Telling Mom anything was like reaching that boss battle you know you were going to get annihilated on. Items were low, equipment is insufficient and there was no backtracking to build up from that save point.
I had to do what needed to be done. I really needed an outfit and I didn't have the money.
"Mama." I went into the living room where she was sitting and enjoying one of her Mexican Novelas on TV. Pebbles decided to sit down and pretend she was watching it with her when she was actually just being nosey.
I knew better than to interrupt the novelas, so I just sat there and watched until there was a commercial break.
Finally my mom had shifted her attention from the TV to me. Mother always had a serious look on her face that would even make the devil confess to her. "Que quieres, Mijo?" (What do you want, son?)
Mom's English was very broken as it was not her first language. At home, we would mostly speak Spanish or Spanglish. That's a mix of the both. You would be speaking Spanish and randomly throw in some English words, then all of the sudden you are speaking English and throwing in random Spanish words and the cycle continues.
It was like someone messing around and randomly pressing the SAP button on the remote during a show.
(For the sake of telling this part, I'll tell it in Spanglish)
Before I was able to say anything, my sister abruptly just says it out loud. "Mom did you know Alfie is going to homecoming?"
My mom snapped her head back at my sister and then back to me. "What do you mean homecoming?
I was nodding nervously" you know. Homecoming. It's a school dance."
Mom sucked her teeth making that iconic sound Latinos make as a way of saying "Bullshit".
"With a chavala?( Bratty Girl)You don't have time to be chasing around Chavalitas(little bratty girls) with your grades."
I rolled my eyes." Ay Mom. She's just a friend."
"And do I know this friend?" She sat up from the sofa. Whenever she sits like that, she get very serious. What's her name?
I was really starting to feel the heat from her glaring. If I made eye contact, I'd probably be petrified or spontaneously combust. No you don't know her. Her name's Lilly?
"LILLY!? My mom was thrown aback hearing her name. Is she a guerita (little white/blonde girl)?"
I nodded."Yeah."
Mom stiffened her lips tightly. I could tell she didn't like it.
You see, my mom grew up in a time where blacks and Latinos were heavily discriminated against by white people. For her, she was always being harassed by the way she talked and where she came from. She never had a good experience with them and has that traumatic and emotional scar from it.
Mom crossed her legs and arms. "Ok. And what is it you want?"
"I need an outfit." I started making gestures at the clothes I was wearing. A nice shirt and tie. Maybe something Formal."
Mom had a small single giggle. "And you think I'm made out of money?"
I knew there was only one answer to this. She's already made her mind and won this battle. "Well no."
Without hesitation, she quickly responded with "Then you can't go."
Out of desperation, I raised my voice to her. "BUT I ALREADY BOUGHT THE TICKETS!"
My sister just stared at me in disbelief.
Did I seriously just lie AND raise my voice to my mom in front of her face? All I did was buy the mums.
She was shaking and there was some low growling coming from my mom. She was clearly in disagreement with the whole thing. "Then ask your dad this weekend. Eh. I don't have money for you to be wasting it on chavalitas."
I hated when mom got like this. I just went straight to my room and shut the door. My only escape here was to just turn on the PlayStation and get some progress on Final Fantasy 7.
I really don't know if it was the bitterness from the divorce with my dad or something else, but I felt mom seemed extra adamant at keeping me away from being involved with anyone. Almost like she was being overprotective with me from danger. I felt smothered. Caged.
Because of the Divorce agreement, My dad would get my little brother and me for the weekend. He moved in with my grandma and grandpa. Whenever I go visit there, It was really to see my grandparents. I looked up to my grandpa so much.
When I had broken the news to my dad about homecoming with Lilly, it was the complete opposite reaction than what mom had. He was so proud and was making it like I was on my way to becoming a man. Very Machismo.
(Ugh. Why do parents have to be so damn weird? )
My father took me to a department store that had all kinds of clothes from casual to formal. I was definitely bound to find some thing there.
The last time I actually wore anything remotely formal was during my sister's quinceñera. I've grown a bit since and needed new slacks as well.
Looking through the racks to find my size were a little exhausting since sizes for the husky bunch weren't as widely available and limited. I had managed to find a white button up shirt to start with.
I had to do more than just a white shirt and black slacks. It was very basic and bland. I wanted to actually compliment what Lilly would be wearing.
The clothing racks were starting to seem endless and repetitive the more I walked around to find something. I could not find a coat or blazer that was in wine red. I guess a boring tie is what I had left to look at.
That's when I had found the perfect set in the accessories section. A very deep red vest that had a matching tie. It was the only one that was there and it was just my size. You could say that this was a moment of fate. I quickly grabbed it and put it in my cart to try them on.
After trying on the ensemble together, I looked very sharp. I never had a vest before, but this was really working with me. It was sliming too so it covered some of that belly I've always had.
It was moments like this that I was actually thankful it had worked out. Would I have ever picked something like this on my own without reason? Probably not. But it is definitely making me start to consider more outfits like this.
Wardrobe.... Check!