Rosario :
My name is Rosario Leavey, I'm the adopted mexican child of an Inuit family living in New York City but we have moved to Long Island. Our parents had passed away a month ago by a car accident, so now there's just my four brothers and I : Sitka, the oldest of us, our leader, Denahi, the second, we have the same birth date so that's why people call us twins, Kenai is the third one, our lover-boy ( he got the totem of "the bear of love", that's why his nickname) and the youngest one is Koda, the little hairball. Each one is two years older then the next one, except from Koda, who's seven years younger than Kenai. After our parents death, my brothers and I have moved to a house my parents had buy before the accident, it surprises us that a beautiful house had a very low cost, which awaked some suspects on me.
-We're in - Sitka sais getting out of the van
-Its beautiful - Kenai
-I'm glad summer has just begun- Denahi- when school starts I want my own...
-Oh come on please carnal - after all these years I haven't forgotten my spanish- summer just begin and you're already thinking about school? No manches pues.
-She's right Denahi - Kenai
-Shut up bump head
-Dog's breath
-Lover boy
-Toad face
-Baby bro
-Knock it off! - Sitka- I don't want fights on this day, today we start a new life.
-He's right boys, do it for mom and dad.
At these words every one gets a sad look on its face.
-Alright- Denahi- just for them I'm not gonna tase you today little brother.
-Thanks Denahi, and talking about little brothers where's Koda?
-I think that might answer your question- sais Sitka pointing at the front of the property.
Koda is playing with Saya, my dog ( for our sweet sixteen's, our parents had gave Denahi a new skateboard kit and I got a female tamaskan puppy. Those were the things we had ask them for months) who's two years old now. I call Koda who's followed by my dog, Koda approaches to Kenai an Saya sits by my side.
-So, what do you think little buddy? - Kenai
-Its beautiful- Koda- can I invite Bucky to spend the night here?
-Sure, but first we have to paint the house, do all the installations and so many stuff.
-Well then let's get started- Sitka, he takes the keys and opens the door.
Koda doesn't wait till the door is full open to run into the house, he's already so excited that he starts to run all around the house. We get our mouths open when get inside: at the right side of the door was the living room with four beautiful windows, behind was the kitchen. There was just a part of a wall that separated the kitchen from the living room, then it was the dining room at the left of the kitchen, there was no wall between them, just a margen. Both, kitchen and dining room had two rectangular windows that let see the woods behind the house. A small wall separated the kitchen from the hall, in front of it there was a stair that leaded to the rooms. Upstairs, there was a hall that had a pentagram window at the end and seven doors: four at the left and three at the right, five were our rooms as the other two were the bathroom and a studio. The first three rooms at the left are taken by Sitka, Kenai and Koda while Denahi and I take the other two in front. Suddenly Saya starts to bark down stairs, when we see her she's barking at a door in front of the stairs. The door is on the wall separating the kitchen from the hall.
- What's wrong with her?- Denahi
- I think she smells something- I answer
- I'll take a look- Koda
- No! - sais Sitka with a several tone on his voice, but when he sees Koda's look he modified his tone by one more soft- I'll do it Koda.
When our parents died, Sitka blamed himself thinking he could have save them. Since then he became a little overprotective with us.
- Chayo hold Saya and get behind me
-"No seas mamón" - I thought- Alright officer
Sitka takes the handle, turns it and opens the door who shows what it seems to be a basement. It's too dark downstairs, so Denahi gives Sitka a pocket flashlight he always has on his keys.
-I'll be right back
-Sitka- Koda - be careful down there
He smiles at the little boy before enter to the dark room, but he gets stopped by Saya that's holding Sitka by the jeans with her teeth, she doesn't want to let go.
-Saya let me go
-Saya suelta- I said as I make her release Sitka- Maybe she should go with you
-Okay, come on girl
But she gets back as he tries to take her, she doesn't want to go down there.
- What's wrong with her? - Kenai
- As I see she's scared, I'll go with you- I tell Sitka
Kenai takes Saya by the collar and calms her down as she sees us desapear in the dark. Sitka has the flashlight, so follow him into the dark, but when I get to the big room... he's gone
I start to call him by name : " Sitka? Sitka where are you?", then I feel something runs behind me, I turn back, nothing, until something touches my shoulder, I turn back again and... I see it
I jump back letting out a scream, just to realize that it was just my brother playing a stupid prank on me! He had put the flashlight down his chin, then he put his big hand on my shoulder letting out a roar.
-PENDEJO ME ASUSTASTE IDIOTA!- I yell at him as I slap his head, but he's drowning on his laughs to pay attention at the slap.
- I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist- he sais trying to recover his breath.
Even if I was mad at the beginning, I'm glad that even all we've been passing through Sitka keeps his sense of humor.
- I found something, come on- he sais on a more serious tone.
I follow him to a part of the basement were it was a kind of stone altar with a star painted on the floor and a candle on each point of the star.
-It seems that there was a kind of... sect before down here
-Sect of what? - Sitka
On that moment the temperature low drastically... and we are at the beginning of the summer.
-LOOK OUT! - sais my brother as he grabs me by the arms, he does a u-turn locking me with an arm and pressing my head against his chest with his other hand, creating a kind of human shield. The sound of a wardrobe falling behind him scares me, so I hug Sitka and then we both look at the big piece of furniture laying down our feet.
- You okay? - Sitka asks me with a worried and scared look.
I just nod with the head and then we get separated.
-Carnal let's get back, I don't like this place.
- Okay lets go.
Once we're upstairs the boys receive us with worried looks.
- What the hell was that noise?! - asks Kenai as I close the door.
-Let's just said that I saved Chayo from being smashed by a wardrobe.
-Yeah, thanks for that.
In response Sitka kisses my forehead
-Awww! This is so cute - Koda
-Are you both Okay? -Denahi
-Yes Denahi- Sitka- we're fine, but let's change the subject, shall we? It's 09:00 am, the house seems to be in perfect conditions, so we can spend the morning painting the walls so they'll be ready for tomorrow the moving truck arrives. What do you think?
- It sounds good to me- Kenai
-Same as him- Koda
-Va me rifo
-I'm in- Denahi
Even Saya barks in agreement
-Okay then- Sitka- let's get changed and started 'cause we've got a lot of work to do.
I ain't worried 'bout nothin'
I ain't wearin' na nada
I'm sittin' pretty, impatient, but I know you gotta
Put in them hours, I'mma make it harder
I'm sending pic after picture, I'mma get you fired
We get to the van were we have all the stuff to paint and some old clothes to work. Sitka and I have to put our hair into a bun, his is not long as mine but he could do the bun ,once I'm combed I put my work cap ( I'm not a very feminine person, I like to paint my nails but I'm more a tomboy girl since I was little. Also I'm not the tipical Mexican you imagine, I have white skin but my hair and eyes are dark brown)
I know you're always on that night shift
But I can't stand these nights alone
And I don't need no explanation
'Cause baby, you're the boss at home
We get different tasks: Koda starts to put some masking tape on the corners of the walls, sockets and also put newspapers on the floor. Sitka would work with Denahi and Kenai with me because those two couldn't pass five seconds without fighting or teasing each other.
You don't gotta go to work, work, work, work, work, work, work
But you gotta put in work, work, work, work, work, work, work
You don't gotta go to work, work, work, work, work, work, work
Let my body do the work, work, work, work, work, work, work, work
We can work from home, oh, oh, oh-oh
We can work from home, oh, oh, oh-oh
Kenai and I start to work on the hall and the living room wile Sitka an Denahi paint the kitchen and the living room. The wall on the left side of the wall has also two doors: the first one is a closet and the other a bathroom, once the dining room, the kitchen and the living room are done we take a little break.
Let's put it into motion
I'mma give you a promotion
I'll make it feel like a vacay, turn the bed into an ocean
We don't need nobody, I just need your body
Nothin' but sheets in between us, ain't no getting off early
I know you're always on the night shift
But I can't stand these nights alone
And I don't need no explanation
'Cause baby, you're the boss at home
-I finished upstairs- Koda- the rooms are ready to be painted.
-Excellent Koda!-Sitka, then he takes a look to his watch- Its noon already?! Time really flies, what do you think if we stop... ten minutes and then we continue upstairs?
All of us nod with the head, I get outside to take some water bottles from the van and I give them to my brothers.
I take another bottle and put the water on Saya's bowl, we have to be hydrated wile we work, this summer seems to be a hell!
You don't gotta go to work, work, work, work, work, work, work
But you gotta put in work, work, work, work, work, work, work
You don't gotta go to work, work, work, work, work, work, work
Let my body do the work, work, work, work, work, work, work, work
We can work from home, oh, oh, oh-oh
We can work from home, oh, oh, oh-oh
After our break Koda takes out of the van a can of red paint and get to his new room, we all do the same as him.
Sitka's favorite color was wine, Kenai chose green and Denahi and I picked up blue, just that our dial tones are different. The idea was that two walls would be painted in white and the other two in our chosen color.
Girl, go to work for me
Can you make it clap, no hands for me?
Take it to the ground, pick it up for me
Look back at it all on for me
Put in work like my timesheet
She ride it like a '63
I'mma buy her no Celine
Let her ride in a foreign with me
Oh, she the bae, I'm her boo
And she down to break the rules
Ride or die, she gon' go
I won't judge, she finesse
I pipe her, she take that
Putting overtime on your body
Once our rooms are done, Denahi and I start to paint the studio the same way the rooms. The color this time is grey, meanwhile the boys start to pick up all the stuff, wash the rollers and keeping the paint on the van.
You don't gotta go to work, work, work, work, work, work, work
But you gotta put in work, work, work, work, work, work, work
You don't gotta go to work, work, work, work, work, work, work
Let my body do the work, work, work, work, work, work, work, work
We can work from home, oh, oh, oh-oh
We can work from home, oh, oh, oh-oh
Yeah, we can work from home
Yeah, we can work from home
Yeah
Now it's 02:00 pm, dinner time! Kenai propose to eat burgers, everyone agreed, so, as a "good twin brother ", Denahi gives me a hundred dollars bill after all get changed. Kenai and I jump to my motorbike and I drive to a restaurant near the house. We command five cheese burgers with extra bacon and fries, we don't take sodas 'cause we already have back home.
We are about to leave when suddenly an old red headed man aproches to us.
-Excuse me
-Yes?- Kenai
-Are you the new family living on the house near the woods?
-That's us, Rosario Leavey and this is my brother Kenai- I answer stretching my hand with the man.
-Nice to meet you Rosario
-Oh you can call me Chayo
-Alright young lady, I'm Father Wallace from the Saint Josephine church.
-Oh yeah- Kenai- we have just past in front of it, it's a beautiful church.
-Yes but...how did you knew we just moved here?
-Small town and also I'm a friend of Tanana, your grandmother I suppose.
-Oh well that makes sense- Kenai
-She also told me that your oldest brother has been transferred here...Sinthia?
-Sitka- we answer trying to hold a laugh
-What's his job anyway to have to move here?
-Cop
-Oh I see- then his expression becomes more embarrassed- Tanana also told me about your parents. I'm very sorry for your lost.
-Thank you, that's why now we have to stay more together.
-I'll add a prayer for them and you Sunday at the mass. Are you catholic?
-Yes- Kenai- what time is the mass?
-09:00 am
-We'll be there then- I said
-Perfect, well, see you around and God gards you.
-Thank you, same for you- we said as we leave the place.
Before we get home we stop at a cabinet store and we buy with the change of our dinner some food for Saya and also a package of cookies for each one of us.
Once we're home I give Denahi his change wile Kenai delivers a burger, fries, a soda, and a package of cookies to each one. I put Saya's food on her bowl and give her some water, we start to eat on the grass and Kenai tells the boys about our meeting with father Wallace. Koda and Denahi start to laugh when Kenai mentions the part of Sitka's name confusion, but he just got an annoyed look.
-Talking about Nana- Denahi- She just called after you left to tell us she'll come tomorrow for dinner and she'll bring a friend.
-It means that you and Kenai will have to...-Sitka
-Carnalito don't worry 'cause I know a formula for these par de gallos de pelea
-What is it? Tell me - sais Sitka desperately
-For each fight they start they'll be your servers for a whole day.
-Don't think we'll do that- Kenai
-Yeah- Denahi- I'm not gonna be Sitka's slave
-Well you better not start a fight- Sitka- at least you want to carry me to my room each day.
-Que tengo cara de grúa?
Sitka understood perfectly Denahi's question (since I was adopted I've been teaching my family Spanish and some mexican expressions), so he just gets up, connect a hose and gives Denahi a cold shower. We start to laugh 'till he does the same thing with us.
-Ora si no te salvas- I get up and launch myself against Sitka who fell in the grass, then I take the hose and give him a cold shower. Pa que vea lo que se siente!
Sitka:
I'm coming home with my partner Daigo 'till something is transmitted by the radio: "13th unity needed on the Brooklyn bridge. There has been a car accident and people seems to be alive"
-Here 13th unity, we're on the way- I respond- Ready for this?
-Always
We get to the zone of the accident where I see a van turned, I think I recognize it... I just hope it isn't. I run to the van but don't pay attention to the number plate, I take a look to the driver sit, there's a man and a woman on the copilot side. I can't see their faces so I start to call them:
-Sir! Ma'am! Can you hear me? Are you okay?
Then I hear a voice that made my blood freeze:
-Sitka? Is that you?
That voice ...is from...Chayo. I turn my look to where the voice comes from and... I see with horror that my whole family is there.
-Chayo are you okay?
She nods with the head, I find out that her belt is stuck, so I take my switch blade and cut it off. I catch her before she falls and get her out of the van, I start to run to the ambulance, my sister in my arms. Once I put her safe I get back to rescue the rest of my family. Denahi is full awake now, but he's very scared.
-Denahi its me!
-Sitka? Sitka!
-Hold on, I'm gonna get you out of here, okay? Don't move
I do the same as Chayo with Denahi, he can walk but one of his legs has a peace of glass incrusted, so I put one of his arms on my shoulders and we start to run to the ambulance. Back to the van I see mom is awake, this time Daigo is with me.
-Sitka?
-Mom! Are you okay?!
-Yeah
-Is dad okay?
She the puts to fingers on dad's neck but...at the moment she denies with the head I fell I crumble, I can't breathe...
-Sitka!
The voice of Koda brings me back to reality:
-Koda? Koda!
-Sitka, Kenai doesn't move!
Daigo then puts two fingers on Kenai's neck
-He's alive, but unconscious
-Okay, mom I'll get you out of here
Suddenly we both see that a path of oil is coming to us, fear is eating me.
-No, Sitka, listen to me son, you have to get your brothers out of here now.
-I'm not gonna leave you and dad here!
-YES YOU WILL! If not we're all going to die.
I see once more the path of oil coming to us and then I look to my mother.
-GO! -She says
-I'll be back for you and dad. Daigo you help Koda, I'll free Kenai.
We both take our switch blades and get my brothers free, before I leave with Kenai mom talks to me:
-Sitka...I love you, I love all of you son!
-I love you too, I swear I'll be back- I say to her before I leave with Kenai unconscious in my arms. Daigo is carrying Koda until we get to the ambulance, I leave Kenai and go back for mom and dad, but then...it's too late.
I wake up sweating, screaming and panting, I take a look around me and I realize that I'm in the new van, and that I just waked up the guys. I quickly get out of the van, I start to run 'till I stop and kneel on the ground. I put my hands on the grass and then I feel tears running through my face. I start to sob, suddenly I feel a hand on my shoulder. When I see it, this one has the nails painted in dark blue, I hold it tight but not to harm it.
-You okay carnal?
I smile at her and nod with the head, even if it's not true.
-That nightmare again, verda?
I nod with the head, then she kneels by my side and hugs me.
-Stop blaming yourself Sitka, our parents death isn't your fault. What happened to them was awful, but it happened. It's a miracle we had survived, you included, I don't know what it had been of us if the explosion had killed you too.
I see her my face full of tears, then she kisses softly my cheek.
-Let's get back to sleep, okay?- I tell her, the we get back to the van.
-Sitka are you okay?- Koda
-Did you had that nightmare again?- Kenai
-Guys- Denahi- leave him alone and let's get back to sleep. Tomorrow we still have a lot of work to do.
-Denahi is right- I said - Thanks for being worried about me, but we have to rest for tomorrow.
Then we all said good night.