This Is Now:
I walked into Glenoak High only a couple days after we had moved to Glenoak, California. My twin brother, Hector and our adopted brother Jake had decided to move after making sure the store would still be in our name. It was being renovated and Hector wanted to get me outta New York City for a couple months. He'd enrolled me into Glenoak High School and we were renting a house near the school, next to the Camden's. Nobody knew of what had happened in the Bronx and I was willing myself to keep it that way. But on my first day at the school, I would learn that wasn't going to happen.
"Everyone we have a new student joining us today. Her name is Jennifer Sanchez and she has come all the way from Bronx, New York. Jennifer would you like to tell us a little about yourself?"
"My family owns a store in the Bronx and I'm a twin."
"A store in the Bronx, huh? Did you hear about the attack on a store there? The parents murdered execution style in front of the daughter after they were forced to watch the men rape her?" Jacob Dooley asked.
I looked away and out one of the windows. I let my mind drift back to the store, back to the attack, back to hell.
"Ms. Sanchez, are you alright? And are you willing to answer Mr. Dooley's question?" Mrs. Vanquez asked.
I looked at the students and tears welled up in my eyes. A couple spilled down my cheeks and I quickly wiped them away. Then I looked straight into Mr. Dooley's eyes and answered.
"That girl just happens to be your new classmate and standing right in front of you. My parents were murdered and they are still trying to find the boys along with Josh. I would highly recommend that you don't spread rumors about me or you won't be going home if I find out that you did. Believe me, I've got a lot of friends that are in gangs." I glared at him and took my seat at the back of the class, the only open seat.
By the end of the day, everyone knew my story and my threat. Jake and Hector came up to me during lunch and sat down. Jake looked me in the eyes and tried laughing. But he never saw the SVU detectives' that had arrived that morning.
"You do know it was just a joke right?"
"What was a joke?" Hector asked.
"The attack on the store, of course."
Everyone in the cafeteria went quiet at the mention of the attack.
"What do you mean it was all just a big joke?" I asked.
"Me,
Josh and some buddies of ours decided you needed to be awakened on
what life is really like and so we gave it to you."
"You
fuckin' raped me. And then killed ma and pa? My own brother!"
I yelled.
"It
was worth it."
"How in the hell was it worth it?"
I yelled as I stood up.
"I'm not a Jew." He yelled back. Everyone was taken aback on that statement.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Martin asked as he and Ruthie came to stand by me. Jake's old buddies from New York came into the cafeteria and walked over to stand by him.
"HEIL HITLER, HEIL HITLER!" They started yelling.
"My buddies and I thought it would be funny to destroy a Jew store even though I was adopted by a Jew family. You aren't my real family and you're never gonna be. You're Jews and you all shoulda died went Hitler decided to get rid of you. Get the hell outta my face you filthy JEW!" he yelled at me and moved to push me, but his arm was caught by Detective Olivia Benson. He was arrested along with the rest of his buddies.
"Jake Sanchez, Josh Hankman, Ben Santiago, Dirk Dolman, Henry Bowman and David Lorenzo you are all under arrest for the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Sanchez and the brutal rape of Jennifer Sanchez. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if you cannot afford one, one will be appointed for you. Dou you understand your rights?" Detective Munch asked.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever. All JEWS deserve to die, no matter what! Get outta my way JEW WHORE!" Jake yelled at me. Tears were rolling down my cheeks and Hector put his arms around me, like he was protecting me.
