Cartel Cats:
They Smell Fear (And I Don't Mean Cartel—I Mean Children)
Scene: The Barrio's Old Basketball Court—Sunset
The sun dips low, casting long shadows over the cracked concrete. Felicia, the Village Ma, sits on a worn bench, her eyes steady and warm. Around her, the Cartel Cats gather like a patchwork family: El Gato Blanco, scarred but loyal; La Sombra, quiet and watchful; La Pantera, restless and jittery; El Tigre, tough but tender; El Zorro, quick with a joke; and Pawloma, the youngest, bouncing a tattered basketball with nervous energy.
Felicia clears her throat. "Alright, mis hijos, gather 'round. Tonight's not about turf wars or chasing rats. Tonight, we talk real."
Felicia's Opening
"You know what people say about us. They see the scars, the stories splashed across the news, and think they've got us figured out. Like we're some kind of wild animals out here. But do they ever stop? Ever sit down, face to face, and actually listen?"
Pawloma pipes up, ball still bouncing, "They moved their lunch away from me at school. Like I was gonna bite or something."
La Pantera snorts, "Yeah, like a sandwich's gonna save itself from me. I'm scared of spiders, not sandwiches."
El Zorro grins, "And don't forget cucumbers. I swear, those things are evil."
Felicia smiles softly. "See? We're not monsters. Just cats with some quirks."
The Heart of the Matter
Felicia leans forward, voice steady. "Let me tell you a true story. One time, a kid from our block chased someone with a knife. Not because he wanted to hurt her—no, ma'am. She ran from him like he was a ghost or a monster. She judged him before he even said a word. That fear? It's like poison. It makes you act out, makes you feel invisible, like you gotta prove you're tough just to be seen."
La Sombra, barely above a whisper, adds, "I spent years in the background. Nobody saw me. Nobody asked what I felt. If someone had just stopped, looked me in the eye, maybe I wouldn't have felt so alone."
El Tigre grumbles, "People see us as monsters, but most of us just want a chance. A real conversation. Five minutes. That's all."
Enter Reese Witherspoon
Suddenly, a figure steps onto the court, book in hand, a curious smile on her face. It's Reese Witherspoon herself.
Felicia stands, eyes meeting Reese's with a mix of challenge and hope. "Reese, you know you can afford to pay attention. We can't. And yet, here we are, still standing. We don't bite. It's not like that. We just want to be heard."
Reese laughs softly, "You know, I read a lot of stories, but I don't think I've ever heard one quite like this. Five minutes, huh? I can spare five minutes."
El Zorro winks, "See? Even Hollywood's got time for us."
The Challenge
Felicia's voice grows firm but kind. "So here's the deal. Don't judge a book—or a kid—by its cover. Give us five minutes. Sit down, face to face. Ask us what we dream about, what scares us, what we hope for. You might be surprised by what you hear."
La Pantera grins, "And if you're lucky, I might even tell you about my spider phobia."
El Tigre chuckles, "Or my fear of showing feelings. Yeah, that's a real monster."
Closing Words
Felicia turns to the "audience"—readers, book lovers, anyone willing to listen.
"We're not asking for pity. We're asking for your attention. Because every story matters. And sometimes, all it takes is five minutes of real conversation to change a life."
The Cartel Cats remind you:
Don't judge a book—or a kid—by their cover. Maybe it's time to listen to the stories that don't make the bestseller list. Every child matters.
End Scene: The sun sets, but the circle stays—talking, laughing, and, for once, being truly seen.
For more about Reese's Book Club:
https://reesesbookclub.com
Funny Tagline:
"Five minutes of your time beats a lifetime of misunderstandings — and we promise, no cucumbers involved."
https://substack.com/@domesticviolence101/note/c-125432447?r=5u8eda
Check out this song... it'll explain a lot!