My Fairy G part III

3.

      

       Michael continued the conversation but with a different tone. A more caring Father than she’s ever felt in her life. He was concerned about how she was holding up. He knew that she didn’t choose this but she was fraternizing with the people most hated in a gang, the set next door. Lisa told her Mother what was up but couldn’t explain Michael, just yet. She agreed to stay at the best hotel downtown, since it was on their dime. Her brother, who had Leukemia, was back in the hospital, again. Insurance was a constant on her mind. And Mom needed a break, with working two jobs, having a sick son and a budding daughter with no man in the house. And Lisa knew that they wouldn’t be found at the Ritz Carlton but they might at Motel 6.

       Lisa’s faith was renewed however odd it felt. Maria and her daughter were hitting their knees together, now, which is how they got through the hospital stays and the death projections. Her brother had a medical marijuana card and Lisa used it to relieve stress especially now. Lisa booked the only suite left on the top floor. just in case Michael wanted to come over. All that Lisa told her was “that there was going to be a shooting on their block that was going to go down any day now.  But once she got settled in Lisa had to tell her Mother the truth however ugly it is, that was an agreement she made her Mother after she survived her daughter’s high school career.

       Mommy, c’mere and sit with me a minute.” Lisa begins the most gentle delivery of a miracle that she could muster. “You know how you always reminded me to pray to the saints?”

       “Si, mija what’s wrong?” Maria says with obvious concern for her daughters well-being.

       “Nothing Mama, it’s good, muy bueno,” Lisa tries to allay her fears. “A man came into the store and gave me this card.” she hands her worried Mother the card and she mouthed the words as she read.

       “Ay, dios Mio,” and that’s when Lisa found out that her Mother prayed to St. Jude.

       “Momma, Momma! He is helping us, he’s the reason we’re here. I don’t know anything about him other than he knows everything about me.” Lisa complains.

       “Lo sabia, lo sabia!” Maria claims to have known he was coming. “Es bueno, Es bueno...” and she falls into her daughter’s waiting arms. They say the Lord’s prayer together and fall asleep on the couch in each other’s arms.

       After the third day in the Hotel, Lisa got the courage to sneak out to smoke a joint before bed. Michael always met Lisa in broad daylight and never with company, either of them. They met for coffee on Lisa’s day off.

       “Lisa, it’s good to see you, please have a seat,” Michael stands from a table, wearing his old black duster conspicuously concealing a sword beneath. His silver Indian motorcycle shined tike his armor under his coat. He pulled out a chair for Lisa to sit.

       “Hello, I told my Mother about you, I hope you don’t...”  Lisa starts to say.

       “No, it’s quite alright, your Mother speaks to us quite a lot. And yes I would love to meet her.” Michael says assuredly. They chatted for what seemed like an hour but it could have been a day because Lisa was enamored. She wore a white dress made from Pima cotton It flowed and glowed with the sun. Her hair was done in big fluffy curls reminiscent of 1970’s Charlie’s Angel Jacquelyn Smith; she wore eye liner and lip-stick but nothing loud. They discussed how her Mother was doing and her brother in Children’s Hospital, which Michael knew all about already. Michael always set up times to meet at the last moment. Lisa observed that he was a very busy man. “I’ll tell you what, how about I meet you and your Mother tomorrow for breakfast, where are you staying?”

       “The Ritz Carlton.” Lisa says plainly while being proud of treating her Mother so well.

       “I like your style, why the Ritz?” Michael asks.

       “It was the most expensive hotel in town.” she begins, “and since it wasn’t...” she tries to finish but Michael is giving her a look that says ‘I know what you are going to say’.

       “On your dime, right?” Michael says. Lisa was inspired, amazed, and believing, without reservations.

       “Well,...I guess...do I really ever need to speak to you?” Lisa asks.

       “Of course you need to talk to me, I’m here for  you.” Michael reassures Lisa. “So, tomorrow morning I will meet you and your Mother for breakfast at the Hotel.” Michael and Lisa chatted about Lisa’s situation over lattes and scones until it was time for Michael to leave. He gave Lisa a kiss then walked over to his silver Harley and kicked it one time. The motor came alive with a roar then the slow popping of pistons being fired up and down. He sped off leaving Lisa standing out front of the coffee shop wondering who this man was but she already knew, he was Michael the archangel.

       Lisa went back to the Hotel bewildered as usual after seeing Michael with information for her Mother that will definitely make her happy.

       “Hi Mommy!” Lisa says as she walks in the double door of the suite.

       “Hola, mija!” Maria answers her daughter. Lisa runs over to her Mother and hops into her arms and hugs her tightly.

       “Mommy, I have good news!” she starts “Your going to meet Michael. He’s coming over for breakfast tomorrow.”

       “Dios mio! I always told you to have faith.” Maria says.

       “I know Mommy, you’re right, I do believe.” Lisa answers.

       Neither of them slept much that night excited about the morning meeting. They awoke early that morning and prepared themselves with showers and curlers and make-up. Maria wore her plum colored pumps and Lisa wore her Chuck Taylors. Maria was overjoyed and grateful to have the experience while Lisa was calm and cool, sitting on the couch ready to go. Maria turned off the blow dryer, grabbed her key card and they were off, down the elevator floor by floor, Maria’s excitement peeked on the ground floor when her daughter pointed out Michael.

       “Dios Mio, he’s so handsome!” Maria says. “How old do you think he is?” she finished with apprehension.

       “Well, I never thought about it.” Lisa says. “He’s a very busy man, let’s hurry up.” The make their way through the sea of tables in the main dining hall that opened up with wide bay windows onto the pool. It was a sunny Fall morning, “Hey, Michael,” Lisa raises her voice for the first time that morning.

       “Hello!” Michael says with a beautiful grin that just told Maria he was divine. Michael pulled a chair out for Maria. Lisa pulled out her chair and sat down at the same time as Maria The table was made up on top of a white tablecloth with a small bouquet of flowers.. “ I have some important news for you. You must leave this plush Hotel, the church agreed to take you in until this blows over.”

       “Really, that is so nice.” says Maria, “Do you... I mean have you...” and then Michael cut her off because he knew what she was going to say.

       “No, I don’t fly, in the traditional sense and yes, I have talked with God.” Michael interjects.

       “My son is in the hospital with...” Maria can’t hold it together.        “I know all about it.” Michael says as the waitress takes their order, Michael orders eggs benedict, Maria and Lisa order an Omlette. They sip their Orange juice until their order arrives talking about Julian and the 21 times he’s been to the hospital and Lisa’s high school career. Michael was not surprised at any of this. He’s had his eye on this family for a long time. Maria asked Michael if Julian would get better and Michael said that they’d know in due time.  And that their actions today have an impact on tomorrow. “I’ll come back tomorrow afternoon, be ready to go.” Maria and Lisa spent the day packing, Maria was excited to be going to the church but Lisa was going to miss the plush Ritz Carlton. Where would she smoke a joint at the church?

       The following day Michael showed up in a old white Mercedes and went into the lobby where he found a very anxious Maria with her bags packed. He opens the door to the car and welcomes Maria and her daughter in the 4-door coupe. Maria sat up front while Lisa sat in the back seat. They drove the back way to the church through alleys and driveways but they still ran into trouble. Rounding a corner and coming to an intersection they pulled along side some bangers in a  black, Volkswagon Jetta. The minute Lisa’s eyes landed on that car she was going for the pistol. Michael reached behind him and placed  his hand on the gun and looked at her straight in the eye, which amazed Lisa because he was still driving perfectly straight. He gave her a look of love and knowledge that lasted a good 3 seconds. She put the gun down. But the cholo’s in the car fired on them. Bullets were flying, Lisa ducked her head down but Michael and Maria stayed upright. Not one bullet hit the car. It was magic in practice.

      

       

My fairy G part II

2.

       Lisa finished the workday dwelling on who told. She did not believe Antonio. She learned that when a gang-banger’s mouth is moving he’s usually telling a half-truth, at best. She knew Tabitha to be trustworthy but she also knew that money makes people do crazy things. She got into her red Monte Carlo with sweaty palms, once again, and made her way home through the barrio. She felt like there was a laser beam trained on her car. And she didn’t know if it was the gang or the cops.

       Families in the neighborhood generally have been there for three or more generations and Maria was a third generation Chicana so everybody knew everyone’s family name at the very least. And have been in relationships in some cases. Monique lived across town and was in another set than Lisa was in. They really should not be fraternizing but Lisa saw Monique get disrespected by a stranger to the neighborhood and backed her up. Since then they have been personal friends but gang rivals.

       Lisa was working the busy rush hour stocking shelves when she usually works the cashier. She was restocking some dry goods in the cereal aisle when, she was approached by a man.

       “Miss?” the man asks.

“Yes, how can I help you” A tired Lisa wipes her forehead and stands from a crouching position. The tall Caucasian man dwarfs her. He introduces himself.

“Hi, my name is Michael” the stranger says to Lisa. She was taken back by the man dressed in a gunmetal grey Armani suit. He hands her a card that she doesn’t even look at but puts it in her back pocket.

“I’m Lisa, is there anything I can do for you?”  Lisa is as professional as she can be even though she has quite a bit on her mind.

“I was looking for soup, can you help me find it” Michael says.

“Absolutely,” Lisa starts “its in aisle 3.”

“Thank you very much.” Michael says and he walks away. Lisa returns to stocking cereal but then realizes she told Michael the wrong aisle. She walks to aisle 3 and Michael is nowhere to be found. Lisa checks every aisle in the store, which was quite small being an ethnic grocery store, but she cannot find him anywhere. She goes to the check out counter and asks if they have seen a tall white man in a suit. they all look at her like she’s crazy. A white man in their store, well that was just absurd. Lisa returned to her work but kept him in the back of her mind. She finished her day working at the cash register and drove home in her red Monte Carlo with sweaty palms. She cruised through the neighborhood and over the railroad tracks to her side of town. She rode past the kids playing basketball in the street and by her neighbor who was always out front smoking weed. She pulled into her driveway and noticed that all eyes were on her.

Maria was a devout Catholic and went to church every Sunday. She encouraged Lisa to go but she never did. She only went to church when a friend of hers died. Which was much too often in recent years, due to gang violence. Lisa wore a rosary she was given by her Mother on her Quincenera on her rear view mirror. She had faith in it’s power because it was ingrained in her from a childhood of Bible study and Communion. Lisa’s Mother hit her knees once but said two prayers, one for Saint Mary and one for God, every night. Her faith was stronger then her husbands in prison.

Lisa was panicky and it did not go unnoticed.

“Mija, Que tienes?” Maria is concerned for her daughter.

“Nothing Mommy, it’s just a guy at work.” But it wasn’t, it was the money in the closet and the gun in the garage. And the threat she made toward Julio. Lisa has a history of blowing up at people when she feels cornered and Antonio cornered her.

“Well, you know you can talk to me always.” Maria says.

“I know Mom, I love you.” Lisa says trying to calm her dear Mother. She undressed after dinner before taking a shower and she emptied her pockets and she pulled the card that Michael gave her. It read; Saint Michael Archaeangel and a cell phone number. She thought it odd but she was tired and just wanted to take a shower so she put it in her jewelry box for safe keeping.

Lisa went over to Tabitha’s after work one night and she had some of the homeboys over. Lisa pulled her hand when she came to the front door leaving one of them standing on her doorstep dumbfounded.

“I need to talk to you.” Lisa says while dragging her outside.

“OK! OK! stop pulling my arm, bitch.” Tabitha is quite upset.

“Who did you tell? Damn it..” Lisa is balling up her fist, “you better tell me.”  now she grinding her teeth like a wolf about to make a kill.

“No soy yo, no soy yo!” Tabitha denies any wrongdoing.

“Then why did someone come up in my store talking about it.

“Are you serious?” Tabitha is genuinely surprised.

“Yeah, a guy I know form the neighborhood said that he could help me.”

“You better get rid of that gun and I could help you do that right now.” Tab’s says motioning over her shoulder.

“I know, but not right now.” Lisa said. They sat down on the grass and discussed the situation. Tabitha suggested she get rid of all the evidence, the gun, the money and forget that east side bitches name. Lisa didn’t want to get rid of the money in case they want it back. She left Tabitha’s and went home and decided on the ride home to put the money in a safe deposit box, which she had never seen before. She decided to keep the gun on her.

She went to the bank the next day and ran into an old friend while waiting in line. He introduced himself but she did not recognize him. They left the bank together and went for lunch at a local restaurant. They discussed what was going on in their lives but Lisa didn’t say a thing about the money. Within a couple days they were boyfriend and girlfriend. His name was Rodrigo but everyone just called him Rod.

Tabitha was not being the trusted friend that Lisa thought she was. All the homeboys that were at her house the day she stopped by knew about the heist. But Lisa trusted her and was satisfied by her answer when asked whom she told and she told Tabitha about the shoebox in her closet. Best friends can easily become worst enemies.

One weekday when Lisa was off work, her and Rod had the house to themselves and they took advantage of it. It started out as just lounging on the couch but it escalated quickly to fondling and kissing.

“Papasito, no toke, no toke.” Lisa was playing with him acting like she did not want him to touch her.

“Mama, su carmelo es damesiado bueno!” Rod cannot resist her.

“Here, here.” Lisa places his hand on her breasts and they begin to kiss passionately. Rod had been to Lisa’s before that day and he knew the layout of the house. He picked up her body and held it like a child holds his Favorite toy and carried it to her bedroom where he lay her down on her bed.

“Venga aqui, bad boy!” under that hardcore attitude Lisa was just a girl wanting love. Rod started by pulling her jeans off, foot by naked foot. Then she took off her linen, airy blouse and Victoria’s bra. And then Rod started kissing her toes and then gradually moved them up her leg to her calf, then her thigh past home and on to her perky breasts. Lisa cooed with anticipation. Rod put his hand on the bed and then his knee. The room smelled of lavender and the sheets were bright white along with her comforter. Lisa was laying in a pile of goose down as Rod crawled on top of her dropping kisses like Hansel and Gretel’s bread crumbs. His lips saddled hers and tongue twisters were had but not spoken. Then he lapped up her puddles and they made passionate love for over an hour, it was their first time together. When they finished Rod wanted to light up a cigarette but Lisa stopped him. Then she popped up and went to the bathroom to freshen up and as she was washing her face she heard a sound like her closet doors. Luckily she kept the gun under the bathroom sink when she didn’t have it on her. She grabbed the gun, which was already chambered, and crept around the corner of the bathroom so she could see Rod and sure enough he was going through her closet.

“What the fuck are you doing? Down, down!” Lisa takes control like a pro with some home invasion experience, “On the ground, face down, you piece of shit! I should just shoot you right now!”

“Please don’t I have a baby girl!” That got Lisa, she knows what it’s like growing up without a Father.

“Who sent you?” Lisa is not in the mood for lies, “And don’t fucking lie!” She takes a step between his naked legs next to his penis. “OK!, OK! Manuel sent me...Tabitha’s friend!”

“Well, you tell Tabitha,” she grabs the slide on the Glock and pulls it back and releases it expelling a bullet on Rod’s bare ass and chambering another round. People pay more attention when they hear a gun being cocked., “ that I’ve got something for her...and Manuel, La muerte se acerca!” Lisa let’s him know that death is coming for them. “And what happened to, ‘I’ll take care of you and your sick brother?’” You’re a punk and a bitch and should never leave my bedroom floor, but you have to. Now look at me!” Rod twist his head from the prone position he’s been laying in. When his eyes make contact with Lisa’s she pistol whipped him, drawing blood. “Now get up!” Rod struggles to get to his feet and Lisa sticks the gun in his side and forces him out the front door with no clothes, no car keys only instructions on what to tell those who tried to set her up.

After Rod left, Lisa broke down mostly because of the betrayal by her best friend, Tabitha, but there was something else was wrong and she didn’t know what was wrong. She remembered the card Michael gave her and went to her jewelry box and got it. She picked up her phone and dialed an area code she had never heard of nor seen before.

“Lisa, I’ve been waiting to hear form you!” Michael says with enthusiasm. Lisa is tentatively happy. Michael didnt even say ‘hello’, he just knew and that freaked Lisa out a little bit.

“Yeah, hi! I was just thinking of you.” Lisa didn’t know what else to say.

“Well, I’m glad you called, what problem do you have?” Michael asks.

“How do you know I have a problem?” Lisa is apprehensive.

“Well, that’s what I do, I’m sure you read about me when you were a little girl.” Michael is blowing her mind.

“Yes, but...you’re a real angel.” Lisa says it like he’s full of crap.

“I’m not only real, but I’m the the angel that protects all people on Earth and right now I believe you need protection.” Michael is speaking reality to her and she’s picking it up.

“OK, so you are real and not trying to set me up?” Lisa takes one last jab at Michael to see if he’d crack.

“I seem to believe that you have already been set up?” Michael makes his statement but in the tone of a question.

“OK, fine, you are real and you’re here to protect me, so...where’s my rosary?” Lisa is testing him now for no apparent reason other than that’s the nature of gangsters, not to trust anyone, and test everyone who tries to get too close.

“That’s too easy, everyone seems to keep them on their rear view mirror when it would protect them better around their necks.” Michael squashes her misgivings. “You can’t tell me anything I don’t already know but I can only help you if you ask for it, I can’t force it down your throat.”

“OK, I was set up by my friend who knew I was given a large amount of cash and a weapon,” Lisa explains. “by using my heart as bait.”

“Believe it or not, I have seen this problem before and I can help you. First, we need to get all your loved ones out of the house. Use some of the money if you have to. They won’t miss it.”

Fairy Gang-Banger (tentative) part 1

Lisa was a 20 year-old Chicana that grew up without a Father. Her Mother worked two jobs to support her and her little brother, one at the bank and one as a medical claims processor. Lisa had just graduated high school and was lost. She was working part time at a Mexican grocery store and hanging out with her friends when she was off. She had boyfriends but at the moment she was single.

            She was a bad ass. Or at least that’s the image that she let get spread around the neighborhood. One time someone was picking on her best friend Gwendolyn. It was the neighborhood bully, a short but stocky guy with a shaved head. Lisa stood up for Gwen challenging him to a fight and then attacking him before he could answer.

Lisa was a pretty Latina with long wavy hair, the kind that you just want to lay down in. She was a scrapper. Nobody ever messed with her little brother, Julian. She scared grown men and found it hard to keep a boyfriend. She was a strong young lady. But on the inside she missed her Daddy. She was tough because she needed to be with no man in the house. She would even stand up for her Mother when people would cut her off at he grocery store. Her Mother, Maria, was meek and had a tendency to let people walk all over her. Lisa was the opposite of this.

Her Father went to jail for drugs when she was a baby and when the laws were stricter in California. Now, he would just get a slap on the wrist. He got a 25 to life sentence. He still had 5 years before he would go up in front of the parole board. Lisa was not really eager to see him. This was a man she never even made memories with. Her Mother talked highly of him but her Mother never had a foul word to say about anyone. Lisa knew that she held her tongue and probably without even trying. It was something that she was brought up with.

The streets were the Father figure that Lisa needed. Her partners were there when her Father was not. They were Lisa’s Father, big brother, and backup for any situation. Lisa was initiated into a gang at birth. Her Father was writing a story that Lisa was expected to finish. Luckily Lisa was down, but not for her Father’s reputation. She was down for her friends and her family. She had their back even when they were shackled from head to toe. No one was going to take another person from Lisa. Her Father’s imprisonment created the fire inside her.

Lisa was at a crossroads but didn’t recognize it. Her new friends were trouble and she knew this but she didn’t know just how bad they were. Until one morning when she was home doing nothing her friends called on her for a favor that she wasn’t prepared for. It began with a knock at the door.

“Hey, what’s up?” Lisa says to an eager group of her new friends.

“Let us in, let us in.” Monique says to a bewildered Lisa and then they just push their way in.

“What the hell.” Lisa says as the group of four, pour into her house and close the door behind. The group is all out of wind and trying to catch up to it.

“Chill out, Mija, we are going to help you and your family.” Monique says with two large Cholo’s by her side, Lisa would not be intimidated by anyone in her own house.

“What’s going on?” Lisa says mildly angry.

“Look, we have money, lots of money.” Monique pulls out wrapped bills and stacks them on the coffee table.

“Damn, where did you get this?” Lisa is intrigued by the money but has a bad feeling. “What did you do?”

“Don’t trip, Its OK.” Monique says. ”This is my homeboy Julio.” she begins. “And the others are his homeboys. And we need you to hold this.” and she sets carefully a Glock 17 handgun. on top of the money. And they leave as quickly as they came.

Lisa didn’t even have time to protest. Now she had a pile of money, a pistol and no idea what to do with it. First, Lisa knew she had to hide the gun so she put it in a trashcan in the garage that held dirty laundry. Then she put the money in a shoebox in her closet. Then she sat down, turned on the radio and heard something ominous. It was a report that four people had robbed a local bank. Her palms started to sweat and thoughts of her Father invaded her mind. Prison was now on her mind. But her Mother really needed the money.

She got in her car and drove to her girlfriend, Tabitha’s house. Pulling into the driveway her red Monte Carlo bottomed out on the hills of Highland Park. Her adrenaline was pumping and her sweaty hands turned the wheel into the apartment stall that was open. Most of the residents were at work. In her bare feet she climbed the stairs to Tab’s apartment and knocked.

“Hey what’s up cuz?” Tabitha says. Lisa pushes her way into her house.

“I’m sorry I just need to talk.” Lisa explains herself.

“What’s wrong?” Tabitha asks as she shuts the door.

“C’mere sit down,” Lisa says as she pats the couch cushion next to her. Tabitha complies. “Remember Monique?”

“Yeah, I don’t like that bitch.” Tab’s says.

“Her and some of her homies came by this morning and, well, you gotta promise not to tell. I’m serious you promise?” Lisa asks.

“Yeah, I promise.” Tabitha replies.

“OK. She came into my house and put down a pile of money and a gun, and then just left.” Lisa says.

“I believe it.” Tabitha says.

“Well, then I heard on the radio that a bank was robbed. When they came in they were out of breath like they were running and the bills are wrapped like from the bank.” Lisa is all worked up.

“Calm down, calm down, Chica.” Tabitha says.

“I don’t know what to do!” Lisa says while leaning on her friends shoulder.

“You can start by not telling anyone else.” Tabitha says. “How much was there.”

“I didn’t count it.” Lisa admits.

“And where did you put the gun?” Tabitha asks.

“I put it in a trashcan in my garage” Lisa tells her friend whom she trusts with her life.

Lisa was an emotional person but hid behind a hard gangster girl persona. She liked flowers and kittens and children. But would never let her homies know that. Her Mother and her little brother knew the beauty that lived inside her. But nobody else. Having emotions did not fit in with her gangster lifestyle and was seen as a sign of weakness. She was her Father’s daughter and was held to a higher standard by her gang.

Meanwhile, Tabitha was calling her homeboys to tell them the story, which was looked down upon by her other gangster friends but, with this much money, it got overlooked. And Lisa would only find out when she went to work.

“Wassup baby girl?” a Cholo wearing khakis and an oversized white T-shirt asks Lisa. “Heard what happened, I can help you.”

“I’m gonna kill...” Lisa starts.

“Hold on Chica, who are you gonna kill?” the Cholo, name Antonio says.

“My girlfriend who was talking about business.” Lisa says.

“I didn’t hear it from Tabitha.” Antonio says.

“How do you know I told Tabitha?” Lisa is getting angry.

“You know the streets have ears. I was told by my homie, Julio.” Antonio corrects Lisa and his groceries were almost bagged. Lisa was a cashier. The bag boy was listening to the whole conversation. Lisa made sure not to slip up or let Antonio to slip up. But somebody would. Lisa steps out from behind the cashier’s booth and grabs him by the collar and twists it in her hands.

“You tell Julio that if I see him I’m gonna shoot him with his own gun!” she relaxes on his collar that was choking him “And don’t think I won’t”. Lisa didn’t mess around.

The money was the big issue, and everyone would want a piece. No doubt Monique would be back for it even though she could just assume it is payment for holding the gun. She would not.