Antonia

"Mami, why did we have to move out here again?"

My mother turned around to face me. Her long thick black curls flowed as her head turned.

"Porque mi amor."

That's all she has answered. Ever since I found out we were moving to Tulsa my mother and father haven't given me a clear answer to why we were moving. Every time I ask I always get, "because my love." Or sometimes, "you don't need to worry about that."

I don't understand why we needed to leave California, things were just fine there. I had great friends, I went to a good school, we lived in a nice neighborhood, my dad had a great job.

This move was just so sudden. At this point I know I will never get a straight answer as to why we are moving away. I just would like to know why to Oklahoma of all places?

"Okay!" my father said out loud. "we are here!"

He pulled up to an older looking house with faded white panels covered in dust and dirt complete with an eerie screen door and empty porch.

Now not to be rude, but I did notice that we are now living on a bit rougher side of town. The houses are a little more run down than my old neighborhood in Compton.

I got out of the car and just looked at the sad looking house I now called home.

"Welcome home!" my dad said as he thick accent rolled off his tongue.

I stood there with my sunglasses hiding my disgusted look on my face.

This isn't home.

"Smile Antonia." my mom said attempting to speak some English that I had been teaching her.

I put on a noticeably fake smile. I'll say it once and I have no problem saying it again, this isn't home.

"Let's start unpacking," my father said.

I turned away from the house and walked towards the car. I noticed this boy walking across the street.

He had on a leather jacket with a Mickey Mouse shirt underneath. His hair was beautiful. It was a nice rust color. As funny as described it was. I've seen boys like him in California. I think they are greasers.

I watched him intently, captivated by the way he walked. He walked like he didn't have a care in the world. He jogged up the steps into the house next door.

He glanced up at me and just looked at me.

The boy with the rusty hair was staring at me.

I was staring back at him.

He gave me a smile, and walked into the house next door to mine.

"Howdy y'all!" I heard someone greet inside.

"Hey Two-Bit!" I heard people greet from the same house.

Two-Bit? What kind of name is Two-Bit?