Dulce

Lulu: mom you have to take her Ruben will be out before me he'll take her from you then please mom I can't have them take her into the system. Please do this one thing for me?

kristina: this one thing for you? ive done to much already i have jr at home are you sure rubens this babys dad?

lulu: yes mom he is i love him hes the one im going to be with things just happened

Kristina: things happen why are you doing more time than him then?

lulu: its either this or he does life and our kids dont deserve this ill be out by the time shes 4 ill do good he'll take custody hes working on everything

kristina: what about jr? is ruben his dad to?

lulu: no hes johnnys i can ask ruben to take him but i dont know if he can

Kristina: i wouldn't want him to go with strangers ill watch her till hes out then thats it when are you do?

lulu: in 3 weeks mom please ok

Kristina: what makes you think he'll stay clean to raise this one? johnny never stayed clean look what happened to you are you even clean?

lulu: i been clean since i found out i was pregnant ok and i never used with jr either so dont go there and hes clean to from what i know but when you get out you have to send him this from me

Kristina: you dont think you'd give her a better life if she went into the system mija? really think about this?

lulu rubbed her belly

lulu: no mom ive seen what it does i see it everywhere in here and i dont want her to grow up thinking we didnt love her .. she was made with love but it all was  just wrong timing

Kristina: what about jr he wasn't loved?

lulu: yes he is johnyys just a piece of fucking shit thats all .. take this letter and send it to him ill have it all set up ok? 3 weeks

Kristina: ill set it up call me ok?

she nodded as she took the letter and left ..

you see i think this is where it gets shady for me .. my dad always says it one and then changes it i think he still loves my mom somehow and i still wonder about my brother if hes out there with her or if shes even alive ..

danielle: why you always changing shit up pops? im not 10 anymore or 12 im fucking 18 tell me the dam truth here drink another 40

ruben sat back and laughed as she opened a beer for him

ruben: stop fucking doing this to me why do you want me to replay the pain haw? did i give you a shitty life mija? did i?

danielle: no you didnt you raised me right and with love dad but i just wonder ya know? i reread her letter to you on my birthday i remember my brother vividly i just wonder did she ever get out what happened to her?

ruben looked down and then looked at her

danielle: what?

ruben: i never told you more because i didnt want you to hate her .. i only kept you away from it all because i was trying to keep you safe

she sat back and looked at him weird

danielle: protecting me from what?the letter says for you take me stay sober and raise me how you guys always talked about doing?

ruben: i love how your so grown all tatted up with a chip on your shoulder you can throw it down and you got my back always but you have those innocent eyes i swear

danielle: my eyes ain't innocent pops ive seen death i know loss and seen some of the craziet shit with my homies im just curious ok? thats all! like huh you dont get me your never going to understand me

she got up mad

ruben: i understand you i do but i dont want you to hate her thats all my love i dont i want you to keep the hope you have in your heart

he got up and finished off his beer

ruben: i loved your mother always will to i fuck around im stupid i know i ain't a perfect man but she has my heart ya know

Danielle: did you love my brother like that to?

He looked down and looked at his hands

Danielle: you never talk about him? Why? Come on please? It's my birthday today let me have today let me have my 18th give me the fucking truth for once old man?

Ruben: so you want me to ruin your day then?is that what you want?

Danielle looked at him confused

Danielle: you wouldn't ruin it pops but I think it's time I know so that lil girl in me can stop asking for her and him

He nodded and sat down on the back steps and looked at her

Ruben: she gave birth to you and kept using I got out when you where 6 months but I didn't get full custody till you where like 4 because I needed to clear my records and fully recover ya know .. your mom got out when you where 4 she did get out but she never stayed sober I tried to get to her but your brothers dad got her stuck and she told me fuck you and left she took your brother and just dipped with him I tried looking I tried taking her to court shit I even tried taking jr from them but that fool hated me and threatened me

She stepped back surprised