Life as a caged bird

Jovi is the middle child of six siblings. She has a sister and four brothers. In a family so large, getting attention is just about impossible unless you are the self-professed black sheep. Jovi’s father was belligerent, condescending, verbally and physically abusive, a tyrant. Growing up with a serial philanderer for a father left much to be desired. Dario, Jovi’s dad would beat his wife for her indiscretions, while he disappeared for days at a time, with no accountability. Working as a mechanic, money was always tight. For the slightest infractions, the children were beaten often. One day Dario received a phone call about one of his sons skipping school. Dario searched for his son throughout the town until he found him. Once he got ahold of his son, he beat him, shaved his head, and tied him by his ankles, and wrists to the matrimonial bed for all to see until his wife arrived from work. Trauma, humiliation, physical, verbal and mental abuse was the elixir of their childhood. He would grope his wife, Monica, for others to witness and she had no say. Monica was treated as property. Dario had countless indiscretions however one woman he never denied, Angela. Angela helped Dario financially and was his lover for countless years. Everyone knew of her and no one dared speak ill of her. Jovi was sexually active by the age of twelve. Never feeling pretty, smart, or worthy of anything. She was never the girl boys noticed or chased, so she offered boys the cookie instead. Jovi was insatiable, she would sleep with her little brother’s friends and think nothing of it. She kept a scorecard of how many men she was able to dominate. Jovi honed in on men who were in relationships and would flaunt them as though they belonged to her. The thing is sooner or later they always returned to their rightful owners. Jovi temporarily rocked the world of many men however no one ever managed to stick around long enough. When someone did stay, it was conditional, she had to withstand beatings. Whenever her lover grew angry or tired he would place her belongings in black garbage bags and return Jovi to her parent’s home. Once the dust settled, she would return to the same circumstances, everyone knew and no one intervened.

A New Start

Pedrito and his wife, Milagros along with their two young daughters migrated to Upper Manhattan, Washington Heights from La Republica Dominicana. Living in Washington Heights, required some adjusting. Surviving in a community where Spanish is the primary language and countless immigrants made the transition easier. Like the plight of many immigrants, they rented a room in someone’s apartment. Life in New York City was different although they were together and slowly making inroads. Until Pedrito was struck by a Transit bus, leaving him on the cusp of losing his life. Pedrito lost his teeth, partial eyesight and was bedridden for two years. Milagros patiently tended to Pedrito throughout the slow recovery. Once Pedrito made a full recovery and received millions in the settlement, he quietly packed his belongings and without a word returned to La Republica Dominicana. In D.R. he reinvented himself, started a new life with a new relationship and a new child, set up businesses, life was good. One day two men entered his home, held him at gunpoint, and killed him, there never was a forced entry. Pedrito’s lover was accused of masterminding everything and was incarcerated along with the assailants. The remaining money from the settlement was returned to the wife, in place of a new start

Melancolia de mi Vida

Santiago drinks in excess to numb himself, to forget the pain. Sometimes, while in a drunken stupor memories of his childhood abuse sober him up. He has long forgiven his mother, although the pain lingers. Disdain and lack of compassion were his reality. Santiago felt his mother hated him more than she could ever love him, and punishing him is how she felt alive. She was enamored with being the center of attention. She would conspire against family members and fabricate tales. As the family matriarch, she was revered. Her influence was such that everyone took her word as gospel. Any family member she could not control, she would influence others to turn against them and a witch hunt would ensue. Habitually, she manufactured faults within her daughters-in-law. Genova was in constant competition with wives, mistresses, and girlfriends. There was solely one mistress who she never dared utter a word. Raisa was a drug queen pin and everyone knew she was just as ruthless as she was cool. Raisa was the lover of Genova’s playboy son, Rafa. Rafa had a wife, four young sons, and a string of women, one prettier than the next. Raisa never bothered Rafa’s wife, she respected her, everyone else was fair game. Raisa would have Rafa followed, show up unannounced and find him in compromised situations. She would smack him and call him a come mielda. Rafa feared her, he was keenly aware Raisa carried a gun at all times.

Beautifully Flawed

Despite Pauly’s parents’ reservations about Xiomara, he asked for her hand in marriage. His parents wanted someone with similar values, someone like them. Upon becoming engaged Pauly and Xiomara decided to remain abstinent until their wedding nite. The engagement was an elaborate affair with a seven-course dinner. Given Pauly’s deeply rooted pious upbringing, they agreed on a catholic church, requiring a marriage preparation program. The focus of the program is developing a sacramental marriage that will last a lifetime. Thereafter, the wedding reception was held at a very coveted establishment with two hundred and fifty of their closest friends. While in Hawaii, on their honeymoon Xiomara discovered she was pregnant. Xiomara was certain the child wasn’t Pauly’s given they had not been intimate in months. Throughout the honeymoon, she feigned being sick as a means of not consummating the marriage. Upon returning from the honeymoon, Xiomara confided in her parents about the pregnancy. Xiomara’s mother Dona Elsa provided two options (1) terminate the pregnancy or (2) lie about who the father is. After much deliberation, Xiomara told Pauly the truth, and the marriage was annulled.