Spanglish | editing

Chapter One

edited

"Nida! Wake up, there's a fire!" John screams above me. With a jolt, my body springs up from my bed and panic floods my body. Then the sound of loud laughter floods the room, and I turn to see John doubling over laughing. His hands are on his knees and he can't even control himself. That asshole lied to me.

"Johnny, you douche!" I yell, punching him in his shoulder. My hit doesn't stop him from laughing but instead makes him laugh even harder. He sobers up within a minute or so and looks at me with a huge grin.

"Mama hizo el desayuno." The 15 year old says, adjusting his Messi jersey. I sit back on my bed and take my hair out of the bun and run my fingers through it. John does the same, running his hands through his classic Hispanic boy fade. He definitely inherited the good looks in our family; girls happen to notice it. He has the basic black hair and dark eyes, but they make him more striking. Johnny is athletic and females find him attractive so he thinks life is great for a fifteen year old. Me on the other hand, I have been called pretty but I refuse to believe it. Everything about me screams basic Mexican girl: dark eyes, straight but thick black hair that stops just below my shoulder blades, the yellowish skin tone. I'm also not that tall, I'm only 5'4'', 5'5'' depending what shoes I wear.

"Tell her I'm not hungry." I mutter. I don't want breakfast, I want to shower and panic about my first day of senior year in a new state. My mom moved us to Cleveland about 3 months ago because she found a new apartment that we could afford and she found two jobs that pay well. Unlike our previous apartment in North Carolina, it's three bedrooms and a room that's supposed to be a storage space but it had enough room for another bed and a very small dresser. John jumped at the chance to get his own room, so he has the storage space, and Adeline and I have our own bedrooms. This is as luxurious as it gets for us and I'm most definitely not complaining. Neither is Mama, she got a bigger kitchen and all of her children have their own sleeping spaces.

I'm really happy for her, she's almost fully happy again. After Papá left she has done everything she can to get us back to the happy family that we were. Originally, she had to find a job, but we soon learned that it wasn't making ends meet, so I stepped in. Both Mamá and I had jobs and when I wasn't working, she was. I had to take care of my siblings and became almost a second mother. When she wasn't working, we were at school. It was horrible because we rarely saw her; that is until 3 months ago. She found a job at a daycare center as a translator and as a person who watch the kids. It pays way more than expected and now I don't have to work and can focus on school. College is what will get me out of here and be able to do more with my life.

John smirks. "She made chorizo y huevos." He teases and my eyes get wide. I love chorizo y huevos, and we only eat it when mama makes it because last time I tried I burned everything. It's a Mexican version of sausage and eggs. "I knew that would get your attention." He comments.

"Dame un poco de tiempo para prepararme. (Give me some time to get ready.)" I say before going to my dresser and pulling out clothes.

•••

I have to take the quickest shower in history so I don't jeopardize my food getting too cold. Putting on a white cropped t-shirt and black high waisted jeans, I throw mascara on my lashes and go to the kitchen to eat with my family. Adeline and John are chowing down on their food, not even acknowledging my presence yet my mom does. Shooting me a huge smile, Mama slides a plate to me and I don't even hesitate to begin eating.

"Slow down mija, you'll choke on your food." Mom instructs while arching a brown. Nodding, I follow her directions and eat my chorizo slower. No matter how fast or slow I eat, the taste of the food still burst on my taste buds making me satisfied with every bite. Adeline gives me a toothy smile, making me chuckle.