It was a hot day in Chino. The temperature reached well over ninety degrees that day. There was no way to be uncomfortable in the Gonzales house that day because the air-conditioner was broken. Theresa was going around opening every window in the house, in order to let some air into the house. She had not changed a bit since before she had gotten pregnant - at least her figure had not changed. She did not go out nowadays, or to school, for that matter. She stayed home to take care of her baby boy.
Her mother was reading the newspaper in the kitchen before she had to go to work. It was not particularly interesting that day, but she happened to turn to the obituaries page, and she saw Trey's obituary. Theresa's mother froze. She could not believe that he was dead, and at such a young age.
"Theresa, come here, sweetie, read this," her mother told her. Theresa came over to where her mother was sitting, looked over her shoulder, and began to read the obituary.
"Oh, my god... I can't believe it - it's Ryan's brother!" Theresa exclaimed.
Her mother got up out of her chair, placed the paper on the kitchen table, put the coffee cup in the sink, and asked, "Are you going to the funeral?"
"Of course, Mom, why wouldn't I go?" Theresa responded.
"You know why, Theresa," her mother said.
Theresa looked at her son for a moment, and then looked back at her mother. "Look, Mom, Trey lived next door to us for... almost as long as I can remember, and it's only right to go to his funeral," Theresa explained.
"But what about Ryan," her mother said. "If you go, you risk exposing yourself, and you know what would happen."
Theresa did not say anything, but she knew that she would not follow her mother's advice - she was going to the funeral.