When I was younger I hated football and the Raiders. Not only did I not understand the game, it took over my entire house during the weekends and Monday nights. I could not watch anything because my uncle, dad and grampa were watching the stupid games. For my 19th birthday my Uncle Joaquin gave me a tiny Raiderette's cheerleading uniform as a gift. It was a tiny little white top that you tied in front covering only your tits with a black mini skirt and pompoms. He told everyone that I could cheer on the team instead of complaining about watching football. Needless to say I never wore that stupid outfit, just to spite him. From that day, I went out of my way to make fun of his team, especially when they lost. It was a decision that, I would come to regret and love.
It was later that season I paid for being a brat. It was football season again, my parents left out of town and they left my Uncle Joaquin in charge of the house. Meaning, I would feed them (him and my grampa Fidel), and clean the house. Uncle Joaquin would just sit and watch television in the living room while grampa did the same in his room. Grampa hardly left his room. Before they left, my parents made sure Uncle Joaquin and I knew I was to stay home and could not go anywhere without my Tio or grampa.
As luck would have it, I got invited to the biggest party of the year at the cutest boy in school. But I couldn't get permission to go and I needed money to buy me a new outfit. Since my uncle was in charge I had to go talk to him. He talked to me and considered me a brat that was mainly underfoot. It's not like he hated me but, whenever I was around, he acted like he was bothered by me being there. Over the years we drifted apart and we grew cold with each other. Yet he was in charge and if he let me go I still needed a way to come up with the money I would need to purchase my outfit.
I walked into the living room where he and his two friends were watching a football game Raiders. They were into the game. All there were yelling and screaming at the television. "Tio" was all I said before he shut me up. He hated to be bothered while the game was on. I waited until a commercial.
"Tio, can I go to Max's party tonight? I know mom and dad said I shouldn't go out but they didn't say I couldn't go out," I lied to him.
Of course I was being extra nice and sweet trying to play the good niece card. He gave me the "oh now that you need something you come to me" look. Then he turned to his friends and began talking about the game. It was as if I wasn't in the room. His actions told me that I should leave and stop bothering the men while the game was on.
"Tio please, I already made dinner. All the clothes are washed. I cleaned the whole house. I even fed the dogs. Please can I go," I pleaded.
He never looked at me. He ignored me and continued to talk with his friends. Both gave me looks, like little girl leave your uncle alone and let us watch the game in peace. I was about to ask again when the game started by up. Again I waited a commercial.
"Tio please, I promise to make you a big breakfast tomorrow. And I will even clean the yard," I tried to negotiate.
He turned and gave me his angry uncle stare.
"Now what do you? No, no, no. You're parents told me not to let you go. Ya nada. Quitate de aqui. Let me and my friends watch the game. Go do whatever you girls do," he brushed me away.
"You never listen to me or do what I tell you. No, quitate. Go," he raised his hand to wave me to leave.
"But Tio," I stammered.
"No, look it here. You never listen to me. Now you want my help. Your papa and mom said no so no. Ya. Veto," he said to me then turned to his friends.
"Mirala, esta que se creer. She never listens to me. Never talks to me. Now look it at her. Tio can I go please. Please tio. Like I'm her dam puppet. Did you know I bought her a cute little Raiderette's Cheerleading uniform for her 12th birthday y la infeliz never wore it. Not even a thank you. Tu creer. What kinda niece is that? When I was her age, we thanked our elders. Showed them respect. Even if we didn't like the stupid pinche gifts we still acted like we did," he vented to his friends.
"Ya vete," he waved me away
The all looked at me with disapproving eyes. Again, the game started and we sat and watched it. They were screaming and yelling at the screen and me in silence. At the commercial one of his friends spoke up.
"Kiko (my Uncle Joaquin's nick name) just let her go. That way we could have the house to ourselves and she don't be bugging us," said Armando.
"Ya Kiko. Look at her she's all aguitada. How are we gonna enjoy the game with her like that?" said Tomas.
"No. No. She's not gonna get her way. She needs to learn how to respect and listen to her elders. This will teach her," he told them.
During, the next part of the game everybody was silent. At the commercial it was my Uncle Joaquin that spoke up.
"Ok. Ok. Ok. You can go," he said.
I jumped off the couch and squealed like a little school girl clapping my hands.
"But on one condition," said my uncle his the most stern voice I ever heard from him.
"What tell me I will do anything Tio," I told him.
"You have to wear that uniform at least one time for your Tio. And if you don't have it, pues nimodo," he said.