Legacy
Devonny Grajeda
Pacho and Manny couldn’t bear to keep walking up the steep hill facing the steaming sun. Looking forward, Pacho could see the illusion of water while he was walking up the hill, all he could hear was ringing of the heat in his ears. They were both exhausted from the errand Ma asked them to run but, Manny decided to lighten up the mood.
“I can’t wait to eat some homemade tortillas Pachito.”
“Of course, we all know my mom makes the best in town.”
Pacho and Manny finally arrived at Pacho’s secluded house. The horses were out back being maintained by the workers, while Pacho’s siblings were in the front relay racing one another. The two boys then entered the house and were greeted by Pacho’s mom, Esperanza.
“Pachito y Manny, sit at the table please, I need to talk to the two of you.” Esperanza said this in a strict tense, so the boys did as she said.
“Pachito remember what your father said about our family business and how it’s dangerous.”
“Ma—before they took dad, he told me everything. everything.” Pacho said this was a heavy heart as his eyes began to create a small ocean of sadness.
“Well, mijo I know this is not easy knowing that your family are drug dealers, but in this life we can’t pick and choose. We’re a minority in life, we always have been. We’ve always received the short end of the stick. So, when your father and I saw an opportunity to make life better for our family, we did. No matter the consequences, para la familia.”
“No te preocupes Ma, I understand. I only seek to make amends for dad. His own people snitched on him, and they got him killed.”
“Of course. For now, we focus on starting your legacy left by papa.”
“I agree, Manny and I are going to make our family name known, lo prometo.” Pacho said this with pure confidence looking at Ma then Manny.
Manny then heard the silence being disrupted by tires beating against the uneven dirt roads lined with massive rocks.
“Pachito! Pachito! Do you hear that? Is anyone supposed to be coming over today? I thought you said your mom didn’t invite anyone.” Manny said this worriedly.
“She didn’t.” Manny’s face then turned pale.
“I’ll go get the kids.” Manny then ran outside getting Pacho’s siblings inside to Esperanza. Esperanza knew the bastards would come, but not so soon. Esperanza was scared herself, but for her children she hid her distinctive fear.
“Is everyone safe Ma?” Pacho said worriedly. “Yes mijo, they’re all inside. I’m sorry this is the path we chose for you guys.” Esperanza said this with tears in her eyes, she felt she failed her children.
“No digas eso Ma, I understand. La vida es una perra,” Ma smiled because Pa use to always say that “now go Ma, I’ll take care of this.” Esperanza then gave Pacho a kiss on the cheek, just like those nights she’d kiss him to bed when he was a child. She was gone like snow on a sunny day. Now it was up to Pacho and Manny to defend the family legacy. Pacho and Manny could then hear the rustling of the trucks. The men were yelling and whistling almost as if they were hyenas laughing. Manny, nervously looking for the emergency case of guns Pacho’s dad had hidden in the house for occasions like these. Neither Pacho nor Manny could find them, but they continued looking frantically. Pacho then realized that all the guns were inside the safe room where everyone was hidden.
“They’re not here Manny.” Pacho said this knowing they were going to die. Yet, this didn’t scare Pacho, the thing that scared him was his family was going to be defenseless. His eight-year-old sister Jasmine, Alejandro his nine-year-old brother, and Esperanza; he failed them.
“What do you mean they’re not here?”
With a heavy heart Pacho told Manny, “They’re in the room with the others..”
“What are we going to do n-” A loud bang went off outside causing Pacho and Manny to abruptly find a hiding spot inside. Pacho was hiding right behind the kitchen island, and Manny across the room in the dining hall. They both stared at each other knowing they’re supposed to defend the house, but now, vulnerable. An angry man then busts down the door angrily asking for Pacho. Pacho contemplated whether or not he should say something. He then sees someone is about to end his best friends’ young life, in which Manny mouths the words “Para la familia hermano.” Pacho couldn’t resist, he then rises and yells “I’m right here!” The angry man jerks him throws him on his knees cussing him out. The man points his gun to Pacho’s head and asks him for any last words.
With tears in his eyes Pacho knew this was inevitable, he knew this life was a dangerous life, one that cannot be won. He wasn’t mad, he only wished he had a chance to fulfill the legacy his father left. Pacho with no stuttering looks the man in the eyes and says, “Para la familia.”
“I can’t wait to eat some homemade tortillas Pachito.”
“Of course, we all know my mom makes the best in town.”
Pacho and Manny finally arrived at Pacho’s secluded house. The horses were out back being maintained by the workers, while Pacho’s siblings were in the front relay racing one another. The two boys then entered the house and were greeted by Pacho’s mom, Esperanza.
“Pachito y Manny, sit at the table please, I need to talk to the two of you.” Esperanza said this in a strict tense, so the boys did as she said.
“Pachito remember what your father said about our family business and how it’s dangerous.”
“Ma—before they took dad, he told me everything. everything.” Pacho said this was a heavy heart as his eyes began to create a small ocean of sadness.
“Well, mijo I know this is not easy knowing that your family are drug dealers, but in this life we can’t pick and choose. We’re a minority in life, we always have been. We’ve always received the short end of the stick. So, when your father and I saw an opportunity to make life better for our family, we did. No matter the consequences, para la familia.”
“No te preocupes Ma, I understand. I only seek to make amends for dad. His own people snitched on him, and they got him killed.”
“Of course. For now, we focus on starting your legacy left by papa.”
“I agree, Manny and I are going to make our family name known, lo prometo.” Pacho said this with pure confidence looking at Ma then Manny.
Manny then heard the silence being disrupted by tires beating against the uneven dirt roads lined with massive rocks.
“Pachito! Pachito! Do you hear that? Is anyone supposed to be coming over today? I thought you said your mom didn’t invite anyone.” Manny said this worriedly.
“She didn’t.” Manny’s face then turned pale.
“I’ll go get the kids.” Manny then ran outside getting Pacho’s siblings inside to Esperanza. Esperanza knew the bastards would come, but not so soon. Esperanza was scared herself, but for her children she hid her distinctive fear.
“Is everyone safe Ma?” Pacho said worriedly. “Yes mijo, they’re all inside. I’m sorry this is the path we chose for you guys.” Esperanza said this with tears in her eyes, she felt she failed her children.
“No digas eso Ma, I understand. La vida es una perra,” Ma smiled because Pa use to always say that “now go Ma, I’ll take care of this.” Esperanza then gave Pacho a kiss on the cheek, just like those nights she’d kiss him to bed when he was a child. She was gone like snow on a sunny day. Now it was up to Pacho and Manny to defend the family legacy. Pacho and Manny could then hear the rustling of the trucks. The men were yelling and whistling almost as if they were hyenas laughing. Manny, nervously looking for the emergency case of guns Pacho’s dad had hidden in the house for occasions like these. Neither Pacho nor Manny could find them, but they continued looking frantically. Pacho then realized that all the guns were inside the safe room where everyone was hidden.
“They’re not here Manny.” Pacho said this knowing they were going to die. Yet, this didn’t scare Pacho, the thing that scared him was his family was going to be defenseless. His eight-year-old sister Jasmine, Alejandro his nine-year-old brother, and Esperanza; he failed them.
“What do you mean they’re not here?”
With a heavy heart Pacho told Manny, “They’re in the room with the others..”
“What are we going to do n-” A loud bang went off outside causing Pacho and Manny to abruptly find a hiding spot inside. Pacho was hiding right behind the kitchen island, and Manny across the room in the dining hall. They both stared at each other knowing they’re supposed to defend the house, but now, vulnerable. An angry man then busts down the door angrily asking for Pacho. Pacho contemplated whether or not he should say something. He then sees someone is about to end his best friends’ young life, in which Manny mouths the words “Para la familia hermano.” Pacho couldn’t resist, he then rises and yells “I’m right here!” The angry man jerks him throws him on his knees cussing him out. The man points his gun to Pacho’s head and asks him for any last words.
With tears in his eyes Pacho knew this was inevitable, he knew this life was a dangerous life, one that cannot be won. He wasn’t mad, he only wished he had a chance to fulfill the legacy his father left. Pacho with no stuttering looks the man in the eyes and says, “Para la familia.”
- I'm currently a senior at NMMI and I plan on coming back for the fall semester of 2020. I plan to major in business. I hope to achieve the qualities of a successful leader here at NMMI and in the real world.