text: Tori  Whitlock Alegria What it takes to be a big sister... To Everyone Who Has to Go Through Things They Shouldn't. 
   
   
     
    Chapter 1: Mami que es este?   “Alegria do you want to come to my house tonight?” my friend Alice asked.   “Sorry, Allie but…” I was apologizing before I was cut off.  “I know, I know I just wish one day you would stop going to take care of your sister everyday when it is you mom’s job to do that!” she whisper yelled at me frustrated. People aren't really allowed to know what goes on at my house. That's why I only have two friends.  “You know I can’t and neither can Mama. So please Allie-Bear forgive me” I said using my special puppy eyes she loved do much. It always softens her up even when she wants to kill me. Real best friends right there.   “Okay, okay but one day you have to come to my house. You haven’t been there in for-ev-er!”She said stretching forever into three syllables.  “Soon ! See you tomorrow Chica!” I yelled running to Holmes.   That’s where Alanza goes to school. She is in Mrs. Hagg’s kindergarten class. Her name discribles her prefectly, a little old hagg. Mrs. Hagg is a awful woman with white, thin, fluffy hair on top of her wrinkled head that never seems to have a smile. Me and Alice had her when we where in kindergarden. One of the worst years of our lives. 
     
   *** 
    “But Mrs. Hagg Alegria, mi hermana is going to be here any moment” (hermana) my sister begged.  “What did I tell you about that  stupid  half and half talking? Either you speak in English or Spanish! Pick one! Now come inside so we can call your mother!” Mrs. Hagg yelled, roughly taking Allanza’s hand.  “If I may, please let go of my sister señora” I said trying to be nice, I'm very short tempered. Nobody touches mi hermana, while I have anything to say about it.  “And who would you might be?” she asked, obviously annoyed.    “I am Alanza’s older sister Alergia” I said with a fake.  “Oh well you are  late  picking up your sister” she had the same exact fake smile I had on. How dare she. ”The school rules say that if a  parent  or  guardian  is late then we have to call the child’s  parent or guardian ”  
   “I am fairly sure that the rules say something about yelling and being unfair to your students señora” I said trying not to yell at this woman, she didn’t even bother to recognize me from parent teacher night. It was only Alanza and I that night. 
   “What are you talking about?” she sneered, confused. 
   “Señora, you can’t tell me you were not yelling at mi hermana pobre, I heard you calling her stupid when i walked up” I said with a bit of anger in my tone but I was trying desperately to hide it. (poor sister) 
   “Oh well she wasn’t listening to me,” was her oh-so-brilliant answer. 
   “Really? What exactly was she not doing? The asking permeation to stay outside 10 seconds longer to wait until I got here?” I asked sarcastically. 
   “Well the rules say that…” she began but I cut her off. 
   “The No Place For Hate rules say thet calling names is untolerated and for what you said about the ‘half and half language’ that would be considered racism also against No Place For Hate rule. No?”  
    No Place for Hate is one of those stupid school things against bullying and racism and other stuff that can’t be fixed. That's just how the world is. She was litterally out of words to yell at us. 
   “I would bet all I have that the school board would be more concerned about a racist teacher than one student being picked up late, I mean you didn’t yell at  him ” I said eyeing a little white boy with blond hair and blue eyes looking scared and amazed at the same time.  “Well… um…” she was once again speechless.  “Señora I suggest that you never grab mi hermana again unless you want trouble with the school board” It was a bluff but she baught it. I turned to my sister, “are you ok chicita?”  “Am now, can we please go home now?” she whined. 
   "We could if you stopped whining," with that we left. But not without a waring to the hagg. "I wouldn't sugject metioning this to mi mama, Señora. She won't take this as well as I" 
   Another bluff but she didn't know that. 
   *** 
    The house stunk but I couldn’t tell what it was. 
   “Mama, does not know what happened at school, okay?” I said to keep the peace. Mi Madre wouldn’t like it if we got in trouble on the first day.   “Hola mamá estamos en casa” I yelled though the house but no answer came (hi mom we’re home!). 
   I told Alanza to go to our room while i looked aroung. It wasn't uncommon for one of our mother's guests to be caught lingering. I walked to our mama’s room, the door was closed. There was no sock on the door so I decided to just walk in. And there our Mama was and she wasn’t alone. The was passed out with a sad looking man laying on the bed. We both looked her, passes out and smelling of alcahol and weed. Well we do not need his simpathy. 
    “Who are you?” I asked suspicious.   “I am Jose. Jose Martinez. And you are?” he asked very formal. That’s strange for one mom’s 'friends' or one nighters what ever you prefer.   “I’m Alegria” I said walking over to Mami. 
    I will put her to bed and put this man out of our house. I picled up her mess, then her. She culd have at least made it to the bed. As I did this the man, Jose watched me. When I was finished I reluctantly turned to him. 
    “Mr. Muetearez I’ll show you the door” I said turning around to go to the door.  “Jose”   “Mande?”   “Call me Jose”  “Fine. Let’s show you to the door,  Jose "  “Alright lets go” and he walked in front of me but he didn’t smell like the nasty smell in this room, I didn’t ask him about it. “Good bye” was all he said before I shut the door in his face. 
   Perhaps a bit impolite but i wouldn't see him again, it doesn't matter.  I turned around to see Alanza sitting next to the couch watching.  “Alanza that is the worst hiding stop  ever ” I groaned hoping she learns better soon, I mean really what if we get robbed or something? They probably wouldn't want our stuff but who knows; gangs are weird.  “No its not” she said sticking her tongue out at me.  “Hey that’s my move!” I said . She stuck her tongue out again! Oh nu uh.   I walked toward her slowly. With my hand in the shape of scissors, like when you play rock, paper scissors, and hummed the Halloween theme song.  “I think I’m going to chop off that tongue scene it doesn’t seem to want to stay in that mouth” I said evilly. 
   Alanza gave a shrill scream and ran to our room. I followed her and opened the door. She was in the curtains, that  might  have been an okay hiding spot if the curtains where the long ones and not ones that only reach her knees. I went around the bed cluelessly when I came around to the window I pounces and with a small squeal and a fit of giggles we came tumbling down to the bed. 
   “Alegria!” she shrieked with a fit of giggles. 
   Alanza was trying to pry my hands off her ribs, trying to make me stop tickling her. It didn't work. So her next tactic was to tickle me back. Sometimes I wish I wasn’t this super ticklish! Because immediately when she tried to tickle me I let go and laughed. Then our neighbor Ms. Gonzales screamed: “Are you girls alright?” Ms. Gonzales is a 69 year old widower with shoulder length grey hair with some brown still in it. 
   “We’re fine, Ms. Gonzales!” we yelled still laughing back at her. 
   “Okay but keep it down! It sounded like you were being kidnapped or something!” she yelled sternly yet caring. Like only a mother could. 
   Ms. Gonzales always acted like the grandmother we never had. Sometime she told us to call her grandma, sometimes we did, and sometimes we didn’t. Eh, she answers to either one. She’s super nice but stern. She always spoke her mind and sometimes she would let us come over when our mom wasn’t there, we just couldn’t tell mom because one time mom came home and we were at grandma’s house and mami called the cops because she couldn’t find us. But occasionally we still do come by-my train of thought was cut off by little hands tickling my ribs. Oh no! It didn't really tickle but thinking she tickled me was halerious, though i was extremely ticklish. 
   “Truce!” I said that way we both win. 
   We were both a little giggly but we needed to talk. 
   "Listen, Alanza, you know how it is. When i say something, you need to listen. Please, little one, this is both out safties." Yes, we had some fun but this Jose could have been a dangerous man. He could have been Felix. Felix was the local gang leader in this town. 
   "I know, okay. Its just, i want to see. I know I shoudn't. I'm sorry" 
   “Okay, just don't do it again. We have to take showers and all that good stuff kay?”  “Aw man Fine” she said reluctantly.   “Ok I’ll get to making dinner and you go and get yourself in the shower” I said with a smile. 
   She ran to the bathroom with a towel in her hand. Where the towel came from I don’t really know. Oh well. I heard the water go on and I heard her step in. So I decided to get started on dinner. Hmmm what do we have to make? Well I’m tired so I’m gonna make something simple. I was focused on the food when i decided to check on Alanza. 
   I went to check if Alanza was out of the shower and she was. She was sitting down watching cartoons. I'd bet the noodles are ready. I finished making dinner. 
    “Alanza, si quieres comer?” I asked. (Alanza, want dinner?)  “Si! Si! Si! Si!” Alanza was yelling and hopping over like a little bunny.   “Hola señora conejito” I said in a cute little baby voice.   “Wha-… OH! Ha ha ha! I am a bunny! Yay!” she said hopping again.   “Hey Mrs. Peter Cotton Tail’s hop in your chair and sit down” I teased.  “Ew! I don’t wanna be anybody’s girlfriend!” Alanza squeaked hoping into her chair.  “Why not Peter Cotton Tail? He is the easter bunny and he had so much candy” I don't know why w was trying to get her to like Peter Cotton Tail, but it was all in good fun.  
   “But remember on Hop! He poops Jelly Beans!” 
   “Alanza that’s a good thing! You  love  Jelly Beans!” I laughed and it’s true she loves Jelly Beans.  “No I only like Starburst jelly beans”  “I thought you liked regular and I was the only one who liked the Starburst ones. Wait, is that why some of mine were missing?” After dinner it was getting late so i told alanza to sleep. While she was asleep I cleaned and read. Oh, I love to read. I get to be someone else and not be here with what's going on, what I'm surrounded by or all this stress. Right now i was reading "I am Furniture" By Thalia Chaltas. Its mostly a poetry book. Its about this girl with an abusive dad but not to her because her whole family ignores her and she never gets any attention. This girl is lucky, at least getting ignored you don't get hurt. 
     
   *** 
     
   "My Moma Told Me. When I Was Young. Sit Beside Me. My Only Son. And Listen Closely. To What I Say. And Is Ya Do This, It'll Help You Some Sunny Day." My alarm woke me up with Simple Man By Shinedown. 
   I decided to wake Alanza with a song. 
   "Oh, Take Your Time, Dont Live Too Fast. Troubles Will Come And They Will Pass. You'll Find A Woman And You'll Find Love. And Don't Forget Son, There Is Someone Up Above." I meant the lyrics, more than she'd ever know. Dispite what we're living in, i want Alanza's life to be good. I want her happy and safe. 
   "And Be A Simple Kind Of Man, Oh Be Something You Love And Understand." We sang together. Before I pressed dissmiss. 
   "Ok all i can smell is your breath and gosh it needs washing. Alanza. Bathroom. Now." 
   "It doesn't stink!" She smells her breath. "I just smell like last night's tuna!" 
   " Alanza ! That's discusting. Teeth, now." 
   She walks to the bathroom and I walk to the kitchen to make her breakfast muttering how gross that is. 
   "I'm done!" 
   She walks into the kitchen sitting down to the find her way through the maze on the back of the cereal box. I started to head to the bathroom. 
   I walked in to the bathroom and did what needed to be done. I threw on a quick pair of ripped leans and a t shirt. 
   She ran to her bike. I guess we're taking the bikes today. We don't live in the best of neiborhoods, so this was taking a chance riding. It'd be too easy to steal from two 'little girls'. We went in the direction on Holmes Elementery. Though my school was closer, it was better for my to take Alanza myself. Upon arriving, we saw Ms. Hagg at the door. Alanza looked at me worried. 
   "You'll be fine. I love you, be good" 
     
   
   
   Publication Date: October 14th 2015 https://www.bookrix.com/-tori12598