"See, you just have to come with us. I know it's hard, since soccer has never been your thing, but…"Javier was saying to Ma.del Carmen in the car, on their way to the high school.
She didn't like sports at all. Besides, she was deeply regretting the fact that she wasn't going to be able to see Apuesta Por Un Amor tonight.
"I just hope it's worth it."she said. "So what exactly is going to happen? I just don't really understand."
"Well, we'll see. Just make sure you brought some money. You got any money? I don't have any."
She sighed.
"I have money, all right. I was saving it up to buy Christian Castro's new album which comes out in September, and has a song in it, dedicated to his daughter, Simone. He composed it just for her. It's a pity I can't be in Puerto Rico, and go to the concert. I got up early this morning, to see how he arrived, and everything."
"Really, and anything interesting?"
"Well, I got to see him and hear his voice. And I also got to see Simone. I certainly hope she looks like her father when she grows older. He has such good looks."
When they got to the high school, and found seats, Javier ran off to get the drinks.
"I managed to find you some punch."he said.
"Like I said, I hope this is worth it. So, soccer is mostly just like, trying to score, right?"
"I guess so."
"I don't know how anyone could possibly enjoy this. It's pretty boring, watching people kick a ball around."
"Well, they aren't going to be able to kick a ball around, are they? And I wouldn't suggest sitting at the top."he said, as Ma.del Carmen looked up to see if there was any space left for the two of them to sit.
"I just hate this. I've always thought it was uncomfortable. And besides, at least at the top, you get a better view."
"Just trust me. We can see everything close up."
"Whatever you say."she said, looking at her watch. "How long does this last?"
"Not long. You'll see in just a minute. This is gonna be one soccer match no one is going to forget! At least not soon!"
"Right."
True to Javier's prediction, they didn't have to wait for a long time. Suddenly, it was Lance doing the commentary.
"Now just imagine him singing."laughed Javier. "And now, people, you get to know exactly what a mutant is."
"Oh, my."
Abruptly, the field began to move, and, there in the middle, the earth seemed to open.
"Wow, when he said that the goals should be further apart, he means they should be further apart, verdad. See why I told you not to sit at the very top? Oh, great, move out of the way!"
Now, Blob was climbing up the bleachers, and Pietro was creating a tornado, that picked up the principal.
"Oh, come on. I think it would be more recommendable that we get outta here."
"Isn't that the same guy I saw this afternoon?"asked Ma.del Carmen, as she saw the same boy shoot up a red beam towards Lance. "Oh, dear, he must be cursed! Imagine to have that coming out of your eyes. I imagine that's what his soul is."
"The guy is cursed, Carmela. I think we better get out of here, and we'll meet them back at the house. I don't want to witness this. No vaya a ser que por accidente, o algo, nos pase algo a nosostros. Come one, vamonos. Rapido!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming."
When they were back at the house, Javier kept looking out the windows, while Ma.del Carmen watched her telenovela.
"What do you suppose happened?"he asked.
"I don't know, hopefully they weren't hurt."
"I don't think so, however, it was kind of odd. I thought the reason they hung out together, was because they were the only ones. They don't seem to like the others."
"Well, I don't blame them. I don't like them, either."she said, remembering the guys with the shades.
"You don't even know them!"
"I saw one of them. And he didn't leave a good impression."
When they were back, Javier immediately asked what had happened.
"Where in the world have you guys been? What happened? Oh, do tell me that you taught those losers a lesson."
"I don't think so."said Lance. "Nothing happened. No one will remember anything."
"What do you mean? Of course people will remember, not to mention the news station. Something like this isn't something that could easily be forgotten."
"Well, it was, thanks to the professor."
"What the hell do the teachers have to do with this?"
"It was the X Men."said Pietro.
Javier just stared at him.
"The what? What kind of idiots would go by that name?"
"My thoughts exactly. You know, Javier, I think I'm starting to like you more every day."
"If you were starting to like me, then perhaps you oughtta tell me exactly what happened."
"Nothing much. They simply stopped us, and then, messed with everybodys' minds, and just made them forget. That's all."
"Well, then, no lasting harm done. Stupid idiots. It was absolutely none of their business! I mean, besides, people do have the right to know, don't they? So then now, you people should tell me about these X Men."
Pietro told him that the X Men were nothing more than a bunch of losers, a bunch of geeks.
"Well, if they're the losers, how come they ended up getting what they wanted, while you guys here, got beat!"
"Just bad luck."
"Oh, well, forget about the bad luck. Now, we just have to concentrate on getting better luck."
"How?"asked Blob.
"Who here knows how to play an instrument, besides Lance."
"Lance plays an instrument?"asked Toad.
"First you answer my questions!"spat Javier.
All of them shook their heads.
"I used to play the violin when I was younger, remember?"said Ma.del Carmen. "I still remember a bit."
"I don't think it's a good idea for you, Carmela."said Javier. "Besides, I was thinking of getting all guys. You could, however, favor us by helping us get the capital."
"You wanna go to the state capital?"asked Toad.
"No, Swamp Breath, I mean capital as in money! You wouldn't by any chance know a way to help us get fast money?"
"Well…"Ma.del Carmen though. "Maybe…I don't know, you could sell costuras. Um, sweaters, manteles?"
Javier sighed.
"Anybody here knit, crochet, or embroider?"
They shook their heads again.
"I knew it. Can anybody cook? Have something that might be worth some money? Anything?"
"I have about thirty costuras finished. They don't have the outer lace on them yet. I haven't crocheted it yet, but, you could have them. I don't really need them. I only want them to work on them. Once I'm done…"she shrugged. "They just sit there. And I need the space in the basket for new ones. Some of them, I have to Grandma, par las tortillas. I dunno, someone might buy them. They say I embroider very well. You might get some money out of them."
"No, no, no."said Javier. "That's your money. You could use it to buy new ones. I still owe you from the money you lent me the last time!"
Pietro, however, agreed.
"You shut your mouth!"Javier spat at him.
"I don't need them anymore."said Ma.del Carmen. "They'll be more use to you. Besides, I can buy new ones from the money they pay me at the veterinary clinic."
"Of course, you are so generous!"said Pietro.
"I really don't want to be in debt with you, besides tu tienes tus propios gastos."said Javier.
"I want to give you that money."she said.
"Well, I just can't keep on taking your money. It's just…not right."
"Then we'll make a deal. I won't give you the money, but I'll buy all the supplies you need. That way you can't…malgastar el dinero. You know I want to do it."
"Yes. Quieres ayudar alla al muchacho."whispered Javier, in Spanish, so the Brotherhood wouldn't understand.
She nodded.
"Fine."
They shook on it. When she left, Javier turned to the Brotherhood.
"Listen, guys, she may be helping us out, however, we are still going to need much more. Which is why, you, Fatass,"he said to Fred. "are going to start painting houses, fences, etc. You, Speedy,"he said to Pietro. "are going to start mowing lawns. And you, Swamp Breath, are going to start helping these guys with their new jobs, pruning bushes, or anything else that's necessary."
"WHAT!"exclaimed Pietro. "I can't mow lawns!"
"What will you and Lance do?"asked Blob.
"Lance will be learning more songs, and improving his singing. And I will be in charge of getting people, decided what they're going to wear, getting customers, etc."Javeir said, as he picked up the phone, to call the newspaper, and just about every radio station he could think of, to start announcing Pietro, Blob, and Toad, in case anyone needed their lawn mowed, or any kind of outdoor work done.
"Just you guys trust me."he said, as he finished. "After all this, you'll be great that our lives have crossed."