A week had passed, and still, the Jets and Sharks continued to argue and fight. They were persistent...so persistent, some would find it very obnoxious. Maria grew lonlier by the day, going to school, sewing dresses, then lying bed, awake, wishing for someone to dream about. Anita grew more concerned about Bernardo--it was almost as if his parents really didn't give a damn that he was always getting into a ruckus. Meanwhile, things were getting a little strange around Graziella. Every time she went into Doc's Candy Store, she couldn't stop herself from following Tony with her eyes at every chance she got. She loved Riff--as a boyfriend, and as a brotherly figure--but what was this feeling she was getting for Tony?
Day after day, things only got from better to worse. Obviously, the boys had no idea of the trouble they were getting themselves into. They didn't realize that their greed and dominance was shutting out the love and devotion that others around them gave them.
-----------------------
Tony's mother stormed the
kitchen, muttering under her breath. Tony came in and placed a hand
on her shoulder. "What's buggin' you, Ma?"
"That
Riff. We gave to boy a cerfew, and he stays out two hours later than
we told him! It's nearly midnight. Sure, he's not our son. Sure, he's
a grown boy. But he could be doin' anything right now. Pranks,
fights, wild goose chases."
Tony sighed. "You
know Riff, Ma. He's had a troubled childhood. His parents never
showed him any caring, no respect, no nothin'. Of course he's a bit
messed up."
His mother nodded slowly. "You're right,
Anton. But he's still gonna be in some deep trouble if he does this
again!"
-----------------------
Riff smiled at his baby. He caressed it and observed it's beauty with adoring eyes. Shivers went down his spine as he gripped the trigger and pointed it at a wall, pretending to shoot it. I haven't used this bad boy for months. I didn't need to after we beat up the Emeralds. But then those stinkin' Sharks came around. I say they should swim back to Puerto Rico...and DROWN on the way there!
He twirled his gun and shoved it into his belt loop. Then, something jolted in his heart...his concience. Deep down, Riff felt ashamed. Ashamed for being so segregational...so discriminative. But then his greed and hatred blocked out the guilt. It was wrong...but it felt so right.
"Riff!"
Damnit.
Riff thought as he turned his head. Standing in the front door of
Doc's Candy Store was Graziella. Her eyes narrowed, and she stomped
over and raised a hand. Riff half expected her to smack his face, but
instead she pointed at his gun in utter dismay.
"You told me you'd never use that--that THING--again! You told me you'd thrown it into the river, and it was gone for good!" Graziella shouted.
"I did get rid of
that gun. This is a new baby. I ain't just gonna go around shootin'
people...it's for self-protection."
"From what? Hobos?"
"No. From them
Sharks. Just in case they wanna fight."
Graziella sighed
angrily. "You can't get your way with weapons! Be a man and talk
things out!"
Riff shook his head. "I'm sorry, but they
ain't men. They're too coward to talk."
"Yeah, it's
always their fault, never you white boys."
Riff was getting agitated,
but then noticed tears welling up in Graziella's eyes. He slowly
opened his arms, and she ran into them. "I love you, hun. You
can take my word when I say I won't use this gun unless my life
depends on it."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
-----------------------
Anita pulled the blinds down over the store display windows, and turned the 'open' sign to 'closed.' She let out a sigh of relief. Finally...closing time. Her, Maria, Consuelo, and Rosalia all crossed the street and returned to their apartments. The four girls all bid each other goodnight, but just as Anita was about to go into her room, she heard the front door open. Looking downstairs, she saw Bernardo and his gang enter. He looked up and saw her, mumbled something to his boys, then ran upstairs and swept her up into a friendly smooch. She smiled at him and hugged his waist...then felt the cold sting of metal against her wrist. She looked down, and there, sitting in his belt loop, was his own little gun.
Her jaw dropped.
"What---you---is this--?"
Bernardo nodded.
Anita reeled back, as if he were infested with a contagious disease. "How could you bring a gun into my sight? You know I don't like this war between you and the Americans! And now, you make it worse and buy a gun? I swear, Nardo, if you put a bullet through ANYONE..."
"Stop your worrying, chica. This is for serious matters. If any of them Jet boys shoot one of my men, of course, one of us is gonna do it back." Bernardo replied.
Anita shook her head.
"I--I love you. I don't want you or anyone else to get hurt...or
killed."
Bernardo held her close, stroking her hair. "I
promise you, no one will."