Crossing Over by S.E. Campbell

Author:S.E. Campbell [Campbell, S.E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Owl Wise Publishing
Published: 2013-06-17T00:00:00+00:00

Ch

apter Nineteen

Papa, Mama, Jimena and Maritza sat in the hostel room, awaiting Julio. Papa and Mama were furious with her brother. She was frightened, because her brother would know who had told on him. No one else had been home at the time when he had left. She didn't want to lose Julio's love, but she didn't want him to keep hurting himself either. If he continued the way that he was, then he would ruin everything for himself and for them.

Half past seven her brother came in, smelling of sweet smoke and appearing dazed. The first words that came out of his mouth were "Mama, what for dinner? I'm hungry." A glazed look was in his eyes, clouds over a normally clear sky.

As Jimena frowned in confusion, Mama stood up and crossed the room, then slapped Julio so hard across his cheek that spit hit Jimena even though she was feet away. Both she and Julio gasped. Her cheek hurt, as if she had been hit too. She had never seen her Mama this angry before, even when Julio stole in Metlatonco. Tears of guilt and melancholy wound down her cheeks. She was scared—for herself and for Julio.

"You have hurt this entire family with your actions," Mama whispered as her eyes flashed. Usually she yelled, so this meant that she was beyond normal rage. "I cannot believe you would not only leave your sister with your duties and play all day, but that you also went out and did illegal activities with your friends. Do you know what would happen if you got caught?"

"Who told?" Julio glanced around dazed and confused, his hand still on his cheek. His eyes landed on Jimena, who flinched before looking away. "Jimena, what did you do?"

Julio crossed the room, shaking his finger angrily at her, a charging buffalo. Jimena knew Julio thought that it was siblings versus parents, and she had betrayed that pact. Cringing, she buried her face in her knees, terrified of what he was going to say to her. She was already worried she had caused a rift in their trust that could not be healed.

"Don't blame your sister." Papa grabbed Julio's trembling arm. "She is trying to protect you and this family, while you and your selfishness continues to destroy us everywhere you go. Think, son. Think. Why do you never bother to do that?"

"Don't," Julio said.

"No, you don't," Papa said. "You don't talk back to your parents."

"And as a parent you shouldn't have favorites, but you do Papa. You do."

Awkward silence filled the room. Jimena felt confusion wash over her, filling the cracks Julio had made in her heart. Jimena stood up, wanting to protect Papa, but from what she couldn't be certain of. All that she knew was that she felt sick inside.

"Ever since Jimena was born, she's all that you ever care about." Julio's fists clenched as he held them tight at his side. "It's Jimena this and Jimena that. You love her more than you ever loved me.

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