We finish our video game and hurry outside. Raul leads us to the detached garage, rather than the abandoned lot out back. I suspect that he’s still not 100% ready to trust Michael to not tell on us.
There’s no car in the garage, which surprises me. Instead, there is a small sofa, radio and some other items stored there.
Alida: So we’re allowed to play in here?
Raul: Yeah. We come here when it’s raining or too cold to be outside.
Raul walks over and turns on the radio and I take a seat on the sofa.
Raul: Do you know how to dance, Alida?
Michael chimes in before I can answer…
Michael: I do!
He comes closer and begins to sway his arms and hips to the music.
Raul: *annoyed* I was talking to Alida!
I watch Michael and Raul move for a bit. I’ve never been much of a dancer, but I decide to give it try. Raul can see that I’m struggling, so he gives me some instruction…
Raul: Just move your arms like this.
I try and copy Raul’s moves, but Michael dances so well that he makes us both look silly.
Raul turns the volume down on the radio and sits down. I’m wondering if he’s had enough of trying to compete with Michael on the dance floor.
Raul: So...you said that your mother is in jail. What did she do?
I sit down next to him on the sofa.
Michael: *extra excited* Ohhh, ohhh...did she kill somebody?
Raul: No! I bet she robbed a bank. She was like, ‘give me your money or I’ll take your life!’
I find it interesting how Raul and Michael try to make my mom sound glamorous. Like her being arrested is the coolest thing in the world. But it wasn't like that at all. She just didn’t come home one day and I was left alone all night until a social worker and the police came to get me. I hate to kill their fantasy…
Alida: She didn’t rob a bank, but she did kill somebody. It was self-defense though.
Raul: *disappointed* Self defense? Then why is she in jail?
Alida: I don’t know. She just is.
Raul: That’s not right.
Alida: What about your mom? She’s not really an actress working on a movie...is she?
Raul: No.
Alida: Then what happened?
Raul: She got deported and sent back to Selvadorado.
Alida: Why didn’t she take you with her?
Raul: I don’t know.
I turn to Michael…
Alida: What about your mom?
Michael: I don’t know. She just left me at the hospital when I was born. I’ve lived here with Mama Nadine since I was a baby.
Raul: I bet yo mama left you because you were so ugly!
Michael: No she didn’t! I bet your mama got deported because your breath stinks so bad.
Raul: That doesn’t even make sense. I bet -
I chuckle, but decide to interrupt before Raul and Michael take the whole ‘I bet your mama’ thing too far.
Alida: Do either of you know what happened to Ms. Fuller’s face? Why does she have those scars?
Raul: I think she had an accident.
Alida: You think? You never asked her?
Michael: I have...but she didn’t really give me an answer.
Raul: Claudia might know. Maybe Mama Nadine told her because she’s older.
Michael: Go ask her…
Raul: I’m not going to ask her. You go ask her.
Michael: But she’s your sister!
I can feel another argument coming...so I come up with a way to effectively end it.
Alida: Let’s all go ask her.
It doesn’t take us long to find Claudia. We step out of the garage and find her a few feet away, working on a school project.
Michael: Now you can ask her…
Raul: I’m not asking anything.
Michael: Alida...you ask.
Claudia: *annoyed tone* I’m right here! What do you want?
We all stand there for a few moments like we’re tongue-tied. Raul eventually speaks up...
Raul: Do you know how Mama Nadine got her scars?
Claudia: Yes
We wait for her to say more, but she doesn’t.
Michael: Well...how?
Claudia: It’s not my story to tell. Why don’t you ask her?
Alida: We have, but she won’t tell us.
Claudia: Well...look it up online like normal people.
Michael: Mama Nadine is online?
Claudia: Yeah, but you have to look up her real name...Nadine Fuller. Now go away!
Claudia turns back to her project.
Raul: Thanks Clau!
Somewhere between the back patio and the house...we lose Michael. Raul and I open the door to Ms. Fuller’s bedroom, where the computer is...but are stopped in our tracks when we see her sitting there.
Ms. Fuller: May I help you two?
We didn’t want her to know why we were there and we never thought about what we’d say if she was actually in her room or at the computer.
Raul and Alida: *stammers* Uhhh
Ms. Fuller: *suspicious* You two okay?
Alida: Yeah...we just need to use the computer?
Ms. Fuller: For homework?
Raul and I respond at the same time with different answers…
Alida: Yes Raul: No
Ms. Fuller: Well...which is it?
I know that anything we say or do on the computer from that point on would be even more suspicious, so I decide to let it go for now.
Alida: Uh...no. Never mind...we’ll just go watch some TV.
I grab Raul’s arm and drag him out of the room before he says anything to give our true intentions away. We’d have to find another opportunity to solve the mystery behind Ms. Fuller’s scar. As we stand outside of the bathroom...Michael, who’s sitting on the toilet, opens the door.
Michael: Did you find anything guys?
I’m not sure if he really needed to use the bathroom or if he’d chickened out of our mission, but I don’t get a chance to find out because Ms. Fuller soon enters the room.
Ms. Fuller: *as she passes by* Please close the door, Michael! *looks at Raul and I standing there* You two okay?
Alida and Raul: Yes ma’am
We walk over to the tv to avoid looking like two mice caught in a trap. Ms. Fuller brings Darwin out of the bedroom and places him in his highchair. Then gives him a sandwich. I sit there as if I’m watching TV with Raul, but I can’t take my eyes off Ms. Fuller. I’m more determined than ever to find out why she has a scar on her face.
Labels: Banks - Generation 1, The Banks Dynasty
