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"I'm not fuckin' with you Mama told me to wake you so you won't be late for school "

Senior year I should be proud I'll be the first fah school But after graduation, real life will start College is just a dream Senior year for me is like a retirement party for a sixty-five-year-old You know you can do more, but everyone expects you to quit

"I'm all dressed in h the pillow "The nenas won't be able to resist this Latino stud "

"Good for you," I mumble

"Mama said I should pour this pitcher of water on you if you don't get up "

Was privacy too much to ask for? I take my pillow and chuck it across the room It's a direct hit The water splashes all over him

"Culero!" he screaot "

A fit of laughter is coh the bedroo like a frickin' hyena That is, until Luis juer brothers punch and kick each other

They're good fighters, I think proudly as I watch them duke it out But as the oldest rab the collar of Garlos's shirt but trip on Luis's leg and land on the floor with them

Before I can regainquickly, I catch mi'ama

dousing us all, a bucket poised in her fist above us while she's wearing her work uniforrocery store a couple blocks from our house It doesn't pay a whole heck of a lot, but we don't need much

"Get up," she orders, her fiery attitude out in full force

"Shit, Ma," Carlos says, standing

Mi'aers in the icy water, and flicks the liquid in Carlos's face

Luis laughs and before he knows it, he gets flicked ater as well Will they ever learn?

"Any more attitude, Luis?" she asks

"No, ht as a soldier

"You have any more filthy words to come out of that boca of yours, Carlos?" She dips her hand in the water as a warning

"No, ma'am," echoes soldier number two

"And what about you, Alejandro?" Her eyes narrow into slits as she focuses on me

"What? I was tryin' to break it up," I say innocently, giving her my you-can't-resist-me smile

She flicks water in et dressed, all of you, and come eat breakfast before school "

So much for my you-can't-resist-me smile "You know you love us," I call after her as she leaves our room

After a quick shower, I walk back to ht of Luis with one of htens I yank it off him "Don't ever touch this, Luis "

"Why not?" he asks, his deep brown eyes all innocent

To Luis, it's a bandanna To me, it's a symbol of what is and will never be How the hell am I supposed to explain it to an eleven-year-old kid? He knohat I am It's no secret the bandanna has the Latino Blood colors on it Payback and revenge got me in and now there's no way out But I'll die before I let one of et sucked in

I ball the bandanna in my fist "Luis, don't touch my shit Especially my Blood stuff "

"I like red and black "

That's the last thing I need to hear "If I ever catch you wearin' it again, you'll be sportin' black and blue," I tell him "Got it, little brother?"

He shrugs "Yeah I got it "

As he leaves the rooet it I stop rab a black T-shirt from my dresser and pull on worn, faded jeans When I tiefrom the kitchen

"Alejandro, coets cold De prisa, hurry up "

"I'm comin'," I call back I'll never understand why food is such an important part of her life

My brothers are already busy chowing down on their breakfast when I enter the kitchen I open the refrigerator and scan its contents

"Sit down "

"Ma, I'll just grab--"

"You'll grab nothing, Alejandro Sit We're a fa to eat like one "

I sigh, close the refrigerator door, and sit beside Carlos Soes Mi'a plate of huevos and tortillas in front of me

"Why can't you call me Alex?" I ask, my head dohile I stare at the food in front of me

"If I wanted to call you Alex, I wouldn't have bothered to naiven name?"

My er alive, leaving nated man of the house Alejandro, Alejandro Jr , Juniorit's all the same to me