[size=150]1. Impatiently Waiting[/size]
Luis Cabrera had been standing at the corner of 174th Street
and Saint Nicholas Avenue for about half an hour. Not one to be keen to
patience, his quick temper was beginning to turn his light complexion into a
reddish one. He stood anxiously in front of the smoke shop that was
nicknamed the Humm-ana’s looking at his cell phone over and over for the
time. It was 8:47pm.
Ever since Luis, also known as the Godfather, has known Bern
he has known that he wasn’t like everyone else he had ever met in the
Heights. Bern seemed to be on his own program half the time, always
dreaming of the future, and inspiring others to follow those dreams. He
also knew that if it weren’t for the fact that they shared a fraternal bond,
he probably would’ve robbed Bern a long time ago. But instead of punking
him, Godfather looked out for him. Making sure that nobody messed with him,
and in return Bern was always a loyal friend in which he could confide in.
Being a person full of pride and ego, Godfather hardly ever opened
himself to anybody, but to Bern he told it all as it is. Fears, hopes,
dreams and goals. But at this moment Godfather was ready to break Bern’s
Jaw if he didn’t show up.
In the distance came a figure. In the neighborhood of
Washington Heights many people roam the streets at all times of the day and
night. It was Manhattan, but the culture in the Heights could have
convinced you otherwise. This figure wouldn’t have caught Godfather’s eyes
had it not been for that walk. It was Bern.
Bernardo Jose Garcia was not an imposing figure. His
presence didn’t command attention or respect. He didn’t put fear in
people’s hearts, and he hardly ever rubbed anybody right. The thing that
Bern did have was ambition, dedication and raw honesty. Added to this was
the fact that he probably was the horniest man alive. His admiration of the
female gender was probably his main motivating factor in life. Everything
he did, he found some way to twist it into some perverse sexual fantasy.
Bern, also known as The Panty Raider, used it for his advantage.
Even though Bern could easily be forgotten, he held much
power from those around him. Not in terms of fear, but because Bern knew
how to tap into the desires of those around him. Male and female. A long
time ago Bern realized that all men were weak to attractive women. Even
though he couldn’t get his way with men the way Godfather did, he always had
a knack of getting his way with girls. And in any other circumstance, guys
like Bern would have remained at the bottom of the totem pole in the
Heights. But guys knew that Bern knew girls.
Of course he did. Whether he was having sex with them or not, Bern
knew it didn’t matter. Just being around an attractive woman is more than enough
to get everybody thinking. Most of the time he was screwing the ugly
friend, the big fat hairy lip one that no one talks to, but that bought him
enough insurance to become best of friends with the model looking ones.
Playing a game of chess with people is what he called it.
Through the nature of man, the big time ballers from the
neighborhood knew of him. Always inviting Bern to this party or that one.
Telling him to bring a friend or two. Sometimes he would bring girls, other
times he wouldn’t. And ever so often he would throw a party, and invite
nothing but women. Close it up so that hardly anybody gets in, but then
invites the guys that hold the true power in the Heights, and the ones that
he needed for something. Little unassuming Bern was playing political
hardball in the city that never sleeps. And because all men think with
their penises and not with their brains, they listened to what the skinny
nerd had to say. Especially when he started The Panty Squad.
“Damn, por fin! Where the fuck have you been?” Luis yelled
as Bern crossed the street. Bern, always the one to walk fast, just gave an
ear-to-ear half smile and did his trademark call.
With his right hand cupped to his mouth, as if it was going
to make his voice any louder than it already was, he took in a deep breath
and yelled, “Do-koo-tuip!” The trademark call was Bern’s’ imitation of a
police car turning on its siren for one loop. He did it everywhere he was
known in order to make his presence known, and nobody in the Heights did it
but him.
Everyone on 174th Street between Saint Nicholas and Wadsworth
avenues that was outside on the street looked east to see who was Bern with.
A few of the guys walked towards the smoke shop to say what up to Bern, but
most of them were wondering where the party was at tonight and if they can
go. Little did they know that the events of this evening was going to
leave a few people without the capacity to breath and one person going to
jail for the rest of their natural lives.
