Star Kids III: Aariqua's Origin

Star Kids III: Aariqua’s origin

“Zero’s your father?” I asked. We were sitting by a warm fire in the night. “Yeah,” she said, “He was a bad man and my mom wanted to get away from him.” “Why?” I asked. “He wanted to turn the whole family into assassins like him,” said Aariqua, “He tried to keep us away from the things and careers we wanted.” “That’s horrible,” I said, “That’s just like my uncle trying to turn me into a business man.” “My father wanted to move our family out far away just so we could focus on his training,” she said, “But we finally got away.”

Flashback Time a few years ago.

(Aariqua’s P.O.V)

My sisters Tiara and Tanara were playing with dolls and watching TV. Mom was cooking some tacos for us. My father came down and saw us. He pulled the plug to the TV. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” he said, “I thought I told you two to get in the training room!” “But Daddy….” Said Tanara. “No buts!” he said. I came out. With a picture in my hand. Dad snatched it out. “What is this?!” he said. He looked at it. “A boy?!” he said, “What did I tell you about drawing boys?!” “But this is a…” I was about to say. “Waste of time!” he said as he ripped the picture apart, “I don’t want you drawing anymore pictures anymore! Do you understand?” “But its for a….” I said but was interrupted again. “IT DOESN’T MATTER!” he shouted, “No daughter of mine is going to waste her life as an artist!” I ran up to my room crying. “Enrico,” said mom, “She’s at that age where she finds something more! She can be who she wants to be.”

“This family is going to follow my footsteps!!” he shouted, “That’s the ONLY WAY things are gonna work! Tanara, you did your assassin moves wrong!” “But Daddy….” She said. “I don’t wanna hear it, you get out there and get me a stick!” “But…” she said. “You go on!” he shouted. Later he was beating her and forcing us all to watch. “She was doing ok!” she said. “I. Decide. Who is. Doing. O. K!” he said while beating Tanara, “I want every step on that obstacle course perfect, you understand me? Every step!” He pushed her to the couch and mom hugged her. “Now that’s the only way you’ll be better than anybody else!” he shouted, “Now I have some news. We’re moving to Mississippi.” “What?!” we all said. “You heard me,” said Dad, “That way you all will focus on your training to be master assassins like me.” “But we don’t wanna be assassins,” said Tanara. “Don’t you think you’re going overboard with this?” asked Mom, “Tanara and Tiara are gonna miss all their friends, and Aariqua is still thinking about that sweet boy….” “They don’t need all that,” said Dad, “And I done told Aariqua to stay away from boys. Look at this picture she made!” He showed it to her. “Its really good,” said Mom, “Its like that boy from that music school.”

“That kid is a disrespectful delinquent and I don’t want him near my daughters!” said Dad, “My word is final!” “Hey!” said Tanara, “If Aariqua wants to be friends with that boy she has a right. Its not your right to keep her from what she wants.” He turned to her. “Is that so?” he said. He pushed her to the wall and grabbed her arm hard. “Disrespecting me like your sister huh?!” he shouted. Tanara was crying. “What is wrong with you?!” shouted mom. “Shut your damn mouth woman!” he said, “Its between me and her.” I threw a cup at him and he was bleeding. “Aariqua, you get your ass up to your room right now!” he shouted. I ran. “And Tiara you get some paper towels and clean this mess up!” said Dad. “No!” said Tiara. “Did you just talk back to me?” he said as he took his belt off. He pushed her on the couch and beat her. “DON’T! TALJK! BACK! TO! ME!!!” he said as he beat her. Tiara was crying. “I’m trying to raise you kids!” he said, “Either get in that obstacle course and get it right or get out! Quit wasting my time!!!” I heard everything.

Later that night I was sleep. My mom woke me up. “Get dressed and let’s go,” she said. “Am I in trouble?” she asked. She hugged me. “No baby,” she said, “I know where the boy is.” “Where?” I asked happily. “Seattle Washington,” said Mom, “We’re gonna move there and you’ll stay with her grandmother. I want you to find that boy and be happy with him.” “How do you know all this?” I asked. “A friend of mine named Corey told me,” she said, “We leave tonight.”  I hugged her. We were heading downstairs. Dad was watching us. “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked. “We’re leaving you,” said Mom. “I don’t think so,” he said, “I heard your little plan and there is no way you are leaving. You thought you’d leave?” “No,” said Mom. “I done told you, you ain’t gonna find no other man like me you hear me?” “Ok,” said Mom. “Now get your ass back upstairs,” he said. We all went back. He grabbed Tanara. “Not you!” he said, “You get in that obstacle course and don’t you come out til every single last step is perfect!” “This isn’t what she wants,” said Mom. “I know what she wants now get your ass upstairs!” he shouted. “She don’t want this!” he said. He slapped her and she fell. “Get away from her!!” I said. I jumped on his back and tried to choke him.

He pushed me down. I got back up and he slapped me and I was bleeding. “You must be out your goddamn mind trying to do that,” he said, “I’m trying to raise you to be like me! You’re a weak coward.” I felt a blade in my hand. “If you think you’re gonna leave your fate…” he said. I stabbed his eye and he screamed in pain. Then I hit him with a pot and hit his face repeatedly.  We ran to the van and drove off. And left him. “Mommy, I was scared,” said Tanara. “Its ok baby,” said mom.

Flashback over

“And that’s what happened,” said Aariqua. “I had no idea,” I said. “Now he’s back and he wants to take you away from my life,” said Aariqua, “I don’t wanna lose the only man I love.” “You won’t,” I said, “I’m staying right here with you. I snuggled with her and she hugged me. “I’m glad,” she said.