Let's Make History

Clarissa Mendoza

The two things I feared the most are water and my mother. Only one of those things I can avoid but one of them is coming to visit me on the third of May. And I'm absolutely terrified.

My family has had a history of health diseases. My eldest sister, Maria Safeya, had cerebral palsy and my brother after her,Cuahtemoc, is dyslexic. My abuela said that I was born lucky but I guess my luck ran short after six years.

On my sixth birthday, my siblings and I were playing around the backyard. Since we were living with our aunt and uncle, who were farmers, the backyard meant the entire woods behind the crops.

We were playing hide and seek with my eldest sister as the seeker and, like the genius I was, decided to hide in a bush near a creek. Normally, there wouldn't be anything wrong with hiding there. But my birthday was in hunting season.

I knew they'd never find me there because I was afraid of water. I was having a gigglefest until I realized my foot got stuck in an anthill in the bush. The awful burning feeling of the bites peppered my tiny foot and I screamed myself hoarse.

I pulled out of the bush, but my dress got stuck in one of its branches. Behind me I heard the rushing waters of the creek. My heartbeat fastened and I could hear my pulse in my ears. I freaked out and started flailing my arms. My screams sounded like an animal's.

I was hysterical.

My dress ripped off the branch and I grabbed a thorny plant to stop myself from falling into the water. I remember the sting of the thorns as they dig into my palms but anything was better than potentially drowning.

With my hands covered in blood and my foot still stuck in the anthill, I found my balance and stood up. Tears were streaming from my eyes but my mouth made no sound. Silently, I bent over and tried to pull my foot out of the ant hill.

And before I even knew it, I lost feeling in my legs. My tears stopped and I fell over. There was an explosive pain on my back and I screamed. I heard a man in the distance curse.
I've been shot.
My cousins later found me and they dragged me back to the farm. The man who left me paralyzed was caught but was released a few months later, blaming the color of my skin for mistaking me as a young buck. I would have been mad but I spent a good amount of my time sedated in the hospital to even care. Besides, I'm too lazy to hold grudges.

But now, ten years later, the only thing that could make my knees turn to jelly (which I'm grateful I can't feel) is my mother. She's not a bad mother, she's an awful one. Since my sister turned 16, we only get to meet my mother twice a year and when she does, the only feeling she leaves behind is resentment. I was more scared of her than drowning in a some dumb creek.

She blamed us for our father leaving. But if I were my father, I would have left too. She does nothing at home and uses my father's money to buy herself expensive garments and jewelry. My eldest sister couldn't do much so it was up to my brother. His body always looks beaten when he comes home, working three different jobs. My sister cooked and cleaned and I took care of our youngest, who is five years younger than I am. All she did was abuse us physically and mentally.

My mother was a bitch.

The third of May is coming in two days and we're cleaning up the entire house. We live with my sister, Safeya, and her husband, José. Their marriage was arranged and Safeya couldn't do much about it. She didn't complain, she was actually happy that someone would want to marry her. José was a lonely man so he was just as happy, he didn't even care that she has cerebral palsy.

I was cleaning Nacho's room, wiping the windows and dusting the bookshelves. My youngest brother, Ignacio, was born deaf and only communicates with us through sign language.

There was a light rap on the door. I turn to see Safeya standing by the door. She was carrying a laundry basket.

"Oh, Saf, let me get that for you," I said, wheeling towards her. She puts the basket on my knees.

"Thank you, Clara." She said smiling warmly at me. Her CP wasn't too severe. Other than stiff muscles that made her arms stick to her sides, her CP only affects her vision. She is capable of walking but she toe walks and often needs crutches. "Have you seen the news? Dios mio, the weather's going to hell."

"It's perfect, considering a witch is coming." I mutter, rolling myself to Nacho's drawers.

Her forehead creases as she gives me a look, "Clarissa Mendoza, do not talk about your mother that way. I know she's not the best at what she does, but she is still your mother."

"I know, Safeya. This is the first time Nacho's going to meet her since he was a child and if she hurts him, I'm going to do something about it." I said. I have no idea what I might do but I will do it. I finished stacking the drawers and wheeled myself towards Safeya.

She sighs. "Take rest now, Clara. I know you've had it the worst." She walks behind me and pats me reassuringly.

"Thank, Saf," I said, wiping a stray tear with the back of my hand. I sniffle loudly and straighten my back. "Come, on, let's go see how Nacho's keeping up."

Then she wheels me out of the room and closed the door behind us.

I really thought the worst that could happen is my mother visiting us. But something worse is yet to come.

A/N: WHOA HELLO
I removed everything because I am a cringy human being and because I was bullied into removing it. COUGH apricock COUGH
Anyway, here's a thingy. No one is asking but the family here is, in fact, Mexican. Ma. Safeya is named like that because their grandfather was Arab. 'Ma.' stands for Maria. Also,
Cuahtemoc =Temo
Ignacio = Nacho.
Lastly, if anyone here actually knows how to speak spanish, please DM me, I'm depending on Google Translate for this to sound authentic.

THANKS FOR READING!