TLWM: The Hate Experience

\I/ Happy birthday...again

Saturday/September 5, 1992

    Total mayhem.

     A six-year-old girl was in the corner, crying her eyes out, fighting to melt into the wall.  Another young girl dashed across the room screaming to her Almighty God to come save her.  "It's the end of the world!" she preached to the others in passing.  "We're all gonna die!" But dizzy Dante didn't catch the memo.  The kid was on his own planet, spinning and spinning until he'd fall down cracking up, only to hobble up to his feet and go again.  He didn't even acknowledge the dinosaur stomping around the room nor the flashing lights, roaring sound effects and suspenseful score bringing the horror to life.

      All the kids scurried about, tracking birthday cake all over the floors.  Somehow, even in Paisley Park's massive soundstage, they kept bumping into each other, eyes stalking the prehistoric creature while the adults laughed their asses off and continuously pushed them back into the madness.  It was all too much for the kids, all except for one bright-eyed boy.

     "Oh my goodness it was so awesome!"  Ace Nelson, newly four and proud, stood on his nana's couch to tell the tale to his Brooklyn family.  "All the girls was crying and some boys was crying like girls and oh man, you shoulda come!  It was-it was-" It was so impressive he couldn't find the right words.  "Oh my goodness and then guess who cames out to the rescue?!  Batman!"

     "No!" his kid audience said.

     "Yes!  It was really Batman!  My daddy knows him!  They are friends!"  Ace told them about Batman's neat kicks and tricks that destroyed the dinosaur, the little boy even demonstrated by flipping on the couch.  "And then my daddy's bodygods dragged the T-Rex away!"  Ace plopped down on the sofa.  "Why did you not come to my party?" he asked his cousins.

     "You forgot to invite us!" one said, crossing their arms with a frown.

     "Well my daddy has such a big house so all of yous can stay the night tomorrow, okay?"

     "Okay!"

     The Brooklyn home was packed and in a full vibrant swing. The aroma of delicious homemade dishes lingered in the air. Héctor Lavoe spun on the record player. Some talked over the salsa, some moved their hips to it.  Laughter erupted spontaneously, sly jokes and gossip here and there. And not one kid sat still, all of them bouncing up and down full of sugar with party hats slipping off their heads. 

      The Moreno and Rosario family came together like this quite often since there was a celebration or three every month of the year, and tonight they were celebrating Ace, Raven Rosario's son, or she might put it as the most perfect little munchkin to exist. 

     More people showed up than expected. Raven's mother Belinda Moreno Rosario hailed from The Hudson Valley and had family spread throughout New York City as well.

     Raven's dad Ramon Rosario was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to Brooklyn at the age of six with his siblings. All he had in the States were his parents, five brothers and two sisters but with their kids and their kids having kids, they weren't outnumbered by much. 

     Raven loved her family endlessly, but she couldn't help but notice the more success she earned in the world of dance, the quieter the whispers went.  It didn't feel like old times tonight. Raven was famed now, choreographing music videos for big names and that made everyone act odd towards her. They didn't ask how she was doing anymore. They relied on TV and articles to keep up with her. Every time another uncle showed up, she was bombarded with the same question.  "Who the fuck said you could run off and get married?!"  She'd roll her eyes as they laugh obnoxiously and pull her in for a suffocating embrace.