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Hello. My name is Antonio Alvarez.
I am twelve years old. I live in the city. With my Mama, my Papa, my big sister, my big brother, and my little sister. My Auntie also lives with us because my uncle died in the container that brought us here.
We live in the back of a van in the city. I sleep on big sisters lap because there is no space for me. My little sister sleeps on my Aunties lap. My big brother and my Papa sleep in the front seats. My Mama sleeps in back because she is sick and needs to lie down.
My Papa works night and day. He has two jobs. He works at night at the Wal-mart, cleaning the floors and the bathrooms. He comes home smelling bad. He has a cold, and the cleaners hurt his lungs. Mama says the work will kill him. But he also works at another job. He helps out at a warehouse. They call people like him 'Temps'. He unloads things for other people. He gets paid very little at both jobs, but it is just enough to get by.
My big brother works, too. But he does a different kind of job. He helps out the local mob with stealing things. Mama is worried. She says it is not a good thing to do. But he brings home good money. That is good because my Mama is getting sicker and sicker. She has cancer. She doesn't act like it, unless she falls down. She passes out for days at a time. I stay home from school to help her.
Big sister also works. I don't know what she does. She leaves home at night some times. She wears a short skirt and a tight shirt with big earrings in her ears. She always comes home tired and in a and mood. Mama doesn't like her job at all. She says she'll get sick, too. I don't know what it is, but she doesn't work as much as big brother or Papa, so it can't be that bad, right?
Auntie cleans houses for rich people. She is a kind woman. I like the people she works for, mostly. They give me little pieces of candy sometimes. And sometimes I bring them home to my sister.
My little sister isn't right in the head. She never talks. She sits in the corner and talks to herself. She doesn't eat if we don't help her. She soils herself and I clean it up. But I love her.
Now the snow is falling. It will be Christmas, soon. People are walking all around the place, carrying big bags of toys and clothes. I feel envy. They carry those bags as if they are nothing.
I already know what I'm getting. My Mama and Auntie found some newspapers one day in a dumpster. My Papa got me a toy from the Goodwill with his money. I hope it's a car. I like cars. I want to work on cars someday. That's why I have to go to school. To get to go to college to work on cars.
My big sister is getting lots of things from her boyfriend. Sometimes he shows up. He touches her funny and calls her 'whore' a lot. I usually don't pay attention. But he buys her lots of stuff. She gives a lot of it to Mama and Auntie.
Big brother is getting a brand new knife from his friends. He almost got shot and they want to make sure it never happens again.
We may not have a lot here, but we do have each other.
I know it is greedy to want more... But I want my Mama to get better. I love her. She made Papa stop drinking. She loves me so much. She took care of me when I got sick.
Please. Make my Mama better. She is a wonderful person, full of love and caring.
With love,
Antonio.
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That was written by me. Although it is not real, the situation is. Give to your local charity so kids like Antonio can have better lives... and better futures.
Always remember those who are not as fortunate.
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