approximately 1,100 words

 

 

 

 

 

 

TIO CÉSAR ©

by Mercedes Pecunia

 

Tio César was my mother=s brother.  He had tormented her, the youngest sibling out of 6 relentlessly for many, many years.  His sadistic games lasted well into her adult life and eventually escalated into full control over her life, thoughts, and actions.  In those days, the older brother replaced an extinct father and he used this opportunity to his advantage.  His imprint was carved deeply within her.  That, however, was many years ago and once my mother had managed to flee her homeland and settle in New York, she had escaped him for good.

Today, was my turn to meet Tio César for the very first time.  I was visiting relatives overseas that summer.  My ninth birthday was nearing and preparations were being made to celebrate it.  Tio César walked into the house and sat on the green sofa in the living room.  He was a man in his mid forties; a dark-skinned man of medium build with coarse brown hair.  His hair had been pulled back and vaselined into submission.  He had dark sinister brown eyes.  The type of eyes that showed no emotion.  He had a loud boisterously unsettling voice.  It seemed like everything he said was a command, and never a request.  He was handsome, but his beauty was overshadowed by that manipulating and overbearing demeanor.

I sat in a corner of the room on the floor playing.  And when one of my female relatives greeted him, she called me over to her side.  We were introduced.  He informed me he had not seen my mother in such a long time.  I mumbled the usual >hello= and went back to my dolls.  I heard him tell her that I was not a friendly child and that he hoped I was not like my mother.  I glared at him, but he seemed so enraptured in his own conversation that I had become insignificant to him.

I continued playing and he later uttered my name.  I ran over to him.  AGet me a glass of water, child@ he said.  I could see the sweat running down the side of his face.  He had a white over-starched handkerchief in his hand and began to wipe himself.  I stood in front of him for a moment longer and he coldly and hatefully looked at me.  I knew what that meant, >hurry, and get me the water!=

I stepped into the kitchen.  Felicia, the servant girl sat on a stool fanning herself with a paper fan.  She watched me reach for the colorful plastic cup and open the refrigerator.  ADo you need something to drink?@ she inquired.  I assured her I did not need her help and continued to pour the beverage.

I returned before my uncle.  He grabbed the cup from me, held it up, and tapped on the plastic.  I could see his frowning eyebrows drawing closer together, ADon=t you know anything, child? You do not bring me drink in a plastic cup.  Go and get me a glass and make sure the water is cold@ he exclaimed as he handed me back the beverage.  I had made up my mind in the short time I had known him; I did not like this man at all!

Again, I walked into the kitchen, but this time I asked Felicia to please serve Tio César the glass of water.  I slipped out of the kitchen through the door, which led to the backyard and proceeded to enter the house through the family room.  I hid away in my room for several hours hoping he would depart soon.

I was beckoned once more to appear in front of him and bid him farewell.  I still recall his last words to me that day.  He condescendingly patted me on the head and drew closer while saying, AYou are a lazy one B couldn=t even bring your thirsty uncle a glass of water and you left your toys scattered on the floor.  You are just like your motherYspoiled.@  Surely, he must have seen the look of disdain on my face, but if he did, he chose to ignore it and hugged everyone in the room, except for me, as he made his exit.

I had the good fortune of avoiding him for the following weeks until a few days before my birthday.  I was feeding the dogs in front of the house.  One of the females had given birth to several puppies.  Most of the puppies had already been given away to various neighbors.  There were 2 puppies left.  One was substantially larger and much more dominant than the other.  The smaller puppy had been the runt of the litter and needed my undivided attention when his mother refused to feed him.  For many nights, I coddled the puppy and fed him through an eyedropper until he was able to eat solids.  I would play with him constantly and was promised the dog as a birthday gift.

Tio César=s car came up the driveway.  He parked the car and walked over to me.  AWhat are you doing?@ he asked.  AI am feeding the dogs@ I retorted.  He watched me playing with the puppies for a few minutes and asked, AYou do know that the puppies will be given away?@ I nodded.  He went on, AI need a dog for my farm.  Which one do you think will be a good watchdog?@ I pointed to the more robust puppy and informed him that the runt was weaker and needed a lot of attention.  He was far too docile to watch over anything.  He laughed and headed towards the house.

I held my puppy and tossed him a ball.  He looked perplexed and remained in the same spot, but I was patient and tried to show him what to do.  Tio César emerged from the house and told me he was taking one of the puppies with him.  He examined both dogs and although the runt cowered away from him, he chased him around until he got a hold of him.  He had raised him off the ground by the scruff.  The puppy yelped and struggled for freedom, but Tio César put him under his arm and said, @I=ll take this one!@ My heart sank and I ran into the house crying.  That night, and every night after, I asked God to dispose of this cruel man.  I believed the world would not benefit in any way by having him around.  I hated him so and wished him to die.

Some time passed and Tio César did not visit.  I was both happy and relieved.  And then, on the most beautiful clear morning I had ever seen, my cousin rushed into my room and asked me to hurry and dress.  The birds were chirping, the skies were exceptionally blue, and the temperature was cool, not hot as it had been before.  The weather was perfect.  We were on our way to a wake.  It was Tio César=s.  He had a heart attack the previous evening.

I know there are some that would believe that this was some kind of freak coincidence and that it did not correlate to my prayers.  To these people everything has a rational explanation.  As for me, I still believe God had finally answered me or maybe, he was just getting around to finally answering my mother.