w.i.p.

Biologically rejected, a second chance at a loving acceptance is marred by the resentful bashings of my so called "new " father...

We were to say the least poverty stricken, a  deplorable one bedroom suite furnished by rat droppings and cockroaches is what the six of us called home..the buttery yellow street lights helped to illuminate our habitat when we were forced to play Amish and couldnt pay the bills. Days without hot water, nights without heat...under our circumstances these were luxurious amenities that we could not afford to synchronize..

It is "NOT" all good in the hood...

Learning to be a man was stifled by the anger and frustration of a woman who has been discontent and had enough. Years of arguments, beatings and just getting by has lost all of it's charm, the last image of the man who raised me for 11 years is sad yet comical in it's own way. I see him racing down the steps only to be taken out by my mothers good aim and a near by telephone...no more kneeling on uncooked rice for an hour or two, no more extension cord or hot wheels race track whippings, punishment as well as the road to becoming a man will now have a feminine touch to it...

Four months later I find myself in the back of a squad car being slapped around, as the cop pulls her away I realize that my mothers tears are not of anger or sadness but of shame..a shame that will have to give way to our survival....being my first offense the armed robbery charges are dropped...

My criminal and sexual virginity have both been confiscated by sinful urban exposure this summer...

Moving forward two years......

Reviews

[midsummer]

Juan,

There is a lot of pain in this piece, but it's not maudlin or overblown. The power of the line "Learning to be a man was stifled by the anger and frustration of a woman..." brought my eyes to a standstill. I had to read it several times. And then I had to reference it here.

I look forward to reading more of your work.

Sincerely,
Midsummer

[Jacqueline Lopez]

Juan, I want to be your friend. You have an incredible talent. I have one question for you? Where can I get your book? Talking about being gifted, one of your sentences describes a whole scenerio.

[PhantomDancer]

Excellent writing. Confronting some very real issues in a powerful way.

[Seracies]

Wow. Beautiful and descriptive imagery, I felt more like I was watching what you were saying instead of reading it. You took me through the events and emotions with a brutal sense of truth that only added to the story.

[justjenn_2u]

I feel like this is a story of strength. Strength because you are brave enough to take a mental journey back through years of agony and share this. I appreciate this strength. Your trial and tribuation has made you a stronger man.

You did a very good job on using expressive language here. Your choice of adjectives is very good.

I am more overpowered by the topic than anything. You will go far in life because you face the demon (as I sometimes write about) HEAD ON! Congrats!

[Nansi London]

A power stricken piece you have here. As I've always said, and as you've just proven; Life creates the stories that makes people cringe, but curious to hear. To fear it is to have lived it. To tell it, is to have lived through it and survive. I happy to know that you survived, however it could just be bittersweet for you, but try to focus and hold onto the sweet parts...even if its just one. I appreciated this write, simply because you had that will to write it. Continue to write, because its definitely a resounding strong point in your life.

London