Uncle Tony

“Not all of us are so lucky” – Karina laughed while talking to her best friend about her grade on a Biology test. It was a regular day at Tulip Tree High School in Inglewood, CA. The sun burned white-hot overhead, it seemed like it was out to get everybody who was in its way. Karina rushed home after school because she promised her ma she would help with the salon. It felt like the bus took three times longer to arrive than usual, rush hour in California. Finally, the bus came, she got in and sat down. It was about a 30-minute drive from school to the salon Karina’s mom owned so she was happy to relax and rest after a long soccer practice. The next stop an older black man with an injured leg came in the bus, Karina cracked her eyes open a little and looked around to see that there were no seats left open. She would usually pretend to be sleeping but something told her to get up. “Please sit down, sir”, said Karina. “Thank you, young lady!” – he answered with such a soft voice. The rest of the trip was quiet but in Karina’s head there were millions of thoughts and conversations about her future, dreams, etc. Centinela, Hyde Park, 118th St… and it is time to get off on the next stop, Karina noticed that the elder gentleman was also getting off there. She decided to help him out to get where he needed to. Her ma would understand it, she always taught Karina to help those who is in need. “Would you like some help?” she asked. “Oh, thank you. What’s the name of a such special person?” he replied. Karina got a little confused, she had never heard anybody call her that. She quickly replied: “Karina… my name is Karina. What’s your name?” “Tony. You can call me Uncle Tony” – the man chuckled. Their conversation went on and on about all the books they have read, all the talks around the neighborhood. They basically connected on another level. “I hope you have a great rest of your evening!” said Uncle Tony. “Thanks, you too!” replied Karina. Then she ran to her ma’s salon, it was getting dark outside and the town was quiet. Mrs. Williams got mad at her daughter at first. Although after listening to her story, she told Karina that she was very proud of her. Mrs. Williams said that Mr. Tony Smith’s family left him after the accident and didn’t want to take care of him, so he was a very lonely man. Karina went to sleep that night thinking how she would hate to be old and lonely and she promised to herself to go and visit Uncle Tony as often as she could.

Bonnie and Karina were best friends since elementary school, they were each other’s “ride or die”. Bonnie was more of a troublemaker, but Karina was always there by her side to help her out. They were sisters by soul, best friends, partners in crime and even sometimes enemies. Wherever you would go in the neighborhood, it was always “Bonnie and Karina.” Unfortunately, Bonnie lost her parents at a very young age, so she was living with her aunt around the block. Bonnie felt more comfortable with Karina’s family, so she would stay over at her best friend’s house a lot. They became inseparable. Time flew fast and here they are two seniors at Tulip Tree High School with completely different futures. They made it, not a lot of kids went that far in school where they were from. Senior year was promised to be long but exciting and surprising them in ways, they never expected.

Carrie and John Davis died in a car accident when their daughter was three years old. Bonnie Davis did not remember much about her parents, but she remembered how it changed her life forever. Being an orphan in Inglewood LA raises you into a strong person but not always on a right path. Since Bonnie was 12 years old, her uncle made her a delivery person for his “business”. Who would have suspected an innocent young girl, right? Strangely, Bonnie had a great luck when it came to getting out of things. She was in the top of her class even though she barely ever touched her homework. Her best friend was a little jealous of that, but Karina was a good friend so she would still be very happy for Bonnie. She deserved to be happy because of all that had happened to her. Bonnie had this black notebook that was one of the few things her parents left to her.

The next morning after meeting Uncle Tony, Karina went to school in a very uplifting mood, she felt like she could do anything. Karina was very excited to see her best friend. Bonnie was sitting at their lunch table and writing something in a black notebook like always. She would never show anybody what was in it, she’d say that it was too personal. Karina went behind Bonnie to scare her; it was the most hilarious thing as she said. “Boo,” screamed Karina. Bonnie jumped and said with disappointment: “Why? Every time!” “Ha-ha gotcha again. Guess what?” asked her bestie. “What?” asked Bonnie. Then Karina told her everything that happened to her yesterday, how she met this nice old gentleman, how much fun they had talking and that her mom told her that he lived alone. “We should go visit him sometime” she said. “Yeah, maybe” Bonnie replied with zero enthusiasm.

The next couple months went by like usual beside Karina became very close friends with Uncle Tony. They would talk for hours. She learned how to fix a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle, got to hear all the stories about the old neighbors and learned how to make his famous coconut cream pie. School was going great for Karina. She applied to her dream schools and she was waiting on their responses. Karina was always in control of her emotions, at least on the outside. There were some things she had never shared with anybody. Sometimes she was scared of “what if” questions. What if she’s not doing the right thing by going to college? Maybe, what if she’s supposed to be doing a completely different thing? Those things always bothered Karina. Although during that time she felt at peace, doing something she was meant to do. Bonnie and Karina spent a lot of time together studying and dreaming about what their lives would look like in ten years. How different would they be from what they’d imagined?

Summer was around the corner, when Karina received her acceptance letter into her second dream school to be on the way to become a lawyer. She always had a strong voice in her community, and she felt like it was her destiny. “Omg you’re not going to believe me!” said Karina to her best friend at school. “No way, I’m so happy for you,” answered Bonnie. “What about you? Have you heard from any of the schools?” asked Karina. “No, not yet.” replied the girl, she knew that she didn’t apply for any of the schools because Bonnie’s future was already decided.

It was a very hot day that summer but isn’t it every day in California? Karina was on her way to her ma’s salon when she saw an ambulance rushing to one of the houses. She got a little worried, but she didn’t know who it was for. She came home that night very tired and immediately fell asleep. The next morning, she woke up to some noises downstairs. When she came down a couple of policemen and her ma were sitting on the couch. “What happened?” Karina asked like she knew something bad had happened. The policemen explained that Mr. Smith had passed away from a heart attack and his last words were her name. The next few days were blurry for Karina. She got an invitation letter to court since she was mentioned in Tony’s will. Karina didn’t care because she just lost a friend, but her mom insisted she’d go. It was a very sad day for everyone, Karina saw Mr. Smith’s family. They seemed like strangers to her. She didn’t really remember how it happened, but the verdict was that she inherited 20,000 dollars and his old Chevrolet car. This money would help with her college, but it didn’t feel like she deserved it.

Life went by so fast and Karina had to leave for college. Four years of college and going into law school, Karina became a very busy young lady. Her ma and her got into an argument about her being so absent at home and now they barely talked. Karina made a lot of new friends in school and forgot about her old ones. She would still think about Bonnie often and call her every now and then. A lot of things had happened, and they kind of split in their different ways.

Karina finished school and became a very successful lawyer. She was planning on opening her own firm in downtown LA. Even though Karina would never admit it, money changed her. Karina got very comfortable with her new image, she forgot that things could change any moment and not always in the good way. One afternoon she got a call from her mom. Mrs. Williams said: “Hi daughter, you have to come home. There has been an incident with Bonnie.” Karina got in her car and rushed so fast to her old house. All the old memories and conversations were going through her mind. Once she got to the house Karina found out that Bonnie got in with the wrong crowd and was shot. Her body was found that morning. Karina fell down shouting and crying, she had never felt this sad and confused. What do you mean she would never see her best friend’s smile, hear her voice or feel her hug again? Karina was very angry but at the same time sad. She felt so much regret for not noticing what was going on with Bonnie. In that moment she realized how short life is and she’d never want to lose anyone close to her. After the ceremony, Bonnie’s aunt gave Karina her black notebook and said that her best friend would want her to have it. That night Karina did not sleep, thousands of tears went down her face while reading her soul sister’s thoughts and memories all captured in that black notebook. Karina promised herself to be more present at home and spend as much time as possible with the people she loved. That had changed her life. She realized that money and fame don’t make her who she is. Karina remembered the words of Uncle Tony: “It’s not anything else that make you a special person but the people that love and care for you!” Finally, she figured out what life is about by very sad and unfortunate events.

“Not all of us are so lucky” – Karina whispered, kissing the headstone of her best friend.