MOTHER: Ugh! Your classroom was smelling really bad.
ME: Aha.
MOTHER: Do you want to go to that class party?
ME: Can I really? (excited voice)
MOTHER: Yes, if you go to your violin lessons and are more obedience, maybe I'll think about it. There's still a month left, prove to me that you can change and I'll give you money for the party... IS THAT A DEAL?
ME: Yes, it's a deal.
(THOUGHT: Wow, my mom is the best. If I just do those little things, I'll be able to go to the party).
ME: Mom, when do my classes start?
(THE DOOR OPENS WITH A KEY)
MOTHER: Speaking of that... today.
ME: What?!
MOTHER: Yes, today, from 4:00 to 5:00. Get ready after lunch.
ME: Yes.
MOTHER: One more thing, you have to be a better violinist than your brother.
ME: Why?
MOTHER: You have to be better than everyone.
ME: Yes.
After talking, I went to my room, changed out of my school clothes, and went down to lunch.
PETER: Ah, Rebeca, eat fast, we're going to be late. I told you an hour ago to be ready.
REBECA: Yes, I know, but I was sleepy.
PETER: It's always the same, come on, hurry up, we're going to be late for your school and for my friends' gathering.
REBECA: Oh, my little brother is back from school (PICKS ME UP).
ME: Sister!
PETER: Oh, the brat is back, wow.
REBECA: Don't call him that... he's different.
PETER: Yeah, right, let's go already, hurry up, we're running late for your school and my work meeting.
My brother, in order to be the favorite and get certain privileges, would always take my mother's side. Because of that, I felt that back in Chiclayo he was forced to be obedient and go against me, something I didn't care much about and didn't talk about to avoid getting into trouble. In Lima, far from my mother's presence, he played with me and we got along great, like the best of brothers; but here it felt like we hated each other. Not just him, but the rest of my siblings too: if a problem happened, they usually blamed me, or sometimes, when my parents didn't think it was my fault, only then would they take my side so none of them would get beaten.
I used to think the same way, but I didn't want to be someone who just obeys and that's it. I liked having freedom and making my own decisions without being forced, but since they offered me the party thing, I'll have to obey them and be like my siblings.
VIOLIN CLASSES
MOTHER: Ángel, your teacher's house is close by, on the corner of the block to the right. I'll take you today and later you'll go by yourself, okay?
ME: Yes.
(WE ARRIVE)
MOTHER: (KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK)
(THEY OPEN)
MISS: Good afternoon, ma'am. Is he Ángel, right?
MOTHER: Yes, Miss Vilches.
MISS: Is he your third child?
MOTHER: Yes, he is my third child. I will bring my fourth very soon, about 4 years from now, and I'm bringing him right now because he's two.
MISS: And how old is your little son, to know which method will make it easier for him?
MOTHER: My son is 5.
MISS: And how old is Peter?
MOTHER: Ah, he is 10.
MISS: And your older daughter who plays the saxophone?
MISS: Ah, she is 13.
MISS: Oh, I see...
MISS: Looks like everyone is going to be musicians, haha!
MOTHER: Yes, miss... Well, I'm leaving now and I'll leave you with the class.
MISS: Yes, see you later, ma'am.
MOTHER: Come, Ángel.
MISS: Wait a second.
MOTHER: Yes, miss.
The miss comes closer to me:
MISS: Ángel, take this candy.
ME: Yes, miss, thank you very much.
After that it ended and I went home. I ate dinner, lay down on my bed, and slept. Then, the next day on Tuesday, I went to school with my mom.
MOTHER: Very well, Ángel, behave yourself.
ME: Yes, ma.
(I ENTER THE CLASSROOM)
DAIRO: Good morning, Ángel.
ME: Oh, Dairo, how about you come with me at recess to eat together today?
DAIRO: But won't Sayuri and Dina get mad?
ME: I don't think so, anyway, the more the merrier.
DAIRO: Alright.
(THE BELL RINGS)
SAYURI AND DINA: Let's go, Ángel.
ME: Oh, um...
DINA AND SAYURI: What's wrong?
ME: My friend Dairo wants to come with us too.
BOTH: That's fine, the more the merrier.
ME: Oh, alright then. Come on, Dairon, they said yes.
DAIRO: What is wrong with you, how are you going to say he can come when I'm hiding anyway. I hope they like me, thank you very much for inviting me, Ángel, you're a great friend.
ME: No problem, that's what friends are for, let's go because recess is starting.
DAIRO: Good thing they left right when you said that.
ME: Haha, yeah, I went a little too far.
(THE BELL RINGS)
When we were talking, my friends realized that Dayron is funny, and from that moment on he became another one of my friends—one of my best friends. Who would have thought that after that incident he would talk to me again, and I would bring him into my circle of friends anyway? And like they say, the more the merrier, and so it was.
ME: Haha!
DAIRON: Don't laugh... Dairo, Dina, say something.
DINA: I'm sorry, it's just I didn't think you would be the one who shat himself in the classroom, HAHA!
DAIRO: Sayuri, tell them something.
SAYURI: Dairo, it's already in the past, relax. Besides, that day they thought it was the fat kid, HAHAHA!
DAIRO: That's not funny.
ME: Yes, it is.
DAIRO: No, it's not!
ME: Oh right, do you not have other friends, DAIRON?
DAIRON: I have some, but when I get close to them, all the other guys usually pick on me and on them, so I stay away from the rest to not cause trouble for them.
ME: Oh wow, I didn't think of it that way. Quick question, did a medium-dark-skinned, tall guy hit you too?
DAIRON: Oh yes, he came up to me out of nowhere and grabbed me by the shoulder, I told him to please back off and out of nowhere he punched me.
ME: So he bothered you too? Same thing happened to me, but for getting close to SAYURI.
DAIRON: Oh, to me too, I had given her her pen back.
SAYURI: That's true, but I didn't see him hit you.
DAIRON: But he did hit me, that guy is crazy.
ME: Yeah, I say the same thing, that guy is crazy.
SAYURI: Come to think of it, he can be very aggressive.
DINA: Who are you guys talking about? I don't even know who the heck that is.
(THOUGHT: Ah, how weird, why is that big kid coming over? Is he coming here? Did that guy who always looks for a fight just for talking to Sayuri send him? Or is he a friend of DAIRON's?)
KID: DAIROOOOOOOO!!! (Grave and serious voice)
EVERYONE: Aaaaaaaaaah!