it. He could guzzle down a pint of Gin in seconds and then slither back to the store for more. On rare occasions he was sober. But, a sober Jay in the house meant an agitated Jay. Being without his confidant made him quick tempered. To keep himself in a perpetual state of happiness he kept his friend at his side, relying on it when things got tough.

Junie came into the living room to see her father sprawled out on the floor, as stiff as an action figure. His snores were deep and rumbled like growls. One hand rested on his stomach while the other was palm up to the ceiling.

From the kitchen Junie heard, "Junie, is that you?"

"Yeah, ma, It's me." She said back.

"Come here for a second." Her mother called for her.

Junie glanced at her father as she moved toward the kitchen. She bent the corner, the smell of bleach and a lemon scented something mingling together in her nose. Standing at the kitchen sink, her mother washed dishes. Before Junie spoke, her mother checked over her shoulder for her.

"I thought you had work." She continued scrubbing plates.

"They closed early."

"Oh, well, I meant to ask you earlier but it slipped my mind.... Can you lend me twenty bucks? Just twenty." She turned to face Junie, shaking water from her hands.

"Sure." She raises one side of her mouth.

"Thank you, I get paid Friday." Her mother leaned against the counter, "I'll pay you back for the lights too."

Junie shook her head, "I just need my phone bill paid."

"One of these days I won't have to ask you for anything anymore. We're gonna move, I'm gonna have a new job...." She said.

Junie's eyes were downcast as she listened to her mother fantasize. It wasn't the first and wouldn't be the last time her mother would speak the same words. For years, her parents talked about how things would get better. At first, she believed it but time flew by and nothing changed.

"Your brother's been looking for a job." She said

Junie rolled her eyes.

"You two need to learn how to get along." She turned back around and resumed cleaning the dishes.

Junie waited, worrying about her mother's reaction if she told her the truth. She started to speak, then pulled back into herself. She stared at her mother's back, sucking her bottom lip in.

It seemed like every choice she considered was more challenging than the last. Unfortunately, there would be no simple way to break the news to her. She felt compelled to utter those words.

"How would you...." she started, she searched for the words, "How would you feel if I told you I wanted to start therapy?"

Suddenly, her mother's head jerked in her direction. Junie was unable to decipher whether the expression on her face was one of confusion or disgust. She gulped down the rest of her words.

"For what? There's so many people that go to therapy and it don't help them. No, I think it would be a waste of time. You're strong, you can get through anything and you don't need a therapist to tell you that." She refocused on the dishes.

Junie looked shamefaced, "Well, I've been through a lot of things...."

"Like what, Junie?" Her mother sounded more annoyed than curious.

The vacant expression on her mother's face made Junie turn away. She concealed her down-mouth. Her mother let out an exasperated sigh. Just as her mother began to speak, Junie walked out of the kitchen.

********

Michael called Pablo until his phone rang off the hook; Pablo never answered. A week passed by; it was time for Pablo to start paying Michael as they had arranged. Pablo was unreachable and it was unusual. He was seen as reliable, especially by the Martinez family.

Before he started jumping to conclusions, Michael decided to give Pablo a little more time. He planned on calling him tomorrow, certain that he would get an answer by then. In the meantime, he would focus on other things.

The first thing Michael did was visit Julian. He wanted to tell Julian that he and Travis earned a promotion. Putting the boys in a higher position was good for business. Another positive was that Michael still had his ear on the streets. Travis and Julian were integral and loyal.

With a sense of urgency emanating from him, Julian came to the car door. He knocked on the window. Michael tapped Jorge's shoulder and Jorge flipped the locks.

Julian ducked into the car like a boxer entering the ring, "Just to let you know, there's somebody named Alejo going around asking about you. He pulled up at the courts questioning me and Trav. And then he went around the hood asking about you. You know him?"

Michael teetered his head, "I know a little bit about him, When was this?"

"Yesterday. He was in a green Lamborghini. He was acting all cocky and shit." Julian told him.

"All right," Michael nodded, "Don't worry, I'll take care of it. What about Eric?"

"Nothing on Eric. Found out where his girl is. She claims she ain't heard from him either."

"I need you take care of that." Michael grabbed the bag next to his feet, "On a different note, I got something for you." He dropped the bag in Julian's lap.

"You ready for that?" Michael asked.

"Hell yeah." Julian preened.

"This one you gotta split with Travis." Michael said, "I want y'all to get this off for me as fast as y'all can. You do it right y'all get y'all own."

Julian shook Michael's hand, grinning from ear to ear, "Bet,"

"I'll get up with you later though." Michael ended their brief meeting.

"Alright." Julian dapped Michael up.

Michael had other businesses to tend to. Although, his curiosity was growing by the second. There was another task added to his to-do list; finding out what Alejo wanted from him.

Another chapter coming tomorrow...