Juvenile

01

Constance "Chance" Rivera

"Constance! Wake the hell up! You not gonna be sleepin' all day. Coño, you got shit to do today", my mother yelled, busting into my room waking me up.

"Alright ma! Damn, you ain't gotta be yellin', it's too early for that", I replied, running my fingers through my hair.

"Constance, watch your mouth when you speak to me! I'm not one of those little maricóns you run with in the street, okay? Get up, and watch your brothers while I go to work."

Rolling my eyes, I pulled back the sheets and made my way to the living room. I picked up my youngest brother, José, and placed him on my hip.

"So what time you think you gonna be back?"

"I'll be back, when I get back. You got somewhere to be Constance?."

Sighing, I decided to ignore her question. Ever since the summer started, I've been in the house watching my brothers. And even when I do go outside, it's for groceries or running errands for my mom.

"Hello, I'm talking to you. You got somewhere to be?", my mom yelled, getting in my face.

"Yea ma, it's gonna be a kickback at Q's house, and I wanna go", I said while giving her attitude.

"Look, when you about to go, drop the boys off at Abuelita's house." My mom said as she walked out the door.

Finally. The only "fun" I've been having was watching the crackheads fight outside my window.

"Joey! Rico! Come out here" I yelled.

"Why you yelling? Damn, we can hear you" Joey said as he rubbed his eyes.

"Shut up. Anyway, what y'all want for breakfast?"

"Ion know...ooooh how bout some Mangu?" Rico finally said.

"Alright. Go warm up the pan. While you in there, heat up Jose's bottle please".

I rummaged through my closet, trying to figure out what to wear tonight. You'd think being the only girl, I'll get what I want, right? Wrong! While my other friends have shopping sprees at the mall, I cash out at the thrift store and Salvation Army. Every once in a while, I'll get lucky if my sperm donor stops by, and finally decide to be a father. Other than that, I'm broke.

A loud knock on my door snapped me out of my trance. Walking to the door I leaned my ear against it.

"Who dat?"

"Chance, girl if you don't open this door. It's Zola. "

I unlocked the door and let her in, only to be tackled by her.

"Damn puta, ease up. You squishing me" I said laughing.

"My fault, you know Crew been missin' your little hoe ass" Zola said, getting off of me and walking to my room.

"Yeah, I miss y'all too. You know my moms like to trip. She don't like y'all" I said.

"Mhm. But enough of that, what you wearing tonight?"

"I dunno. Maybe some jean shorts and a white tee"

"Boooo! Try again. You've been locked up in this dungeon way to long to be saying you gonna wear that "

"Alright then bitch, you pick my outfit"

Thirty minutes later, I was standing in front of my mirror looking at myself. Zola dressed me in a dark red top, a black maxi skirt and some black platform heels. To say I look good, would be an understatement. I looked like the shit.