1 Chapter 1

Jose walks down the stairs. "Mama? Papa?" He yells. He walks into the kitchen to see his Dad crying. "Dad?" Jose quietly says. "Mijo, your Mama is dead." His Dad says grimly. Jose's heart skips a beat. He backs up slowly to the stairs. He turns and runs upstairs. He grabs a backpack and fills it with his belongings. He opens his window, turns to look at his warm and clean room for the last time. He jumps out onto the roof and jumps off onto the ground. He wipes a tear from his wet eyes and walks to the small town. He climbs into the broken window of an abandoned house. He throws his backpack onto the dusty counter.

He sits on the floor and cries. He takes time to process what he did. 'I ran away, I can never go back.' He thought. He stands up and opens his backpack. He pulls out a box of crackers. He opens the cardboard flaps and takes a salty snack out. He puts it into his mouth and his body fills with dread. 'My Mom bought me these and I got mad at her for getting the wrong brand.' He thinks. He has countless regrets. The times he told her he hated her. Everything he did and said to his mom poured into his head. He fights back tears and stands up.

He pulls a blanket out of his backpack and walks to an empty windowless room. He curls up in a corner and falls asleep. He woke up terrified. He had a dream of his Mom. She had stab marks in her throat. He pieced the story together in his head. His mom was murdered. He knew it. His dad did it. "They were talking about a divorce, but Dad couldn't afford it, he must have killed her!' He thought. He jumps up and crawls outside through his makeshift entrance. He pulls his backpack onto his shoulders and walks to a street corner.

'I can draw pictures to make money, I need to leave Mexico, America is the best. No crime, no murders, no hatred!' Jose thought. He takes out a piece of paper and writes 'Will draw you a picture for $5!' on it. 'Ok, now I wait.' He thinks. He waits, and waits, and waits till he falls asleep. He wakes up and hour or so later to find his backpack gone. He looks around and sees a guy holding his bag going through it. "Hey! That's my bag!" Jose yells. "Oh, sorry Paco!" The guy replies as he hands Jose the bag. "Did you steal anything!?" Jose says sternly. "Calm it, amigo! I didn't take skat!" The guy says. "Ok, thanks I guess..." Jose says quietly. "Why the long face, Paco?" The guys says. "My mom j-just died," Jose says on the brink of tears. "What's your name kid?" The guy asks. "Jose," Jose replies. "Well Jose, I know things are tough right now, but things'll get better." The guys says smiling. "So what's your name?" Jose asks with a sliver of relief.

"Uh, just call me Hermano!" Hermano says hesitantly. Jose doesn't question his hesitation and shrugs it off. "Well Hermano, do you have a buck to spare?" Jose asks. "Sorry kid, I'm on the same level as you," Hermano says. "So what do you need money for anyways, Kid?" Hermano asks. "I'm going to America!" Jose says excitedly. Hermano's eyes widen and he goes pale. "A-are you sure y-you wanna go there, Kid?" Hermano says stuttering. "I'm sure!" Jose says.