CHAPTER SEVEN
Teresa
I’d been humiliated. First, during the scene with Orlando, which my employer had unfortunately witnessed. I never should have gotten a ride, I should have just taken the bus or walked, lateness be damned. What the fuck was wrong with me? I sobbed. It was like I’d forgotten everything Mami had ever taught me, including not getting into cars with strange men.
Then there was the meltdown I’d had at Matt’s house. I admit, I’d been seriously considering taking him up on his offer. It sounded almost too good to be true, a dream opportunity. Sashay around town on the arm of the most eligible man in SF, attend a couple dinners, a couple functions, shake some hands and then after the election, I’d be free. It was only a commitment of a few months, and I’d probably have a pretty penny to add to my savings account, which was frankly, desperately needed.
But it’d all come crashing down. The moment he kissed me, the moment we got even the slightest bit physical, I panicked, my past overtaking the present. Because, you see, I was molested during that time I stayed with Aunt Blanca in the countryside. Uncle Gordo turned out to be much more than a mere “uncle.” He was a goddamn perv, and my life from ages ten to thirteen had been confusing as hell.
It had started innocently at first. Uncle Gordo would ask me to sit in his lap as we watched TV after a dinner of rice and plantains. I didn’t want to, but I didn’t feel like I could say no either. I knew my mom would be angry if I was sent back to the City, so I did as Gordo asked and perched my bony ass on his knee, uncomfortable and trying to lose myself in the latest show.
But inevitably, Uncle Gordo would pull me back against his fleshy chest, literally push my head back against his shoulder so that my entire backside was plastered against his front. It was disgusting but at least he was fat and jiggly, kind of like an extra pillow.
This went on for a while. Aunt Blanca would be in the same room, watching TV, and never commented, merely continuing to shell peas or whatever fruit or vegetable was in season. And so every night at 7 p.m., the three of us settled into our routine, me on my uncle’s lap, too close for comfort as we watched Spanish news or the latest telenovela.
Until one day I’d felt something growing under my ass. I’d thought it was my imagination at first. Something hard and stiff was poking my butt cheek and I’d squirmed uncomfortably, trying to worm away.
“Sit back!” came the harsh command from my uncle, my aunt looking up momentarily before turning back to the TV. She was like an automaton, her gaze blank, her body stiff as she shelled in silence, not even a hitch to her movements. This went on for a couple weeks, a hard, rigid member pressed against my butt for an hour each night, and I was always so happy to dash off to my room afterwards, to cloak myself in darkness and privacy. I’m not even sure I knew what was happening then, it was just so confusing and I was too young.
But one night, Uncle Gordo appeared in my doorway right after I’d gotten into bed.
“Teresita,” he said quietly. “I know you can hear me.”
I was perfectly still under the blankets, willing him to go away as I feigned sleep.
“Teresita,” he said again. “I know you’re awake.”
I practically wasn’t breathing, I wanted him to go away so badly. But after a few moments, I knew it was futile and so I sat up in the darkness.
“What is it Uncle Gordo?” I asked innocently. We’d had the usual dick pressed against my butt session earlier, what did he want now?
Gordo came into my room, his body heavy and pendulous. He sat down on the edge of my bed and I swear, the whole thing kind of tilted to the side, my mattress cheap and my uncle heavy.
“I can’t sleep Teresita, can I stay here with you?” he queried, covering my hand with his.
I wanted to say no, I knew I should have said no, but I was just so confused. I murmured something, I’m not even sure what, but he took that as consent.
“Okay, I’ll just sit here as you sleep,” he said, settling into a rickety desk chair in my room.
I breathed a sigh of relief. Not that it would be pleasant having him there, his breathing was congested and he wheezed quite a bit, but fine. I was willing to compromise some privacy. I went back to sleep, pulling the covers over my head and tried to get as comfortable as I could.
It was only in the middle of the night that I was startled awake. I felt something … something wet on my pussy and I wasn’t sure what it was. Was it the moon phase? My mom had told me that this was the natural cycle of women, that I would bleed between my legs come time, but it hadn’t happened yet. Was it blood down there?
I bent my head to look, pulling the covers up, and that’s when I realized Uncle Gordo was in bed with me. He’d pressed his mouth to my vagina and was sucking it, playing with the little nub that I sometimes stroked for fun, running his fingers along my vaginal lips, stroking their baldness with a sigh of satisfaction.
I screamed and bolted upright. “Aiieee!” was the only word I could manage in my shock and horror.
Uncle Gordo lifted his head, his eyes drowsy with pleasure, his lips still wet from my vagina. “Shh,” he hushed. “You’ll wake your aunt,” he cautioned, even as he bent his head for another taste.
“Aieee!” I screamed again, twisting my lower body away. This time Gordo slapped me, one fleshy hand slamming my face, a red welt immediately rising against my cheek.
“You want to go to school with my fingerprints on your skin tomorrow?” he hissed. “Then fucking shut up and keep your legs spread.”
I began crying, but Gordo’s threats kept ringing in my mind. I didn’t want to miss school otherwise I’d be at home all day with my aunt and uncle, and yet … I couldn’t go home to my parents either. Mami had made it clear that the City was dangerous, that she’d brought me here specifically so that I could be safe. So I made myself stop crying, to lie stiffly in my bed as Gordo continued to assault me with his mouth.
It was over soon and Gordo got up, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand, his penis punching out against his soft cotton shorts.
“You taste good, Teresita,” he said. “Remember, your Uncle Gordo loves you,” he hissed, before leaving my room. I felt so dirty, so disgusting that I immediately changed my underwear, wiping myself between my legs as best I could, crying softly as I got back in bed. But what could I do? I was only ten years old.