That first day, Yunior wasn’t taking it well, nor Ma. He was lying around, skinny as hell, fevers burning wholes in his head. He was pampered, Ma bought fresh meat, fresh veg, fresh clothes, but neither Yunior nor Ma knew what the fuck to do.
He needs a doctor, Yunior said
Well we cant afford one, said Ma, i don’t earn enough money to support even one sick child ; what do you impose i do?
The few days Yunior left the house, he returned stoned and with enough weed for a garden festival.
Rafa was asleep most of the time, a burning star in a cold winter. He didn’t bring home girls anymore, it seemed that the truth had dawned in his mind. Ma had begun to pray in Rafa’s room with the Hallelujah Squad while he sleeps, asking for miracles and whatever else. They knelt with the dusty curtains drawn back so that God may have sight on whom he may mercy. Yunior had been smoking so much pot those last few days, the whole house stunk.
With the second day coming, Rafa was feeling more himself, ordering Ma to and fro the kitchen less and less, as Rafa left the house more and more. The first time Rafa left the house, He rushed out the door, screaming Hallelujah, as Tammy ‘Fly Tetas’ pulled up outside in her car and Rafa got in the passenger door.
Hey, these mindless ghouls wait on me hand and foot around here but I still got no one to talk to. Said Rafa
I know, iv’e got my own problems too, Rafa.
Drinks, yeah? In there I only get pot stinking coffee and water. And since i ain’t getting better anytime soon, why not some cake.
A little later, Yunior spotted Tammy pulling up once again, this time in the darkness of night. He was stumbling down the road, stoned, with his pockets overflowing with weed. Rafa got out the passenger door, turned on his heel and walked towards their house.
Ma was slaving over the hot stoves that evening, cooking Rafa’s favorite food; a slab of roasted pork over a plate of sticky rice. She pulled herself away from the kitchen, and went to look over a couple of Rafa’s books. She sat for hours turning over the dark curled pages and caught herself crying, water streaming down her face. She felt the crucifix which she had worn since Rafa’s birth. The crucifix she had worn because she was told she could never have another child after her two miscarriages. And now, an even more unfortunate event was going to occur. She composed herself over a few minutes and returned to the kitchen. The food was scorched, black char oozing from the pork and the rice turning dark brown. Ma began to weep.
The lampshade flickered and a loud thump echoed through the archway into the kitchen and a slow creaking followed. Then a feint moan. Then nothing. Ma turned on her heel and ran; Rafa was the only other person in that household. Rafa was half slumped onto his knees with his face merged against the wall next to the door and his hand was in the open wind, twitching in the light breeze. Ma heaved him onto her shoulders and lowered him onto the dusty sofa which once had been Rafa’s favorite place.
THE SHOPPING CART
Ma stumbled outside, Rafa trembling on her shoulders and together, they bundled down the stairs three at a time. At the bottom, Ma crumpled and slouched against the wall. From then on, Ma half-carried, half-dragged Rafa out through the side gate and towards the road where the shopping cart lay, abandoned and wretched with 3 sides hanging off by a single steel bar.
The pavements were full and the roads packed and frozen like chickpeas. With Rafa awkwardly resting on the back-left corner of the wretched cart, weaving in and out of gaps, they gradually drew near to the hospital. One wheel came flying off and sparks started as a loud screeching could be heard below the cart. It started to drag. One by one, the greats clattered to the hard pavement and each wheel began to stick. Large marks were left in the pavement. It stopped. Ma stopped. and Rafa’s head lolled over the edge of the grate.
With Rafa slung around his shoulders, Yunior set off towards the hospital and was cut short by a dizziness which struck his temple. He stumbled slightly and tried to carry on but it was growing sharper and stronger. Soon, Yunior’s whole head rung with a pounding rhythm. Within metres of the hosptal, Yunior crumpled to his knees and sent Rafa sprawling. Nurses came out. Yunior blacked out.
He woke up. Ma crying. No doctors.
Ma, Yunior called
Ma lifted her face slowly, drooling colours creeping down her face. She looked tired. Exhausted.
Fourteen days.
Fourteen days what?
He’s been gone fourteen days.
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