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Cleopatra

By Angelica Fernandez

Creative Writing Program ARHU298J Summer 2014

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Table of Contents

Page

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………3

POETRY

Untitled (Moon Prose).…………………………………………………………………………………5

Untitled (Moon Poem).…………………………………………………………………………………6

Making the Moon…………………………………………………………………………………………7

Untitled (Moon Haiku) …………………………………………………………………………..……8

How the Moon Was Formed Through An Explosion………………………………………..8

Big Sister, Little Sister………………………………………………………………………………….9

I Pray.………………………………………………………………………………………………………..11

I Hate That I Love You.……………………………………………………………………………….13

Hate………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…14

Mind If I Love You? Draft...…………………………………………………………………………15

Mind If I Love You? Revision...…………………………………………………………………….16

PROSE

Circular Story. ..………………………………………………………………………………………….18

Miscarriage. ..……………………………………………………………………....……………………20

Something Old Draft. ..………………………………………………………………………………22

Something Old Revised....……………………………………………………………………………23

The Birth. ..………………………………………………………………………..………………………24

Angelica...………………………….………………………………………………………………………25

Cement……………………………....…………………………………………………………………….26

Sweat………………………………....…………………………………………………………………….27

Literary Magazine……………………………………………………………………………………28

Creative Writing Program ARHU298J Summer 2014

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Introduction

I have always been a big fan of poetry. I think it all started with my aunt. She is a middle school teacher with a passion for books. It was a regular afternoon when she decided to tag me along to her trip to Borders since my cousin and I were usually always together practically attached by the hip. My aunt had decided to get some books for her class. It was there, in that Borders, that I found Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends. Each page shared a new poem and a new adventure. It was there, in that Borders, where I fell in love with poetry. So obviously, when my college advisor at my school told me of University of Maryland’s Creative Writing program, I was not hesitant at all to apply. Honestly, I came into this program thinking my poetry was spot on. However, I was extremely wrong! I learned new techniques and heard some amazing poetry. I was never really a story teller. Even when telling my younger sister bedtime stories, I had always seemed to mimic movies or stories I had already seen or read. The princess got with the prince. The wicked witch was hit by a bus. The bear got his honey. It was all the same thing. So when this program got into the prose section, I was horribly terrified. In the end, I learned… I am the worst at making up stories, but I am fantastic at writing about life experiences. So that’s what I did. I wrote about what I knew. The following pages not only dive into my own poetry and prose, but in the lines, share secrets and stories of my own life. Enjoy.

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Poetry

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Untitled

(Moon Prose)

Years ago, the Earth stood alone. Friendless, the Earth orbited and was secluded from the other planets. The Earth was the geeky kid with glasses who named his mole “Fred.” Until one day, the Earth saw a friend coming towards him. Distracted by his own excitement, Earth did not see his new friend racing towards him. The new friend took from the Earth all that the Earth had. The Earth stood broken. The Earth stood hurt. Each piece of the Earth scattered around not wanting to fully let go of itself. But eventually, the Earth had to learn a lesson we all must learn: Times will get hard, but you have to get up and put yourself back together. And in the process, some of the Earth got lost within itself, like we all do, and became an entire new creation. This creation was called the Moon. Yes, the Earth lost parts of it, but in that, also constructed a new friend. The Earth no longer stood alone.

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Untitled The mother was raped.

Ripping into the inner cores of her

very body. Aiming at her yet she had no warning.

Pieces of her lay scattered. Eventually, she learns: Times will get

hard, but you have to get up and put yourself back together. Don’t

trust the chameleons; Skin that lies with camouflage. Does she re-

collect the nightmares of seven fellow faces judging ever flaw she

has? The mother did not let her rape define her. She

wore her pregnant belly like the flag of Mount

Suribachi that cold February day.

Kicking from inside.

A creation made out of destruction.

The mother takes the 12 hour journey to birth

this baby. The baby that is 3,474 km in diameter.

The mother is content. The baby, in return, lights

the black nights. The mother was raped.

But in that rape, there was good.

There was the Moon.

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Making The Moon

The mother was raped.

Ripping into the inner cores of her

very body. Aiming at her but she had no warning.

Pieces of her lay scattered. Eventually, she learns: Times will get

hard, but you have to get up and put yourself back together. Don’t

trust the chameleons; Skin that deceives you camoflauge. Does she re-

collect the nightmares of seven fellow faces judging ever flaw she

has? The mother did not let her rape define her. She

wore her pregnant belly like the flag of Mount

Suribachi that cold February day.

Kicking from inside.

A creation made out of destruction.

The mother takes the 12 hour journey to birth

this baby. The baby that is 3,474 km in diameter.

The mother is content. The baby, in return, lights

the black nights. The mother was raped.

But in that rape, there was good.

There was the Moon.

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Untitled

The mother was raped

Inner core ripped to pieces

Baby smiled at her

How the Moon Was Born Through An Explosion

The mother was raped

Inner core torn to pieces

Baby smiled at her

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Red rubies pour out of the open cuts. “Mommy! Mommy! Come save me!” Slapped back to reality by the backs of four fingers Teardrops playing leapfrog with my nose and my lips “Don’t you dare call out her name,” he says. His words pierce my skin Who needs a nose ring when he can supply you with all kinds of piercing names Words of witches that bring stitches to someone who enriches her community. Bringing smiles across the isles of crowds in the stand playing with razors and scissors hoping someone delivers the one thing that will bring her satisfaction: Home And if you must be so concerned show me that you have earned the right to call me baby or maybe save me from the broken house of lies my head lost in the skies trying to escape the reality preventing insanity while her mother lay in the grave of silence saving her from the monstrous giants as i spend my days slaying praying my own sister won't be in the same situation hoping she lives in a different nation where her intelligence gets her into harvard instead of daddy paying in dollars i pray she may be the way she wants not afraid to get laid upon the bed of early wed may she blossom be creatively awesome And never be told no never have a hand laid on her a man to touch her

Big Sister, Little Sister By Angelica Fernandez

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i pray that her laughter creates volumes that someone someone values the way her smile refuses to break may she make something of her life be a mother or a wife but never settle for anything less than what she deserves may she work for what she earns and i promise to be the role model in which she can look upon me and be proud to call me big sister and see i am with no mister and still able to support myself i pray she learns no man needs to hold her never whistle at her or ask her what’s up i pray she never says yes to liquor or drugs just because some smugs in her high school class say it’s okay to try a different way

to have fun i hope before i see an ultrasound i see her travel around I hope i see a diploma before someone calls her mama and i pray i pray she never loses herself to someone who isn’t worth it someone who doesn’t deserve it i pray she becomes a woman when she needs to not when she is forced to i pray she finds love and harmony without any brutality upon her sweet silk skin may she call me at midnight ask me for a flight out to come see me because i will always say yes to any mess she creates i will always be here my dear, i will always pray for a better day for her.

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Red rubies pour out of my open cuts. “Mommy! Mommy! Come save me!” Slapped back to reality by the backs of four fingers Teardrops playing leapfrog with my nose and my lips “Don’t you dare call out her name,” he says. His words pierce my skin Words of witches That brings stitches To someone who enriches Her community. Bringing smiles across the isles Of crowds in the stand Playing with razors and scissors Hoping someone delivers The one thing that will bring me satisfaction: A place to call home. And if you must be so concerned Show me that you have earned The right to call me baby Or maybe save me From the broken home of lies My head lost in the skies Trying to escape the reality Preventing insanity While my mother lay in the grave of silence Saving her from the monstrous giants As I spend my days slaying Praying My own sister won't be in the same situation Hoping she lives in a different nation Where her intelligence gets her into Harvard Instead of a daddy paying in dollars I pray She may Be the way She wants. Not afraid To get laid Upon the bed Or early wed. May she blossom Be creatively awesome And never be told no. Never have a hand laid on her Or a man who touches her.

I Pray By Angelica Fernandez (Originally titled Big Sister, Little Sister)

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I pray That her laughter creates volumes That someone values The way her smile refuses to break. May she make Something of her life. Be a mother or a wife. But never settle for anything less than what she deserves . May she work for what she earns. And I promise to be the role model in which she Can look upon me And be Proud to call me big sister And see I am with no mister And still able to support myself. I pray She learns no man needs to hold her Never whistle at her Or ask her what’s up. I pray she never says yes To liquor or drugs Just because some of the smugs In her high school class say it’s okay To try a different way To have fun. I hope before I see an ultrasound I see her travel around. I hope I see a diploma Before someone calls her mama. And I pray, I pray She never loses herself to someone who isn’t worth it, Someone who doesn’t deserve it. I pray She becomes a woman when she needs to Not when she is forced to. I pray She finds love and harmony Without any brutality Upon her sweet silk skin.

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__________________________

I Hate That I Love You

By Angelica Fernandez

I dislike the way you always need me.

I hate the way you laugh, I truly do.

You drive me crazy, can't you even see?

You talk about things I hate: I hate you.

From your big feet to your tamed hair.

Everything about you drives me insane.

You don't change whether in the sun or rain.

But my eyes are blinded to what I see.

I can never be yours nor you be mine.

I hate to let you go; let you be free.

But I have to let you go; let you shine.

Love for you will last whether near or far

I will always love you for who you are.

__________________________

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__________________________

Hate

By Angelica Fernandez

(Originally titled “I Hate That I Love You”)

I dislike the way you always need me

You drive me crazy, can't you even see?

I hate the way you laugh, I do

You talk about things that I hate,

Well, I hate you and I don’t care.

From your big feet to your untamed hair

Everything about you drives me insane

You don't change whether in the sun or rain

But my eyes are blinded to what I see

I hate to let you go; let you be free

I can never be yours nor you can be mine

But I have to let you go; let you shine

Love for you will last whether near or far

I will always love you for who you are.

__________________________

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Mind If I Love You? Every day,

You make me want you more. It has nothing to do with the physical,

But that feeling you give me. You make me want to love you,

I already love you, It’s literally building up.

It's growing. I just don't want say

"I love you" yet Because

It’ll suck if one day you wake up And don't want anything to do with me, Or you change your mind on everything. I'm not avoiding those words with you,

Of course not because like I said, I do already love you.

It's starting. And I love it because you understand And listen to me and that's all I want,

Just someone to listen and not judge me. But do I want that day to come where I can say

"I love you"? Yes.

I want to look at you straight in the eye And say it, repeatedly until you tell me to shut up already

But just like everybody else, Including yourself,

It’ll suck getting your hopes up high For someone to change their mind.

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Mind If I Love You? 2:19 P.M.

“Every day, You make me want you more.

It has nothing to do with the physical, But that feeling you give me.”

Message seen at 2:25 P.M.

2:35 P.M. “You make me want to love you,

I already love you. It’s literally building up.

It's growing. I just don't want say

"I love you" yet Because

It’ll suck if one day you wake up And don't want anything to do with me,

Or you change your mind on everything.” Message seen 3:49 P.M.

6:22 P.M.

“I'm not avoiding those words with you, Of course not because like I said,

I do already love you. It's starting.”

Message seen 8:56 P.M.

10:13 P.M. “And I love it because you understand And listen to me and that's all I want,

Just someone to listen and not judge me. But do I want that day to come where I can say

‘I love you’? Yes.

I want to look at you straight in the eye And say it, repeatedly until you tell me to shut up already

But just like everybody else, Including yourself,

It’ll suck getting your hopes up high For someone to change their mind,”

*Send*

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Pros

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Circular Story The scream echoed throughout the stairwell. “Someone help me!” Gemini sat with her legs spread. Blood puddled

around her. Her tears fell and dyed the ruby red puddle to hints of pink where the tears fell. She has one hand between her legs, sticky by the dry blood. The other hand lay on her bump. How could this happen after 4 months? “Somebody! Please! Help me!” Her voice echoes. But nobody could hear because outside joggers and children were too preoccupied with the beautiful summer day.

Passing the mothers with strollers and playgrounds, Ruby always yearned for a child. However, Ruby was infertile. Ruby was incapable of doing the only job she knew women were supposed to do. Ruby was jogging through Humboldt Park playing her favorite song called “Small Bump” by Ed Sheeran. The song is about Sheeran's 'close friend' and laments her with a late miscarriage at four months. Ruby, like many others, did not know that.

Ruby jogged all the way home to her apartment on Armitage Avenue. “Kim! Are you home?” Ruby grabbed the mail from the front table while shutting the door with her foot.

“Yeah, I am cooking!” Kim says from the kitchen. Ruby walks into the kitchen and kisses Kim’s cheek.

“Honey, can we talk?” Ruby sits on the bar stool. “Always.” “I want to…” “What’s up, baby?” “I want to look into having a… I want to look into having a surrogate… for

a child.” “Child?” “Yes, Kimmy.” “Baby, we have only been married two years.” “So you are not ready? Fine. Forget it.” Ruby locks herself in their

bedroom. She grabs her phone. She dials the ten digit number. *Ringing.* Hello. This is the Family Formation Law Office. For questions concerning

child care, please dial 1. For a lawyer, please dial 2. For questions about becoming a surrogate, dial 3. For questions about a surrogate, dial 4…

She presses 4. Please leave a message at the tone. *Beep.* “Hi, this is Ruby Johansson. I am interested in hiring… or getting a

surrogate. My wife and I are interested in having a child. However, my wife is very busy and nervous about the whole situation so I will be handling the entire event.”

Weeks later, Ruby met candidates for her surrogate mother. Alone. Three ladies were way too old. One had way too many piercings. And one was too tall. Suddenly, a woman with knee high brown leather boots with a blue velvet dress. This new lady walks up to Ruby.

“Hi, my name is Gemini. Pleasure. Now, let’s get started. Shall we?”

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Ruby already loved her confidence and sense of style... After asking many questions, Ruby was not sitting with a candidate but a new friend. The papers were signed in dark black ink. The process was finalized and the process began. After Ruby decided on the sperm donor, Gemini was impregnated.

Gemini was a very cautious pregnant woman. She ate and drank plenty of vitamins. She would exercise enough so that she would not hurt herself. She was very careful. Until the day she had to serve a court hearing for a ticket she had gotten months ago. She parked near the courthouse and went inside. After numerous hours listening to the judge give his sentencing, Gemini was confident she would not have to pay a dime.

“You are sentenced to give $5,000 for the emotional and physical damage of the Juarez family.” Gemini looks at the family of four. One of the little kids had a scar from the car crash. Upset, Gemini went to get a coffee. On her way back to get car, she saw a homeless person begging for change. She looked through her wallet and found no change. She apologized to the man and kept walking. This man glared at Gemini...

Gemini walked towards the elevators to find a sign that read: OUT OF ORDER

Gemini was even angrier. When she got to 6th flight of stairs, she was panting. Suddenly sweat ran down her legs, but it was not sweat. Gemini decided to sit down when she began to feel contractions. Where would she go? Who would help her? Who could help her? She began to scream.

The scream echoed throughout the stairwell. “Someone help me!” Gemini sat with her legs spread. Blood puddled

around her. Her tears fell and dyed the ruby red puddle to hints of pink where the tears fell. She has one hand between her legs, sticky by the dry blood. The other hand lay on her bump. How could this happen after 4 months? “Somebody! Please! Help me!” Her voice echoes. But nobody could hear because outside joggers and children were too preoccupied with the beautiful summer day. As the screams grew louder, so did the laughter.

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Miscarriage The scream echoed up the stairwell. “Someone help me!” Gemini sat with her legs spread. Blood puddled

around her. Her tears fell and dyed the ruby red puddle to hints of pink where the tears fell. She has one hand between her legs, sticky by the dry blood. The other hand lay on her belly bump. How could this happen after 4 months? “Somebody! Please! Help me!” Her voice echoes. But nobody could hear because outside joggers and children were too preoccupied with the beautiful summer day.

Passing the mothers with strollers and playgrounds, Ruby always yearned for a child. However, Ruby was infertile. Ruby was incapable of doing the only job she knew women were supposed to do. Ruby was jogging through Humboldt Park playing her favorite song called “Small Bump” by Ed Sheeran. The song is about Sheeran's 'close friend' and laments her with a late miscarriage at four months. Ruby, like many others, did not know that.

Ruby jogged all the way home to her apartment on Armitage Avenue. “Kim! Are you home?” Ruby grabbed the mail from the front table while shutting the door with her foot.

“Yeah, I am cooking!” Kim says from the kitchen. Ruby walks into the kitchen and kisses Kim’s cheek.

“Honey, can we talk?” Ruby sits on the bar stool. “Sure.” “I want to…” “What’s up, baby?” “I want to look into having a… I want to look into having a surrogate… for

a child.” “Child?” “Yes, Kimmy.” “Baby, we have only been married two years.” “So you are not ready? Fine. Forget it.” Ruby locks herself in their

bedroom. She grabs her phone. She dials the ten digit number. *Ringing.* Hello. This is the Family Formation Law Office. For questions concerning

child care, please dial 1. For a lawyer, please dial 2. For questions about becoming a surrogate, dial 3. For questions about a surrogate, dial 4…

She presses 4. Please leave a message at the tone. *Beep.* “Hi, this is Ruby Johansson. I am interested in hiring… or getting a

surrogate. My wife and I are interested in having a child. I will be handling everything.”

Weeks later, Ruby met candidates for her surrogate mother. Alone. Three ladies were way too old. One had way too many piercings. And one was too tall. Suddenly, a woman with knee high brown leather boots with a blue velvet dress. This new lady walks up to Ruby.

“Hi, my name is Gemini. Pleasure. Now, let’s get started. Shall we?” Ruby already loved her confidence and sense of style. After asking many

questions, Ruby was not sitting with a candidate but a new friend. The papers

! 21!

were signed in dark black ink. The process was finalized and the process began. After Ruby decided on the sperm donor, Gemini was impregnated.

She ate and drank plenty of vitamins. She would exercise enough so that she would not hurt herself. She was very careful. Until the day she had to serve a court hearing for a ticket she had gotten months ago. She parked near the courthouse and went inside. After numerous hours listening to the judge give his sentencing, Gemini was confident she would not have to pay a dime.

“You are sentenced to give $5,000 for the emotional and physical damage of the Juarez family.” She looks at the family of four. One of the little kids had a scar from the car crash. Upset, she went to get a coffee. On her way back to get car, she saw a homeless person begging for change. She looked through her wallet and found no change. She apologized to the man and kept walking. This man glared at Gemini...

Gemini walked towards the elevators to find a sign that read: OUT OF ORDER

Gemini was even angrier. When she got to 6th flight of stairs, she was panting. Suddenly sweat ran down her legs, but it was not sweat. She decided to sit down when she began to feel contractions. Where would she go? Who would help her? Who could help her? She began to scream.

The scream echoed throughout the stairwell. “Someone help me!” Gemini sat with her legs spread. Blood puddled

around her. Her tears fell and dyed the ruby red puddle to hints of pink where the tears fell. She has one hand between her legs, sticky by the dry blood. The other hand lay on her bump. How could this happen after 4 months? “Somebody! Please! Help me!” Her voice echoes up the stairwell. But nobody could hear because outside joggers and children were too preoccupied with the beautiful summer day. As the screams grew louder, so did the laughter.

! 22!

Something Old

Olivia pressed against Callie’s ears trying to prevent her from hearing the bottles breaking and their own mother being tossed around like a ragdoll. “Fuck off, Christopher! Get the fuck out of my house or I’m calling the police,” my mother finally said.

She came into the bathroom unaware of her daughters’ presence. Mumbling under her breath, their mother wiped aware the blood. As the blood smeared across their mother’s face like a blank wet canvas, the skin revealed bruised dark blue and black and open cuts the size of a fist. Olivia made sure her hand fully covered Callie’s eyes. However, Callie began to get all squirmy when she noticed the bathroom lights were on. “Girls,” their mother began. Olivia letting go of Callie slowly. She repeats, “Girls, I want you to take this as a life lesson. Prince Charming will walk you down the aisle. He will present you with the greatest things a wife could ask for: two beautiful daughters. He will sweep you off your feet. But all while carrying his dagger behind his, easily waiting a day for you to turn around and stab you.” As Olivia dived into the words her mother was saying, she did not realize that her mother was popping pill after pill right in front of her own eyes.

The door slammed shut. That night was the last time their daddy laid hands on their mommy. Nobody laid their hands on their mommy again except the EMT guys who tried to save her life.

Callie’s veil was a little tilted when Olivia came in. “You look stunning, baby girl,” Olivia began. “You look like my little princess.” Olivia began to fix the crooked veil.

“Olivia?” Callie questioned. “Yes?” “Do you think,” Callie began. Olivia already knew the question. She always

knew this day would come when Olivia would have to substitute in as her father. “Yes, I will take you down the aisle.” “Thank you,” Callie said tearing up. “No, honey. This is my honor,” Olivia said dabbing away the tears trying

not to wipe away her make up. After the ceremony, the reception took place in their foster mother’s home.

The party began. Callie’s husband held her like a princess. Olivia was in the kitchen washing some dishes when the doorbell rand. Olivia screamed she would get it. Unlocking the door and throwing the door wide open, Olivia opened the door to her own father. Still shaky from the binge the previous night, he began to speak. “My little girl turned into a gorgeous youn---” Olivia slammed the door before he could finish.

“Who was that?” Callie asked. “Nothing,” Olivia said. “Just something old.”

! 23!

Something Old

Olivia pressed her hands against Callie’s ears trying to prevent her from hearing the bottles breaking and their own mother being tossed around like a ragdoll. The wall between the kitchen and bathroom is the only way to protect the them from the fight. “Fuck off, Christopher! Get the fuck out of my house or I’m calling the police,” their mother finally said.

She came into the bathroom unaware of her daughters’ presence. Mumbling under her breath, their mother wiped aware the blood. As the blood smeared across their mother’s face like a blank wet canvas, the skin revealed bruised dark blue and black and open cuts the size of a fist. Olivia made sure her hand fully covered Callie’s eyes. However, Callie began to get all squirmy when she noticed the bathroom lights were on.

“Girls,” their mother began. Olivia letting go of Callie slowly and cautiously. She repeats, “Girls, I want you to take this as a life lesson. Prince Charming will walk you down the aisle. He will present you with the greatest things a wife could ask for: two beautiful daughters. He will sweep you off your feet. But all while carrying his dagger behind his, easily waiting a day for you to turn around and stab you.”

As Olivia dived into the words her mother was saying, she did not realize that her mother was popping pill after pill right in front of her own eyes. The door slammed shut. That night was the last time their daddy laid hands on their mommy. Nobody laid their hands on their mommy again except the EMT guys who tried to save her life.

15 years later, Callie’s veil was a little tilted when Olivia came in. “You look stunning, baby girl,” Olivia began. “You look like my little princess.” Olivia began to fix the crooked veil.

“Olivia?” Callie questioned. “Yes?” “Do you think,” Callie began. Olivia already knew the question. She always

knew this day would come when Olivia would have to substitute in as her father. “Yes, I will take you down the aisle.” “Thank you,” Callie said tearing up. “No, honey. This is my honor,” Olivia said dabbing away the tears trying

not to wipe away her blue eye shadow. After the ceremony, the reception took place in their foster mother’s home.

The party was in full swing. Callie’s husband held her like a princess. Olivia was in the kitchen washing some dishes when the doorbell rand. Olivia screamed she would get it. Unlocking the door and throwing the door wide open, Olivia opened the door to her own father. Still shaky from the binge the previous night, he began to speak. “My little girl turned into a gorgeous youn-” Olivia slammed the door before he could finish.

“Who was that?” Callie asked. “Nothing,” Olivia said. “Just something old.”

! 24!

The Birth Dad

I could no longer feel my fingertips. Sweat beats off my tanned skin. Did I remember to lock the car doors? I have a week to finish that project with Tom. My left leg is shaking to the sound of my pulse. When I see her head begin to emerge, my body is drained and I feel pale. That’s my baby girl. I am going to do it different this time. I am going to be around for her, more than I was for Angel. I will stay. I will stay for her first day of school. I will stay for her 8th Suddenly, a flash and the room turns dark and a sharp pain in the back of my head. I go down to the sound of the machine panicking. Save my baby girl. Save Christi—the room goes dark. Mom

“Get this thing out of me!” I scream. Doctors and nurses run in and out of the room. It feels like I’m taking a big sh--. Finally, the doctor gives me my epidural. Suddenly, I begin to feel loopy. When the time came, I pushed. And pushed. And pushed some more. When I finally heard the snip of the umbilical cord, the blood in my body seemed to have drained out of me. The machines began panicking and the doctors and nurses mimicked the machines. As Agustin went down, the doctors rushed him out and started working on me. The whole scene went black as the doctor said, “She is losing too much blood.”

! 25!

Angelica

I can no longer feel my fingertips. Sweat beats off my tanned skin. Did I remember to lock the car doors? I have a week to finish that project with Tom. My left leg is shaking to my pulse. When I see her head begin to emerge, my body is drained and I feel pale. That’s my baby girl. I am going to do it different this time. I am going to be around for her, more than I was for Angel. I will stay. I will stay for her first day of school. I will stay for her 8th Suddenly, a flash and the room turns dark and a sharp pain in the back of my head. I go down to the sound of the machine panicking. Save my baby girl. Save Christina—the room goes dark.

“Get this the fuck out of me!” I scream. Doctors and nurses run in and out of the room. It feels like I’m taking a big sh--. Finally, the doctor gives me my epidural. Suddenly, I begin to feel loopy. When the time came, I pushed. And pushed. And pushed some more. I would love to meet Oprah. Suddenly, I feel sleepy. The machines began panicking and the doctors and nurses mimicked the machines. My eyes are getting heavy. As Agustin went down, the doctors rushed him out and started working on me. The whole scene went black as the doctor said, “She is losing too much blood.”

! 26!

Cement Tom mixes the limestone and other materials into his 2 gallon white plastic bucket to make cement.

“Tomas, are you almost done mixing?” Tom’s partner, Agustin, said. “Yeah, Agui.” Tom carried the bucket of wet fresh cement to Agustin being careful not to spill any off the scaffold. The project they both were working on was a little brick laying and some tuck pointing. The building had bright red bricks with white brick trimming. There are two dragon gargoyles on each corner of the building facing both left and right of the corner. Laying each brick, the process almost seemed like the kid’s game Jenga, but instead of taking the structure apart, they were trying to put it together. Brick after brick, sweat ran drown Tom’s polish tanned skin. His green eyes squinted in the beating sun. The white bandana he wore over his semi bald scalp with little strands of gray hair collected the jugs of sweat he produced. He read the clock.

2: 17 PM “One more hour,” Tom says hopefully. Agustin smiles his crooked teeth and fixes the red bandana he is wearing over his sleek black hair. Agustin stops and dabs his hand towel on his dark tanned Mexican skin with marks all over from childhood injuries that became adulthood scars. Suddenly, the scaffold lift begins to shake. So distracted with work, Tomas and Agustin did not realize how bad the weather had gotten. The lift begins to sway back and forth as the wind pulls it away. Suddenly, a cord snaps and then another. Agustin grabs onto the nearest bar or the scaffold lift while Tomas old-aged body is swung and his harnest is the only thing that keeps him from falling. He now dangles from the edge of the lift. Fearing for his life, he grabs onto the only rope keeping him from being splattered down 60 feet to the hard pavement. “Grab my hand,” Agustin says making an attempt to step closer to Tomas without letting go of the bar. However, his body is not long enough. People below finally notice the whole incident. “911, what’s your emergency?” “Two men are hanging from a lift on the side of the Grey House building.” “911, what’s your emergency?” “I think these guys are about to fall off a lift.” “Which guys?” “I don’t know. Construction guys or guys cleaning the windows. I don’t know they were up on the side of the building.” Sweat runs down Tomas’s arms and legs and across his forehead. Tomas prays he does not die today. Suddenly, Tomas realizes that the sweat that ran down his leg was not actually sweat but yellow liquid in reaction to the life threatening situation. Tom had peed on himself in front of hundreds of people.

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Sweat Tom mixes the limestone and other materials into his 2 gallon white plastic bucket to make cement.

“Tomas, are you almost done mixing?” Tom’s partner, Agustin, said. “Yeah, Agui.” Tom carried the bucket of wet fresh cement to Agustin being careful not to spill any off the scaffold. The project they both were working on was a little brick laying and some tuck pointing. The building had bright red bricks with white brick trimming. There are two dragon gargoyles on each corner of the building facing both left and right of the corner. Laying each brick, the process almost seemed like the kid’s game Jenga, but instead of taking the structure apart, they were trying to put it together. Brick after brick, sweat ran drown Tom’s polish tanned skin. His green eyes squinted in the beating sun. The white bandana he wore over his semi bald scalp with little strands of gray hair collected the jugs of sweat he produced. He read the clock.

2: 17 PM “One more hour,” Tom says hopefully. Agustin smiles his crooked teeth and fixes the red bandana he is wearing over his sleek black hair. Agustin stops and dabs his hand towel on his dark tanned Mexican skin with marks all over from childhood injuries that became adulthood scars. Suddenly, the scaffold lift begins to shake. So distracted with work, Tomas and Agustin did not realize how bad the weather had gotten. The lift begins to sway back and forth as the wind pulls it away. Suddenly, a cord snaps and then another. Agustin grabs onto the nearest bar or the scaffold lift while Tomas old-aged body is swung and his harnest is the only thing that keeps him from falling. He now dangles from the edge of the lift. Fearing for his life, he grabs onto the only rope keeping him from being splattered down 60 feet to the hard pavement. “Grab my hand,” Agustin says making an attempt to step closer to Tomas without letting go of the bar. However, his body is not long enough. People below finally notice the whole incident. “911, what’s your emergency?” “Two men are hanging from a lift on the side of the Grey House building.” “911, what’s your emergency?” “I think these guys are about to fall off a lift.” “Which guys?” “I don’t know. Construction guys or guys cleaning the windows. I don’t know they were up on the side of the building. 213 N. S Street.” Sweat runs down Tomas’s arms and legs and across his forehead. Tomas prays he does not die today. Suddenly, Tomas realizes that the sweat that ran down his leg was not actually sweat but yellow liquid in reaction to the life threatening situation. Tom had peed on himself in front of hundreds of people.

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LITERARY MAGAZINE

Creative Writing Program ARHU298J Summer 2014