July 2008

"Ali, watch out! The speed limit is 35!" Frantically, I gripped the armrest in Ali's red Pontiac Firebird.

She rolled her eyes. "Would you relax? I'm going 38!"

"Hands at 10 and 2, Alison! And could you music a little quieter?"

"Could you be annoying a little quieter?"

"If you get in an accident, Mom and Dad are never going to let you drive again. And furthermore…"

"Blah blah blah blah… that's all I ever hear from you Miguel! I swear, next time your car is in the shop, you can take the bus!"

I stomped my for on in imaginary brake on the floor. "Ali, slow down!"

"Are you kidding? I think we just got passed by a street sweeper! Uncle Sonny says I'm an excellent driver, so I don't know what your problem is!"

"Ali, look out!"

The next few moments were almost in slow motion. Ali's foot slammed on the brake just as a blurred figure of a man flew in front of the car, hitting the windshield with a thud, and rolled off the hood.

The car lurched to a stop, Ali and I sitting in stunned silence side by side. A siren blared in the far-off distance.

"What the hell was that?" I was frantic, and breathless.

"I- I don't know!" Ali stammered, her eyes welling with tears. "Miguel, what do we do?" She was scared, really scared, something I wasn't used to seeing in my tough, sister with her take-no-shit attitude.

I grasped her hand in mine. "We've gotta go out and check on- whoever that was." My own heart was pounding, but I couldn't show it, not with Ali relying on me. I opened my door and began to step out, and Ali followed my lead. Peeking around the front of the car, I saw a man huddled up. He was moaning in pain, but at least he wasn't dead. For now, at least.

"Call 911!" I shouted to Ali." I knelt beside him as a million thoughts ran through my mind. Could I remember that CPR class I took last year? Was it 15 compressions and 2 breaths? Or 2 compressions and 15 breaths? No, that wasn't right. Should I take the blame and say I was driving? After all, I felt I had to protect Ali.

Right on cue, Ali appeared at my side and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Ambulance is on their way, they said to keep him still. Is he conscious?"

I turned to the man. He was laying on his side, with one leg twisted in an unnatural fashion. His face was obscured by his left arm which was scraped. Finally, I drew up the courage to speak to him. "Hey, can you hear me?"

The man stirred a little . His left arm moved a bit to reveal his face, bloodied by the road and full of rage. "I've gotta get out of here…" he growled.

"You really need to stay still until help gets here. You could have hurt your spine or something!" I was no doctor, but I had seen enough medical dramas to know that much.

The man's eyes seemed to glow with fury. He spoke to me through gritted teeth in a voice that made my blood run cold. "I've got way too much riding on this. I'll be damned if I let some annoying little leprechaun and his midget sister ruin this for me!"

"Wait… what?" What in heaven's name was this guy talking about? And where did he get off calling me names?

Ali's fear quickly melted into rage. "Who are you calling a midget? And you did not just insult my brother! Don't forget you ran in front of me!"

The sirens in the distance got closer and closer and with a painful grunt, the man rose to his feet and started down the road. "Hey! Hey, get back here! Ali, what should we…"

My pleas were cut off by a nondescript black car skidding to a stop beside me. The driver's side door blew open and Billy Crockett leapt out.

"Billy!" Ali screeched in delight and relief. "Thank God you're here! This guy jumped in front of my car and…"

Billy was out of breath and harried. "No time to talk kids! This guy's a big time dealer. I've been after this guy for weeks and now I've got him." In one smooth motion, Billy slammed the car door shut and withdrew his revolver. He took off running after the guy, who although hurt, had managed to limp into the distance. He must have heard Billy because he turned around and fired twice in our direction. I pulled Ali to the ground, covering her with my own body.

Now Ali was small, but she was quick and wiry. I saw a determined look come over her face. In a flash, she shoved me aside. I tried to pull her back but she managed to dodge. She dashed off, passing Billy and tackling the man to the ground.

"Ali, stop!" I cried scrambling to my feet, but Ali didn't hear.

"You think you can just shoot at my family, and mess up the paint job on my car? Think again, pal!"

"Alison Elena Castillo, just what the hell do you think you're doing, taking down an armed drug dealer?" Billy reprimanded and he took over to cuff the shocked, struggling suspect, but there was a hint of something in his voice… awe? Pride? Either way, I knew I was feeling pure awe. My whole life I had felt an intense need to protect my sister. But now? It was almost like she was the one protecting me. The way she ran after that guy, her fearlessness… could it be that she'd follow in my parent's footsteps?

Present Time

So many years, so many memories. My sister sure could drive me nuts as a kid. She was hard headed, independent and stubborn, and it all made her who she is today: fiercely strong and one hell of a cop. I wouldn't have it any other way.

The doorbell shook me out of my daydream. It was Friday night, and in just one week Roni and I would be at our wedding rehearsal, and finally we would be husband and wife. But for now, I was still at my parent's house opening the front door for Ryan Rivera.

"Hey Buddy! You ready to live it up?" He stepped in the entryway and closed the door behind himself.

"Ready as I'll every be." I grabbed my cereal bowl off the coffee table and brought it to the kitchen sink. Ryan eyed me critically.

"What's that?"

"This? Oh I was just having a little dinner before we go."

Ryan laughed. "Mig, that's not dinner, that looks like Lucky Charms."

"Yeah well, Roni doesn't let me eat that when I'm at home. She always buys some organic vegan high fiber stuff. Tastes like sawdust and it doesn't really agree with my stomach. Sometimes it makes me…"

Ryan made a face and put an arm around my shoulder and laughed. "TMI, buddy… too much information! Anyway, let's get a move on! There's much more to celebrating the end of your single years than eating a bowl full of marshmallows!" He handed me my coat and pushed me out the door.

"That's what Im afraid of," I grumbled under my breath.