Be Water

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That's me Crystal Castillo, nice to meet you! I'm 17 years old and am starting my senior year at West Valley High School

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That's me Crystal Castillo, nice to meet you! I'm 17 years old and am starting my senior year at West Valley High School. I had gone to Elementary and Middle School in this area until my mom had to move us when my dad left. I moved back to Reseda with my brother after she ran off with her new boyfriend who didn't like the idea of raising another man's kids. 

This is my brother Rain Castillo, he's 20 years old

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This is my brother Rain Castillo, he's 20 years old. He's currently incarcerated at San Quentin for aggravated assault and drug trafficking, he should be getting out sometime in the next two years. Mr. Miyagi says that Rain could turn his life around if he lets go of his anger and resentment towards my parents, I don't see that happening anytime soon.

 Miyagi says that Rain could turn his life around if he lets go of his anger and resentment towards my parents, I don't see that happening anytime soon

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That brings me to Keisuke Miyagi, the man that took us in when my mom ditched us. Before we left Reseda the first time we had gotten to know him as the landlord of our building. He took Rain under his wing and taught him karate after seeing him come home after being jumped by neighborhood gangs. I was also eager to learn and Miyagi happily obliged, I think he derived joy from seeing us learn something his dad had taught him. He told us both to use it only when absolutely necessary, and only to defend ourselves and those around us. I took this teaching to heart, whereas Rain went on to compete in tournaments, which Miyagi disapproved of.

When my mom left, we called Miyagi automatically as he was the only one who we had to turn to. He immediately got us bus tickets to come back to Reseda. He gave us a spare apartment at our former home the Seven Seas. My brother immediately began doing anything to make money for us, he got heavily involved in gang activity in the area. It wasn't long before the cops broke down the door of our apartment in the middle of the night to arrest him for selling to an undercover. I didn't have enough money to get a decent lawyer, so they threw the book at Rain.  I had no choice but to find a job at Golf N Stuff, I worked there all summer while simultaneously selling weed on the side. I knew the risk, but like I said I really had no choice. I was lucky not to run into too many of my high school classmates, seeing as I handled the areas catered to the younger kids. 

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