Out first short story submission to #LatinoLit was sent to us by author Gilberto González, a Philadelphia native who writes about life in his city. Born of Puerto Rican parents, González grew up in Philadelphia and understands fi rst-hand the racism and hardships facing the Latino community. “Going through high school was tough. Going through college was tougher,” he said. González did not let adversity slow him down. After receiving an associate degree of fi ne arts from Community College of Philadelphia, he continued his education at University of the Arts, where he earned a bachelor degree in graphic design. In 1989, González tapped his personal motivation and graphic design skills in order to create Cinco Graphics at the Taller Puertorriqueño, a professional training program that allowed high school students to prepare for college or the workforce in graphic design.
#LatinoLit Author Gilberto González
Damaris
by Gilberto González
One summer I walked out of my house, a typical Philadelphia row home. Here everyone knows your business because the walls are thin and everyone is always hanging outside. This day the Kensington streets were crowded when I noticed across the street this amazing girl. We looked at each other and smiled. She was half white and half Puerto Rican. She had light brown hair, very soft white skin, she was a little taller than me, slim, with a nice full ass. I normally would never walk up to a girl because I was shy, but for some reason, I decided to talk to her.
“Who are you?” I asked.
She replied, “Damaris, Maria’s sister.”
“Why are you here?”
She replied, “Babysitting my big sister’s kids for the summer.”
“Why are you so pretty?”
She just smiled and said, “Because my mother made me that way.”
After that first encounter at North Howard Street we were in separable. Every evening, once she finished babysitting her sister’s kids, I would walk her home. She lived about four blocks from my house on 5th and Berks. Her family lived on the second floor of an apartment building. After a few weeks of walking her home, I became a fixture at her door stoop. When it was time for her to eat dinner we would get up and stand in the foyer of the building. With the doors closed we would start to kiss and the kiss would seem to last a long time. Her lips were soft, not too wet or too dry, and she covered my lips from top to bottom. From the moment she pressed her lips to mine it felt nice. It was one of the best kisses I ever had.
One evening she told me that she confessed to her mom that she loved me and that she wanted me to come into the house. That evening I was allowed upstairs. I met her family and they all seemed to like me. Her mom was Puerto Rican but her father, the white guy, did not live with them. Instead, her mom introduced this little black guy as her stepfather. So now I was introduced to everyone in the house and we sat to eat dinner.
A bit later, during dinner, I asked to use the bathroom. I walked up the dark hallway up to the third floor. Once inside, as I stood at the toilet, I looked around and I saw all the normal things including some picture frames. They were images of barns and the frames were the kind you would see in every household in Philadelphia. They were a pair of black, plastic vine frames. As I was standing in front of the toilet, I noticed a roach crawl behind one of pictures. I thought I’d do Damaris and her family a favor and kill the bug. So I hit the frame in attempts to kill the thing. But, when I hit the frame, roaches came out crawling in all directions. All this happened as I started to urinate. While in a panic about the bugs, I tried to keep control of my bladder. As the roaches ran all over the place I urinated on the rug, the sidewall, the top of the toilet; it was everywhere. Once the roaches disappeared and found new hiding places I began to clean the bathroom. As I was cleaning I soon noticed these dark rings in the toilet and that this was not the cleanest bathroom. As I left the bathroom I began to see bugs all over the house, and that did it for me. I soon realized that Damaris and her family were not the cleanest people in the world. If my mom saw a roach in our house she would scream and beat the bug to hell. I was not a snot but moms tend to pass on their practices to their children and being clean was something my mom beat into me until I got married.
After that, I could no longer look at my sweet-lipped honey without seeing bugs. I walked her home a few more times, but I would refuse to go into that apartment. She would get upset with me and cry. She would asked me “if I was no longer interested in her.” or “Did you find someone else?”
She cried, and for weeks her family was angry with me. I could not tell her or her family the truth. I could not tell them that her house filled with bugs grossed me out. Her family continually asked me why am I playing with her. But all I could say was, “Sorry.”
Copyright @2010 Gilberto González
To learn more about Gilberto, here is his story from MyLatinoVoice.
Very amusing and original story! As I just wrote to Gil, I don’t think I’ve ever read a story where bugs triumph over LOVE!! Gil has really wonderfully and effectively developed the narrator’s point-of-view.
Yeah, we think the story was original and funny. Don’t mess around with city bugs!
Well i don’t know what I would have done in that situation but I know I would’ve told her about the roaches, i mean she knew they were there
True dat. But would you have told her about the peeing? LOL
Gil, you did a great job of describing how looks can be deceiving and how you need to look beyond superficial beauty. I can just see you urinating all over the damn place! Good story.
It is funny. He did a great job with it.
Gil, I’ve read this story before and I still like it. Well done!
Thanks for the amazing support and comments
@veronica, @djtopten, @Leslye and Julio
you guys are wonderful
paz
gil
p.s. Good or bad, my stories are for conversations and critiques. It is amazing the different levels of discourse that can be had with a story.
Gracias a todos
You are a writer, Gil. That is what makes the craft so satisfying.
What I like about your stories is that they bring a slice of the latino experience in the neighborhoods alive with humor and honesty. Keep sharing your words with us.
We agree 100%!
This specific story is my favorite out of the whole book Even though all the story in the book are wonderful. Some way or another i can relate my self to each story as a teenager.
great job gil keep on making the Gonzalez family proud
Gil is the real deal.
This is a creative, original, and amusing story, cousin. You’re a great talent in the family, keep up the creativity.
Love the familia support here!
Story was interesting and definitely left open for another chapter where you go back and tell first about the bugs and later about you poor aim.
Have a great day,
Thanks for visiting my page and commenting on Gil’s story.
Mr. Julio
the comments are entertaining
thanks for this opportunity
@carl watts thanks and i can’t stop laughing, @alan and justin thanks for the wonderful support, @Hans big hugs, @djtop10 it its fictional lol, @loraine love u
It’s fictional? Just for the record, I have peed all over a bathroom wall!
i would of bought her some roach spray lol..funny short story
That would have been a great idea!
Gil, I love the story. I can just imagine how you felt. I did feel sorry for Damaris though; she lost out on a good guy and didn’t know why.
I am so proud of you and your accomplishments. Keep the stories coming! A big hug for you!
Thanks, Julie, for supporting Gil!
Gil – a well written story that completely grabs you! Bugs freak me out, and if I were the guy, I’d be screaming in the bathroom!! Great job!
interesting and amazing story with a deep meaning. Youve come a long way , Im proud of your accomplishments. Continue with the same strength and proudness of being a latino. Felicidades y deseandote muchos exitos mas
georgia athanasopulos
consul general of panama
Georgia, thanks for your comment!
Hey Gil. Interesting story. Keep writing!
Thanks for supporting Gil!
This is, dedicate to a friend who died of cancer in 2010. She allowed me to use her name for this story. God bless you Damaris Perez. May the memories of your amazing kindness always live on.
Wow, that it so cool, bro.
wow i love this story… so real and simply awesome
carry on the good work……..
Thanks for giving our man some love tonight!
Ewww we hate roaches too. If that happened to one of us it would of been an automatic turn off for the guy, so good call lol. Needless to say, the story was very engaging. You’re a natural writer and storyteller! looking forward for more stories
Thanks Samantha and Jessica
Scene Stealers in the house
thanks
g
Great story! It painted a picture in my mind. Sometimes the oddest things can change our lives.
Thanks Alex
thanks for the support
gil
Me encanto tienes mucha creatividad y eres original y me diverti leyendolo. Te deseo mucho exito porque tienes el talento.
Gracias por sus lindas palabras
paz
g
I’ve read/heard this story a few times now and it STILL cracks me up! It was fun helping to edit and getting to read your stories before they were published. Keep writing Gil!
~Jenee
Founder, Motivos magazine
Keep up the good work, Gil. I remember you read this story at a Diversity Series session at CCP. It’s still funny as ever.
It was a very sweet story with a nice touch of humor. I enjoyed reading it. Too bad the roaches triumphed over the relationship.
Gil, what can I say? You are amazingly wonderful and I am so proud of you. I am blessed to know you. Love, love, love you!
gilbert i really enjoy the book .GOOD JOB .we need more short storys .keep up all your hard work much love.
Great story, Gil! I was surprised to discover it was fictional because you did such a good job with the details. As he started noticing more dirty things about the bathroom and the household, I started cringing, just imagining what else he would find in there lol
I look forward to reading more of your stories!
hey Gil, although we just befriended on face book i am glad you sent me a link to your short story. it is original, i sure had my share of those while growing up here in Phily, scary yet very unpredictable it can happen even in the cleanest house…. I have written a book and cant publish cause of the expense maybe you can show me how to do this> write short stories> keep writing i look forward to more