To stay cool coast money and with times tight the way they were with Mr. Cruz off in New Orleans playing a back up pianist and Mrs. Cruz drunk off her ass in bed, the family only can dream of a better life. But hopes are always high in this small broke down home as it chills in the winter and scorches each summer due to one reason, insanity.
Since Raquel Cruz was a child she always noticed how much she stuck out. Unlike her mother, she grew skinny and very tall with light skin unlike anyone else in the family and curly hair that was so thick her mother use to tease and say "a fork can only comb through it". Her older brother Louis excelled in sports and was particularly polite and popular while Raquel excelled in school and had an attitude that could scare off the bravest of people. But growing up in a home with a mother who spent more time passed out on a couch from vodka and a father who came home but once maybe a month before heading off to be relief for some band, it was the only way she could survive.
Sometimes however on days like today when breathing causes sweat to pour down ones forehead and stain their bodies, Raquel wonders why she even tries and stays. She sighs to herself each morning as she fixes her nephews and niece's breakfast, eggs and toast with bacon, and listens to her sister-in-law bitch about working the night before out at the bar. But slaving over the stove is her job, one she did each morning with no complaint due to the fact complaining would not making it easier or more delightful for herself and no one else could possible do it, especially since Louis had joined the armed services and left over seas, leaving three grown woman and three children alone to fend for themselves.
"Down Tony," Raquel scolds sweetly as she looks over to the side at the little four year old boy who stood in his swim trunks already. The little boy pouts at her, swiveling his foot around before turning his attention to his mother Tina who as regularly sat at the kitchen table with coffee in hand, talking on to Raquel who was doing her best to ignore her.
"Tony don't beg her. You're lucky we feed you, you little weed. Go wake grandma, tell her food is done," Tina says as she brings a hand up, rubbing her bare feet before she turns her attention back to her sister in law. "So as I was saying, Heather last night was all like you gettin old and ugly girl and I was like well hey I'm married and have three children so what's your excuse and she was all oh no you didn't and I said Oh yeah I did so whatch yous gonna do about it!"
Raquel rolls her eyes dramatically, letting a deep breath out as she picks a pan of eggs up off the stove, carefully shoveling them onto three plates for the children. "As interesting as I'm sure this is going to be Tina, I rather save this for later. I have to shower for work and get out of here.." she interrupts before setting the empty pan down on the stove, turning the burner off.
"Oh hush girl you don't need to do shit. You are only gonna sweat when you get there too," Tina huffs as she drops her feet to the floor, leaning over so she can see out the door way into the living room and without warning yells. "TONY! ANGEL! JULIE! Breakfast time!"
Picking up the plates, Raquel carefully puts them down at the table as she hears the children come charging from out of no where as they do every morning.
"Careful, You'll wake up Josephine," Raquel warns as she stands up straight, dusting her hands off on her old stained grey tank top.