Carnival ◇ J.G

1%

I awoke to my mother yelling.

It was already smoldering hot and the day had barley began.

"Arabella get up or you are going to be late to work" my mother yelled from down the hall.

"Shut up."

I slowly sat up.

The smell putrid smell of cigarette smoke and marijuana mixed filled the room.

"Ew" I whispered as I began to cough.

I got out of bed and walked quickly to the bathroom.

My little sister sat on the bathroom counter, waiting for me to do her hair.

"Vanessa go put on your clothes for today on first so I can take a shower and get ready."

She nodded and jumped off the counter.

I heard people yelling in Spanish next door.

Seconds later I heard a big bang and blood curdling scream.

The wife was constantly abused by her husband as the children watched and it broke my heart for i knew it was happening once again.

We lived in a very small one bedroom apartment, in middle of a very dangerous neighborhood.

We could hear all the neighbors drama through the thin pasty white walls, sometimes it would be the Sanchez arguing and others it would be the Sotelo's.

My mother constantly claimed that she was trying to 'support' us, but in my opinion I do not consider sitting on the couch and doing drugs all day as trying.

Every single penny she made or had was spent on drugs.

She would be gone all hours of the night, God knows where, sleeping with God knows who to get money for her addiction.

My father was a great man who got caught up in the wrong lifestyle.

He was shot and killed in a drug deal.

I looked in the mirror for a second contemplating whether or not I should take a shower.

I decided I should.

I attempted to turn the light on, but after flipping the switch several times and it not coming on, I realized the power was off.

Perfect.

"Please please please be cold water" I removed my large distressed shirt.

I got slowly got into the shower.

I pulled the notch to turn on the water, nasty freezing cold water flowed out of the shower head.

I twisted the notch, trying to change the water to the warmer setting, but the temperature stayed the same.

"Fantastic" I grounded as the turned it off.

"Mamí the water is nasty and the lights won't turn on! Please tell me you payed the bills this month" I yelled.

"goddamnit " she mumbled from the other room.