Jovi is the middle child of six siblings. She has a sister and four brothers. In a family so large, getting attention is just about impossible unless you are the self-professed black sheep. Jovi’s father was belligerent, condescending, verbally and physically abusive, a tyrant. Growing up with a serial philanderer for a father left much to be desired. Dario, Jovi’s dad would beat his wife for her indiscretions, while he disappeared for days at a time, with no accountability. Working as a mechanic, money was always tight. For the slightest infractions, the children were beaten often. One day Dario received a phone call about one of his sons skipping school. Dario searched for his son throughout the town until he found him. Once he got ahold of his son, he beat him, shaved his head, and tied him by his ankles, and wrists to the matrimonial bed for all to see until his wife arrived from work. Trauma, humiliation, physical, verbal and mental abuse was the elixir of their childhood. He would grope his wife, Monica, for others to witness and she had no say. Monica was treated as property. Dario had countless indiscretions however one woman he never denied, Angela. Angela helped Dario financially and was his lover for countless years. Everyone knew of her and no one dared speak ill of her. Jovi was sexually active by the age of twelve. Never feeling pretty, smart, or worthy of anything. She was never the girl boys noticed or chased, so she offered boys the cookie instead. Jovi was insatiable, she would sleep with her little brother’s friends and think nothing of it. She kept a scorecard of how many men she was able to dominate. Jovi honed in on men who were in relationships and would flaunt them as though they belonged to her. The thing is sooner or later they always returned to their rightful owners. Jovi temporarily rocked the world of many men however no one ever managed to stick around long enough. When someone did stay, it was conditional, she had to withstand beatings. Whenever her lover grew angry or tired he would place her belongings in black garbage bags and return Jovi to her parent’s home. Once the dust settled, she would return to the same circumstances, everyone knew and no one intervened.
A New Start
Pedrito and his wife, Milagros along with their two young daughters migrated to Upper Manhattan, Washington Heights from La Republica Dominicana. Living in Washington Heights, required some adjusting. Surviving in a community where Spanish is the primary language and countless immigrants made the transition easier. Like the plight of many immigrants, they rented a room in someone’s apartment. Life in New York City was different although they were together and slowly making inroads. Until Pedrito was struck by a Transit bus, leaving him on the cusp of losing his life. Pedrito lost his teeth, partial eyesight and was bedridden for two years. Milagros patiently tended to Pedrito throughout the slow recovery. Once Pedrito made a full recovery and received millions in the settlement, he quietly packed his belongings and without a word returned to La Republica Dominicana. In D.R. he reinvented himself, started a new life with a new relationship and a new child, set up businesses, life was good. One day two men entered his home, held him at gunpoint, and killed him, there never was a forced entry. Pedrito’s lover was accused of masterminding everything and was incarcerated along with the assailants. The remaining money from the settlement was returned to the wife, in place of a new start
Beautifully Flawed
Despite Pauly’s parents’ reservations about Xiomara, he asked for her hand in marriage. His parents wanted someone with similar values, someone like them. Upon becoming engaged Pauly and Xiomara decided to remain abstinent until their wedding nite. The engagement was an elaborate affair with a seven-course dinner. Given Pauly’s deeply rooted pious upbringing, they agreed on a catholic church, requiring a marriage preparation program. The focus of the program is developing a sacramental marriage that will last a lifetime. Thereafter, the wedding reception was held at a very coveted establishment with two hundred and fifty of their closest friends. While in Hawaii, on their honeymoon Xiomara discovered she was pregnant. Xiomara was certain the child wasn’t Pauly’s given they had not been intimate in months. Throughout the honeymoon, she feigned being sick as a means of not consummating the marriage. Upon returning from the honeymoon, Xiomara confided in her parents about the pregnancy. Xiomara’s mother Dona Elsa provided two options (1) terminate the pregnancy or (2) lie about who the father is. After much deliberation, Xiomara told Pauly the truth, and the marriage was annulled.
Bunny
Preston is a handsome, affable, fiscally savvy, middle-aged divorced father, of two young adult daughters with a live-in girlfriend of many years. The girlfriend is attractive, physically fit, professional, and accomplished in her own right. Preston is seeking the next adrenaline rush. He leads another life in which few are privy. Bunny half his age, a secretary, lives in the suburbs with her parents and never asks for anything. Preston feels young with Bunny, as though age is fleeting. She calls him DADDY, he feels invincible. Preston feels needed, desired, entitled, unencumbered. He is contemplating purchasing an apartment for Bunny although he is wonton he demands loyalty from women. When the ex-wife comes into town there is always a rendezvous. Preston’s appetite is insatiable. He also has an online profile on a dating app. Everyone on the dating app is under strict orders to make contact between 9 am and 5 pm core hours. The online app is where the ménage à trois occur. Preston’s live-in girlfriend has the patience of a saint, and he is very vocal about killing her if she dares ever leave him. Bunny, along with everyone else has unprotected sex with Preston. The thrill, the chase never ceases.
BeBa
Beba worked in a hair salon as a nail technician, she supplemented her income by shampooing and waxing when necessary. Beba is jovial and light-hearted. She mentions how one of her loyal clients would come in and speak about how great her husband was in bed as well as when things were not so great. Beba decided she wanted to see for herself. Beba along with her husband went on a double date with her client and spouse. Shortly after Beba began hooking up with her clients husband regularly. Any location which had an element of risk they had sex, (ie). cemetery, dirt roads, her clients bed. Beba’s client confided how her husband was straying and Beba would just listen. Never did client imagine, Beba was her husbands mistress. Guy walks out on his wife, Beba leaves her husband and move in together. Client begins to stalk husband until she learn’s Beba is the mistress. Beba gets pregnant, client vows to never allow her husband peace without her. Beba tells how she never dreamt of leaving her spouse. The relationship was tumultuous from the onset. Her lover was a drug dealer which meant a revolving door between jail and close encounters with the authorities. The wife (former client) always mustered up some scheme to temporarily win her husband back and sometimes with the help of Brujeria occasionally it worked. Beba had no peace, the angst, despair she had inadvertently caused would not leave her alone.
Griselda
Griselda cleans homes as a means of paving her way thru the world. She has been married to Reynaldo for short of 30 years. During this time she has put on an inordinate amount of weight. She is the oldest of three sisters. She sighs with complacency and frustrations in her life. Feels stuck and alone, her dream of bearing children forgone. Early in the marriage, she learned of her husbands inability to father children and elected to stay in the marriage independent of her yearning. She bottled, swallowed and ate her feelings, silencing her desperation. Reynaldo has never been progressive or a forward thinker, more whimsical than anything else. As Griselda drowned her sorrow it always resurfaced in density.
Lucinda, Griselda’s much younger sister, flirtatious, easy on the eye, blurred lines. Some how never quite manifesting a relationship all her own, given the opportunity pounced on Reynaldo. Reynaldo allowing himself to be swayed any which way the wind blows reciprocated the advances. The affair went on for months on end. Lucinda and Reynaldo had an arrangement sex in exchange for money. Lucinda was a waitress at a Dominican spot called El Jobito where the prerequisite for employment was looking brand new. Brand new tities, Brand new ass, snatched. Although Lucinda had men lusting on her, not one was vying to make her a wife whereas Griselda had a husband whose loyalty was questionable.
Once Griselda learned of the affair she packed her things and went to stay with Minerva her supportive sister. Vowing to never return to Reynaldo until he threatened to take his life. Tethered, disenchanted, acrimoniously she stood by his side.