Moonica and her Raging Bull

It was the gloomiest of day’s. The rain trickled down her window and Moona ( that was her nickname) could feel all the hairs on the back of her neck rise. “The hairs of despair” is what Moona would call them. When these hairs of despair would come around, it usually meant something awful or eery was about to happen.

Moona could feel herself slipping into a trance; which usually meant she was about to get a glimpse of what the raised hairs on her neck were about. In the distance she could hear the phone ringing. Moona had to pull herself out of the trance and run to answer the phone. Moona’s mother would get very upset if the phone rang more than three times.

“Hello” said Moona as she picked up an apple and answered the phone hanging on the wall of the kitchen entrance.

“What are you doing Moonica? What took you so long to answer the phone? Asked Moona’s mother, with a vexed tone in her voice.

“Nothing Mother...I was in my room in the back and did not hear the phone ringing.” Explained Moonica while rolling her eyes; trying not to sound irked by her mother’s assuming nature.

“I already told you, I need you to answer the phone promptly after the first ring. Don’t let it happen again Moona!” Scolded Moona’s mother.

“Yes, mam..” Replied Moonica

“I need you to be ready by the time I get home, have all your chores done and be ready to go. We have errands to run with your Tia and your cousins.. Do you hear me Moona?” Stearnly asked Moonica’s mother.

“Yes, mam..” replied Moona “Bye,..Mommy dearest!!” Said Moona sarcastically as she hung up the phone.

Moonica always wondered why her mother never called just to talk, or ask her how her day was going.(Like she did with her older sister.) It was always just barked orders. Maybe one day her mother would realize that, this is why Moonica never called her mom or mommy. Moonica just always called her “Mother” or “Mommy dearest”.

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Everything had gone as planned, but Moonica could not shake that eery feeling away. Moonica was wondering what was going to happen and when was it going to happen. Moonica’s mother had picked her up and they picked up her Aunt and her daughters. Moonica’s Mother was taking her nieces school shopping. The rain had put a damper on the evening, and everyone was hungry but Moonica’s Tia said she had to get home to make supper for her boyfriend or else he would get “mad at her”! Moonica’s mother was getting upset with her younger sister for living with such a man, whom would not help her support her daughters and obviously had anger issues and a drinking problem.

“I swear,.. I don’t know where you find these losers Maria.” Angerily yelling at her sister as she walked to the back room with Moonica and her three cousins.

“Moona come here. I need you to stay here with your Tia and your cousins..OK. Tonight if anything happens, I need you to call me..right away, your stupid Tia won’t call anyone..Do you hear me Moona?” Questioned Moona’s mother firmly as she showed Moona where the phone was.

“Yes, mam..” Said Moona as she turned and went back to play with her primas.(Primas, is the Spanish word for female cousins.). You have to remember Moona was only 11 years old. Moonica loved playing just as much as any other child, with the only exception being; was that, Moonica’s mother did not allow her to have any toy’s. It was always do this or do that, help this person do this or take care of her younger cousins.

Moonica loved her three younger cousins, they were the younger sisters she never had, and she spent a lot of time with them. Moonica always thought they were the most beautifullest little girls. She would do anything to protect those little girls.

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As they were playing with the Strawberry Shortcake dolls, which, Moonica loved so much.They all smelled so perfectly divine; is what Moonica would always say. Moonica always wished she could have a Strawberry Shortcake all her own but, she was happy with the fact that at least her three younger cousins were happy. As, Strawberry Shortcake was about to go to a pool party with Cherry Jam, Lemon Meringue, Blueberry Muffin and Orange Blossom; Moonica heard the living room door slam and some loud yells come after that. Moonica told her cousins she would be right back. She told them to continue playing and not to come out of the room until she came back. They all agreed and continued to play. As Moonica closed the door behind her, she froze for half a second, her heart started pounding faster and she lost her breath for half a second. Monica could hear her Tia crying and yelling.

“Leave me alone, I am almost finished.., I had to take the girls to get their school clothes and shoes. I am sorry your food is not ready but, I promise you it will be soon.” ( This was said in Spanish, because her Aunt only dated men from Mexico and he only understood Spanish.)

Then Moonica forced her feet to move as she held onto the wall. Then, she froze up again for a split second as she heard Paulo start screaming in Spanish:

“I told you, I want my food on the table when I get home..you don’t do anything all day..You are one ugly lazy bitch!” (Once again all this was said in Spanish.) Yelled Paulo as he pushed her Aunt around.

Then, it sounded like someone was being slapped in the face...then, there was this loud banging against the kitchen wall, that felt like it shook the whole apartment. Once again Moonica heard her Tia cry out again:

“Leave me alone” cried her Aunt

That is when Moonica took a deep breath and thrust herself into the living room. As she grabbed the phone Moonica could see into the kitchen and she saw that her Aunt was trying to grab a pan to hit Paulo with, but.. he punched her in the face and she feel to the ground. Moonica wanted to run to Paulo and hit him with the phone,( I mean, she could see it happening in her mind) but, she remembered what her mother told her, so... she started walking slowly back to the room. As Moonica walked slowly back to the room, she could see her Tia reaching for some knives. At that moment Moonica could swear it looked like Paulo was going to turn around, so.. she darted back to the room with her cousins, slowly closed the door and then locked it.

Moonica grabbed her cousin’s and told all of them to get in their closet. When they were in the closet, she called her mother and told her everything she saw and heard. Moonica’s mother told her to get everyone out of the apartment and to wait for them outside because they were on their way.

Moonica hung up the phone, looked at her cousins and said:

“Ok..girls, we have to get out of here..quietly. I need you three to listen to me and do as I say.. It is very important. Paulo, is acting very crazy and your Tia is on her way to pick us up. When we walk out the door I don’t want you to look in the apartment, there is that big window in the living room and it is open, I need you three to only look at the green stop light..Focus only on the stop light and do not look at anything else. Just remember that, I need you three girls to be very quiet. I will carry Cindy and you two stay as close to me as possible..Ok, girls, I know you can do this!” Said Moonica to her cousins as she could feel her heart racing and she could feel her hands shaking. Moonica took another deep breath. She did not know why, but.. taking deep breaths helped calm her down.

Moonica looked into her cousins eye’s and she could see that they wanted to cry. Moonica did too, but she knew that would scare her little cousins. Monica took them by their little hands and as they walked to the bedroom door, she whispered to them:

“Ok, girls...remember I need you to be brave, strong girls, Please... don’t cry or Paulo will hear us.” Trying to sound un afraid as she grasped their little hands a little tighter.

“I am scared” the two oldest said at the same time with trembling voices and watery eyes.

“I know, but..we can do this. Stay close to me..I promise, I will not let anything happen to you.” Said Moonica hoping she didn’t sound terrified.

“Ok, girls...let’s go.” As she opened the door,Moonica then turned around and put her finger to her mouth and made the ssshing sound.

Moonica took tiny steps as they creeped out the door. Monica looked back at her cousins and reminded them to cover their ears, and to look out the window at the green light. She also kept her finger pressed to her mouth to remind them to stay quite. The closer they got the more her cousins started to whimper, because they could hear their mother screaming and crying.

“Paulo, what are you doing?” Said Sofia the oldest one, as she cried.

“We are scared Moona, what is he doing to our mommy?” Cried Vanessa, in a whispering cry to Moona.

After that, everything started happening so fast...all Moonica wanted to do, was to get her little cousins out of there.

“Be quiet, be quiet... please, be quiet..we have to get your mom and get out of here.” Whispered Moonica strongly.

That was the moment when Moonica saw Paulo turn around as they were in between the couch and the door.

“Let’s go; Sofia, Vanessa.. run to the fucking door, keep looking at the light and don’t stop till you get downstairs, Then scream and yell for help if your Tia is not down there!” Yelled Moonica as tears started coming down her face, as she pushed Sofia and Vanessa forward.

Sofia grapped Vanessa’s hand and ran crying to the door. As Sofia unlocked the door she turned back to look at Moonica and Cindy.

“Don’t look back Sofia, just fucking go.” Cried Moonica.

Moonica turned to her Tia:

“Get out of the fucking house, damit! Moonica took two steps towards her aunt and grabbed her by her shirt and started dragging her, as she carried Cindy in her arms. With tears flowing down Moonica’s face, Moonica could not see anything...so, she herself, focused on the green stoplight outside the window. Moonica could hear herself saying:

“Move...damit, fuckin move.. or he is going to kill all of us.” As Moonica saw Paulo going for the knives in the kitchen, Moonica also saw her Tia finally getting up and start running towards the door. As Moonica turned around, she could see Paulo getting closer to her. Moonica yelled out in anger at her Aunt, as loud as she could:

“Grab Cindy.., grab your fucking daughter Tia!!.”

As Moonica’s Aunt turned around, and Moonica was turning around to see where Paulo was at..Moonica felt Cindy being snatched out of her arms. Moonica felt a fever come over her, she could swear everything in her vision was turning red. When Moonica saw Paulo holding Cindy, a sudden immense amount of anger came over her. Without hesitation, she charged ( like a raging bull) at Paulo.

“Let my cousin go, you fucking loser!” Yelled Moonica in Spanish as she charged into his shoulder.

Paulo punched Moonica,Moonica saw black and red, but she got back up and charged at Paulo again and again. Paulo kicked Moonica and as soon as she felt herself hit the ground, she was forcing herself back up, yet again.

“I will kill you, give me back my cousin, you fucking pathetic motherfucker!”

She charged, yet again for Paulo but this time she felt something yanking at her from behind.

“No, No!!! What are you doing?! I have to get Cindy!” Yelled and cried Moonica, as she looked behind her and she saw her Tio Caesar, and her Tio Vinny.

“Don’t let anything happen to her.” Cried Moonica.

“It’s ok mejia, we got this motherfucker! It is ok mejia! We will take care of this.”

Then, Moonica felt someone carrying her, as she looked up, Moonica saw her stepdad.

“I am so sorry, I didn’t know that he was going to grab her. I hate him! I couldn’t save her, I tried.” Cried Moonica.

“ You did more than anybody else would have done, you are amazing Moonica. Cindy is alright your Tio’s got her, and your mother should have never left you here by yourself. I Love you Sweatheart.. Everything is going to be ok!”

The cops came, the news and helicopters came. It was all over the news. Moonica could hear everything as she lay in the car. Moonica realized in that moment what it meant to be a True Taurus. She realized she had a raging bull inside her and that she would do anything to protect those she loved.