Son of El Racho

Ever since my father was lost in a storm. It seemed like a growing black cloud just loomed over my head. Whether I was walking to school and tripped over tied shoe laces, breaking glass cups by seemingly walking by, or the most recent time I put my mother in the hospital with a broken back because I used the sidewalk to get home.

What a life these last couple of years have been. Sunday is my 14th birthday and I just feel like this is going to be the year my luck changes! I mean, they did say that bad luck only lasts seven years and it’s been six years and 362 days since my dad’s disappearance.

It’s not every year your birthday is on a Sunday - so I’m really excited about that part, but I can’t show it because I don’t want anything to go wrong. I asked mom if I could stay in my room the whole day until it was time for my cake at dinner ...but she said “No, just be careful and you’ll be fine and alive”. We are having my birthday party this weekend so my classmates can get a break from all this schoolwork and end of the year test. It’s going to be the most fun we’ve had all year ! My best friends Izzy and Dana are going to be there with me. They are my true friends - and the only ones who haven’t shunned me for my bad luck.

Every year for the past 6 years I’ve always asked for the same thing: first, for my dad to come back, and second - NO MORE BAD JUJU! This year I got my eyes set on something new, a date with the hottest girl in school Onna Fentree. So today, I’m making it a priority to say my affirmations before I head to school.

“Javay time for the bus!!!” mom yelled to me. I grabbed my things and raced to the door, avoiding every crack on the ground and anything I could stub a toe on. Just as I reached the door of the bus, the mail man yelled “Javay, I got a package for you but I can’t tell who it’s from.”

Too concerned with my birthday I throw the package in my bag as I get on the bus. 10 minutes into the bus ride, something dawned on me to open the package. In a frenzy I ripped the box open only for a little black book to fall out and a solid gold Key card to follow. “I wonder who sent me this” I thought to myself. As I try to open the book suddenly the bus comes to a screeching stop. Standing, I look around to see what’s going on and low and behold we got a flat tire from a pothole… that just happened to be on the side of the bus I was sitting on. Oh crap, I thought to myself, I’m still under this black cloud! I sit back down and stare at the notebook as we wait for the repair man to come fix the tire I feel like I caused.

“Whatcha got there bro” Izzy said to me, excited to see what it could be. “I’m not sure, the mail man dropped it off before I got on the bus” I replied. At that moment, I opened the book and on the first page there's a note, and it starts with “My son”. Could this really be from my dad?! After all these years could he still be alive and on the way to home for my birthday? The note reads “My son, I wish I was there to give you this little black book in person, but due to unforeseen circumstances I am unable to. As you approach your birthday know that I love you and our family and it’s up to you to be the man of the house now. I believe in you Javay. As you become a man, allow this black book to be the first step in that direction.” Just like that, I folded the letter up, and Izzy and I got off the bus to meet Dana and start the school day.

I head straight to Ms Helen’s class. Ms Helen teaches 9th grade History, first period. My nickname for her is “early morning hell and boat shoes” because she only ever wore boat shoes and she had ZERO emotions (other than anger)! She was quite the dictator in the classroom. “Students! Pop quiz over next week’s material, are you ready?” She exclaimed. This shouldn’t be that hard right ? I mean it’s only 9th grade history. Click, clack , click , clack as Ms. Helen walked down the isle slowly passing out test. Finally my turn, as she stands next to me and plops the test on my desk. “Do you have a pencil Javay?” She asked, “yes I do, it’s right here” responding as I pull out a duck taped , super glued mess of a mechanical pencil, the whole class laughs. As we take our test one by one my classmates finish and take their test to Ms Helens desk. As I bubble in my last bubble I slap my pencil down with a proud smile on my face ready to complete this test and get back to my birthday goals of asking out Onna Fentree. I wiggle away from my desk and hop out the chair I make my first step towards the front and of course with my luck something was bound to happen.

While on the way to turn in my test I slip on the only piece of book bag strap hanging into the walkway. RING RING RING! Class over that’s the bell. Scurrying through the hall to my locker before anything else could go wrong. In my run I pass Dana when she yells “Javay watch out! They just waxed the floor.” As soon as I hear Dana’s words I slip , rip my pants and slide all the way to where ? Yep you guessed it, slid all the way to Onna’s locker. Trying to collect myself as she wraps up her time in the hall, I just can’t muster up the courage to invite her to my birthday party. Especially as my date while having my pants split and a back shiny from floor wax. There has to be another way, I am determined.

As third period ends it’s time to head to lunch. Izzy and Dana are at our usual spot and now it’s time for me to join them. Bummed over my missed chance with Onna, Izzy reminds me to open the book and see what my dad had to say. “Oh yea!” I belted and quickly went into my bag to get the little black book. As I opened it, a feeling came over me. Something eerie like the book knew exactly who I was. What could this feeling be? I turn the to the first page and all I see is the word confidence. It’s as if the page had 1000 words on it like it was yelling at me. Izzy with a confused look “why does it only say confidence” , “cuz that’s what he’s lacking. Clearly his dad knew” replied Dana . He better get some in the next 20 seconds cause here comes Onna.

Frozen in my seat “Deep breath punk ass!” Says izzy. “Hey, you’re the ripped pants guy, super funny — bad luck but funny, stay wavy kid” Onna said in her soft toned voice. “Hey , I’m having a” *SPLASH!* as I’m interrupted by a cold milk carton landing on my freshly wax coated back. Onna runs off, leaving me with half a question in my mouth, looming food fight and the most confusing birthday gift I’ve ever received. I decided that it was time to go home this day HAD to be over. Izzy and I skip the rest of the school day and decided to get a jump start on the weekend.

“Wake up punk ass it’s party day!” Izzy shouted over my still sleeping body. Why did he have so much energy on my birthday, this guy is nuts. “Hey, Onna is downstairs in your kitchen!” Izzy said. My eyes shot open as I leaped out of bed in one hop and down the stairs in two, tripping over a mountain of Legos and stuffed animals. As you probably guessed, I landed face first at the bottom of the staircase… and to my surprise, the whole thing was a joke. All I hear is laughter from Izzy at the top of the staircase , “You’re a dead man!” I yelled as I ran back up the stairs booty cheeks in the wind. He ran and closed the door as I slipped one more time on a stuffed dolphin. Is this really how I wanted my party day to start?

“Izzy! Stop playing let’s get ready to go!” Izzy and I were going to ride our bikes out to the park early this morning to invite the last of our friends to the party and maybe one more shot at inviting Onna. “Shoot bro I’m already showered, I’m waiting on you" Izzy said out the side of his mouth. Ready to go, we gear our bikes up. “Hey don’t forget your book” mom said from the window. “Oh yea” as I hurry inside to grab the book. Before I put the book in my bag I decided to open it this time the word said “wit.” Wit? What does wit mean? How did the word change? Is this book magical? What’s happening! I run outside to show Izzy. Izzy look! Look! The word changed! It says wit now! What does wit mean! By this time Dana is here and ready to ride with us to the park. “Why are you freaking out? All it means is like smarts. A quick thinker, something you are not haha” Dana said in a sarcastic voice. Let’s go! And use your wits to avoid anymore bad luck today.

We ride to the park downtown by the stadium. “Bro” Izzy Taps my side “look, over there look she’s right there, go talk to her.” “Okay okay I’m going, confidence! Wit! yes I can do this” as I walk up to Onna nervously. “Onna, hey! Can I ask you something?” I said.

“Heyyyy wavy pants kid” she replied.

“Haaaa it’s Javay,.. I... I... so i was wondering if you were free tonight, if you would want to come to my birthday party” I said, while stumbling through my words.

“Hmm I think I could make it, we’ll see” she says as she played with my heart strings! With utmost confidence I swag walked towards Dana and Izzy. Only to take one foot off the side of the skate ramp falling into the bowl. Ahh! I yelled and everyone laughed - as usual. After Climbing out of the ramp it’s was left for me to go to one more place before returning home before the party. Izzy, Dana and I head to the store to pick up some chocolate covered donuts. As we ride home, donuts in hand we pull into the driveway and get off our bikes and race to the front door. “Loser to the door gotta drink water all night” as I’m in first place to the doorbell. Just as I reach the front step I slide on a loose tile and land on the donut box smushing the last two. Upon walkin inside my little sister yells “Javay pooped himself!” Of course Everyone laughed. “Oh Javay couldn’t wait to use the bathroom huh?” Izzy comes in behind me and yells. Dana just laughs and pushes Izzy aside. Going to get changed, I dropped the donuts on the counter and ran upstairs - still excited because Onna could possibly make it.

Ready to mingle and dressed like “The” man, it’s party time . Izzy assured me it’s a full house and they are just waiting on the birthday boy to make an appearance. Music bumping and a crowd in the background I just know it was a movie downstairs. I pre cleaned the steps, bubble wrapped anything you can stub a toe on and made sure there were no chocolate stains on my butt! I am ready to move in and party with the people. I cruise down the steps like Johnny Bravo and slide into the floor like the slickest version of Shaft himself. “What up bro, thanks for coming” , “Hey how you doing, good looking tonight” . At least I thought everything was going smooth. Shortly after I made my rounds, I took a step onto the patio only to walk into the one person in which I wanted to see. “Javay! Happy birthday” she said. “It’s not till tomorrow, the party’s just today” i said “but thank you for coming, you having fun?”

“yea more fun now that I get to see the birthday boy. I didn’t know if you were even at your own party” Onna replied

“I’m here, had to let the party sizzle first” - “sizzle?” I thought to myself “be witty”

Taking one step toward the love of my life and the next step into a pile of dog poop. Causing me to slip and tear my clothes in a tumble into the bushes. I am truly the most unlucky guy in the world. ‘There you two love birds are’ Izzy comes stumbling onto the patio. ‘It's getting kind of loud in here, i think your mom may want to shut us down soon, you better get this under control’

Moving a high school party from level five to level one is not an easy task.

With a simple change of genres the crowd dwindled to a petite ten people. Leaving me open to ending the crazy night with the only thing that matters, a kiss from Onna Fentree. ‘Onna! Glad I could catch you before you left with everyone else.” “you looked great tonight, i have a quick question” “are your legs tired cause you've been running through my mind all day.” I said with a smirk leaning against the wall channeling my inner smooth criminal. “Haha! I’m not going to kiss you at your birthday party, that’s so cliche. Got to be smoother than that” Onna says while giving a smirk in return. She was right, it’s screamed another teen movie vibe. Only thing it was missing was a stereotypical fight between lead character and the supporting role. “Let’s clean this up and send these ducks home! I’m ready to go to bed” Izzy said as he fake cleans the mess that ended up being my birthday party.

As Saturday closes and Sunday creeps in. I decided to check the book again maybe I’ll get a sign as to why this magical book was sent to me. Just as I suspected a new day, a new word. This time the word is respect. What a random pick, by this time I wasn’t too shocked at the magic book , I’m just looking for answers now. Why did my dad send this to me? Where did it come from? Then it dawned on me; This little black book is magical it knows and talks to me. Maybe just maybe I can talk to it. “Black book, where did you come from, where is my dad?” I murmured to the black leather cover. Opening the book to reveal its first sentence “patience is a virtue” the page read. It sent chills down my spine, I knew deep down why it was telling me to wait. I could feel it. My dad has to be alive, I mean why else would he send me such a gift. “Am I going to be unlucky forever?” I asked the book “luck is a myth, with the tools of a leader you create your own luck” the page read. I hurry and shut the book as if I didn’t want to release the magic into the world. Does this mean my luck would be over soon? I turn to get out of bed knocking the book to the floor when an old dirty sheet of paper falls out of back. “What’s that? , why didn’t I see that earlier” as I pick up the paper. Examining it closer, I can see the writing is done by hand this time. Who wrote this? What did it say? I thought to myself. It read “My son, if you’re reading this I may not be with you but I am not gone. I have hidden 20 thousand dollars in town for you when you come and find me. I will explain my disappearance when we meet again. For now take this map and these instructions, till we meet again my son.”