Sometimes there are relatives who are only around for convenience, or who only treat aunts or parents well because of an inheritance; these same people can end up sowing discord among everyone else.
(Before we get to the main topic, let's start with some short stories).
THE CLASS SNOB
ME: —Ugh, what time is it?… 4 in the morning. Why do I wake up so early? Well, I better get ready… I think I'll fill up the water so my mom doesn't have to struggle too much… (I get my things ready).
Two hours later...
MOTHER: —Oh, what are you doing awake? ME: —Hi, mom. I filled the water because I woke up very early, but then I got sleepy and went back to sleep. MOTHER: —Ah, I see. How strange of you, since you always love to sleep. Wait a moment for me to make breakfast… go organize your notebooks. ME: —I already did. MOTHER: —What?… Then let's go, I'm taking you to school.
After eating, it was 7:00, so I got ready for school (a 10-minute walk). I entered through the main door and went to my classroom.
ME: —Wow, it's the first time I've arrived so early. Neither the teacher nor my friends are here; though they are always late anyway.
Ten minutes pass and the others start arriving.
KEIKO: —Oh, Angelo! You came early. ME: —Learn from me, I arrive early. KEIKO: —No way, you arriving early? We always get here right when formation starts and they close the gate. ME: —Just so you see, God helps those who wake up early. KEIKO: —You're right. I'm going to my seat; I got here a bit earlier today too. ME: —Yeah, Renzo and Samir aren't here yet… And your cousin Camila? KEIKO: —She stayed outside talking to my little cousin.
(Camila comes running in).
ME: —Why are you running? CAMILA: —I came running because they were closing the gate.
PRINCIPAL (over the microphone): —Students, come out for formation.
After paying honors to the school anthem and the Peruvian national anthem, it was time for prayer and reciting the "Hail Mary" (a prayer to Mary, the mother of Jesus).
ME: —Why do we ask Mary to intercede for us if she was just a human who had the privilege of bringing Jesus into the world? Besides, it's just an image made by men and without life. According to the Bible, we should only ask Jesus (God) for our sins. KEIKO: —Yeah, you're right, friend, it doesn't make sense, but most people here are Catholic. ME: —Hey, what religion are you? KEIKO: —Evangelical. ME: —But what's the name of your church? KEIKO: —I don't know.
When we entered the classroom, I saw that my friends RENZO and SAMIR arrived late. DINA was with them, along with another girl named FRANCISCA (we called her Pancha or Nicoll).
ME: —Ha ha! What losers, you arrived late. RENZO: —Yeah, right. First time you've ever been early. SAMIR: —I'm sleepy. ME: —We have P.E. today. SAMIR: —No, first period? I'm still half asleep.
The teacher walked in.
TEACHER: —Good morning, students. Everyone out to the patio with your water. Come with me, three students: you, the tall one (me), the one with glasses (Pancha), and you... (he points at Dina).
We went to get the equipment.
ME: —I don't want to run. Pancha: —You don't like to run? ME: —No, I always end up sweating. Dina, carry that other box of balls. DINA: —Oh, okay. ME (Thinking): —I forgot I stopped talking to her... I'm just used to it. Come on, Angel, control yourself. Just get used to giving orders, but don't talk to her much.
We went out to the patio and the teacher took attendance. There were 29 students. Then he explained the game: "Cat and Mouse."
TEACHER: —Come here. Yomar, you'll be the mouse, and David, you'll be the cat. ME: —Run!
The game started. I moved quite far away and pulled Pancha by the arm so she wouldn't get caught.
Pancha: —Why are you pulling my arm? Do you like me or something? ME: —Not in your dreams… I just wanted to help you survive. Pancha: —Liar, you like me. ME: —Fine, survive on your own then.
In the end, Dina, Samir, David, and I were the winners. After class, Pancha came over.
Pancha: —Sorry for saying what I said. ME: —It's fine, no problem. Pancha: —Can we be friends? ME: —Sure, that's fine.
A DANGEROUS MISSION
That same day, DARIEL came over to my house to play. We were in my room when we suddenly heard my chickens screaming in the coop on the third floor.
ME: —Dariel, my grandparents gave me some "Chilean" chickens, the tiny breed! Let's go see. ME: —That's weird, one is missing. DARIEL: —Were they a couple? ME: —No, brothers, though one hits the other. DARIEL: —Angelo, look down there!
The little chicken had fallen down the light well, from the third floor all the way to the first.
ME: —No! How do we get down? The first floor is a vegetable mini-market, but Don Juan already closed and won't be back until tonight.
I saw a bucket tied to a thick rope.
ME: —Dariel, I need your help. Get inside the bucket and I'll lower you down. DARIEL: —What if I fall? It's too high. ME: —You won't fall. I'm stronger than you and I'll hold you. DARIEL: —Fine, but don't let go, and you have to give me the math homework. ME: —Deal.
I started lowering him bit by bit. DARIEL: —Okay, I'm down! I got him! ME: —Come up!
I started pulling and the rope made a weird sound. DARIEL: —Ow! The bucket is breaking, pull me up fast!
Just as he reached the top, the bottom of the bucket broke off. Luckily, it was already old. DARIEL: —I almost died! ME: —Mission accomplished, soldier. Let's go buy cookies, but first, let's put the little rooster away.
DISCORD IN THE FAMILY
One day my uncle JERSY arrived with his son FABRICIO. He left Fabricio with us, and Peter and I played with him. When my uncle returned, he started talking to my grandmother about when she would sign the papers to divide the land to avoid problems in the future.
The next day, my uncle came back very upset. He told my mother that Fabricio had told his wife that we had made him wash clothes and clean the house. His wife was so angry that she was threatening to sue.
A family lunch was organized to talk it out. There I found out that my uncle's wife had sued him before for alimony or out of anger. In fact, before I was born, my uncle was in jail for a week because of her, until her anger passed and she got him out. My aunt had relatives in the police, and that's why she did those things.
My cousin Fabricio always behaved well with us; I don't think he made that up. I'm sure it was his mother, since she hates my grandmother and the family for being from the highlands and being Adventists; she thinks we are inferior.
After that, everything changed. In my family, we started calling her "the anaconda" or "the snake" because of all the unjustified damage she caused. I hope one day this changes for the better.
THANK YOU FOR READING. In this chapter, I am 8 years old and in 2nd grade.
Author's Note: I am thinking about changing the focus of my other story to "Ancestral Stories". It will include details about my great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents. I will separate it into volumes, and it will cross over with this main story. I hope you support it!