"¿Café?" Mireya held out the cup to the older woman, who smiled and took it. "Thanks for helping set up the fire Leraine, I've tired myself out with my painting." She looked over at the fire pit as Aniyah chased Miracle around giggling to herself.
"Thanks for invitin me. Lil mama had a bad day at school." The shadows from the fire danced against Leraine's face as she sipped her coffee; she sighed and made a face. "I keep forgettin how strong y'all Dominicans make ya coffee. And ya give this to the boy?" Mireya smiled and shook her head at the question looking up at the night sky.
"I give him some but mixed with a lot of milk like my mom did to me. Helps with the bitterness and they get to have a taste." She reclined her beach chair more and relaxed. "Miracle didn't have a good day either. That little white boy Kyle? He bothered him again today, talking about how Miracle doesn't have a father because he's black and because I'm ugly." She sipped on her coffee again with an eye roll. Leraine looked over and shook her head disappointed.
"Woo chile, couldn't be me" she crossed her legs as she sipped "I wish a lil boy told my niece she didn't have parents cuz she's black. God would have to fix it cuz if I fix it—I'd go to jail." She watched Aniyah as she giggled chasing after Miracle, her blue bear tight in her arms and bare feet enjoying the grass.
The young girl started to click her tongue and create other noises. "Looks like she's feeling better." Mireya smiled at the girl as she stood in place bouncing.
"Meow," she said looking up at Miracle.
"Meow" he chirped back;they continued to copy each other. Although Mireya never understood it, watch them echo back and forth was cute. Her heart ached with a soft sigh as she watched Miracle become more of his father as the years passed by.
"Mireya, what's on yo'mind honey?" She glanced over at Leraine before sitting up with a sigh. She was going to have to tell someone sooner or later.
"Miracle's father," she started, but took a long pause to try and collect her thoughts. "I hope he's happy in los cielos." She quickly corrected herself "heaven, in heaven." Leraine softly placed a hand on her shoulder and gave a tender squeeze.
"Sorry suga." She didn't want to pry any further, not wanting to see her cry again.
"I still don't know how to tell him" she rubbed her temples. "Sometimes I wonder what if he didn't save me." She took a deep breath as Leraine leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Mireya, rubbing her back. An old wound on her heart ripped open again. It was an all too familiar feeling.
"Hey, I rather have you here givin the best life you can to Miracle than be in there doin time and him in the system," she pulled away, sorrow taking over her features. "I know the pain. I have told you about Kelent right?" Mireya nodded, shivering at that story.
"It's just a way of life unfortunately. I want him to be a child for a little longer. The world is far too cruel. I will tell him eventually." Her voice started to shake, "he didn't even know." She wiped her nose, "he didn't even know he was going to be a father. I was about to tell him too, before he made me run."
Leraine stroked her neighbor's back to help keep her from crying out. "Worst part is, his birthday is tomorrow. It just, it's a lot. And it definitely doesn't help when Miracle is his father's twin." Leraine looked over at the two kids still playing, looking closer at Miracle's face.
"Hey, it's okay. Everything will be okay, I know his daddy is just watchin proud of him." Aniyah stepped closer and gave her auntie a hug and sat on her lap. "Lil mama you tired?" The girl nodded and yawned. "You have my number, text me okay? Gotta put this one to bed." She stood with the child in her arms and downed the rest of the coffee.
Mireya stood up quickly and fixed her a tupperware of barbecued meats, potatoes, and corn. "Thanks so much, 'll bring ya that crawfish recipe so we can make that next time. What's this again?"
"Dominican barbecue, from the ancestors." They shared a laugh and Leraine started to walk off into the darkness of the country. Mireya put her pinkies in her mouth and whistled, some of the dogs standing from their lying position in the land.
"Guard" it was a simple command and with that, Precious, Oliver, and a couple other 'dangerous' dogs followed the two to ensure their safety. She sat back down in her chair as Miracle stole the one Leraine used. "You finished eating? Or do you have room for some s'mores?" He shook his head and stayed in the seat, he sat suspiciously straight.
He softly smiled. "Mamá, why did it look like you were about to cry? You and Aniyah's Aunt were talking and you looked very sad. Did something bad happen?" He rocked in the seat, unable to sit still now. She looked at him; only able to give a small tug of the lips.
"It is about your father. I was just talking about when I was pregnant with you and how I was all alone. You remember when I told you that right? How I almost lost you...twice?" The boy nodded and looked down "Miracle, don't blame yourself with what I went through. Trust me, my body is just broken, but I wanted you so badly that I kept going. And I am so happy you are here." Her cheek became wet as she started to cry. She remembered the kiss she shared with his father, his first sentence he ever told and then he was gone. She gladly accepted her son's hug; she needed it. Miracle poured all the love he could in his arms and hoped his mother felt it.
"Let's," she sniffed in his shoulder, "let's finish the gift you made for your father." She slowly pulled away and twirled her fingers in the coils she put his hair in. He grabbed the bucket of water and poured it over the fire; that's when the dogs took their cue to come back inside. Although she knew the land well, the blind night was still terrifying. Inside she sat the food on the island and Miracle was right behind her.
She waited at the island while her son looked for the present he made for his father. It was a duck made of paper mache in art class, even though it was unfinished. "Wanna paint it bud?" He looked at her then back at the newspaper duck, he slowly nodded and walked back upstairs to get his paint.
clapped their hands three times and the class followed. When some of the kids kept on talking, they did it again. Once the class was quiet they went up to the front and erased the electrical diagram on the chalkboard. "Thank you for your electrician's presentation. Class thank " about 30 voices all gave his thanks. "Alright" they looked at their list of names "Miracle Esperanza, you're up!" Mireya laid her hand on Miracle's shoulder as she stood.
She wore her black business suit and her braids were in a bun. Did she overdress for this occasion? Possibly, but she wanted to make the best impression she could on her fellow parents. "Hello, I am Mireya Esperanza," she wrote her name on the chalkboard "and I am Miracle's mother." A student raised his hand, it was Kyle, she crossed her arms and tapped her foot. This child hasn't raised his hand for anyone except when she got up. "Yes young man?"
"Where is Miracle's dad? Today is Bring You Dad to school." His ear was suddenly pinched by his father who sat behind him. "Ow ow ow!"
"I apologize for the interruption of Kyle. Please continue" apologizes profusely while his father didn't seem to care for the interruption. Mireya turned back to the board and started to write again.
"Has anyone here ever shopped at the clothing store called That's My World or its partner companies New York Chic, Paris Paradise, or Krystal, either online or in a physical store?" Some of the parents raised their hands and she smiled. "Well I am one of the accountants for this whole franchise. And what that means, children, is I monitor the money."
She began to write on the board again. "See I make sure we are making the right amount of money and spending the right amount like this example. If we sell $200 worth of clothing, I make sure we spend under $200 so we don't get rid of all our money. What's left behind is called a profit. So, in this example let's say we spend $150 to buy more clothes to replace the ones we sold. That extra 50 left behind is the profit."
Once she finished that example, she quickly moved on. Third graders only knew that basic math and she didn't want to bore them to death. "What it does takes a lot of math and a lot of education. I do really cool and weird things to numbers to make them work. Any questions?"
Kyle raised his hand again should've known the twerp would. "Yes, Kyle?"
"Why isn't Miracle's dad here?" He pressed again. He grinned like the annoying little bastard he is.
"Kyle, that's enough!" Miracle stood from his seat causing some parents to gasp and students to ooo at the potential fight. Mireya raised her hand and he stopped, slowly sitting down.
"Kyle, honey child," she bent down to his level and looked him in the eye. He softly gulped as her face twisted, only able to look at her slanted eye in fear. She straightened up, " haven't you taught your son any manners or even your wife? Haven't you taught your son to mind his business? Since you clearly don't know how to raise a child and the school doesn't seem to do anything, how about I make him fail this year or even better get expelled from this school. I'm done with your sorry excuse of a son harassing my son on the basis of his race, I have it all on record and I have really good lawyers. Have I made myself clear?" His father nodded and Kyle shook terrified. She walked to the board and erased her markings.
"Uh, thank you for your presentation. Class, can you thank her for her time?" The children thanked her and she nodded.
"I'll be taking my leave, . C'mon Miracle, you have a dentist appointment." Miracle nodded and grabbed his bag. He went to his mother's side and walked out of the room. The teacher ran after them and stopped them in the hallway. "Yes, teach?"
"I am very sorry for Kyle's behavior. I have been doing all I can to correct it but he has been very difficult this year. I have never seen someone put so much fear into him." They glanced back at the classroom. "How did you do it?"
" , I was raised in a Hispanic black household. When my mother spoke low and looked me in the eye she meant business," she said simply.
The teacher rubbed their neck. "I can see how that would make sense. All I got was a sandal to the head." They shared a laugh before shaking hands and parting.
"Mamá, when did I have a dentist appointment?" Miracle grabbed her hand as they walked.
"You don't. Just needed an excuse to get out of there before I punt a child." He nodded. "Plus, we are going to visit your father. I can't wait today." He smiled and squealed, letting go of her once they were out of the building and ran to their car. She unlocked it and he rushed in, almost falling out the other side of the car with the force he used. She started it and drove off to camp crystal lake.
Once it was a half-hour driving through trees Miracle knew they were getting close. Then he saw the dingy sign Camp Crystal Lake and he watched as they passed it. He heard about the rumors, it being called crystal blood. "Ma." She hummed, acknowledging him. "Why do we always go to Camp Blood to visit papá?" Although her hand prevented him from hitting his head, she slammed on the brakes hard causing him to lunge forward.
"Did," she looked at him in horror and let go of his chest, "did you just call this place 'Camp Blood?' Is that what I just heard from your mouth?" The boy nodded confidently as she put the car in park. Miracle felt fear from her, even though it is a unique feeling. Under no circumstances has his heart ever raced with panic caused by his own mother. She took a couple of very deep breaths and unbuttoned her jacket to let her breathe better. "We will talk about it when we get there. Alright?" He nodded. "Sorry I scared you mi bebé." She cupped his cheek and he leaned into it, calming down.
The journey was deathly still, so still, that Miracle could hear the leaves crunch under the tires of the jeep. The car halts and he looks up to see the rotting campsite. How does this even manage to stay standing? He thought and unbundled himself, slithering out of the vehicle. Mireya jumps out with ease and a soft oof; she could start feeling her age on her knees. Even in one's early thirties, second puberty hits hard. Miracle opens the back door and grabs his gift, the finished duck, and moves to his mother's side.
Mireya was silent as she walked to the dock with Miracle in tow. His neck twitched to the side at each shrill creek of wood under his feet. He plopped down beside her and mirrored her dangling his feet over the water. His toes slightly dipped in as he swung them.
"Strange things have happened here." He looked up as she spoke more. "I knew eventually you'd hear the rumors. I don't believe them, that counselors were killed by a crazy chef or any of that." Pulling the lighter out of her pocket she let Miracle do the honors of igniting the tool and lighting the floating candle. "Tu padre y yo met here in strange circumstances though. I will tell you more about that when you're older and you can understand." Slowly, she started leaning over the water and placed the candle in the tiny waves.
"Will papá ever come back? Why hasn't he come back?" He clutched his duck tighter holding back tears. Does he not love me? The thought plagued his mind.
"Miracle," Mireya wiped her own tears. "Your father," she couldn't bring herself to do it. It felt too much. "Your father, he's gone," she coughed to keep herself from crying "as in dead. He died protecting us." She looked over at her son, "he didn't even know I was pregnant with you. But let me tell you, if he could see you now he'd be so proud of you mi hijo."
Miracle finally broke and hugged his mother and cried out. He felt his heart rip to shreds at finally knowing the truth, why his father was never at his birthdays, Christmas, Fathers day, when he needed his father the most. It all made sense now but it felt so wrong to know.
