Brownish
By
Frank Daly
Chapter One
My Gay Huband
This is Betty Chavira’s cruise day. It’s dark outside and she quietly opens the garage door, gets behind a 3,500 pound Vehicle and uses her wiry, petite body to push it out of the garage and onto the street.
She then hops into the family Pontiac GTO Trophy V8, straps herself in with a loose fitting seat belt over her thin torso, and fires up the 400 horsepower engine.
Once in a quiet area several doors down from the cul de sac, she smiles as she revs up the gurgling eight cylinder power plant, then adjusts her seat cushion to get a better view of the street.
Final prep for road travel is listening to ear busting tunes on the Wolfman Jack show on 93 KHJ Los Angeles.
Betty doesn’t miss a beat and puts forth her best “jam,” moving the upper part of her body as if the car seat is a dance floor, carefully checks her blind spot, then heads for Hope Street where Randy’s crib is only two miles away in a side alley on the other side of the Bottle Shop Liquor Store.
Acknowledging the imaginary checkered flag, Betty makes the turn, steadies the muscle car, then guns it to complete
Zero to 60 in four seconds.
With music blaring and her long jet black hair tossled in the wind, she heads for her best friend Randy’s.
They attend the same school where they become best friends.
Betty is only 14 and she just commandeered the cherry red, pimped out GTO from her Parent’s Santa Ana home.
Although a beautiful, lanky young Mexican girl, she still needs a seat cushion so she can see over the dash board and admire her green eyes in the rear view mirror.
Her eyes are the envy of every Señorita residing in the same cul de sac.
Randy is her “gay husband” as she likes to call him and they frequently skip school to cruise the boulevards and listen to their favorite music.
Randy’s family is a mix of caring parents, and colorful siblings, some with criminal backgrounds, others who are shining examples of good citizens.
The contrast makes for a great diversity of lifestyles which translate into ongoing activities within and outside the family.
The adventures of Betty and Randy entail taking full advantage of the opportunities offered by the crazy quirks of characters in both their Mexican families.
In her deference to black and brown power, Randy’s sister Snooky is married to a Black Panther who prompted her to create an afro out of what was once her jet black Hispanic locks.
The melting pot in Randy’s home represents flamboyant, fun loving, party goers who frequently host gatherings to celebrate any occasion worthy of recognition…like any day of the week.
As loving as they are, in the past Randy sought to escape his dysfunctional environment of crying kids, Panther issues, and his mom’s insistence he take diet pills to lose weight and and look better.
Betty’s family is just as crazy! Her mom Alice is a prima donna who has risen to a higher lifestyle in a low end environment. She is a strict disciplinarian who takes no prisoners. And Betty is at the low end of the totem pole.
Shit runs downhill and Betty has always felt the flow on a consistent basis.
Adding to her trauma she feels the wrath of her sister’s jealousies, dad’s alcoholism, and her gay brother’s inferiority, thus equally abusive to Betty since his dad consistently beats him because of his sexual preference. He in turn takes it out on Betty.
It’s a double edge sword that the parents don’t seem concerned about Betty’s upbringing to the point of seldom knowing where she is on the daily.
On the one hand this has benefits in terms of nearly total freedom to explore, coincide with people of all walks of life, and most importantly establish a level of street wisdom to cope with life’s misadventures.
Betty is the child that was never wanted. Her sister Sylvia is the golden girl who, along with her mom, torments her little sister.
The parallel between Betty’s life and Cinderella is quite evident - she the poor adolescent trying to please her family - and they who always put her in her place, and make her feel like an imprisoned servant.
Every morning Betty is awakened by her mom standing over her and screaming for her to get up.
Her parents have become party animals and Betty often returns home to see their own Parade of the Stars, a mix of mariachis music and tunes from personalities of the 40s.
On the hit list are Javier Cugart, Edie Gormet and Tria Los Ponchos filling the air.
The loud musical mix rocks one’s inner soul, vibrating from every extremity from the tips of their toes to the top of their heads.
In the midst of the turmoil, she was figuratively seeking the glass slipper by her adventurous escapades with faithful partner Randy who was more like a supportive sibling than friend.
At the tender age of 14, she was street wise, knowing the hood and surrounding graffiti laden areas like the back of her hand. It is a white window-barred area.
Since it began the day she emerged from the womb in 1956, while receiving minimum care at home, she had to fend for herself, from coping with a lack of parental direction, dysfunctional family, and teachers who earmarked her for sub intellectual curriculums.
While out and about onthe streets of Santa Ana, she avoids strange men who cruise the area looking for vulnerable victims, not to mention the homeless, gangbangers and a diversity of the usual neighborhood thugs.
But she favored the streets over her dysfunctional home life, and thus carved out a niche of escapism and adventure.
Her partner in crime and close friend Randy helped to fill the void of unhappiness and instill a feeling of protection while exploring new adventures outside the home.
When Betty and Randy get together, their life long troubles disappear.
As a Philosopher once said, “today is the first day of the rest of your life.” And they continue to live by this affirmation.
Chapter Two
No Se Habla
Betty’s parents saw no need to teach their children Spanish since they wanted to assimilate into their white conservative surroundings of affluent Orange County, California.
This decision was prevalent at the time, but caused Brown people to experience prejudice from both Mexicans and Caucasians alike.
For lack of a formal description of Latinos who never learned nor spoke the language, they have been labeled “pochos” or “pochas.” and this was frustrating since it was right in the middle of the Chicano movement.
But Labels were not a concern for the dynamic duo. Instead they carrythe torch of their fellow free spirited liberals, gays, artists, and dare devils.
Musically, Betty’s taste is two fold, and represent a contrast in lifestyles: the alternative rock from Tom Waits, Randy Neiman, Harry Nilsson, Joni Mitchell, Bet Midler among other contemporaries, combined with authentic mariachi artists.
Add a swimming pool and tunes to the mix, and the perpetual party is on with center stage in the hood, along with side attractions
to provide entertainment for the young at heart.
Betty’s dad Rudy Chavira provided his quirky antics in his attempt to rule the roost and care for his family.
Rudy was a hardworking Mexican whose characteristics were typical
of old school cholos: pride, a back braking work ethic, and indulgence.
Come the weekend, the hood became center stage for friends, neighbors and work buddies, as well as their families.
Mariachis played and the beer flowed. The kids congregated at the pool in Betty’s backyard while intoxicated attendees stumbled down the street.
Rudy literally built the pool with his blistered bare hands, a shovel and an occasional assist by his work crew.
No major power equipment necessary, just lots of Latino sweat equity and Bud Light to complete the project.
Rudy’s company specialized in landscape maintenance, brick laying and a diversity of residential construction projects.
First routine was always picking up a case of beer for consumption after the days’ work.
While the work crew craved the perks, this customary routine added a sad dimension to the family dynamics. While celebrations were carried on outside the home, turmoil prevailed inside.
After work and binge beer drinking with the crew, Rudy was barely able to negotiate opening the front door, never mind walking a straight line and greeting the family.
“Honey I’m Home” became a slurred “What the fuck is going on in here!?!
With a tool bag in one hand and a beer in the other, Rudy became the preverbal bull in the China Closet, weaving his clumsy torso from one wall to the other slamming into any object in his path.
A sea of Nic nacs fall to the floor as his wife Alice attempts to catch them before they shatter.
Loud screaming ensues as proverbial steam comes out of Alice’s ears, smothering any happy vibes which may have existed before the king of the castle returns home.
Betty had no tolerance for drunken behavior, especially from her father.
In a split second she knew whether he was sober or drunk. If he was sober she would jump into his arms.
But if he is drunk a red faced Betty, standing an inch from Rudy’s contorted face and with finger wagging, uses every available expletive known to man to chastise her pathetic dad.
She then seeks refuge with music, classic TV and foreign movies behind double dead bolted closed doors.If it becomes too obnoxious she drives to Randy’s, or hop on her circa 1800 bicycle with the big wheel in the front and baby wheel in the back.
So unusual was a kid maneuvering such a vehicle that all the neighbors would express their amazement, especially with her Van Tennis shoes acting as brakes, which peeled off rubber every time she stopped.
There were times when Rudy would physically charge Betty in an attempt to tackle her.
His slow, lumbering moves were no match for Betty’s speed, and she would just step aside to avoid harm as he stumbled then collapsed to the floor.
Physically, mom’s weapon of choice was a chongala, a type of foot wear, fashioned to exude maximum pain.
With the precision of a surgeon, she aimed for A parts of Betty’s anatomy to hide the bruises.
Mentally, she constantly browbeats Betty by rattling off criticism about her inability to complete chores in a satisfactory and timely
Her eyes are the envy of every Señorita residing in the same cul de sac.
Randy is her “gay husband” as she likes to call him and they frequently skip school to cruise the boulevards and listen to their favorite music.
Randy’s family is a mix of caring parents, and colorful siblings, some with criminal backgrounds, others who are shining examples of good citizens.
The contrast makes for a great diversity of lifestyles which translate into ongoing activities within and outside the family.
The adventures of Betty and Randy entail taking full advantage of the opportunities offered by the crazy quirks of characters in both their Mexican families.
In her deference to black and brown power, Randy’s sister Snooky is married to a Black Panther who prompted her to create an afro out of what was once her jet black Hispanic locks.
The melting pot in Randy’s home represents flamboyant, fun loving, party goers who frequently host gatherings to celebrate any occasion worthy of recognition…like any day of the week.
As loving as they are, in the past Randy sought to escape his dysfunctional environment of crying kids, Panther issues, and his mom’s insistence he take diet pills to lose weight and and look better.
Betty’s family is just as crazy! Her mom Alice is a prima donna who has risen to a higher lifestyle in a low end environment. She is a strict disciplinarian who takes no prisoners. And Betty is at the low end of the totem pole.
Shit runs downhill and Betty has always felt the flow on a consistent basis.
Adding to her trauma she feels the wrath of her sister’s jealousies, dad’s alcoholism, and her gay brother’s inferiority, thus equally abusive to Betty since his dad consistently beats him because of his sexual preference. He in turn takes it out on Betty.
It’s a double edge sword that the parents don’t seem concerned about Betty’s upbringing to the point of seldom knowing where she is on the daily.
On the one hand this has benefits in terms of nearly total freedom to explore, coincide with people of all walks of life, and most importantly establish a level of street wisdom to cope with life’s misadventures.
Betty is the child that was never wanted. Her sister Sylvia is the golden girl who, along with her mom, torments her little sister.
The parallel between Betty’s life and Cinderella is quite evident - she the poor adolescent trying to please her family - and they who always put her in her place, and make her feel like an imprisoned servant.
Every morning Betty is awakened by her mom standing over her and screaming for her to get up.
Her parents have become party animals and Betty often returns home to see their own Parade of the Stars, a mix of mariachis music and tunes from personalities of the 40s.
On the hit list are Javier Cugart, Edie Gormet and Tria Los Ponchos filling the air.
The loud musical mix rocks one’s inner soul, vibrating from every extremity from the tips of their toes to the top of their heads.
In the midst of the turmoil, she was figuratively seeking the glass slipper by her adventurous escapades with faithful partner Randy who was more like a supportive sibling than friend.
At the tender age of 14, she was street wise, knowing the hood and surrounding slum infested areas like the back of her hand.
Since it began the day she emerged from the womb in 1956, while receiving minimum care at home, she had to fend for herself, from coping with having no positive direction in her life offered by her family and teachers, to physical and mental abuse at the hands of her parents and siblings.
While out and about in the streets of Santa Ana, she avoids strange men who cruise the area looking for vulnerable victims, not to mention the homeless, gangbangers and a diversity of the usual neighborhood thugs.
But she favored the streets over her dysfunctional home life, and thus carved out a niche of escapism and adventure.
Her partner in crime and close friend Randy helped to fill the void of unhappiness and instill a feeling of protection while exploring new adventures outside the home.
When Betty and Randy get together, their life long troubles disappeared.
As a Philosopher once said, “today is the first day of the rest of your life.” And they continued to live by this
Betty’s parents saw no need to teach their children Spanish since they wanted to assimilate into their white conservative surroundings of affluent Orange County, California.
This decision was prevalent at the time, but caused Brown people to experience prejudice from both Mexicans and Caucasians alike.
For lack of a formal description of Latinos who never learned nor spoke the language, they have been labeled “pochos” or “pochas.” and this was frustrating since it was right in the middle of the Chicano movement.
But Labels were not a concern for the dynamic duo. Instead they carried the torch of their fellow free spirited liberals, gays, artists, and dare devils.
Musically, Betty’s taste is two fold, and represent a contrast in lifestyles: the alternative rock from Tom Waits, Randy Neiman, Harry Nilsson, Joni Mitchell, Bet Midler among other contemporaries, combined with authentic mariachi artists.
Add a swimming pool and tunes to the mix, and the perpetual party is on with center stage in the hood, along with side attractions
to provide entertainment for the young at heart.
Betty’s dad Rudy Chavira provided his quirky antics in his attempt to rule the roost and care for his family.
Rudy was a hardworking Mexican whose characteristics were typical
of old school cholos: pride, a back braking work ethic, and indulgence.
Come the weekend, the hood became center stage for friends, neighbors and work buddies, as well as their families.
Mariachis played and the beer flowed. The kids congregated at the pool in Betty’s backyard while intoxicated attendees stumbled down the street.
Rudy literally built the pool with his blistered bare hands, a shovel and an occasional assist by his work crew.
No major power equipment necessary, just lots of Latino sweat equity and Bud Light to complete the project.
Rudy’s company specialized in landscape maintenance, brick laying and a diversity of residential construction projects.
First routine was always picking up a case of beer for consumption after the days’ work.
While the work crew craved the perks, this customary routine added a sad dimension to the family dynamics. While celebrations were carried on outside the home, turmoil prevailed inside.
After work and binge beer drinking with the crew, Rudy was barely able to negotiate opening the front door, never mind walking a straight line and greeting the family.
“Honey I’m Home” became a slurred “What the fuck is going on in here!?!
With a tool bag in one hand and a beer in the other, Rudy became the preverbal bull in the China Closet, weaving his clumsy torso from one wall to the other slamming into any object in his path.
A sea of Nic nacs fall to the floor as his wife Alice attempts to catch them before they shatter.
Loud screaming ensues as steam comes out of Alice’s ears, smothering any happy vibes which may have existed before the king of the castle returns home.
Betty had no tolerance for
drunken behavior, especially from her father.
In a split second she knew whether he was sober or drunk. If he was sober she would jump into his arms.
But if he is drunk a red faced Betty, standing an inch from Rudy’s contorted face and with finger wagging, uses every available expletive known to man to chastise her pathetic dad.
She then seeks refuge with music, classic TV and foreign movies behind double dead bolted closed doors.If it became too obnoxious she would drive to Randy’s, or hop on her circa 1800 bicycle with the big wheel in the front and baby wheel in the back.
So unusual was a kid maneuvering such a vehicle that all the neighbors would express their amazement, especially with her Van Tennis shoes acting as brakes, which peeled off rubber every time she stopped.
There were times when Rudy would physically charge Betty in an attempt to tackle her.
His slow, lumbering moves were no match for Betty’s speed, and she would just
step aside to avoid harm as he stumbled then collapsed to the floor.
Chapter Three
Fear of the Chongala
Adding to Betty’s childhood trauma was mom’s consistent physical and mental discipline …Chola Style.
Physically, mom’s weapon of choice was a chongala, a type of foot wear, fashioned to exude maximum pain.
With the precision of a surgeon, she aimed for parts of Betty’s anatomy to hide the bruises.
Mentally, she constantly browbeats Betty by rattling off criticism about her inability to complete chores in a satisfactory and timely manner.
Alice’s modified “gulag”tactics were aggressively designed to break her down, lower self esteem, and create a feeling of deep inferiorit