Uncategorized – Page 2 – Another Day at the Point

Incredible Xmas Surprise!!!

It is three days before Christmas and I was feeling sad up until now. See a year ago, today, my dog ran away. He was a dumb-as-heck, goofy German Shepard. He would chase his own shadow and run after his own tail. Several times, he was even chased home by the local tom cat. I would talk to him & give him commands and he would just stare back at me with that dumb “lets-go-out-and-play” look. His ears half bent and that tongue just hanging there salivating. That funny look of innocence. I miss that look and I miss playing with him.

All he ever wanted was to play ball in the rubble piles that once stood as an old Brown-stone – proud of its heritage. He just wanted to fetch and have fun and just be with me. He was my dog smart or not.

But now I am happier then ever, because today he came back! A year later, to the day, he came back smarter than ever. Its almost as if he went off to boot camp to learn a few tricks! He came back fully trained and able to do tricks. Tricks like chasing after Frisbees and catching them in the air. He is now sure of himself and chased that tom cat up a light pole. Truly an amazing transformation! I would love that.

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Ships Passing in the Night

My whole world consists of three city block – which exists, like an island in a sea of chaos. My friends are all from the block, from our own territory. Once in a while we would encounter an island-hopping stranger from a different neighborhood. This was always a search for friends or foes. We would size each other up, walk circles and then just sail away, like ships passing in the dark of night, back to our own neighborhood.

This was the extent of our encounters. We dare not venture off outside of our territory. Once in a while, I would take a risk and venture to another part of town. Maybe it was to see what I was missing or just being adventurous, but it was usually for a valid reason. I would go to the novelty shop or to the public library. I would test the waters and if my parents find out, they would be very upset.

My parents are very strict. Dinner is served at six and we have to be at the table no matter what. Sunset on Fridays is the same – at the house, in the living room before the sun kisses the horizon. Are they strict because of the SDA religion; strict because they are just protecting us from the savagery of the gang-ridden streets; or because of their fears? Whatever the reason, they just do not want us to be outside.

Mother kept us busy. Inventing tasks, games & constantly giving us chores to do. Anything to keep us busy. It was specially tough during the summer months when there was no way to prevent us from hitting the streets. My mother was always worried about our safety – so much so that whenever school lets out she worried even more.

So now for winter break, she got my 13-year old brother a job in Manhattan. He loves to take things apart and then puts them back together again. He would boast that he would make the machines more efficient and that the parts leftover were… Um, just redundant. He was proud that he has eliminated excess. He got very proficient at solving problems, that he would work in the basement, fixing all my mother’s sewing machines.

What better way to keep him busy and give him a trade, while keeping him out of trouble. My mother asked for a favor from her boss down at the factory. He agreed to allow my brother to go to work with my mother. Today, two sewing machines broke down and the repair guy was not around. My brother jumps in, tinkers on the machines and actually fixed it – no spare parts!

My brother did such a good job fixing the machines, that the boss actually told my mother that he has a job on his days off from school. And he promised that for the summers a position would be open for him.

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Kung Fu Fighting

Black Belt karate Manny was my older sister’s first husband. He used to be a God-fearing man and what I thought a good man was supposed to be.

He was a member of the SDA church, son of church committee members and an active youth group leader.

He used to be so nice! He would serenade my sister with her favorite Elvis song.
(MP3)

See, he looked, sang and danced exactly like Elvis. He even had that Elvis-the-pelvis action that drove the girls crazy.

He would sing a lullaby…
(MP3)

so my two-year old sister would fall asleep. He was even super nice to my brother and I. Every Tuesday night he would take us to see a Karate movie. I saw ‘Fist of Fury’, ‘The Chinese Connection’ and even ‘Enter the Dragon’. He would tell the usher that I was his son, so they would let me in. Strange though, I don’t recall any interaction with him and my seven-year old sister – I wonder why.

He really cared for us and everything was great – or so we thought.

My sister would always complain about Manny being too agressive, but we never saw it. That is until the other day. He got into another fight with my sister, this time while everyone was home. My parents ran upstairs to see what the banging was all about. He would not open the door, so my father charged into their apt and saw him holding my sister by a choke hold, with her neck high up against the wall. My father attacked him and they fought together – all the way down the stairs.

At the base of the stairs, the whole family was on top of him. My brother pounding at his back; my mother beating him with the broomstick over his head; me biting his ankles; and my two younger sisters screaming franticly. We all got him good – no one dares lay a hand on my sister!

Suddenly all he could do is to try to get away. He punched my dad, pushed my mother and brother away and kicked me across the hall into the wall. I lost conscienceness for a few seconds because when I came to, everybody was gathered over me – including him. I was gasping for air and could not breath.

You could see the rage bulging from his soft, blue eyes. All of a sudden a frown of sorrow struck his forehead when he realized what he had done. He stands up and bolts out the door into the dark of the night. That was the last time I saw him.

But it was also the first time that I realized that we are one as a family. No matter what the murky waters of the Bronx would throw our way, one thing was crystal clear – No one would stand between us. Our family is one.

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