by Doris Miller
The Diaz-Davidson Youth athletes including Mike and Mitch are playing basketball on the basketball court. The staff members approach them. Stephanie then shouts, “Okay it‘s time to go guys, let’s go!” Mike, Mitch and the rest of the boys turn and look towards Stephanie. Mike, Mitch and some of the boys turn back forward and continue to play basketball. “It‘s time to go guys!” Stephanie shouts. “Travis it’s time to go!” Travis and some of the other boys pack up their belongings as Mike, Mitch and several other boys continue to play basketball. The staff members turn to them as Stephanie shouts, “Come on you guys, you have to go!”
“I’m not ready to leave yet!” Mike shouts.
“Mary and them are ready to have the meeting right now,” Monique says. “They‘re waiting on you guys!”
“We’re not ready to leave yet! We have to finish our game!” Mike, Mitch and a few other boys continue to play basketball as they run and dribble the ball towards the basket. Mitch throws the ball towards the basket. Howard one of the staff members goes and tries to catch the ball, causing Mitch to miss the shot.
“What the hell are you doing man!” Mitch shouts. “Move out of the way!”
“Look!” Crystal shouts. “Mary sent us out here to come and get you all!”
“Well we’re not finished yet!” Mike shouts. “Just get lost!”
“No we‘re not going anywhere until you all go inside!” Howard shouts.
“Get lost man!” Mike, Mitch and a few other boys continue to play basketball as they run and dribble the ball towards the basket. Mike throws the ball towards the basket. Howard goes and tries to catch the ball again, causing Mike to miss the shot. Mike becomes angry. He takes the basketball and throws the basketball right at Howard’s face!
“Aaaaaahhh!” Howard screams as he holds his face in pain and falls to the ground! Stephanie, Crystal, Valerie, Monique and Evette become shocked! Security guards rush over! They and Stephanie go to grab Mike as Mitch takes the basketball and throws the basketball right at the security guard hitting the security guard’s face.
“Aaaaaahh!” the security guard screams as the ball ricochets and hits Stephanie‘s face!
“Aaaaaahh!” Stephanie screams. The security guard and Stephanie fall to the ground in pain.
Other security guards come and grab Mike and Mitch trying to pull Mike’s and Mitch’s arms behind their backs shouting, “What the hell are you two doing?”
“Get the fuck off me!” Mitch shouts as he tries to break away.
“Get the hell off me!” Mike shouts as he tries to break away. A crowd hysterically gathers around! More security come and grab Mike and Mitch and subdue them! They take Mike and Mitch away. Other security and the crowd hysterically gather around Howard, the security guard and Stephanie as Howard and the security guard lay motionless on the ground. Stephanie slowly starts to sit up holding her face and head in pain. Some people in the crowd bend to Stephanie trying to help her. Other people in the crowd bend to Howard and the security guard. A little blood starts to come out of Howard’s head. The crowd gets more hysterical!
Police cars and ambulance race down the street.
In the organization hallway, Evette runs towards Mary as Mary and the entire organization are hysterically running towards the exit door! Evette then shouts, “Mary, you all already heard about what happened, right?”
“Yeah Evette!” Mary says as she and the entire organization continue to run towards the exit door.
Howard and the security guard continue to lay motionless on the basket ball court as the Organization and a large crowd hysterically continues to surrounds them and Stephanie! Mary, Margarita, Barry, Marilyn, Nicolas, Mickey and Tomas bend to Howard, the security guard and Stephanie as they all start to fuss with each other!
The organization staff members are waiting in the lobby of the police station. Mary, Marilyn, Margarita, Barry and Tomas come out from the back room as the staff members approach them. “Here we go again,” Tomas says. “I mean, how many times have we been to police stations because of Mike and Mitch?!”
“I know,” Barry says. “How many times have the ambulance come around to pick up an injured person because of Mike and Mitch?!”
“We know,” Crystal says. “So what’s happening with them now?”
“They tried to claim self defense again!” Margarita says.
“No kidding!” says Evette. “Are they saying that they felt threatened by Howard? Because that‘s a lot of bull!”
“That’s right!” Monique says. “All Howard did was try to take the basketball away from them so they could leave the basket ball court like you wanted Mary.”
“Well Mike and Mitch did try to claim self defense again, but the police didn’t buy it this time,” Mary says.
“They didn’t?” Phyllis says. “So what’s going to happen to them now?”
“Yeah?” Evette asks. “Are the police going to release them back into the lovely, wonderful custody of their parents and grandparents again, so their parents and grandparents can fly them back to Puerto Rico or Germany to stay with relatives again?!”
“No Mike and Mitch are not going to go back to Puerto Rico or Germany this time Evette,” Margarita says.
“They’re not?” Evette says. “Well I am shocked!”
“Why aren’t they going to go back to Puerto Rico or Germany this time?” Phyllis says.
“Because the police released them into the custody of us!” Mary says.
“What!” the staff members say.
“Yes you heard Mary right!” Barry says. “The police released Mike and Mitch into our custody!”
“You’re kidding!” Evette says.
“No we’re not kidding Evette!” Tomas says. “The police are not releasing Mike and Mitch into the custody of their parents and grandparents this time.”
“What!” the staff members.
“I can‘t believe this!” Evette says. “The police are not releasing Mike and Mitch into the custody of their parents and grandparents?! Well where are their parents and grandparents now?!”
“They’re here,” Barry says. “They’re in the back. Their parents, grandparents, the rest of their family and relatives and their lawyers are all back there with them now.”
“They are?”
“Yes.”
“We all have to go to court with this custody thing,” Tomas says.
“You do?” Evette asks.
“Yeah.”
“Wow,” the staff members say.
“How do their family feel about this custody thing?” Phyllis asks.
“Their family didn’t seem to feel too upset about this,” Barry says.
“They didn’t?”
“No, but their family’s lawyers and the police told them, either Mike and Mitch be put away in juvenile detention for a while or they have to be released into our custody.”
“And their family certainly didn’t want to choose juvenile detention for them,” Margarita says.
“Yeah so instead of Mike and Mitch having the luxury of flying back to Puerto Rico or Germany to stay with relatives this time,” Mary says, “they will have to move in with us.”
“What!” the staff members says.
“Mike and Mitch are going to move in with you all?!” Crystal asks.
“That’s right,” Mary says.
“Mary, do you think it’s safe to have those two identical monsters live with you and your family?!” Evette says.
“That‘s right,” Monique says. “How are you and your family going to sleep at night? Oh Mary I know Devin and Maria used to have you all baby-sit for Mike and Mitch when Mike and Mitch were wild toddlers, but Mike and Mitch are older now.”
“That’s right Mary,” Crystal says. “Mike and Mitch are not wild toddlers anymore, they’re wild pre-teens, and right now they’re much worse! Y’all gonna have to sleep with one eye open!”
“Oh Mary we’ll be so worried
about you all!” Evette says. “Let Mike and Mitch have the luxury of flying back to Puerto Rico or Germany to stay with their parents’ relatives again! We rather have them do that, than have them live with you all!”
“Oh it’s so nice of you all to be so concerned about our family,” Mary says, “it really is, but Mike and Mitch will have the luxury of going to counseling, having anger management classes and doing voluntary community services.”
“Going to counseling, having anger management classes and doing voluntary community service?” Crystal asks.
“That‘s right, like mopping all the floors at the organization.”
“Mopping all the floors at the organization? Mary you don’t plan on putting Mike and Mitch to work are you?”
“Of course I am! Is there any reason why I shouldn’t?!”
“Because their family might not like it,” Evette says.
“Yeah,” Crystal says. “What if their family put pressure on you to go easy on them just like their family put pressure on those victims’ families to drop the charges against them?!”
“And they might do the same thing to Howard’s, Stephanie’s and the security guard’s families,” Phyllis says, “put pressure on them to drop the charges against Mike and Mitch!”
“Well it’s either juvenile detention for Mike and Mitch or with me and my family,” Mary says.
“And Mike and Mitch’s family and their lawyers already took their pick,” Marilyn says.
“That’s right,” Margarita says. “They made a decision and chose our family and that‘s the decision they‘re going to have to live with, no ifs, ands or buts.”
“That’s right,” Mary says. “Those two boys are going to get counseling for anger management and be put to work.” Mary turns to Margarita and Marilyn and says, “and by the way, the banquet room floors need cleaning.”
“And the windows need washing,” Marilyn says.
“They sure do,” Margarita says. “Mike and Mitch are just in time to clean the whole floor and clean the windows then take out all the trash first thing Saturday morning.”
“Well I guess we all better head back to the room,” Tomas says.
“After that,” Barry says, “we have to go to the hospital to check on Howard, Stephanie and the security guard.”
“Then after that,” Margarita says, “we have to go help Devin and Maria pack Mike and Mitch’s belongings.”
“Okay Margarita,” Tomas says.
Mary turns back to the staff members and says, “We‘ll catch you all later.”
“Okay Mary,” the staff members say.
Mary, Barry, Marilyn, Margarita and Tomas turn and walk away towards the back of the police station as the staff members look on.
Forty-five minutes later, Mary, Marilyn, Margarita, Barry and Tomas are walking through the hospital corridor. They anxiously approach Nicolas, Tonio and Mickey as Tomas asks, “So how is it going in there?”
“Not to good Dad,” Tonio says.
“Howard has a concussion,” Nicolas says.
“A concussion?!” Margarita says. “Oh no!”
“They‘re going to keep him and the security guard overnight.”
“Overnight?” Barry asks. “Well what about Stephanie?”
“They’re going to release her,” Tonio says. “Her injury wasn’t as bad because when Mitch threw the basketball at the security guard’s face, it hit his face hard enough then bounced to Stephanie’s face. She was still hurt as well.”
“My god,” Margarita says. “Well we need to go see Howard, Stephanie and the security guard and speak to their families.”
“Okay Mom,” Tonio says. “When are we suppose to help Devin and Maria pack up Mike and Mitch’s belongings and bring them to the house?”
“I guess right after we see the judge,” Margarita says. “Pero ahora mismo, tenemos que ver Howard, Stephanie y el guardia de seguridad y hablar con sus familias.”
“Esta bien,” Tonio says. “Todos ustedes vienen de esta manera.” Tonio, Nicolas and Mickey turn around and lead Mary, Marilyn, Margarita, Tomas and Barry away.
It is four days later. Music from the radio is playing in the living room of Margarita and Tomas mini-mansion. Mickey walks into the living room. The doorbell rings. Mickey goes to answer it. He opens the door. A young black lady and a young Hispanic man are outside the door. Mickey smiles and says, “Hey Keyara, hey Cris!”
“Hi Mickey,” Keyara says.
“Hey Mickey,” Cris says.
“Come on in,” Mickey says. Keyara and Cris step into the house. They enter the living room. Mickey follows them into the living room and says, “Have a seat.”
“Okay,” Keyara and Cris say as they sit down on the sofa.
“So how is everything guys?” Mickey asks.
“Okay Mickey,” Keyara says.
“Not bad,” Cris says.
“That’s good,” Mickey says.
“By the way Mickey,” Keyara says. “I’m just curious about something.”
“Oh yeah? Curious about what?”
“Did your family really have those two twins Mike and Mitch move in with y’all yesterday?”
“Yeah. My family and their family had went to court this morning to arrange everything.”
“Y’all did?”
“Yeah. That’s Mike and Mitch’s luggage right there,” Mickey says as he points towards the hallway. Keyara and Cris look towards the hallway. They see four large luggage and two small luggage in the hallway.
“That’s their luggage?” Keyara asks.
“Yeah. Some more of their luggage is suppose to come tomorrow.”
“Really?” Cris says. “How long are they suppose to be living with your family?”
“Around three or four months.”
“Three or four months?!” Cris and Keyara say.
“Yep.”
“Why are their luggage in the hallway?” Cris asks.
“Well we all came in late last night and got up early this morning so my parents and grandparents can take Mike and Mitch to the court to make the arrangements. We all came back in a little while ago, we didn’t get a chance to unpack their luggage or put their luggage away yet. We had a long day yesterday and today. My parents and grandparents have to go back to court with Mike and Mitch tomorrow and take them to anger management counseling next week.”
“Wow,” Keyara says. “It sounds like you all have your hands full with them. So are they here now? Where are they?”
“Mike and Mitch stepped back out with their friends for a minute.”
“They did?”
“Yeah.”
“You know Mickey, Mike and Mitch have a bad reputation. It seems like they‘re always getting into fights with other people, wind up injuring other people and putting other people in the hospital. I hear they‘re very protective of one another, is that true?”
“Heck yeah it’s true. You mess with one of them, you’ll have to deal with both of them. Or you mess with any of their brothers or sisters, you’ll have to deal with both of them in that situation too.”
“Man, I don’t think I want to be here in this house whenever they step back in here Mickey.”
“Well they might step back in here any minute Keyara. Let me go put their luggage away then we’ll leave.”
“Okay.”
Mickey goes to the hallway. He picks up two large luggage. He turns and carries them to the steps. He takes the luggage up the steps. Keyara and Cris wait patiently as they look around the living room. A female Mexican maid comes from the kitchen and walks through the living room. She smiles at Keyara and Cris and says, “Hello.”
“Hello,” Keyara and Cris say.
The maid walks to the hallway. Mickey comes back down the steps and into the hallway. Mickey approaches the maid and says, “Hey Nadia. Puede ayudar a sacar a colacion estos equipaje?”
“Esta bien Mickey,” the maid says.
Mickey goes to the other two large luggage. He turns towards Keyara and Cris and says, “I’ll be right with you.”
“Okay Mickey,” Keyara and Cris say.
Mickey picks up the other two luggage as the maid picks up the smaller luggage. Mickey and the maid turn and carry the luggage to the steps. They take the luggage up the stairs.
Keyara and Cris continue to wait patiently. They suddenly hear the front outer door knob opening. They turn to look. They see the second front door opening. They suddenly see one twin, Mike or Mitch stepping right in the front door wearing a dark green hoodie, a white T-shirt underneath, black dungarees and black sneakers. They see the twin turn his head and angrily throw his cap to the side. The twin turns back forward and sees Keyara and Cris. He stops right in his tracks and looks right at them. He then closes the door behind himself staring at Keyara and Cris. Keyara becomes sort of nervous. She then says, “Uh hello?” The twin does not answer or speak back to her. He just stares at Keyara, giving her a cold stare.
“Hello?” Cris says to the twin. The twin does not answer or speak back to Cris. He just stares at the Cris, giving him a cold stare also. Cris then says, “Um, is there something wrong?” The twin still does not answer or respond. He continues to give Cris a cold stare.
“If you’re wondering who we are and what we’re doing here,” Keyara says, “we’re friends of Mickey’s, he let us in.”
“Yeah,” Cris says. “We’re just waiting for him to come back downstairs while he put your luggage away.” The twin still does not answer or speak back. He continues to give Cris a cold stare. Cris then says, “You might not know who we are but we know who you are, we’ve seen you before. We’ve seen you perform at Mickey’s family’s charity events. You’re one of the twins Mike and Mitch, right?” The twin still does not answer or speak back. He continues to give Cris a cold stare. Cris then says, “You’re one of the twins Mike and Mitch, right?” The twin still does not answer or speak back. He continues to give Cris a cold stare as Keyara nervously looks on. Cris then asks, “Well which twin are you? Are you Mike or are you Mitch?” The twin still does not answer or speak back. He continues to give Cris a cold stare. He then turns his body and goes to the side continuing to give Keyara and Cris a cold stare as he disappears into another room. Keyara and Cris strangely stare towards the room where the twin disappeared into. They turn to each other and strangely look at each other.
“Man what is his problem?” Keyara asks. “You see the way he looked at us?”
“Yeah,” Cris says. “Boy if looks can kill, we would both be dead.”
“I know. Why did he look at us like that? He doesn’t even know us.”
“No he doesn’t.”
“Then why did he look at us like that?”
“I don’t know. Which twin was that anyway, was it Mike or was it Mitch?”
“I don’t know which twin it was, but what I do know is, that it’s time to get out of here, and get out of here while we still can before we wind up in the hospital ourselves.” Keyara grabs her belongings and gets up off the sofa. “Come on Cris.”
Cris gets up off the sofa and asks, “What about Mickey? We should at least tell him we’re leaving.”
“I’d rather just call him from a safe distance, like the cell phone. We’ll call Mickey as soon as we get down the block and explain everything to him.”
“Okay.”
Keyara and Cris walk towards the front door. Keyara turns her head around and shouts, “See you later Mickey!” Keyara turns her head back forward as she and Cris open the front door then walk out leaving the house.
It is ten minutes later. Keyara and Cris are on a sidewalk a few blocks away as Keyara talks into a cell phone saying, “Mickey I am so sorry that the way Cris and I had to just cut out your family’s house like that, but we didn’t like the way one of those twins Mike and Mitch was looking at us when he came in the house! He gave us the evil eye! --- Yeah he did! He made us feel very uncomfortable, that‘s why we left out of there! --- Okay I’ll hold.” Keyara turns to Cris and tells him, “Mickey says he and his grandparents are going to ask Mike or Mitch and find out from them if they looked at us like that and ask them why they did it.”
“Oh yeah?” Cris says.
“Yeah.” Keyara gets back on the phone and holds on for a while.
It is five minutes later. Keyara speaks back into her cell phone and says, “Yeah Mickey.”
Mickey from the other end of the phone says, “Keyara, Mike and Mitch are both claiming they have no idea what I’m talking about!”
“They have no idea what you’re talking about?!”
“That’s what they say.”
“Well which twin is the one Cris and I saw walk in the front door while you were putting their luggage away, was it Mike or was it Mitch?”
“I don’t know which twin you saw walk in the front door while I was putting their luggage away, because by the time I came back in the living room, they were both in the house. When I didn’t see you and Cris, I asked Mike and Mitch did they see two people or two guests that were in the living room. They both said no they didn‘t see anybody or any guests in the living room when each of them walked in the house!”
“What! They’re both claiming they didn’t see anybody in the living room?”
“That’s what they’re both claiming.”
“Well which ever twin it was that Cris and I saw walk in that front door, that twin was looking right at me and Cris when me and Cris were in the living room! Cris and I both spoke to that twin we saw and said hello to him and that twin did not respond! He didn’t speak back, he didn’t say ‘hi dog’ or anything, he just stared right at me and Cris! We told him if he was wondering who we are and what we’re doing there, that we’re friends of yours and that you let us in. Cris told that twin that we’re just waiting for you to come back while you were putting their luggage away, but that twin just stared right at me and Cris like we were from outer space or something! He never took his eyes off us the whole time from when he walked in that front door until when he disappeared into another room! His eyes stayed glued to us! That’s why Cris and I left out of there in the first place because the way that twin looked at us! He made me and Cris feel very, very uncomfortable when we were in the living room and he made us feel very unwelcome, like he didn‘t want us there!”
“Well my grandparents and I just got on Mike’s and Mitch’s cases! We told them both that they can’t be staring down our guests like that, making our guests feel uncomfortable, if they did do it! They both still claiming they don’t know what the heck I’m talking about that none of them saw anybody in the living room when they first walked in the house!”
“Well maybe the second twin that walked in the house didn’t see anybody because Cris and I were already gone! It was the first twin that walked in the house who saw me and Cris! It was the first twin that gave me and Cris the evil eye and that twin was wearing a dark green hoodie!”
“A dark green hoodie?”
“Yes!”
“That doesn’t really help much Keyara! Mike and Mitch are both wearing a dark green hoodie!”
“Oh yeah? Well the twin Cris and I saw walk in the house was wearing black dungarees!”
“That doesn’t help much either! Mike and Mitch are both wearing black dungarees!”
“Oh no! Well the twin Cris and I saw walk in the house was wearing black sneakers!”
“That still doesn’t help much Keyara. Mike and Mitch are both wearing black sneakers.”
“What! Okay one more clue! The twin Cris and I saw had on a white T-shirt underneath his dark green hoodie!”
“Oh Keyara that still doesn’t help much!”
“It doesn’t? Are you telling me that Mike and Mitch both have on a white T-shirt underneath their dark green hoodies?!”
“That’s exactly what I’m telling you Keyara!
Mike and Mitch are wearing matching clothing! I can’t tell them apart at all!”
“You can’t tell them apart?!”
“No!”
“Not at all?!”
“No!”
“Well what about your family?! Can your family tell them apart?!”
“Keyara, if Mike and Mitch’s own family can’t tell them apart, then how can my family tell them apart?!”
“What! Mike and Mitch’s own family can’t tell them apart?!”
“Most of the time they can’t!”
“Wow that’s eerie.”
“It is.”
“Well what garment are those two wearing that’s not identical or matching to one another?”
“Maybe their underwear, I don’t know! All I know is that Mike and Mitch still claim they didn’t see anybody when they walked in the house Keyara! They’re both denying seeing anybody in the living room!”
“How did each of them didn’t see anybody in the living room when that one twin was looking dead at us?! That one twin never took his eyes off us Mickey! Are Mike and Mitch pointing fingers at each other or something like that?!”
“No, they’re not even doing that! They both claim they didn’t see anybody in the living room when they came in the house and that‘s all they‘re telling me, my parents and my grandparents!”
“So neither one of them saw anybody in the living room when they came in the house. Do they have a third twin somewhere in that house that y‘all don‘t know about?!”
“No Keyara Mike and Mitch do not have a third twin, they‘re not triplets. Listen Keyara, I’m very sorry for what happened between you, Cris and Mike or either Mitch, and I believe what you‘re telling me.”
“You believe me?”
“Of course I believe you Keyara, you have no reason to lie about this. Plus how would you know exactly what Mike or Mitch was wearing if you didn‘t see any of them. It’s just that which ever twin it was that you and Cris saw walking in the front door, that twin isn’t fessing up at all. So far it’s your word against theirs.”
“Never mind Mickey forget it. I just want to let you know that Cris and I had to get out of there because of one of those twins. We’re a few blocks away waiting on you. You coming?”
“Yeah, I’m on my way Keyara.”
“Okay, we‘ll be here.” Keyara closes her cell phone and sadly turns to Cris as Cris sadly looks at her.
It is two days later. Margarita is walking in the organization lobby. She goes past the front door. The doorbell suddenly rings. Margarita turns to answer it. She opens the front door and sees seven Hispanic teenage girls, which includes Mike and Mitch’s two older sisters Rosanna who is 15 years old and Susanna who is 14 years old with five female friends ages 11 - 15. “Hi Miss Margarita,” Rosanna says.
“Rosanna, Susanna!” Margarita says. “Come on in!” Rosanna, Susanna and their friends walk in the front door. Margarita closes the door behind them.
Rosanna turns to Margarita and says, “You remember our friends, right?”
“Yes I remember them. So how are you girls doing?”
“We’re okay,” Rosanna, Susanna and their friends say.
“It’s just that Susanna and I miss Mike and Mitch a lot,” Rosanna says.
“Oh I know you two miss having your brothers at home,” Margarita says. “Why didn’t you two come by the house to visit Mike and Mitch with your parents and grandparents yesterday? Troy, Sammy, Tommy and Robert were there.”
“Well because we slept all day yesterday, we woke up late, so we decided to see if we can visit them here today instead.”
“Of course you can visit them here. I want you two to know that you’re welcome to come by the house and visit your brothers anytime, alright?”
“Alright, thanks Miss Margarita.”
“Yeah thanks Miss Margarita,” Susanna says.
“Your welcome,” Margarita says. “Well Mitch is in the Banquet Hall shampooing the carpet.”
“He is?” Rosanna asks.
“Yeah. He shampooed most of the carpet already. If he doesn’t mind you all being in the room with him while he‘s working, then you all can be in there with him, but y’all cannot help him.”
“Okay Miss Margarita, we won’t help him. What about Mike, where is he?”
“Mike is taking out the trash. After that, he’s gonna wash the windows in the other room. Mary and I want to have Mike and Mitch separated for now, so why don’t you all go in the banquet hall where Mitch is, after that, go in the other room where Mike is gonna be, as long as they don’t mind you all being the room with them and as long as none of you help them.”
“We won’t help them,” Susanna says. “We just want to see our brothers that’s all.”
“Okay. Go right down the hall then go to the right. That’s where Mitch is.”
“Okay.” Rosanna and Susanna turn and go towards the hallway as their excited friends follow them.
Five minutes later, Mitch is inside the organization Banquet Hall in the middle of the room looking down at the carpet shampooing it with a shampoo machine wearing and listening to headphones. There are chairs lined up on the side of the room. Rosanna, Susanna and their five excited friends go to where the chairs are. They sit on the chairs chewing on snacks and watching Mitch work. Carlita, one of the girls turns to Rosanna and Susanna and says, “So which one of your twin brothers is this again, Mike or Mitch?”
“This is Mitch,” Rosanna says.
“Oh.”
“So if this is Mitch, where’s your other brother Mike?” Nora asks.
“Miss Margarita said Mike is taking out the trash,” Rosanna says. “After that, Mike’s going to clean the windows in the other room.”
“Okay.”
“So your parents and grandparents weren’t able to take you and your brothers back to Puerto Rico or Germany this time around, huh?” Jennifer asks.
“No they weren’t,” Rosanna says. “That’s why we’re all here now.”
“So when are we gonna get to see the other twin?” Nora asks. “The rest of the girls and I want to see both your twin brothers.”
“Y’all gonna have to be patient for now. Y’all can’t see both of my brothers at the same time right now because Miss Margarita and Miss Mary want them working in separate rooms. They want to separate my brothers?”
“For how long?” Carlita asks.
“Just for right now. Now listen, you all begged to come with me and Susanna here to see our brothers, but y’all gonna have to be patient and see one of them at a time for now, okay? Y’all get to see my other brother Mike in fifteen minutes because we were already in here for five minutes. Every twenty minutes we‘re going to go back and forth between the two rooms and stay in each room with each of my brothers for twenty minutes, okay?”
“Oh okay.”
Rosanna, Susanna and their friends turn back to Mitch admiring him shampooing the Banguet Hall carpet as Mitch continues to listen to his headphones ignoring Rosanna, Susanna and their friends. Mitch shampoos closer and closer to Rosanna, Susanna and their friends. Rosanna and Susanna’s friends become excited as Nora says, “Aaah….he’s coming closer! Ask your brother does he want some snacks.”
Rosanna turns to Mitch and shouts, “Hey Mitch? You want some snacks?” Mitch does not hear Rosanna with the headphones in his ears as he continues to look down at the carpet shampooing it, listening to his headphones.
“Ask him again?” Nora says.
Rosanna calls out to Mitch louder, “Mitch!” Mitch stops the carpet cleaner. He turns his head and looks at Rosanna. Rosanna asks again, “You want some snacks?!”
“I already had some snacks Rosanna,” Mitch says.
“Okay just checking.”
Mitch turns from Rosanna and turns back on the carpet cleaner. He looks back down at the carpet as he continues to go about his business and shampoo the carpet, listening to his headphones. He starts to sh
ampoos the carpet area closer and closer to the girls as Rosanna and Susanna’s friends continue to admire him.
Fifteen minutes later, Rosanna, Susanna and their excited friends are walking through the organization hallway. “So we’re going to see the other twin now?” Jennifer asks.
“Yeah,” Rosanna says.
“Ooh I can’t wait!” Carlita says.
“Me neither!” says Nora. Rosanna, Susanna and their friends continue to walk through the hallway.
Rosanna, Susanna and their excited friends come into the other Banquet room. There are chairs lined up on the side. Rosanna, Susanna and their friends go to the side and sit on the chairs. Mike then comes into the room wearing and listening to headphones. He passes right by Rosanna, Susanna and their friends and goes straight to the windows ignoring Rosanna, Susanna and their friends. Rosanna, Susanna and their friends turn their heads and see Mike. They become more excited. They see Mike shut the windows and pick up a bottle of Windex. They see him spray the windows with the Windex. They then see Mike pick up a long squeegy then wash the windows as he reaches up high then down. Mike reaches up high again then down again as he goes across the large window. Rosanna, Susanna and their friends sit on the side chewing on snacks admiring Mike as he ignores them and continue to clean the windows. Carlita, turns to Rosanna and Susanna and says, “And this one is Mike, right?”
“Right,” Susanna says. “This is Mike.”
“So how long are we going to be in this room again?” Nora asks.
“Twenty minutes like the other room,” Rosanna says.
“Okay good. At least we get to see both of your brothers.”
“Yeah.” Rosanna and Susanna’s friends continue to admire Mike as Mike continues to ignore them while he wash the windows. Jennifer sees a radio on the side. She turns to Susanna and says, “Hey Susanna, ask your brother can we turn the radio on.” Susanna turns to Mike and says, “Hey Mike, can we turn the radio on while you‘re working?” Mike does not hear Susanna with the headphones in his ears. He continues to wash the windows, listening to his headphones. Susanna gets up and goes to the radio. She turns back to Mike and shouts out to him, “Hey Mike!”
Mike frustratingly turns his head towards Susanna. He removes his headphones from his ears and shouts, “What! What do you want?!”
“I’m gonna turn the radio on alright?!”
“Just go ahead Susanna!” Mike frustratingly turns his head back towards the windows and places his headphones back on his ears as he continues to wash the windows. Susanna turns the radio on. Music from the radio plays as Susanna turns the dial. She stops the dial at a dance song and dances a little. Mike continues to ignore the girls as he continues to wash the windows, listening to his headphones.
Twenty minutes later, Rosanna, Susanna and their friends are walking through the organization hallway again. “So we’re going back to see the other twin again?” Jennifer asks.
“Yeah,” Rosanna says as she, Susanna and their friends continue to walk through the hallway.
Inside the other Banquet Hall, Mitch is still working on the carpet machine shampooing the Banguet Hall carpet as he continues to listen to his headphones. Rosanna, Susanna and their friends enter the room again. They go back to the side and sit on the chairs again, watching Mitch work. Mitch shampoos the carpet area closer and closer to the chairs where the girls are. Carlita turns to Rosanna and Susanna and asks, “So how long are we going to be in here?”
“Twenty minutes Carlita,” Rosanna says. “Twenty minutes.”
“Okay, just asking.”
Rosanna, Susanna and their friends turn back to Mitch watching him as he continues to shampoo the carpet area closer and closer to where they‘re sitting. Mitch reaches the carpet area near the girls. He is about to shampoo the carpet area beneath girls’ feet. He calmly says to them, “Excuse me for a minute?” The girls see that Mitch wants to shampoo the carpet area beneath their feet. They become excited. They raise their knees and lift their feet up putting their feet up on the chairs as Mitch shampoos the carpet area beneath their feet. The girls watch Mitch shampoo the carpet area where their feet were. Mitch finishes shampooing the carpet beneath the girls’ feet. The girls’ feet remain on the chairs as Mitch goes to the side and grabs a long roll of plastic paper. Mitch comes back to the carpet area beneath the girls’ feet. He bends down in front of the girls and places the roll of paper all along the carpet area where the girls’ feet were as their feet remain on the chair. Mitch finishes placing the roll of paper along the carpet area beneath the girls’ feet. He gets back up and stands on the role of paper. He bends down right in front of the girls again and tends to the water in the vacuum. He takes the water container out the vacuum and holds it up in the air inspecting it. He gets back up. He takes the vacuum water container then goes off to the side.
Twenty minutes later, Rosanna, Susanna and their friends are walking through the organization hallway again. Jennifer turns to Rosanna and Susanna and asks, “So we’re going back to see the other twin Mike again, right?”
“Right,” Rosanna says. “We‘re going back to see Mike.” Rosanna, Susanna and their friends continue to walk through the hallway.
Three minutes later, Rosanna, Susanna and their friends are in the other room, sitting on the side watching Mike as Mike continues to wash the windows, listening to his headphones. Rosanna and Susanna’s friends start to admire Mike again. Carlita turns to Rosanna and Susanna and asks, “Do you think I‘ll get to marry any of your twin brothers in the future? To tell you the truth, I wouldn’t mind marrying both of them.”
“Carlita,” Rosanna says, “believe me, the last thing on any of my brothers‘ minds right now is marriage.”
“That’s right Carlita,” Susanna says, “so get that idea out of your head right now, don’t waste your time thinking about it.”
“Okay,” Carlita says, “I was just asking. So how long are we going to be in this room?”
“Like I said before,” Rosanna says, “twenty minutes Carlita, twenty minutes.”
“Okay.”
Mike stops washing the windows for a few seconds and takes off his headphones. A lot of voices are heard from the hallway. Mike turns around and looks towards the hallway. Rosanna then speaks to him and says, “So Mike when are you going to take a break?”
“I don’t know Rosanna,” Mike says. He then rubs his face down with his hand and blinks a few times as he looks towards the hallway. Voices are still heard from the hallway. Mike turns back around to the window. He puts back on his headphones and continues to wash the windows with the long squeegy as Rosanna and Susanna’s friends continue to admire him.
It is two days later. Two black men and a black woman are at a bus stop reading an article in the paper that reads: DIANE D AND FAMILY WIN OUT OF COURT SETTLEMENT ON LAWSUIT AGAINST THE JOANNIE SHOW FOR AN UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT OF MONEY. THE DIAZ-DAVIDSON ORGANIZATION WILL RESUME TO PERFORM CHARITY CONCERT IN FOUR WEEKS. One of the men turns to the others and says, “The Diaz-Davidson Organization got an out-of-court settlement from The Joannie Show.”
“Yeah, I see,” the second man says. “They didn’t say how much they got, did they?”
“No, they kept it confidential, but they’re going to have a charity concert next month.”
“You going to it?” the woman asks.
“Of course I am. My whole family is gonna go! We never returned our tickets from last time the concert was canceled! Our tickets are still good.”
“Yeah my family’s tickets are still good too,” says the second man.
It is two days later. Around 15 Diaz-Davidson Youth Performers and Athletes surround Mike as they all walk down the organization hallway being very loud and rowdy as they chit-chat. One of the boys turns to Mike and asks, “So Mike, how do you and Mitch like living with Miss Mary and Miss Margarita’s family?”
“It’s not bad,” Mike says. “It’s not bad at
all.”
“How long are you and Mitch suppose to live with them?”
“For around three or four months.”
“Three or four month?” asks a second boy. “Where do they have you two sleeping?”
“In the guest room.”
“In the guest room? By yourself or with Mitch?”
“With Mitch.”
“Don’t y’all miss your family?” a third boy asks.
“Of course we miss our family man, we still get to see our family. They come by the house almost everyday to visit us, and Miss Mary, Miss Margarita, Mr. Barry and Mr. Tomas take us to see our family, so we still get to see our family.”
“That’s good,” a fourth boy says. “I heard your sisters Rosanna and Susanna and several of their friends came by here the other day while you and Mitch were washing the windows and the carpet.”
“Yeah they did. Oh by the way guys, when the organization give that party in the banquet hall next week, I want you all to keep that carpet and the windows clean because if y’all mess that carpet and the windows up, Miss Mary and Miss Margarita are gonna have me and Mitch wash it all up again.”
“They are?”
“Yeah, they‘ll make us clean it up again. The first person I see dropping any food or drinks on that carpet, I will literally mop the floor with that person, then I’m gonna throw their ass out the party.”
“You are?” a fifth boy asks.
“You better believe it.”
Mike, the Youth Performers and the Athletes start to be very loud and rowdy again as they continue to walk down the hallway. They go into the door and go inside the meeting room.
Mike and the Youth Performers and Athletes enter into the organization meeting room continuing to be loud and rowdy. They approach Mitch who is surrounded by another 17 Youth Performers and Athletes as Mitch sits on top of a chair being loud and rowdy with the 17 other Youth Performers and Athletes. Mike, Mitch and all the Diaz-Davidson Youth Performers and Athletes are being very loud and rowdy amongst each other as a crowd of 200 people look on at them. Margarita enters the room. Mike and Mitch see Margarita. They hurry to Margarita as the rest of the boys follow them. Mike and Mitch approach Margarita as they say, “Hey Miss Margarita!”
“Hi guys,” Margarita says. Margarita looks at everyone else in the room and shouts, “Okay everybody! The rest of my family are on their way back in with some food! They’re out in the parking lot parking the cars! Once they come in, we’ll have some lunch then get this meeting started again okay?!”
“Okay!” the crowd says.
Justin, a tall Hispanic guy in his late teens, approaches Margarita and says, “Um Margarita?”
Mike and Mitch turn to Justin as Mike says, “Wait a minute, you can’t talk to her now.” Mike and Mitch turn back to Margarita and say, “Miss Margarita.”
“What?” Justin says.
Mike and Mitch turn back to Justin as Mitch shouts, “We said you can’t talk to her right now!” Mitch and Mike turn back to Margarita and say, “Miss Margarita….”
“Listen man, you two don’t tell me who I can’t talk to.”
Mike and Mitch turn back to Justin as Mike shouts, “We just did!” Mike and Mitch turn back to Margarita and say, “So Miss Margarita….”
“I’ll talk to Margarita if I want to!”
Mike and Mitch turn back to Justin as Mitch shouts, “Not while we’re talking to her man!”
“We’re talking to her now, get away from her!” Mike shouts. Mike and Mitch turn back to Margarita and say, “So Miss Margarita….”
“Don’t tell me who to get away from either!” Justin shouts.
“We just did motherfucka!” Mitch shouts as he angrily turns towards Justin.
Male staff members hurry and approach Mike, Mitch and Justin grabbing them, trying to prevent a fight as everyone else start to surround them! The male staff members turn Mike and Mitch away from Justin as Justin hollers at Mike and Mitch, “Who the fuck are you, telling me I can’t talk to Miss Margarita! I’ll talk to Miss Margarita whenever I want!”
“Not while we’re talking to her!” Mike shouts.
“Oh no?! Watch this!” Justin turns to Margarita and says, “As I was saying Miss Margarita….”
“Not while we’re talking to her man!” Mitch shouts.
“I don’t see y’all talking to her! As far as I’m concerned, you two are done talking to her!” Justin turns back to Margarita and says, “So Miss Margarita as I was saying…..”
Mike shouts, “Not while we’re talking to her goddammit!”
“Just wait a second Justin,” Margarita says. “Just wait a second.” Margarita angrily looks at Mike and Mitch as she points her finger up at them and shouts, “First of all, didn’t I tell you two to stop trying to stop people from talking to me if they need to?!”
Mitch shouts, “But Miss Margarita….”
“Didn’t I tell you two to stop trying to stop staff members, other performers and other athletes from talking to me, Miss Mary, Mr. Barry or Mr. Tomas if they need to?!”
Mike shouts, “But Miss Margarita…..”
“Didn’t I tell you two to stop trying to stop staff members, other performers and other athletes from being near me, Miss Mary, Mr. Barry or Mr. Tomas if they need to?!”
Mitch shouts, “But Miss Margarita…..”
“Didn’t I tell you two that the time you tried to stop Phyllis from talking to me, I almost missed an important phone call because the person on the other end was put on hold for a long time that they hung up?!! It was a good thing that the person decided to call back later on or else I would have never known who was trying to reach me! I told you two to stop trying to stop anybody from telling me something or asking me something that might be important! I told you two that!” Mike and Mitch angrily stare at Margarita.
Justin turns towards Margarita again and says, “Miss Margarita?”
Margarita turns to Justin and says, “What is it Justin, what do you have to say? Is it important?”
“Well…..I just want to say…” Justin turns his head and looks at Mike and Mitch as he holds onto Margarita’s shoulder. He then turns to Margarita and starts to whisper in her ear. Mike and Mitch suddenly break away from the male staff members grip and lunge right at Justin, knocking him backward into Sylvia, Norman, Cynthia and Monique as Mike, Mitch and Justin land on the floor and Sylvia, Norman, Cynthia and Monique fall hard against the walls then to the floor as the crowd screams! The male staff members quickly go grab Mike and Mitch again! They lift Mike and Mitch up and carry them away as Margarita, other staff members and the crowd go to Justin and the injured staff members. Margarita, other staff members and the crowd bend down to the floor and surround Justin and the fallen staff members!
“My God are y’all hurt real bad?” Evette asks.
“Aaah!” Justin says in pain.
Margarita angrily turns towards the male staff members and shouts, “Take those two out of here, now!” The other staff members and the crowd turn towards Mike and Mitch and look on at them as the male staff members quickly carry Mike and Mitch towards the doorway with Mike’s and Mitch’s fists bawling and their faces red with anger staring towards Justin as the male staff members carry them away! Margarita, the other staff members and the crowd continue to stare as the male staff members disappear into the hallway with Mike and Mitch. Margarita, the other staff members and the crowd turn back towards Justin and the fallen staff members and continue to bend down to the floor surrounding them.
Twenty minutes later, security officers and some paramedics are outside standing with Mary, Margarita and the rest of the organization members as Mary speaks into a cell phone and says, “Yes Barry you, dad, Nicolas, Michael and Mickey just keep Mike and Mitch inside the office, don’t let them out! ….. Yes we have to cancel the meeting today. …. Yeah. The paramedics already have Justin and a few people in the ambulances already. ….. Yeah.”
Margarita turns to Phyllis and the male staff members and tells them, “We’re gonna cancel this meeting today.”
“Okay,” the staff members say.
“Go inside the meeting room and tell everyone in there that the meeting is canceled for today and we’ll continue it next time. My family and I have to deal with this situation right now.”
“Okay.” The staff members turn and walk away.
It is the evening now. Members of the Diaz-Davidson Organization are waiting around the hospital. Mary, Margarita, Barry, Tomas, Marilyn, Tonio and Nicolas approach the crowd. The crowd approaches them as Tonio says, “Here we go again.”
“I know here we go again,” Evette says. “How are Justin and the rest of them doing?”
“Well the doctors are gonna release Sylvia and Norman,” Mary says, “but they’re going to keep Justin, Cynthia and Monique overnight for observation.”
“They’re going to keep Justin, Cynthia and Monique overnight?” Alex asks.
“Yeah,” Barry says. “We heard they all hit their heads when they fell.”
“My God,” Harvey says. “Are any of them planning to presses charges?”
“We don’t know what any of them are planning to do,” Margarita says. “They’re not saying much.”
“They’re not?”
“No.”
“Where are Mike and Mitch now?” Spencer another staff member asks.
“They’re still at the police station,” Mary says. “The police are gonna take them to Juvenile Detention.”
“The police are gonna take Mike and Mitch to Juvenile Detention?” Alex says.
“Yeah.”
“Finally they get locked up! For how long?”
“We don’t know yet,” Margarita says. “We will find out tomorrow.” The staff members sadly look at Margarita. “Come on, let’s all get out of here,” Margarita says. She, her family and the staff members turn and walk away.
The following day, around 14 Diaz Davidson Youth Performers and Athletes are walking and talking in the organization hallway. One of the boys turns to the others and asks, “Hey, where’s Mike and Mitch today?”
“You didn’t hear?” a second boy says. “Mike and Mitch are both locked up in Juvenile Detention.”
“Mike and Mitch are locked up in Juvenile Detention?!” a third boy asks.
“Yeah man.”
“For how long?” the first boy asks.
“Twenty-four hours I heard?”
“Twenty-four hours,” asks a fourth boy.
“Yeah.”
“So when are they coming back to the organization?” a fifth boy asks.
“I’m not sure. We would have to ask Miss Mary or Miss Margarita.”
“Oh.” The Diaz Davidson Youth Performers and Athletes continue to talk as they head towards the meeting room.
The Diaz Davidson Youth Performers and Athletes enter the meeting room. They head towards the center of the room as other Diaz-Davidson Organization performers and staff members are quietly eating snacks and drinking coffee. The Diaz Davidson Youth Performers and Athletes crowd around each other talking quietly amongst each other. Phyllis, Crystal and Evette are on the side eating snacks and drinking coffee as they look at the Youth Performers and Athletes. “My,” Crystal says. “The boys aren’t so loud and rowdy today.”
“Yeah I notice,” says Evette.
“I notice too,” Phyllis says. “They’re more quiet today than usual, now that you know who aren’t here today.”
“Mike and Mitch right?”
“That’s right, those two little gangsters.”
“It’s always more quiet around here whenever Mike and Mitch aren’t around,” Crystal says.
“Yeah I notice,” Evette says. “I think their many friends miss them.”
“Yeah I think so too,” Phyllis says.
“How long are Mike and Mitch gonna be locked away in juvenile detention?”
“I heard twenty-four hours,” Crystal says.
“Twenty-four hours?” Phyllis says. “That’s it?”
“Yeah.”
“Man I wish those two little gangsters can stay locked up in Juvenile Detention forever and never come back here. It’ll be less trouble and pain around here.”
“Yeah you’re right about that Phyllis. And this whole thing started, just because Mike and Mitch didn’t want Justin to talk to Margarita while they were talking to her?”
“Yeah. Just like they didn’t want me to talk to Margarita while they were talking to her and tried to stop me! They tried to stop other staff members, other performers and other athletes from talking to Mary, Margarita, Barry and Tomas while they were talking to them.”
“Whaaat?!” Beverly says. “That’s crazy, what is their problem? So what if somebody else talks to Margarita, Mary, Barry and Tomas while they’re talking to them, who are they to stop anybody?”
“I know.”
“So what was it that Justin had to say to Margarita in the first place when he came and approached her.”
“Margarita doesn’t know,” Crystal says. “She said because as Justin held on to her shoulder and started whispering in her ear, the next thing she knew is that Justin got knocked down to the floor by Mike and Mitch and never got a chance to tell her what he wanted or had to say to her.”
“My god that is terrible.”
“It is.” Crystal, Phyllis, Beverly and Evette continue to look at the Youth Performers and Athletes. Margarita enters the room. The Diaz Davidson Youth Performers and Athletes walk towards Margarita. “Oh oh,” Crystal says. “Those boys better not go near Margarita or even talk to her.”
“I know what you mean,” Phyllis says.
The Diaz Davidson Youth Performers and Athletes approach Margarita. “Hey Miss Margarita?” the Youth Performers and Athletes say.
“Hi fellas,” Margarita says.
Alex approaches Margarita and says, “Um Margarita?” The Youth Performers and Athletes turn and look at Alex. Alex looks back at the Youth Performers and Athletes and says, “Oh I’m sorry, after you guys. After you.” Alex jokingly bows towards the Youth Performers and Athletes and points his hand towards Margarita as the Youth Performers and Athletes laugh a little. Alex bends back up and says to them, “Go ahead and talk to Miss Margarita guys. I don’t want to step on anybody’s parade. I will not talk to Miss Margarita while you all are talking to her.” The Youth Performers and Athletes laugh again. Alex then says, “I don’t want to get knocked down. As a matter of fact, I won’t even be near Miss Margarita while you all are talking with her.” Alex points his palms up towards Margarita and jokingly backs away from Margarita. The Youth Performers and Athletes laugh again as Margarita smirks at Alex. Alex then says, “As a matter of fact, I won’t even look at Miss Margarita while you all are talking with her.” Alex jokingly turns his back towards Margarita and looks up in the air away from Margarita as the Youth Performers and Athletes laugh again.
Margarita continues to smirk at Alex then says, “Stop it now Alex.”
Alex smiles as he turns back towards Margarita and the Youth Performers and Athletes and says, “I was just kidding guys, I was just kidding. Go ahead guys.”
The Youth Performers and Athletes turn back to Margarita as one of them says, “Miss Margarita, when are Mike and Mitch gonna come back here?”
“They’ll come back here as soon as they learn to calm down,” Margarita says. “That’s why they’re gonna be sent to their anger management program tomorrow. In the mean time, we’re going to get the meeting started shortly.”
“Okay,” the boys say.
Margarita turns to the rest of the crowd and shouts, “Okay listen up everybody!” The rest of the crowd turns to Margarita as Margarita shouts, “We’re going to get this meeting started in fifteen or twenty minutes to talk about the Michael Jackson Tribute and our upcoming tours, alright?!”
“Okay Miss Margarita!”
the crowd say.
The Diaz-Davidson Youth Performers and Athletes turn towards each other and start to talk amongst each other as Margarita turns and walks away towards the front of the room. Members of the organization start to sit down and face forward. Mary, Barry and Tomas go to the front of the room. They go to stand behind the long table as Margarita goes to the side.
Nicolas, Mickey, Michael and the Dianettes are on the side as they all surround Diane D. Margarita approaches them and says, “Hey you guys, how’s it going?”
“Okay Grandma,” Nicolas, Mickey, Michael and the Dianettes say.
“Good. How about you Diane, how do you feel? You feel alright?”
“Yeah I feel alright Grandma,” Diane D says.
“You do? You don’t look too happy. What’s the matter?”
“We were just talking about the lawsuit and the out of court settlement.”
“Oh yeah? What about it?”
“We felt that the media should have kept it out the newspapers that’s all.”
“Yeah they could have kept it out the papers. How do you feel about the out of court settlement anyway?”
“I feel great about the out of court settlement Grandma.”
“You do?”
“Yeah.”
“Even though it shouldn’t have been in the papers?”
“Even though it shouldn’t have been in the papers, I feel real happy with the outcome.”
“That’s good, I’m glad you‘re happy with it. I hope you will be happy to know that our organization raised so much money again.”
“It did? Well that’s good Grandma.”
“It is. Now we have an upcoming charity event to do at the arena. We have to go on tour and do the Michael Jackson Tribute.”
“We know,” Michael says. “We can’t wait!”
“Grandma can the girls and I do the closing act for the Michael Jackson Tribute?” Diane D asks.
“You’re too late Diane,” Nicolas says. “I already asked Grandma can Mickey and I do the closing act for the Michael Jackson Tribute.”
“Oh really?”
“Really.”
“Are you guys prepared to do the Michael Jackson Tribute at all Nicolas?” Margarita asks. “Because you guys said y’all weren’t prepared yet and Diane and the girls have been prepared to do the Michael Jackson Tribute way before she got sick.”
“Well Mickey and I are prepared now Grandma,” Nicolas says. “We’re just gonna play a simple Michael Jackson tune on our guitars that’s all.”
“Grandma I want the girls and I to do the closing act for the Michael Jackson Tribute,” Diane D says.
“No Grandma, let me and Mickey do the closing act for the Michael Jackson Tribute.”
“Grandma, it doesn’t matter to me who does the closing act for the Michael Jackson Tribute,” Mickey says, “as long as we do the Tribute.”
“Mickey is right,” Margarita says.
“I still want me and the girls to do the closing act Grandma,” Diane D says.
“And I still want Mickey and me to do the closing act,” Nicolas says.
“Listen,” Margarita says. “If you two don’t cut it out right now, neither one of you are going to do the closing act at all.”
“What?” Diane D and Nicolas say.
“That’s right. So what’s it going be?”
“But Grandma….!”
“No ifs and or buts about it! Now are we ready to travel for the upcoming tour, yes or no?”
“Yeah, we’re ready Grandma,” Nicolas says.
“Good. Diane how about you? Are you ready to go on tour?”
“I should be ready Grandma,” Diane D says.
“Are you sure Diane? Will you be up to traveling? Because if you’re not up to traveling, we can postpone the whole tour until you get better.”
“I feel fine Grandma. I came out of the hospital weeks ago. I’m ready to go on tour. I’m ready to travel.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m more than sure Grandma! I’m anxious!” Diane D says. Margarita, Nicolas, Mickey, Michael and the Dianettes all laugh. Diane D then says, “Plus I definitely want to do this Michael Jackson Tribute, I don’t want to miss out.”
“You won’t miss out Diane, we’ll wait for you.”
“There’s no need to wait Grandma. I am down to do this.”
“Well that’s good, very well then. I just want to make sure you’ll be okay for it, because your health is more important.”
“Don’t worry Grandma. I’m fine. I’m ready to travel.”
“Okay baby. As long as you’re up to it.”
“I am up to it Grandma.”
Margarita gives Diane D a warm hug.
Mary, Margarita, Barry and Tomas are leaving the front gate of their mini-mansion. They approach Nicolas and Mickey as Mary says, “Okay boys we’ll be right back.”
“Yeah we’re going to the Juvenile Detention to pick up Mike and Mitch,” Margarita says.
“Okay Grandma,” Mickey says.
“It’s kind of early,” says Nicolas. “Aren’t you all suppose to pick up Mike and Mitch in the evening?”
“The Juvenile Detention called at the spur of the moment and asked can we pick Mike and Mitch up now,” Barry says.
“They want you all to pick up Mike and Mitch now? Why so early?”
“They told us they want to start an early head count once Mike and Mitch leave, but I think that’s just an excuse. I think the Juvenile Detention just want to get rid of Mike and Mitch as soon as possible.”
“You really think so Dad?”
“I know so. I think the Juvenile Detention is having a hard time with Mike and Mitch and want to get rid of them. And I think they want to get rid of Mike and Mitch fast.”
“I think so too,” Tomas says. “I don’t think they can handle Mike and Mitch.”
“I don’t think so either,” Margarita says. “So let’s hurry and get Mike and Mitch before the people at the Juvenile Detention have a nervous breakdown.”
“Okay Mom,” Mary and Barry say. Mary turns to Nicolas and Mickey and says, “Boys we’ll be right back.”
“Okay Mom,” Nicolas and Mickey.
Mary, Margarita, Barry and Tomas turn and walk to the car. They get into the car as Barry gets into the driver’s seat. They all close the door as the engine starts. The car pulls off the curb and rides down the street.
Two days later, some of the Diaz-Davidson Organization members are standing in the organization hallway talking and chit chatting. Evette, Crystal, Monique and Norman are walking through the hallway. Suddenly, they hear a group of young boys being very loud and rowdy. They look in the distance and stop. “Oh oh,” Evette says. “I see that Double Trouble are back.” Evette, Crystal, Monique and Norman see Mike and Mitch dressed in identical dark blue hoodies and dungarees walking with and surrounded by around 20 teen and pre-teen boys walking, talking and laughing, being very loud and rowdy.
“My God,” Monique says. “They’re back from Juvenile Detention already?”
“Yep,” Crystal says. “They were only supposed to be in Juvenile Detention for twenty-four hours, but Margarita and her family had to go pick up Mike and Mitch from Juvenile Detention several hours early the other day.”
“Oh yeah?” Norman says. “How come?”
“Well Margarita and her family think the Juvenile Detention called them early just to get rid of Mike and Mitch because they probably couldn’t handle Mike and Mitch.”
“Well duuuh,” Evette says. “Who the hell can handle those two little gangsters?” Evette, Crystal, Monique and Norman continue to look towards Mike and Mitch. They then look away from Mike and Mitch and head towards the lobby.
Evette, Crystal, Monique and Norman enter the lobby. The outside door suddenly opens. Tomas suddenly comes through the doorway wearing a wet raincoat and carrying an umbrella.
“There’s Tomas
right now,” Monique says. “He just came in from the rain.”
“Let’s go to him,” Evette says. “I gotta ask him something real quick.” Evette, Crystal, Monique and Norman start to walk towards Tomas. Suddenly, they hear one of the boys shouting, “Woe hoooe Mr. Tomas!” They turn their heads to look. They stop and see Mike, Mitch, the teen and pre-teen boys approaching Tomas as Mitch says to Tomas, “You got caught in the rain Mr. Tomas?”
“Yep, I sure did!” Tomas says as he shakes his umbrella a little. Mike and Mitch smile to Tomas and start to chit-chat with him while all the other boys surround them. Evette, Crystal, Monique and Norman annoyingly look on.
“Man, I was just about to ask Tomas something,” Evette whispers. “Now that those two little runts are talking to him, they’re gonna have a fit if I start talking to him while they’re talking to him. Man I wish those two little gangsters would have just stayed in Juvenile Detention.”
“Yeah me too,” Crytstal whispers. “Now that Double Trouble are back, we are going to have a problem.”
“We are,” Monique says. Crystal, Evette, Monique and Norman turn around and walk away.
Evette, Crystal, Monique and Norman are walking back down the hallway. Monique turns to Evette, Crystal and Norman and says, “We shouldn’t even have a problem talking to Tomas because those two little runts don’t own anybody.”
“They act like they do,” Evette says. “They act like they own Mary, Margarita, Barry and Tomas.”
“They probably act like that because Margarita, Mary and Marilyn use to watch Mike and Mitch when Mike and Mitch were toddlers,” Crystal says.
They all stop as Monique says, “Yeah that’s what I heard. I heard Mike and Mitch’s own parents and relatives couldn’t handle Mike and Mitch when they were toddlers because Mike and Mitch were spoiled rotten.”
“They were. They use to get temper tantrums, they use to get into screaming fits at home and in public. Mike and Mitch were just too much for their mother and father Devin and Maria and their relatives to bare that Devin and Maria would always wind up dropping Mike and Mitch off at Margarita and Tomas' house. Margarita, Mary and Marilyn would always wind up taking care of Mike and Mitch. They would feed Mike and Mitch, they would bathe Mike and Mitch, they would dress Mike and Mitch up, they would put Mike and Mitch to bed and everything. Margarita, Mary and Marilyn practically raised Mike and Mitch.”
“They did?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t think being in Juvenile Detention changed Mike and Mitch at all,” Norman says.
“No I don’t think so either,” Monique says. “So what are you gonna do Evette, are you gonna go talk to Tomas or wait to catch him later?”
“I guess I can catch him later,” Evette says, “because it’s not worth it to try and challenge those two little gangsters, it’s just not worth it. Come on, let’s go get some coffee.”
“Okay.” They all turn and start to walk the other way.
Two days later, Mickey comes down the staircase inside his family’s mini-mansion pretty upset. The telephone rings. Mickey goes to pick up the telephone receiver. He speaks into the receiver and says, “Hello?”
“Hi Mickey,” Keyara on the other end of the phone says. “It’s me Keyara.”
“Oh hi Keyara, what’s going on?”
“Nothing much. Why aren’t you over here yet Mickey? Cris and I are waiting on you.”
“Oh I’m sorry Keyara, there’s been a problem going on in my family’s household.”
“A problem going on in your family’s household? What problem Mickey? What happened?”
“I’ll tell you what happened, the maid just quit!”
“What! The maid just quit?! What maid? What are you talking about Mickey?!”
“My family’s housekeeper Nadia!”
“Your family’s housekeeper Nadia?! You mean that Mexican woman?! That nice lady I saw in your house?! She quitted?!”
“Yeah! Nadia quitted a couple of hours ago!”
“Oh no, why Mickey?! What happened?”
“It had something to do with Mike and Mitch!”
“It had something to do with Mike and Mitch?! Those two again?! What did those two do now Mickey?!”
“I’m not sure what happened between Nadia and Mike and Mitch, I wasn‘t here at the time! But I think Mike and Mitch said something to Nadia that got her upset and made her quit!”
“Oh no, what did they say to her Mickey?”
“Well two days after Mike and Mitch moved in here, Nadia started complaining to my parents and grandparents, asking them are Mike and Mitch her bosses!”
“What! Nadia asked your parents and grandparents are Mike and Mitch her bosses!”
“Yeah!”
“Why did she ask your parents and grandparents that?!”
“Because she told my parents and grandparents that Mike and Mitch kept telling her what to do! She said they kept ordering her around, telling her do this and do that, and she said they weren‘t very nice about it!”
“Oh no! Really?!”
“That’s what she said! And she told my parents and grandparents that Mike and Mitch started ordering her around again as soon as they came out of Juvenile Detention.”
“My God!”
“My parents and grandparents told Nadia ‘no’ that Mike and Mitch are not her bosses and she does not have to take orders from them! My parents and grandparents got on Mike and Mitch’s case. Mike and Mitch act like they didn’t know what the heck my parents and grandparent were talking about! They told my parents and grandparents that they never said anything to Nadia! Then my parents and grandparents told Nadia that if she has any more problems with Mike and Mitch, to just come to them again!”
“Did Nadia ever come to your parents and grandparents again?”
“No Nadia never came back to my parents and grandparents again, instead she just quit!”
“She just quit instead?! Why did she just quit without coming back to your parents and grandparents?!”
“Because after Nadia complained to my parents and grandparents about Mike and Mitch, Mike and Mitch got angry at her! I think they secretly said something else to Nadia that made her quit!”
“What did they say to her Mickey?”
“When Nadia was leaving our house, we asked her what did Mike and Mitch say to her, what did Mike and Mitch say to her, but Nadia never told us! She just quit and left out of here very upset! Around an hour and a half later, Nadia’s husband called my parents and grandparents up?!”
“Her husband called your parents and grandparents up? What did her husband say?”
“He told my parents and grandparents that Mike and Mitch had secretly threatened Nadia by telling her that they were gonna report her to immigration and have her deported back to Mexico!”
“What! Mike and Mitch told Nadia that they were gonna report her to immigration and have her deported back to Mexico?!”
“Yeah!”
“You’re kidding me Mickey, aren’t you!”
“No I’m not kidding Keyara, that’s what Nadia’s husband told my parents and grandparents! We all confronted Mike and Mitch about it! We asked them did they secretly threaten Nadia with reporting her to immigration and having her deported back to Mexico! They both claim they didn’t know what the heck we were talking about! They both said no they never said anything like that to Nadia!”
“They’re both denying saying that to Nadia?!”
“Yes they‘re both denying it! Right now, it’s Nadia’s word against theirs!”
“Yeah right Mickey! Just like they both denied giving me and Cris the evil eye when we were both at your house Mickey! You know Mickey if it’s true that Mike and Mitch did secretly threaten your maid Nadia that they were gonna report her to immigration and have her deported back to Mexico, they got a lot of nerve threatening her with that! Ain’t their own mom from Mexico?”
“Maria?”
“Yeah!”
“No Keyara, Maria is not from Mexico, she’s from Puerto Rico, she’s Puerto Rican. Every time Mike and Mitch get into trouble, Maria and their dad Devin would take Mike and Mitch to stay with Maria’s relatives in Puerto Rico.”
“Oh that’s right, they go to Puerto Rico a lot to stay with their mom’s relatives. Well what about Mike and Mitch’s dad, is he Puerto Rican too?”
“No Devin is not Puerto Rican, he’s German. He was born in Germany.”
“He was?”
“Yeah, but raised here in New York. His parents speak German so Devin grew up speaking German and English.”
“He did?”
“Yeah. So Mike and Mitch are growing up speaking German, English and Spanish.”
“My goodness. How did Mike and Mitch’s mom and dad meet each other in the first place?”
“They met each other in High School.”
“They did?”
“Yeah then they started dating and they both used to perform in my family’s organization.”
“Oh yeah I heard about that.”
“When they were dating, Devin’s parents weren’t too thrilled of him dating a Puerto Rican girl.”
“They weren’t?”
“No, then Maria got pregnant.”
“She did?”
“Yeah. Devin told his parents that Maria was having his baby. Devin’s parents weren’t too happy when they learned he got Maria pregnant. Devin told his parents that the only thing left to do is to marry Maria and that’s what he’s going to do. Devin’s parents had no choice but to accept it. When Devin and Maria got married, his parents threw them a wedding. My whole family was invited to their wedding.”
“Y’all were?”
“Yeah.”
“How old were you then?”
“I was real small at that time.”
“You still remember all of that?”
“Yeah I remember a lot of it. Plus my family still have photos from Devin and Maria’s wedding. Months later, Devin and Maria had a baby girl, over the years they had seven more children after that.”
“I see. So in other words, when your family went to Maria and Devin’s wedding, Mike and Mitch weren’t born yet huh?”
“No, their older sister Rosanna wasn’t even born yet. She was on her way. Mike and Mitch were born a few years later.”
“I see. So Maria and Devin don’t perform in your family’s organization anymore?”
“No, since they started having so many children, they didn’t have the time anymore. When their children got older, they had their children join my family’s organization instead.”
“I see. So how many children they have altogether?”
“They have eight kids altogether, two girls and then six boys.”
“Two girls then six boys? So Mike and Mitch are the oldest out of the boys, right?”
“Yeah they’re the oldest boys.”
“I see. How did Devin and Maria deal with so many children?”
“Well Devin and Maria lived with Devin’s parents in Long Island after they got married and still live with them. They live in a big house. Devin’s parents and his side of the family helped out a lot, plus Maria’s has a lot of family and relatives, they were always there for her and the kids, but when Mike and Mitch became toddlers, the family and relatives couldn’t handle them because Mike and Mitch were very, very wild. They would climb the furniture, they would tear up the furniture, they would get into screaming fits and temper tantrums, they would throw items around, the items would hit the windows shattering the glass and Mike and Mitch would start biting everybody in their family. So at times Maria and Devin would bring Mike and Mitch to my parents and grandparents and asked my parents and grandparents could they keep Mike and Mitch for a while.”
“Oh really? What did your parents and grandparents do?”
“They kept Mike and Mitch a few times.”
“What? Your parents and grandparents used to baby sit Mike and Mitch?”
“Yeah.”
“For how long?”
“Like a week or two. After a while my parents and grandparents couldn’t handle Mike and Mitch either. After the end of a week or two, my parents and grandparents would give Mike and Mitch right back to Devin and Maria and told Devin and Maria that Mike and Mitch were throwing screaming fits and tearing up their furniture too.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. A couple of months later, Devin and Maria would bring Mike and Mitch right back to my parents and grandparents again, because Devin and Maria nor their family and relatives still couldn’t handle or deal with Mike and Mitch. Mike and Mitch were just too wild for their family and relatives to deal with.”
“Did your parents and grandparents take Mike and Mitch back?”
“Yeah. My parents and grandparents took Mike and Mitch back several times and had Mike and Mitch spend weeks with us again. After a while my parents and grandparents couldn’t handle Mike and Mitch again. After the end of a week or two, my parents and grandparents would give Mike and Mitch right back to Devin and Maria again.”
“They did?”
“Yeah. So one day a couple of months later, Devin and Maria kept calling my parents and grandparents on the telephone. My parents and grandparents knew it was Devin and Maria on the phone. They knew what Devin and Maria wanted so my parents and grandparents didn’t pick up or answer the telephone.”
“They didn’t? Well what if it was an emergency and Devin and Maria really needed your parents and grandparents?”
“That’s why my parents and grandparents screened the phone call and listened to Devin and Maria’s message. They can tell it wasn’t a life or death situation.”
“They can?”
“Yeah, they can tell that nobody was hurt or anything like that so my parents and grandparents didn’t pick up or answer the telephone. Then later on that day, my dad took the trash to the curb and guess who pulled up in their expensive SUV loaded with a lot of small kids and toddlers.”
“Devin and Maria?”
“That’s right, Devin and Maria. They came to drop off Mike and Mitch.”
“They came to drop off Mike and Mitch? Is that right? How did they know your parents and grandparents were gonna be home if your parents and grandparents didn’t pick up or answer the telephone?”
“They didn’t. They figured my parents and grandparents were home but just didn’t want to pick up the phone so they took a chance of coming anyway to drop off Mike and Mitch.”
“My goodness. It sounds like they didn’t give up when the telephone wasn’t being answered?”
“No I guess they didn’t. I think Devin and Maria got spoiled because they brought Mike and Mitch to my parents and grandparents anyway even though my parents and grandparents never picked up or answer the telephone. When Devin and Maria came by that day, they brought Mike and Mitch right inside my family’s house, telling my parents and grandparents that Mike and Mitch were tearing up all the furniture in their house and throwing lamps across the rooms, breaking the expensive lamps and light bulbs and smashing the television screen, causing cracks in them.”
“They did? So what did your parents and grandparents do Mickey? Did they take Mike and Mitch back that day?”
“Yep they did?”
“How come?”
“Well my parents and grandparents sort of felt sorry for Devin and Maria and wanted to give Devin and Maria a break so they took Mike and Mitch back again and kept them for two weeks.”
“Two weeks?”
“Yeah. Devin’s parents came along later to visit Mike and Mitch and paid my parents and grandparents a whole lot of money telling them thanks because Mike and Mitch were just too much out of hand.”
“I see. So right now this is actually not the first time Mike and Mitch lived or stayed with your family then.”
“No it’s not the first time. It’s probably the twentieth tim
e if I can count it all.”
“My goodness. What about Mike and Mitch’s siblings? Did Devin and Maria bring their other children to your parents and grandparents too?”
“Just to visit. But Devin and Maria didn’t really have too much problems with their other children. It was mainly Mike and Mitch they were having a problem with that’s all.”
“I see. Those two are like two peas in a pod. Don’t their sisters Rosanna and Susanna have little girl friends who are crazy about Mike and Mitch?”
“They sure do. Rosanna and Susanna told my family that all their little friends want to marry Mike and Mitch when they grow up.”
“Their little friends want to marry Mike and Mitch when they grow up? Do these little girls want to be abused and battered by Mike and Mitch and wind up in the hospital themselves?”
“Abused and battered by Mike and Mitch? Oh I don’t know Keyara, I’ve never seen or heard of Mike and Mitch physically hitting or fighting girls.”
“No? What do you mean?”
“Like I said. I’ve never seen or heard of Mike and Mitch physically hitting or fighting girls or any females.”
“You never?”
“No. Yeah Mike and Mitch are tough guys and everything and they’re always getting into fights with other kids, but all the fights they’ve been in were always with other boys or fighting and kicking male security guards or something like that.”
“Oh yeah? I’m shocked you never heard of Mike and Mitch fighting girls.”
“I’m not saying that Mike and Mitch don’t or won’t fight girls at all, because anything is possible. I’m just saying that if Mike and Mitch did fight girls, my family and I have never seen or heard of it before and we’ve known Mike and Mitch since they were born. My family have known their family for many years ever since Devin and Maria were part of my family’s organization and we’ve never seen Mike and Mitch getting into a fight with a girl or any female.”
“No? How come they don’t fight girls or females?”
“Well when one of the security guards asked Mike and Mitch how come they don’t fight girls or females in general, Mike and Mitch told the security guards because they have females in their family and they’re not gonna tolerate any guy hitting on or beating on any females in their family, that’s why they don’t fight girls or any females unless it’s in self-defense.”
“Oh, I see. As long as a girl or any female don’t hit them or try to attack them, they don’t fight girls or any females.”
“That’s correct.”
“Weren’t Mike and Mitch about to fight one of your family’s female staff members Phyllis when they tried to stop Phyllis from talking to your grandmother Margarita?”
“Well people there said Mike and Mitch were about to defend themselves from Phyllis if Phyllis would have putted her hands on them or hit them. But since Phyllis decided to back away from Mike and Mitch and never putted her hands on them or never even hit them, Mike and Mitch never hit her.”
“Didn’t they hit another one of your family’s staff women Stephanie in the face with a basketball?”
“Yeah but I don’t think Stephanie was the target. Mitch aimed the basketball at the security guard’s face when the security guard tried to grab Mike! The basketball ricochet off the security guard’s face and hit Stephanie’s face. Either way, I don’t think Mitch ever apologized to Stephanie for it.”
“No? Mickey the only reason why Mike and Mitch probably never fought a girl before or hit a girl before is maybe they didn’t have to. Like you said, no girls ever hit or attacked them before.”
“See what I mean?”
“Wow. So what is your family going to do about the maid situation Mickey?”
“We have to look for and hire another maid or house keeper! Nadia was very good Keyara, she did her job very well. She kept the house spotless. It’s not going to be easy to find another good maid or good housekeeper. My parents and grandparents begged Nadia to stay. They begged her not to go, but she didn’t listen, she didn’t want to stay. My parents and grandparents offered Nadia a job at the organization. Nadia told my parents and grandparents no, that she does not want to work anywhere Mike and Mitch are going to be at! She told my parents and grandparents that she doesn’t feel comfortable or welcomed around them! She told my parents and grandparents that once Mike and Mitch are released from my family’s custody, then she’ll be more than happy to come back and work for my family again.”
“I’m so sorry that you’re family is going through this Mickey. Nadia seemed like such a nice lady.”
“She was. Listen Keyara, I’ll be over at your place in about fifteen or twenty minutes okay?”
“Okay Mickey. Cris and I will be here.”
“Okay, see you later.” Mickey sadly hangs up the phone and walks away.
Two days later, Keyara and Cris are walking down the sidewalk. They walk towards Margarita and Tomas’ mini-mansion. They see Michael and Nicolas standing at the front gate of the mini-mansion. Keyara and Cris approach Michael and Nicolas at the front gate and say, “Hey Michael, Nicolas.”
“Hey Keyara,” Michael says. “Hey Cris.”
“How y’all doing?” Cris says.
“Okay,” Michael says.
“Y’all here to see Mickey?” Nicolas says. “He’s inside the house.”
“He is?” Keyara says. “When I spoke to him on the phone, he said he was going to be at my house in fifteen or twenty minutes. That was two days ago. He never showed up. I kept calling his cell phone but he never answered it. Is he okay?”
“Yeah Mickey is fine Keyara,” Nicolas says. “We’re just all upset about the maid situation.”
“Yeah Mickey told us about it. I’m sorry about your family’s maid Nadia quitting.”
“Yeah I’m sorry too,” Cris says. “Is Mickey going to come out here?”
“I don’t know,” Nicolas says. “Y’all can go ahead and ring the bell.”
“No that’s okay,” Keyara says. “We’ll just wait for Mickey out here.”
“Why don’t you go inside and wait for him,” Michael says.
“No that’s okay. We don’t want to run into those twins again.”
“You don’t want to run into those twins again?” Nicolas asks. “Are you talking about Mike and Mitch?”
“Yep that‘s exactly who I‘m talking about.”
“We didn’t like the way one of them looked at us the last time we were here,” Cris says.
“Yeah I heard about it,” Nicolas says.
“Now we hear that they caused your family’s maid to quit. First they made me and Keyara feel unwelcome the last time we were here, now we hear they made your family’s housekeeper feel unwelcome. They seem very good at making people feel unwelcome.”
“Well you two don’t have to worry about Mike and Mitch making y’all feel unwelcome, because they’re not here right now.”
“They’re not?” Keyara asks.
“No. My dad and my grandfather took them to the barber shop to get a hair cut. They’ll be back later. So go ahead inside.”
“No that’s okay. We don’t want to take the chance.”
“Yeah we don’t know when those two might just pop in,” Cris says.
“Oh Keyara and Cris, go ahead inside the house and have a sat down,” Nicolas says. “I told you Mike and Mitch aren’t in the house right now, they’re at the barber shop. They’re going to be at the barber shop for a while then after the barber shop, my father and my grandfather might take them off somewhere to get an ice cream cone or something like that.”
“I still don’t want to take the chance Nicolas,” Keyara says. “Mike and Mitch made Cris and I feel very uncomfortable when we were here last time!”
“Well I guess there’s no chance in hell of you filling in the vacancy spot for the maid, huh?”
“Yeah Keyara,” Michael says. “Would you care to be the family’s new housekeeper?”<
br />
“What!” Keyara says.
“Yeah Keyara,” Nicolas says. “My parents and grandparents are looking to hire a new housekeeper. They’re looking to replace Nadia. Are you interest in applying for Nadia’s old job?”
“No! There’s no way in hell will I be your family’s housekeeper while your family has Mike and Mitch living here with them! I feel the same way Nadia feels! I don’t want to work anywhere Mike and Mitch are going to be at! That’s why I refuse to go inside your family’s house in the first place! I don’t want to run into those two! I don’t blame Nadia for quitting at all!”
“Okay calm down Keyara, I was just kidding with you. Woohh, my God. Well since you two refuse to go inside the house, I guess y’all can just wait out here and hang out with us until Mickey comes out the house.” Nicolas holds a can of beer out to Keyara and Cris and asks, “Y’all want a beer?”
“No thanks Nicolas.”
“No that’s okay,” Cris says.
Keyara and Cris smirk as they puzzled look at Nicolas and the can of beer.
Two week later, Margarita and Tomas are packing bags and belongings into the back of a van outside the organization building. A Mexican woman wearing an apron holding towels in her hand approaches Margarita and Tomas. She smiles and says to them, “Hola Margarita y Tomas. Donde quieres estas toallas?”
“Ponga algunas toallas en el bano y ponga algunas toallas en el armario,” Margarita says.
“Y despues de eso, se puede limpiar la cocina,” Tomas says.
“Esta bien,” the woman says as she nods her head. She then turns and walks away. Alex approaches Margarita and Tomas. He turns his head around and looks at the woman. He turns his head back to Margarita and Tomas and says, “Hey you two. I see y’all hired a new maid, huh?”
“Yep we sure did,” Margarita says. “That’s Emma.”
“Emma?”
“Yeah,” Tomas says. “She’s another Mexican woman. We hired her last week.”
“Y’all did? That’s wonderful. How are Mike and Mitch treating her? I hope they’re not giving her a problem too.”
“Oh Mike and Mitch know better this time. We told them that if we hear any complaints about them from Emma at all and she winds up quitting too because of them, they’re gonna have to do all the house work themselves!”
“Oh yeah? Y’all told them that?”
“We sure did,” Margarita says. “And you know what? We haven’t heard Emma made one complaint about Mike and Mitch yet.”
“No?”
“No, so let‘s hope to keep it that way. The other housekeeper Nadia made a complaint about Mike and Mitch around two days after they moved in with us. In other words, once Mike and Mitch moved in with us, they didn’t waste any time ordering Nadia around, they just assumed they were her bosses too and according to Nadia, they weren‘t very nice towards her.”
“No? Where are Mike and Mitch at now?”
“Oh they’re at the basketball court playing basketball,” Tomas says.
“Oh I see.”
Margarita and Tomas continue to pack bags and belongings into the back of the van.
Several blocks away, some of the Diaz-Davidson Youth Performers and Athletes Nathaniel, Keith, Josh, Camron, Gordon and Adam are walking through a park. Josh turns to the others and says, “Yo! I heard that Mike and Mitch caused Miss Mary and Miss Margarita’s first maid Nadia to quit two weeks ago!”
“Yeah I heard it too,” Camron says. “I heard they threatened that maid Nadia with reporting her to immigration and having her deported back to Mexico!”
“Yeah I heard it too,” Nathaniel says. “Why did they do that to her?”
“I heard when that maid Nadia went to Miss Mary, Miss Margarita, Mr. Barry and Mr. Tomas and complained to them that Mike and Mitch were giving her orders, ordering her around, Mike and Mitch got in trouble,” Josh says. “Then they got angry at Nadia, so they went back to Nadia and told her they were gonna report her to immigration and have her deported back to Mexico.”
“Yeah. I heard the maid got so scared she quit. Miss Mary and them had to hire another maid, and this maid is from Mexico too.”
“Yeah I heard that too,” Keith says. “I went to Mike and Mitch and asked them about the story and asked them was it true that they threatened Miss Margarita’s first maid Nadia with reporting her to immigration.”
“What did they say?” asks Adam.
“They both denied it. They said they never said anything to the first maid or threatened her about anything. Then they both said they didn’t want to talk about it anymore. So later on when I asked them about it again, they got angry and cursed me out and said they told me that they didn’t want to talk about it. They told me if I talk about it one more time that they both were gonna fuck me up.”
“They told you that they both were gonna fuck you up?” Nathaniel asks.
“Yeah man. I told them fine. Then I said to myself let me just keep my mouth shut. I decided to just leave it the hell alone.”
“I don’t blame you man, it’s not worth it. You know Mike and Mitch are crazy, they don’t play. So let’s not say anything to them about the maid situation anymore.”
“Okay.”
“I just hope this new Mexican maid won’t have a problem with them later on. Come on let’s go.” The Diaz-Davidson Youth Performers and Athletes continue to walk towards the basketball court.
Mitch and some of the Diaz-Davidson Youth Performers and Athletes are at the basketball court. They are shirtless wearing jeans and sneakers as they play basketball. There are several excited pre-teen girls sitting on the side watching them play. One of the boys throws the basketball to Mitch. Mitch angrily takes the basketball and dribbles it as he and the other boys start to run towards the basket.
A couple of minutes later, Mitch and three of the other boys go away from the court. They go to the side and grab their shirts. Mitch puts a cap on his head as he and the three boys hang their shirts around their necks and shoulders. They go to four bikes that are on the side. They get on the four bikes and ride off.
Mitch and the other boys are riding their bikes down the path. Nathaniel, Keith, Josh, Camron and Adam are coming down the path. They approach Mitch and the other boys. Mitch and the other boys stop their bikes as Camron says, “Hey y’all what’s up?”
Adam and Nathaniel approach Mitch as Adam says, “Hey what’s up twin?” Adam and Nathaniel smack hand shakes with Mitch. Adam then asks, “So are you Mike or Mitch?”
“That’s Mitch,” Trevor says.
“Hey Mitch,” Gordon says. “I see you have a new hair cut huh?” Serious looking Mitch takes off his cap and looks at it as the other boys look at his new haircut.
“That’s a nice hair cut man,” Nathaniel says. “Where’s Mike?”
“Playing handball,” Mitch says.
“He is? Come on. Let’s go meet him and the other fellows at the handball court.” Mitch, Trevor and the other boys start to head down the pathway on bikes as Nathaniel, Keith, Josh, Camron, Gordon and Adam head down the pathway on foot.
At the hand ball court, Mike who is also wearing a new haircut and some of the other Diaz-Davidson Youth Performers and Athletes, Pete, Chuckie and Timmy are shirtless and wearing jeans and sneakers as they play handball. There are several excited pre-teen girls sitting on the side watching them play. Mike and two of the boys go away from the court. They go to the side and grab their shirts. They walk towards a fence as they hang their shirts around their necks and shoulders also. Mike bends down and starts to tie his sneakers as the other boys wait for him. Mike finishes tying his sneaker. He and the other boys walk to a fence. They start to climb over a short fence.
The other boys reach the other side of the fence as Mike stays and sits on top of the fence. Mitch and the other boys approach Mike and the other boys. Mitch rides his bike towards Mike and says, “Hey Mike!” Mike turns around to
wards Mitch as Mitch says, “You got the cell phone man?”
“Yeah I got it,” Mike says.
“Yeah I need to hold it for a minute.”
Mike reaches into his jean pocket. He takes the cell phone out his pocket and looks at it. He then hands the cell phone to Mitch. Mitch looks at the cell phone and start to smile. He then says something to Mike. They smile and talk with each other. Five other boys walk towards them as Gordon shouts, “Hey M and M!” Mike and Mitch turn towards Gordon as Gordon and the other boys approach them.
Suddenly Mike and Mitch’s cell phone rings. Mitch looks at the cell phone. He then says, “It’s Miss Margarita.” Mitch opens up the cell phone. He speaks into it and says, “Yeah Miss Margarita what’s up? …. Okay.” Mitch closes the cell phone. He turns to Mike and says, “Miss Margarita wants us to come over there for a minute.”
“Miss Margarita?” Nathaniel asks. “She wants everybody?”
“No, just me and Mike.”
“Come on let’s ride the bike there,” Mike says.
Mike comes down on the other side of the fence. He goes to Mitch’s bike. He gets on the back of Mitch’s bike and sits behind Mitch. Mitch starts to ride the bike around the fence and rides Mike away. Nathaniel shouts to them, “Y’all coming back, right?”
“We don’t know yet,” Mitch shouts.
“We‘ll call you,” Mike shouts as Mitch continues to ride him away on the back.
Several blocks away, Margarita and Tomas are still at the back of the van. Mitch suddenly rides the bike towards the Margarita and Tomas with Mike still in tow. Margarita and Tomas turn to Mike and Mitch as Mitch shouts, “Hey Miss Margarita, Mr. Tomas!”
“Hey fellas,” Margarita says as Mike and Mitch approach her. She then says, “We have to get on the tour buses in a few days. Y’all have everything packed already?”
“Yeah most of it,” Mike says.
“Good.”
“How about the rest of the guys?” Tomas asks. “They’re packed yet?”
“I don’t know. The rest of the guys are still at the court.”
“Okay.”
“Miss Margarita,“ Mitch says. “You have any juice in those bags?”
“Yeah,” Margarita says. “There should be some juice in there. See if there’s juice in there.”
Mitch pulls the bike closer to the back of the van. Tomas hands the bag to Mitch. Mitch lifts the bag and brings it to him and Mike. Mike and Mitch look and dig into the bag. They talk with each other as they pull four juices out then hand a couple of juices to each other. Mitch then brings the bag back in front of himself and hands the bag back to Tomas. Tomas puts the bag back into the van. Mitch then says, “Okay Miss Margarita Mr. Tomas, we’re gonna go back to the park.”
“Okay guys,” Margarita says. “Just remember, we’re going to be on the tour buses in a few days.”
“If y’all be at the basket ball court that day,” Tomas says, “be on the buses on time or we’re gonna send the staff members to come get you all.”
“We’ll be on the buses on time Mr. Tomas,” Mike says.
Mitch turns the bike around and says, “Later.”
“Okay guys,” Margarita says.
Mitch pushes the pedal and starts to ride the bike away with Mike in tow as Margarita and Tomas turn back towards the van and continue to pack bags and belongings into the back of a van. Alex approaches Tomas and Margarita again. He says to them, “Hey, there’s people taking merchandise out of that abandoned appliance store two blocks away.”
“Yeah we know,” Tomas says.
“But don’t worry Alex,” Margarita says. “I called the police and the police are going to be here shortly to arrest those people.”
“You called the police?” Alex says.
“I sure did. Let’s try to finish packing more stuff in the vans. Alex go in the building and bring some more bags out the storage closet?”
“Okay.” Alex turns around and heads to the organization building.
Alex approaches the front door of the organization building. He sees Diane D and Michael standing in the doorway looking down two blocks towards the abandoned appliance store. “Hey guys,” Alex says. Diane D and Michael turn towards Alex as Alex says, “Hey Diane? It looks like you just woke up.”
“I did,” Diane D says.
“You know those people are taking merchandise out of that abandoned appliance store.”
“Yeah I see.” Diane D, Michael and Alex look towards the appliance store again. They see one of the people, a heavy set black male coming their direction walking with a cart of appliances. The black male goes in the next house. Diane D starts to call out to him and says, “Hey bro!” The man stops and turns to Diane D as Diane D says to him, “You gonna hold something for me?!”
“Excuse me?” The man says. Diane D steps down the steps.
Michael and Alex look at Diane D as Michael asks, “Where’re you going Diane?”
“I’ll be back Michael,” Diane D says. She turns and heads towards the man as Michael and Alex look at her stunned. Michael and Alex look at each other then back at Diane D.
Back at the park, the Youth boys are sitting on the park benches. Some of the boys sit on top of the benches, some of the boys sit on the seat of the benches while other boys sit on bikes as they face the other boys that are sitting on the bench.
Mitch suddenly appears as he rides the bike back towards the rest of the boys with Mike still riding in the back of him. Mitch approaches the other boys and stops his bike near the other bikes as he faces the other boys that are sitting on the bench. Mike gets off the bike. He bends down to tie his sneaker again. Mike finishes tying his sneaker. He then sits on a basketball right next to Mitch as he faces the other boys that are on the bench. Two other boys sit on basketballs as they face the other boys that are sitting on the bench. Chuckie, one of the boys that is standing turns to Mitch and says, “Hey Mitch, Josh said you and your brother had caused Miss Mary and Miss Margarita’s first maid Nadia to quit.”
“What!” Mitch shouts. “Yo, my brother and I didn’t cause any goddamn maid to quit man!”
“Don’t get mad at me, that‘s what Josh told us before. He said Miss Mary and Miss Margarita’s first maid complained to them that y’all were ordering her around then y’all got mad and threatened to call immigration on her!”
“Well the bitch is lying man!” Mike shouts.
“Ah come on now everybody!” Nathaniel shouts. “I told y‘all not to bring up the maid story to them!”
“I was just kidding!” Chuckie says.
“Kidding?! Well you need to stop kidding like that Chuckie because all you’re gonna do is cause unnecessary trouble here!”
“Yeah man!” Timmy says.
“I’m sorry,” Chuckie says.
“Yeah and I’m sorry for telling your big mouth!” Josh says.
Chuckie turns to Mitch and says, “Hey, sorry man.”
Chuckie is about to give Mitch a slight hug, but Mitch angrily jerks his body away from Chuckie and shouts, “Yo get the fuck off me man!”
Chuckie quickly backs away from Mitch as he holds his arms and hands up and says, “Sorry man. Sorry.”
“Oh come on y‘all!” Pete says. “Can’t we just get along?” Few of the other boys laugh a little. The boys start to talk with each other as Mitch continues to sit on the bike and Mike continues to sit on the basketball.
Suddenly, seven black and Hispanic pre-teen and little girls walk down the pathway in the park. They pass by Mike, Mitch and the other boys looking at them. Mike, Mitch and the other boys continue to talk with each other as Mitch continues to sit on the bike and Mike continues to sit on the basketball. The girls finish walking past Mike, Mitch and the other boys and start to giggle to each other. When the girls finish walking past Mike, Mitch and the other boys, they turn their heads around to look at them. They see Mike, Mitch and the oth
er boys talking with each other, not paying them any mind. The girls turn to each other as one of them says, “They’re not even paying us any mind.”
“Yeah I know,” a second girl says. “Come on let’s go.” The girls take one last look at boys then continue to go about their way.
Mike, Mitch and the rest of the boys continue to talk with each other. Gordon suddenly smacks his arm and shouts, “There’s mosquitoes around here!”
“There sure is,” Pete says. Pete and Gordon turn to Mitch as Pete asks, “You feel mosquito bites Mitch?” Mitch holds his left arm out. He looks down at it and feels his skin for Mosquitoes. He then holds his right arm out. He looks down at it and feels his skin for Mosquitoes. Pete looks closer at Mitch‘s arm and asks, “You feel mosquito bites yet?” Serious looking Mitch looks his eye balls up at Pete then shakes his head no. Mitch puts his right arm back down and turns his head back towards the other boys that are on the bench and listens to them as they continue to talk.
Chapter 21
Family Learns Diane D Stole A Refrigerator