I Hope You Live Long

for Edwin Leon (1971-1992)

Belkys was a 16 year old Puerto Rican girl who lived around the corner and next door to Joey and Edwin, these Dominican kids who went to school with my brother.  Our moms knew each other back in DR--small world.  Anyway, my brother met Belkys while she sat on her front stoop hanging out with her cousin, Stacy.  My brother used to sneak her into his room at night while everyone slept.  I woke up to the sounds of smacking lips and subtle moans coming from across the hall.  My parents must have heard, but probably didn't want to be bothered--"boys will be boys," especially "machos."  Willy then started to bring her to the house more often afterschool.  She just wasn't someone I wanted to be friends with.  She was a dumb, slutty girl; and I didn't want to talk to her--neither did my sister--neither did my father.  

One day my brother asked if Belkys could stay with us; she got kicked out of her house.  My mom said that Belkys could sleep on our livingroom sofa.  My mom was soft.  She went to Immaculate Conception Church every Sunday without fail.  And after mass, she sipped cafe con leche with Dona Petra in the church basement.  Dona Petra was an old Spanish lady who lived on the corner with her unmarried daughter, Jorgie.  The only thing that made me angrier than having to go to church every Sunday, was having to sit in the back of my mom's Dodge with Dona Petra who smelled like onions.   

My dad and my brother never had to go to church.  My dad spent his Sundays drinking beers, talking sports, and running numbers at Rene's bodega.  Willy messed with Belkys on my mom's bed.  My brother: a horny young man, with low self-esteem, and used to getting whatever he wanted without any effort. 

Belkys finally left to her "friend" Wanda's house.  My dad told Willy he couldn't see her anymore.  Pop threatened to burn the house down before letting her back in.  There were rumors going around that Belkys and Wanda were such good friends that they  even showered together; claims backed up by reliable sources at the bodega; and so, his relationship with Belkys was brought to an end.

After Belkys, Willy started going out with Evelyn, this Dominican girl who lived in a two story house down the street from Joey and Edwin.  She was a slut too; but I liked her.  Evelyn was chubby, sandy colored skin, and had round brown curls like a girl who set her own rollers.  My mom trusted her so much that she paid her to walk me to school everyday.  She was a laugher and a talker.  She loved Michael Jackson like me and my sister.  Even Pop liked Evelyn, and he didn't like any of the teenaged girls in my neighborhood.

I rode the E & R subways to Corona with my sister Mari who was practicing to be in her friend Candida's Sweet 15.  Eventhough he was with Evelyn, my brother still messed with my sisters friends Ivis, Celeste, and Celeste's sister Tina.  During the Sweet 15 party, Willy slow danced with Tina to, "Always and Forever," while Celeste was in the next room.  

Willy decided to join the Marine Reserves after graduating from St. John's Prep.  When the recruiters came to the house, they looked like authority.  My brother was stupid with girls, but smart when it came to his future.  My mother coddled him; she did everything for him: cleaned his room, washed his clothes, and cooked breakfast for him every morning.  Before he left for Paris Island, Willy and Evelyn did it.  It happened only once.  

He did two summers in a row, and it was enough for him.  The military police came looking for him.  He peeked out of his window in the front, snuck out of my window in the back, jumped on the backyard roof and off, and then hopped the linked fence.  He went to Victor's house, a Cuban kid who lived behind us.  My mom was flustered, my dad was livid, and me and my sister were embarrassed.  The MPs threatened to put my brother in jail.  When he got back home, he said he'd rather go to jail then go back to the Marines. They finally "came around", stopped calling, and gave him a dishonorable discharge.

Evelyn was back from college that summer when she ran into my brother.  I think he missed her.  Belkys insinuated that Joey had "caught something" from Evelyn.  My brother already knew.  I felt sorry for her.  She was a nice girl who did stupid things: a horny young girl, with low self-esteem, and used to getting whatever she wanted with no effort.