On Mine
The hustle and bustle of the city was a constant soundtrack in the metropolitan setting of South Sacramento. A colorful city where you are treated to a sight of parents glancing out of apartment windows in order to keep an eye on their children as they play with worn out toys and old holiday decorations. A city where you are exposed to careless drivers, unintentionally performing an orchestra of honking horns and revving engines in busy streets they assume their domain. A city where you are given the pleasure of smelling the fresh graffiti, repainted on the walls of minimally secure convenience stores, right before it blends in with the heavy atmosphere of car exhaust and factory fumes. A city where you can feel safe from the dangers of gang violence, shootings and police misconduct from sun up to sun down. Clearly this metropolis of was the bright future fought for by leaders such as Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr. and Walt Disney. However, despite this desolate utopia, there are civilians in South Sacramento, societal misfits who dream of a life that is free from the containment their urban life has imposed upon them.
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Darren Deception awoke to the police alarms blaring from his bedroom window. The third time in one week he was awakened by the blaring sounds of sirens. “Those godamn cokewhores must have been busted again,” he thought, “It’s fucking 4am on a school night.”
Hastily, and with a hint of haughtiness, Darren opened his bedroom window and jumped onto the poorly tiled roof of his house. “Can’t you try to be a bit more quite?” Darren yelled to the apparently busy scene, slightly grinning as he watched his neighbors try to squiggle out of another type of violation. “Some of us have school tomorrow and that’s my only ticket out of this God forsaken town!”
“I ask you get back into your house sir!” ordered one of the policemen as he shinned a flashlight onto Darren’s form. “We do not wish to have to bring another person into the station”
Pushing his luck, Daren pulled the finger as he retreated back into his bedroom. “I still have no idea how these people are even allowed to live here! They are obviously cooking some methamphetamine in their kitchen. Go ahead and ask them about their coke parties every Saturday night!” Darren exclaimed as he shut his windows.
“Now I’ll never get back to sleep, and my stupid calculus test is tomorrow.” Darren repeatedly thought as he drifted to sleep with a slight frown on his face.
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Bzzt!! Bzzt!! Rang the alarm clock as Melissa rolled out of her bed. “I have been late for class four times this week,” She thought, “If I keep getting to class late, Mr. Reed will start deducting points from my grade.”
“Melissa! Mom wants me to tell you that breakfast is ready.” Melissa’s brother Sonny yelled through her bedroom door. “You don’t want to make us too late for school again because Dad is starting to get angry at Charles’ driving.”
“O Gosh! I’m up! I’m up,” Melissa whined as she slowly dressed herself and prepared for school. Realizing her tardiness, Melissa grabbed a banana as she headed out the door, completely ignoring the breakfast feast sprawled on the family kitchen table.
“You’re running late again,” Melissa’s mom warned as Sonny snickered through his morning juice box. “Pretty soon I’m going to tell Rosa to stop preparing a seat for you during breakfast.”
“Maybe just for the weekdays.” Melissa stated nonchalantly as she lead Sonny to the Rolls Royce the family chuffer drives. “Ugh, thank God it’s Friday,” she thought.
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“When will the lunch bell ring?” Blake wondered as he laid his head on his desk for what seemed like the hundredth time today. To his surprise, the music appreciation class he eagerly signed up for at Fall was becoming his least favorite class this semester. It wasn’t that the subject matter itself was boring, it was just Blake always seemed to hesitate on talking during the class discussions.
“It probably doesn’t even matter if people don’t hear my opinions about the songs,” contemplated Blake, “It’s not like anyone is getting tested on what I think and the other kids always have better insights on what the lyrics mean. Who cares if the teacher heavily grades on participation, I’ll take my C- and do better next semester.”
When the lunch bell finally rang, Blake made for a quick exit but not before his teacher Mrs. Wilmer called him over to her desk. “The school counselor sent me a note asking you to report to his office for college plans next year. Mr. Olson warned me about making sure you see him this time, I don’t think forgetting about the last three meetings really eased his patience for you.”
“Yes Mrs. Wilmer.” Blake grumbled as he walked out of class, knowing very well he purposely missed the past sessions because he had absolutely no plans what he was going to do after high school.
“Seriously Blake!” Hollered Mrs. Wilmer, “Every senior has to have a meeting with a school counselor about their plans after high school in order to graduate!”
Blake pretended to have not heard his teacher as he headed toward the school parking lot.
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Clark walked home from school in a disgruntled manner, knocking over garbage cans and cussing off little kids while angrily thinking about how his mom forgot to pick him up from school again.
“How was school sweetie pie?” asked Clark’s mom as the slammed opened the door. Completely unaware that she forgot to pick up her son for umpteenth time.
“What do you think? It was fucking horrible. I don’t even know why you make me go to that God forsaken place.” He exclaimed, “Oh and thanks for forgetting to pick me up again you wino.”
Caught with a margarita in her hand, Janie was in no position to argue her punctuality. “I will not have cussing in my home.” She stammered as his son locked himself in his room.
“Can’t wait until I can get out of this hellhole,” Clark thought as he pulled the marijuana plants from the shoeboxes under his bed. Knowing very well that all of it was meant for his friend’s party and that he was already short on weed to give out to all of the guests, Clark greedily harvested some of them and rolled them into a swisher.
“Can’t wait until I get out of this hellhole,” Clark thought as he took a hit. “I’m done with this stupid city.”
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Blake walked up the steps of the Pladena household carrying flowers and a box of chocolates. After some peer pressure from his friend’s at the basketball team, as well as several of Melissa’s closest friends, he quickly caved in and asked Melissa out on a date.
“She’s a really good looking girl,” Blake told himself, “Clearly she is best player in the girls’ basketball and her poems on the school newspaper always appealed to me”
Blake reflected on the advice his friend Saul told him after writing a short story that was influenced by one of Melissa’s poems. “You and Melissa would be a match made in Heaven,” Saul explained, “The similarities you both have: basketball, writing, popular. I mean, even her friend Juanita told me what a perfect match you two would be.”
Blake received a friendly greeting from woman he assumed to be Melissa’s maid as she headed out the door. Making himself comfortable in the living room, Blake waited for an hour until Melissa walked out of her room in a vibrant yellow blouse and light blue capris.
“You look very nice Melissa,” Complimented Blake as she descended from down the stairs.
“Actually Sonny woke me up half an hour ago after he got back from the church day camp. I was actually taking a nap for the last two hour,” confessed Melissa.
“It’s okay,” said Blake, hastily handing her the offering of flowers and chocolates as she sets them down on the Blue-ray player.
“You ready to go?” Melissa asked as she headed out the door, suggesting they go to the arcade and frequent her favorite Italian restaurant.
Like Saul predicted, Blake thought he and Melissa got along very well. They talked about how fun basketball was and how brilliant Melissa’s poems where. Unfortunately, although Blake was enjoying his time with Melissa, he could not help but feel that her mind was elsewhere.
After dinner, Blake brought Melissa back to her house and mentioned how much fun her had.
“It was cool, we should totally do this again sometime,” Melissa said politely
Without thinking, Blake blurted out, “How ‘bout same time next week?”
“Sure…,” contemplated Melissa, unaware of the obligation she unintentionally had gotten herself into.
Blake drove home slowly that night, imagining a content life with Melissa as his wife. “I could do worse,” he thought. “At least people seem to think I’m doing something right by getting together with a catch like her.”
As Blake walked into his house, he took note of the newly caged windows both his neighbors installed in their respective households.
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“Mom, I’m going to my friend’s house!” Darren hollered as he started descending down the stairs.
“Can you please take Delia with you? I have no one to look after her since I got called in to work the lunch rush today.” Darren’s mother begged, knowing very well she promised his son that the weekend was his only time to unwind.
“Sure thing,” He said blankly, hiding the irritation that his plans would be slightly altered due to his sister’s shadowing.
“I don’t wanna be with Darren! He’s poopy!” whined Delia. “He always plays songs that make me sleepy!”
“That’s the idea you little cretin,” joked Darren as he texted his friend that he would be unable to come over.
“Delia be nice, you know how little time you two will be spending once Darren goes off to college.” Marie stated as she ironed her daughter’s coat. “You know he’s planning on attending UCLA or Boston University.”
“Fat chance I’ll get in, I might as well get used to the idea of staying in Sacramento forever” Darren doubted. “Don’t work yourself too hard at that diner mom, sometimes I think they’re taking advantage of your availability.” He told his mom as they entered the family car, slightly frustrated about how his mom refused to get a driver’s license which leads to him being the family driver.
“C’mon and hop into the car you little snot.” Darren commanded to Delia as he started the car.
Before being dropped off to the Diamond Café, Marie clipped on her name tag and hugged her two children. “Be sure to visit your dad later,” she requested, waving her hang as Darren vigorously drove off into the freeway.
“Are we gonna see daddy?” Delia piqued, while she carelessly played with the car radio.
“We always could,” Darren stated, “but you know how he always lectures me on being a terrible son.”
“Or a yucky brother,” she interrupted.
“Or basically the anti-Christ, why don’t we just go to your favorite park and visit Blake and his puppies?” Darren suggested, knowing the threat of the hissy-fits his sister gives his parents if he displeases her on their time together.
“Yay the swings! And the cute doggies!” Delia squealed, realizing that this was the first Saturday she was allowed to play outside in the past week.
“I know you’re still grounded for another week for getting bad grades in school,” explained Darren, “But as long as you don’t tell mom and dad, I don’t really care if you get to have fun on a weekend for once.”
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“Are you excited for A.J.’s party?” asked Melissa’s friend Juanita. “Everyone always talks about how fun they are.”
“Eh, a party is a party.” Melissa stated as Juanita styled her hair. “After all, the jerks at school will probably cheapen the scene since A.J.’s place is so popular now.”
Taken back by her friend’s indifferent attitude Juanita exclaimed, “Say what you want girlfriend, but I heard from Janet who heard from Bill that the new transfer student is loaded with hook-ups for weed and alcohol.”
“Shhhhh!” Hissed Melissa, “My little brother may be listening!”
“Oh right,” sighed Juanita, “I meant that the new guy has the hook-up for salad and fish tacos. And you know how hard it has been to get those goodies ever since the cops started cracking down. So yeah, be a little excited will ya?”
Melissa looked at her reflection while her friend rearranged her hair. “I just hope Blake won’t be there,” she thought. “I hate how the whole world has been trying to set us up. But truth of the matter is, I am not one for settling down. I have my whole life ahead of me for Christ’s sake. And I will be damned if I don’t enjoy it. Unfortunately bendable, puppet Blake will do what everyone wants him to do.”
“There we go! Done like a dumpling at dinnertime!” Squealed Jaunita, admiring the sensational job she accomplished with Melissa’s hair.
“Umm, it’s ok.” Melissa groaned. “It’s just I wanted the front to not be so dramatic.”
“It’s all good,” said Juanita, taking off the hair pins from Melissa’s bangs, “I’ll give it another go.”
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Possessively holding his backpack, Clark stepped off the Lightrail as he headed towards A.J.’s house. “Those fucking bungholes better appreciate the shit I went through to get these party supplies,” reflected Clark, “why did Janie decide to move in back in with her old boyfriend anyway? As if being able to settle down in Oakland the past couple of years wasn’t difficult enough, now I have to do additional work in making a name for myself and winning over new friends in South Sacramento.”
“Did you bring the weed?” A.J. asked before allowing Clark to step inside the house.
“Yeah yeah, just like the last couple of times I brought it,” Answered Clark.
“Clark you’re here!” exclaimed Juanita as she abandoned Melissa on the couch to hang onto his shoulder. “You bring the goodies?” she asked seductively, giving Clark a peck on the cheek.
“Yo, man this is barely enough to cover half the people here,” A.J. growled in his ear, “You expect me to entertain everyone with this?”
“Hey man! Shit happens. Besides I got you guys two handles of vodka, something to drink other than that cheap beer your friend’s usually steal.” Clark whispered
“Can you get me a drink Anita?” Clark asked Juanita
“Sure thing cutie and its Juanita,” She smiled as she skipped into the kitchen to fetch a couple of 211s.
“All right, fucking awesome man,” A.J. said happily as he relieved Clark of his backpack, “Come in and enjoy the party.”
Clark walked in the shabby complex, taking note of the jocks playing beer pong, the girls gossiping with each other or flirting with A.J. for weed and liquor, as well the small area in the living room where people several people seemed to be laughing and enjoying each others’ company.
“Godammit, Jill isn’t here.” Clark thought, “The whole reason I went to this party was for her. She told me last week that we were going to hook up here tonight. How else am I going to enjoy myself now.”
Eventually, he joined Juanita and her friends on the couches as they started opening the Aderole capsules and smashing them into a fine powder.
“Welcome to the party newbie,” Melissa told him as she passed some blue pills unfamiliar to him, completely passing a preoccupied Juanita sprawled on top of Clark’s shoulders.
“Hell why not,” Clark laughed as embarked onto this new experience. “To South Sac.” He cheered.
