Joaquine: Short Stories and Poems

The Crying                 The cries of the baby break the silence of the cold and dark night.  The wind closes and opens the wooden windows now and then. The fall leaves that have not been picked up making small mountains that the wind breaks and makes them again in a distant corner of the brown grass.  On the second floor of the house a shadow of a woman is reflected into the large wooden wall that has pieces of yellowish wallpaper hanging-out. An oil lamp is all that is illuminating the room.                 “When will all you stop crying? It is driving me crazy!” she says, holding one baby with one hand and the bucket of water with the other. She puts the baby on the metallic container and pours the warm water into it, while the other baby cries from across the room.  She pours some water with her hand over the baby...

                Luke’s mother has always avoided talking about the brown traveling case that is under the bed. Whenever she cleans up under the bed, Luke always asks her what is inside the case but she just changes the subject and moves on.  She always keeps the little golden key that opens the case around her neck and never takes it off unless when she showers. Luke has made many attempts to get the key but he never gets it. Today, his aunt, Mary, and cousin, Laura, are visiting them. Laura is thirteen just like Luke is. She is a little taller than and she has always made fun of how short he is. “Hey you still the short one” Laura says putting her hand on top of Luke’s head and showing him that he just reaches where her nose is. “You know that guys grow a little slower and someday I will be taller than you!” he says and runs off to the living room. Her aunt and mom stay on the kitchen getting ready t...

The Last Song                  The rain fell in the paved and trashed alley the black and blue trash bins welcomed the cleansing rain. It was another typical summer rain in the City. A black cat licked his pawns under the shelter of the pizzeria place hanging roof and the fat owner snored the afternoon away. His long and greasy hair hugged his rounded face. Inside the pizzeria flies and turned chairs ruled the dark place. In the kitchen the old brick oven laid wide open with flames licking out into the darkness now and then. The delivery driver sat in front of the old computer with the office door closed and his pants unbuttoned watching his favorite popup filled porn; big silicone lesbians with heroin marks still fresh around their bodies. There was no sound in that old computer but there was no need for our savvy driver. He just filled the blank moans with his imagination. It was better this way he thought....

                Rain pours down in the old church. A tall man touches the old rusty door handles and opens the door. The door clicks and he sees a river of candles illuminating the dark church. He hears whispers coming out of the shadows. The smell of incense and burning wax penetrate his nose making his head a little dizzy.  He walks. His boots splashing against the wooden floor makes some people turn around and stare at him with candles in their hands. He makes his way to the altar leaving trails of mud and water behind. When he arrives at the altar he sees a priest kneeled down and facing the altar, shaking the container that has incense in it and it is creating a curtain of smoke that rises all the way to the ceiling that has paints of Popes and Saints. The priest is wearing a long white robe with a large red painted cross across his back. The man’s mind keeps replaying the images of his mast...

Heart Shadows                 Lucy was her name at least that was what she was called in that dirty Brothel between Bryant and 21 st.  San Francisco, California .  She came from Fresno, California five years ago during the infernal summer of ’03. Other than that, not many people know what her previous life was like. Of course, I know since it is my job to know stuff about people. I know she graduated from a Visalia High School as an honor student in the spring of ’01. She came from a rich family, owners of many farms and restaurants.                   But, as in every family there is always a black sheep. And Lucy, or rather Esther Pausini that is her real name, is the black sheep of the Pausini family. After her father died in the summer of ’01, her world went down the tubes. She began doing drugs and began hanging...

Dust Gold: Part I I watch my digital alarm clock red numbers change from 11:59 pm to 12:00 am.  I sight. It is now officially February 2nd.  I turn over on my warm bed, and close my eyes. Maybe now I can catch two last hours of sleep. It is almost time to leave and I am still awake. I am too excited, and can hardly wait to hear the knock from my dad to signal that it is time to leave.  Last night mom sent us all to sleep at eight, by then we had everything ready that we were going to take on our trip. She of course stayed up until late I heard her with my sharp ears that’s probably the reason I am still awake. This will be my first year that I will be allowed to go with my family and cousins to the “Lighting of the Gold.” I hear a soft knock on my old wooden door, and my dad calls my name. “Rafael it is time.” He says and walks off to the bathroom. He likes to be first to take a shower. I get up at once and my eyes feel itchy.  I open and close them a few t...

The waves crashed against the Pier as the sun set over the Pacific. The wind blew and the sea lions sung the last song of the day. The seagulls fished their food around the green garbage cans. The black trumpeter with his colorful hat played and the lights flickered on.  People zoomed by the lost children that held their hands on the red benches with their red cheeks and matching shorts. The carousel circled and circled as they glanced from side to side. The boy with his blue eyes held the hand of his sister as he continued to scan the sea of strangers that laughed too loud and ate colorful candies. “She will come back for us soon.” He said stretching his neck to try and peek over the crowd. His sister nodded as her big green eyes looked up to him. He wore his favorite red baseball cap, the one with the roaring lions and the one his father gave to him before he passed away last winter in middle of December. His father said it was an early Christmas present. It was a cold mornin...

Cat Town: Part I “Tell me not who I was instead tell me who I am. Because who I am is not who I once was.” Dusk bathed the Town in that colorful orange smell of the ending of the day and the warm arrival of a clear night. A starless night, but clear or so clear. The cars zoomed quietly tired drivers with food in their minds drove calmed as the Sun rays set over the mountains. This was the time when our nightly companions came awake. With their stretched pawns and jaws they crawled their way out of their hiding places. The Kings of the night licked themselves and their supernatural noses captured the essence of their fellow friends and enemies alike. Also, the delicious smell of cooking meat and the opening of trashcans as their human servants deposited the delicious food for the Kings. The offerings for the mighty like gods of old. It was Cat Town after all. The human name of the town did not matter, when there were more felines than humans. A secret that the K...