Maroun's Star by Ari Meza (beach read txt) 📖

1

"Stop dreaming, you know that can't happen," said mother once again. Every day it was the same thing.
It simply got to the point were all I could do is put my headphones on and turn up the volume.
"Okay mom, thanks! Goodnight now!” I said as I walked away to "my room".
I don’t think it’s considered a room when I’m sharing it with all the paintings my brother has painted over the last couple of years.
David always loved drawing; it was all he did when he was able to go to school. He’d draw the wildest things and soon my room became storage.
“Can’t you hear it calling? Like the moon at night...”
My brother is only 7 and he already knows the lyrics to most of the complicated songs.
"Hey Beba! Turn that off, we have homework to do!"
"Coming, oh hey James came by earlier," said David.
Now that got my attention.
"Oh, yeah? What he say?"
David gave me the 'I’m not going to tell you' face and started singing, "Pamela and James sitting on a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g...”
His singing was cut short when a loud crash was heard in the living room.
We both ran to see what was wrong, expecting the worse.
Many thoughts went through my head as I ran downstairs, could they have found us? Is my mom okay? Did Tray dome back?
Tray was a drunkie that use to come and try to get us caught.
"James!" exclaimed David.
"Hey there buddy! Look I got you a new box of acrylic paint, check the box by the couch!" said James.
"Oh thanks!" David said as he ran to hug James.
James turned to look at me with a worried look, "Pamela, my love, are you okay?"
"Totally okay, I mean I did not think it could be you breaking into my house!"

He walked towards me with a warm smile, put his arms around me and hugged me very tightly.
The kind of hugs that made my heart skip a beat, the kind that left me speechless.
"Ich liebe dich", he said tenderly.
"I love you as well James".
Although I knew deep down that love was not an option.

2

Two and a half years ago there was a law, not just any law about traffic or education, but a law that changed my life.
I’m Pamela Mencia, or at least I was. Now I’ve become a nobody. My family and I have been forced to leave everything behind, even out memories. We came to the U.S to fulfill the “American Dream”, and we ended up having to abandon all my mom worked so very hard for something priceless down the hill.
Sigh, April 2010 a law was signed. It stated that any immigrant living in the United States would be found and punished as if it were a criminal then kicked out of the country. That scared many of us, but it got worse. Soon schools were asking for proof of citizenship. My mother lost her job and David and I were forced to quit school. He was only five yet he already knew that there would be no more school for him.
A year earlier, James and I started dating. Little did we know things would change.

3

A month after the law was passed my family and I had to go into hideout. The government started sending officials to search houses with no search warrants, they just came in and destroyed anything even killed anyone in their way. By the time they got to our home, James had already provided us an underground bomb shelter that he owned. That became our home.
For almost 3 years now James has kept us here, he provided food and he even arranged it so that David and I get homeschooling. He signed us up as his sick siblings, Jon Smith and Angela Smith.
“What are you thinking about Darling?” James asked as he interrupted my thoughts.
“Well about your proposal,” I replied,”I’d loved to marry you. Yet your life is much more important than mine. If they kill me, well it’s okay. But if they kill you, so much would be lost.”
James grunted at this.
“Why are you reacting like that James? You know damn right, that if you get caught helping us they’ll kill you! I truly appreciate everything you do, but I worry every single day about you”
James opened his mouth to say something but rapidly changed his mind.
I obviously noticed and raised an eyebrow, gave him the spit-it-out look and said,
“What?”
His face brightened up, “Pamela I know!”
With a confused look now I said “You know what?”
His face became so hopeful, and came up with a dangerous yet great idea.
4
I hadn’t noticed how pale I’ve become, haven’t seen the sun or even clouds since 2010. My skin is so vampiric looking. I kind of like it though. More like me.
I use to be the “IT” girl, smart beautiful, and very popular. Fake tan, fake laugh, and a fake life. I lived a life that didn’t belong to me, I hid myself to prevent from being humiliated, or maybe I was just scared to recognize that hanging out with “my group” and do hookah was bad, and completely against my morals. Eh. At least I’m back to who Pamela should really be.
“Pamela! Hurry up! I need to pee!” yelled David from outside the bathroom door.
I get my stuff together and walk out.
“Dang, you took long! Are you sick?” David asked with a worried look.
“Oh no, Bubba I’m fine.”

5

As we’re eating dinner, (Yay, In-n-Out!), James kicks me, I think it’s time to tell my mom.
"Mrs. Mencia," James said politely." I want to propose an idea for you. I think three years have been enough; David needs to grow up in an environment with kids and games. Pamela and I are in love as you know. You also know I won't take her as mine till we're married. But with the situation, there's no way that could happen."
James paused, looked at me and I nodded.
"I was doing some research," he continued,” My best friend, has helped other immigrants get across to Canada.It's safe and the only catch would be that you'll be separated from Pamela for a couple days."
"Who is this friend of yours James?" asked my mother.
"He grew up with me, I can assure you that I trust him 110%" he responded.
"What is in Canada?" David asked
James rapidly got to answering David's question since he realized that he wasn't clear enough.
"Well in Canada they're taking in any immigrants that make it out a..." James paused, "Well that are able to get away, and they're giving them their citizenship so that they can travel. You Bud, can go back to school and Mrs. Mencia back to counseling. We can all start our new lives"
"That all sounds amazing, but what kind of obstacles will we have to go through?” my mom asked.
"David and you Ma'am will go with my best friend, Mark Jones, in his jet."
"What's a jet?" David interrupted.
"A little airplane," I responded.
James continued.
"And Pamela will have to go through the jungle."
To this my mom raised an eyebrow.
"Why can't she come with us?"
"I, myself, would have felt better if she went with you to, but there was only room for 2 more people. So I decided I will hire someone that will accompany
Pamela and myself to Canada. I will drive her to where she'll catch her jet and the jet will land at the border between Canada and the U.S. I'll will already be there waiting for her in a truck that I will drive most of the way." explained James.
"That sounds a little dangerous", said my mom, "but it’s better than not trying at all."
"So do you agree mom?" I spoke for the first time during this conversation.
My mother nodded and got up from the table, and then realized David had fallen asleep on the table. James helped my mom carry him into his room and I went to grab y iPad. I love how I can search anything I want, and how James programmed it so that if I were to travel, I'd get internet anywhere. This is kind of ironic since I haven’t left the shelter in over two years! I literally lol'ed to this.

6

"Pamela, are you ready?" James shouted from the living room.
He was setting everything up for our departure. My mom left two days ago, we had a webcam conversation last night, and she was so alive and content. I felt much better knowing that they got there safely.
"Pamela?"
"Coming James" I finally responded.
We're packing everything up, he didn’t want to since we could just go shopping over there but my mom wouldn't have felt complete if we didn't.
"Pamela we literally have 5 minutes, could you please hurry?!"
"GOING!" I shouted.
I guess this is it. I grabbed my bag with my iPad, my new cell phone James wants me to carry, and a locator.
I came up behind him.
"Done, let’s go"
He jumped startled.
"Pamela?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you", he said.
It seemed as if he were hiding something from me. Or maybe I'm under a lot of stress, who knows.

7

The car ride was seems so much better than this, because then I would at least have his company. Now I'm all alone trying to stop coming up with so many conclusions. Does he not love me anymore? No, that can't be it. He tells me all the time, or is it me? Do I love him...?
"Miss?"
I turned to look at the beautiful flight attendant; she must really like her job. I mean she's tall, nice body, long caramel hair, hazel eyes, light skinned. She's simply gorgeous, she could be anywhere either modeling or acting. Somewhere that will get her beauty noticed, instead of here serving annoying people.
"Would you like something to eat?"
I thought about this, do I? I'm not hungry yet, too nervous to eat. But I knew I'd regret it later if I didn't.
"That be nice please," I said to her.
"Well today we are offering Lasagna, Sushi, and Subway" she said.
"Mmm, I'll get a tuna sub please"
"What would you like on it Miss?"
"Um. No pickles, onions, mustard, anything spicy, and no dressing". I responded.
"It'll take a couple of minutes," she said with her warm smile.
She's beautiful enough to be James girlfriend, she wouldn't be a burden. He wouldn't have to hide her or his love for her to save his own life.
"Here you go Miss,” She handed over my sub and cranberry juice. My favorite!
"Thank you!" I said gratefully.
"Anything else?"
"No that'll be all, thank you" I said with a smile.
I lifted the shade from my window to let the rays from the sun come in. Ever since I left the shelter for the first time in so long, it seemed like my lungs weren't big enough to breathe in the freshness of nature. Like if my skin couldn't get enough sunlight, I just stood there frozen, admiring nature as if it were the first time.
Beep, Beep.
What is that?
Beep, Beep.
I looked around to see where the noise is coming from.
Beep, Beep.
Right! My new cell phone! I had forgotten all about it.
New Text Message
I clicked