Damned!

Family Tree of Ein Suarez

The neighborhood around the capitol had been built in the first part of the century by the bastard son of a Catholic priest who had won a bet in a high stakes game of Poker, purposely fulfilling a predetermined lifestyle that was brought about by the neglect of his father. Bi-religious, indoctrinated in his youth, although young Federico attended the Catholic church, it was his native Gandian mother who would point out to him in a whisper the priest standing in front of the arched doorway to the stucco church, welcoming his parishioners one by one with a firm handshake or hug, all except Federico.

As a teenager, Federico used to swear epitaphs under his breath during services, to which his mother Giovanna would beat him and lay upon him chores, but he was willing to bear these burdens. He wasn't sure why this upset her so much, as the many figurines and statues that lined their house shelves that bore connection to Gandan religion were kept against the wishes of his absent father. Worse than beatings or chores was the shame from his playmates who called him illegitimate Gandian and unlucky. Unlucky indeed, for Giovanna continually welcomed the priest in their home, during the secretive hours of midnight. The noise at night bothered him, but more telling was the bare shelves in the morning- bereft of the many figurines that would be known to disappear after drawing a scolding from the priest. The many midnight visits was how he knew that she still loved him; and the cold shoulder was how he did not know fatherly love. His father never acknowledged Federico as his own, for to do so would cost his job.

In response, the teenage boy, in a desperate attempt to extract revenge gambled recklessly, as this action warranted the direct attention from his father. He quickly became the object of scornful scrutiny and lectures whenever there was occasion. The carrying of the cross in the duty of being an altar boy was done haphazardly (more than once he had let the trunk slip through his fingers almost to the floor), the lighting of the candles during the week (often forgotten), the ringing of the church bell, all were performed carelessly. Any discreet chance his father could get alone with him was a harsh rebuke of the waywardness of his actions and the ill support shown to his mother.

Federico, was not to be swayed. It was whispered in town how the priest spent too much time in the company of other women in the confession box. Adding to his consternation, he knew his mother would always be beholden to the man who embellished her with gifts of a small monetary fund, (was it taken from the tithing box?), her own "immaculate" pregnancy having dashed her hopes of an inclusive marriage. Being strong willed as well as ample bodied, she quickly adapted, providing for their welfare sufficiently as a fishing woman and selling her catch at the local markets in town.

Of all the torments he endured in his youth, the teasing and bullying from the other village boys was the pain that burned most. Federico was known to come home often with bruises to his body and lips, from the scuffles and fights raging within his body. He slowly planned his revenge with opportunity, to move far from this God forsaken town that had failed to protect his childhood.

Luck came to him. When Federico was 21, he won a game of high stakes poker and took his fortune with him to the edge of the city where he quickly climbed up the ladder of manual labor and became a foreman, commissioning workers to build houses out of the finest materials. This job led to another and with the brilliance of his mother's genes, (the only brilliance that could be attributed to his father was his neglect and aloofness, traits Federico diligently tried not to emulate), and her hard work ethic he was soon a certified engineer. The south section housing development that bordered the capital was his launching pad to fame. As an irony to his absentee father he named the streets after the sin that had been the thorn in the priest's side, the subject of his father's communication and lectures about his irresponsibility. All the streets were named after gambling games: 21st Street was followed by Spade Lane, then Hearts Avenue, and finally Poker Place.

25 years later, a slightly taller and slightly skinnier straggly stranger stood underneath the lamplight peering in the dark at Laura's apartment building on the street in this same housing complex. Like his father Federico, he also felt wrongly treated. This time however, his torment was the complexity of a torn apart family that all vied for his affection. When president Hoveting asked him to design the dam of the river that would forever alter the lifestyle of his own community, this was the job that broke him. He refused, and he was fired.

His grandmother lived in the Medium Cruces, a land of trees surrounded by rivers. His grandfather was the village priest, whose parishioners worshiped many gods both within and outside of the white Catholic church in the center of town.

He had defied his job in the capital because he hoped for peace in his community and for his family. He refused to tear apart another community. From a young age his life was being pulled back and forth, arranging messages between the upright and pious grandfather, the ever suffering strong willed grandmother, and the distant and injured father. He felt torn apart, it was only in his young adult years that he was able to rectify the separation.

Ein worked hard, but his main strength lay in communication. To acclimate so many adults who wanted to be involved with his life, he quickly got used to knowing what news upset them and what humor could be added to difficult situations. He knew how to pacify brewing anger and storms, bringing people together. After the passing of his mother, it was with a certain uncommon ease and self awareness that he fit into the rural society of Medium Cruces. As an adult Ein again adapted easily enough to fit the mold of city society of his father. Uprooting himself from the rural life he grew up in, he blended in with the academics at college, thanks to the strict, avid teachings of his European grandfather.

His job in the government fit expertly, and his communication skills were legendary. When he started in city government, he refused to take on his father's surname, as a sign of independence. Nobody could accuse him of nepotism. Instead he took on the second name of his grandfather, a sign of both affection to the avid teachings and tutoring shown to him by the priest and as caution to his grandfather's secret illegitimate relationship. There was little chance of the second name, two generations apart, being linked.

And yet here he was, having been fired for a job that would have linked their relationship, if discovered. This was the one case where he had overstepped his own careful calculation of communication, due to his passionate feelings. The project would destroy his grandmother's home and he had to say something.

Looking up into the apartment that was the focus of his observation, he held his hands to the sky with a prayer offered, a gesture to the grandmother who was left behind, who had cared for him when his mother passed and when his often absent father failed to have courage to keep him.