Since 2nd Grade

October 2002

    "Papi, it's October, my birthday. Where is mommy?"
    Dulce's big brown eyes started watering.
    "Si, mami, I know. She should be here soon. Don't cry."
    Dulce wiped her face, and smiled.
    "What did you get me?"
    George ran his fingers through his hair, and sighed,
   "Princess, daddy couldn't afford a ton, but I did what I could."
    "It's okay daddy. Mommy still has to give me something anyway."
    Dulce beamed, and gave her father a hug. He did everything he could to keep Dulce happy. It wasn't easy, but he still tried.
    "I will show you your gift in a minute, but first will you walk with me to the mailbox?"
    "Okay daddy! Wait- I don't see my chanclas."
     Dulce exclaimed, worriedly.
     " I threw them away. They were finished."
     George sat down on the peeling leather couch.
    "Daddy! Those were my favorite!"
     Tears started streaming down her face, and she ran inside the bathroom.
    "Dulce come back."
    George chuckled, taking a box from behind the couch. He placed it in front of the bathroom door and waited for her to come out. He went to the fridge, and pulled out his half empty Hennessy bottle. He sat on the couch and drank the liquor straight. After about 30 minutes, his bottle was finished, and he fished for another bottle from under the kitchen sink. He felt a small body hug his legs.
    "Thank you daddy. Sorry for crying."
    Dulce revealed a beautiful smile to her father. While Dulce ran throughout the house cheering about her new shoes, George drank, and thought about her wavy black hair, and her fairly light complexion. He thought about her exotic curves, and beautiful smile. But then he thought about the last time he saw her. George threw the glass bottle at the tv causing Dulce to stop dead in her tracks. The living room was now filled with glass shards, and a broken tv. Dulce looked from her father to the tv to the remains of the bottle on the floor, and ran to the linen closet for her blanket and a pillow, and she made her way to the restroom. George immediately felt bad for his actions. He decided to lock himself in the only bedroom in the house to gather his thoughts.