San Juan, Puerto Rico Sept 2001 Vega House - Yavneh Hebrew Day School

Ofelia woke up around 6am. She rubs her eyes a bit before sitting up. She puts on her prosthetics before standing up and heading to the bathroom. She has to stay quiet because her parents went out dancing last night. So, she uses the bathroom and wash her hands and face. Ofelia brush her hair a few times before returning to her bedroom. She took off her pjs and puts on her school uniform. Her school uniform consists white long sleeve button up shirt, red tie, black knee length skirt, black sweater vest, and black blazer jacket. She grabs her backpack and exit her bedroom.

Ofelia enters the kitchen and made herself a bowl of cereal and glass of orange juice. Once she finish, she place the dishes in the sink. She then grabs her lunch bag from the fridge before exiting the house. Its a 7 minutes wal the bus and took the bus all away to her school. She will be attending a school call Yavneh Hebrew Day School. Its a independent college preparatory school. Its goes from pre- k to grade 12.

By the name, you can tell that its a Jewish school. You probadly wondering why a she would be attending a Jewish school. Ofelia is quarter Jewish. She got some of her Jewish blood from her mom who is half Cuban and half Jewish.

Anyway, as she enter the school, she heads to the office and picks up her classes and head to her first period class. When lunch came around, Ofelia heads to the cafeteria and sat one of the empty tables. Of course there are kids who are half Jewish or full Jewish, but most of them probadly won't talk to her. The only people who would talk to her are the younger students from the Primary School. After 20 minutes or so, the lunch bell rang and Ofelia heads to her afternoon classes. When school is over, she has to stay after to school for an hour for religious studies.

Once is over, Ofelia quickly heads home. As she enter the house, she quickly notice some beer cans on the living room floor. She wasn't sure if her dad or mom is home or not......so, she quietly heads upstairs to her bedroom. She place her backpack on the bed before grabbing her towel and heads to the bathroom. After her shower, Ofelia heads back to her bedroom and out on her pjs. Her pjs consists long sleeve green shirt and green pj bottoms. She pick up her unifrom from the bathroom and hang them up in her closet. She then grabs her backpack and heads downstairs to the living room.

Ofelia place her backpack on the couch and began picking up the beer cans. Once she finish cleaning up, she sat down on the couch, turns on the tv, and began doing her homework. Around 7pm, her mom came home from work. Yolanda brought some dinner with her.

"Hi mama....." Ofelia says to her.

"Hi Ofelia. How is school?" Yolanda ask.

"Its alright. Oh....I am taking some AP classes."

"Thats good. Are you hungry?"

"Yea..."

Ofelia puts away her homework and heads to the kitchen. While they ate dinner, Ricardo enter the house. When he enter the kitchen, he grabs the beer can and heads to the master bedroom. Yolanda told Ofelia to grab her dinner and the stuff from the living room and go to her bedroom. Ofelia simply nod before she gather dinner and stuff and heads to her bedroom. She quickly finish her homework and puts it in her backpack. She then eats her dinner while she reads her book. While she eat and read, she kinda hear her parents talking and argue a bit. After a few minutes, Ofelia heard the front door open and close.

"Mama and dad probadly head to the local bar." Ofelia thought to herself.

Ofelia exit her bedroom and heads to the living room to some tv until 10pm. For the first week of school, Ofelia did the repeat the same thing. She woke up around 5 or 5:30am, goes to school, stay after school for religious studies, and then go home to take a shower and do her homework. She then eats dinner with her mom or dad before heading to her bedroom. Then on the morning of Sept. 11, Ofelia is awaken by her mother.

"Mama.....why you would woke me? I thought you won't be awake until later...." she says to her mother.

"The planes had crash to one of the 2 towers and into the part of the pentagon." Yolanda reply.

"Seriously?"

"Yea......I am worry about your sister and her family."

"Don't worry. I know that they'll be okay."

Besides being Puerto Ricans, Ofelia, Yolanda, and Ricardo are Americans. Their country is one of the four unincorporated organized territories and of of the 2 commonwealths. Other three are Guam, Northern Mariana Islands (commonwealth), and United States Virgin Islands. Anyway, Ofelia follow her mom to the living room and watch the news for a bit before she has to return to her bedroom and get ready for school. As soon she enter school, Ofelia is approach by Rabbi Isaac Kaufman. Rabbi Kaufman is the Rabbi for the school and one of the local synagogues.

"Hello sir." Ofelia reply.

"Did toy see the news before coming here?" Kaufman ask.

"Yes, I did sir. I am worry about my sister and her famiy. They're living in New York."

"Which part?"

"Brooklyn."

"Tell your mother to have faith in your sister. She is a strong person."

"But didn't you say that she's a 'bad person' for having a baby for a such a younge age?"

"Yes, I did, but at least she married her baby's father."

Ofelia talk with Rabbi Kaufman for a few minutes before heading to her morning classes. A 4 days after the 9/11 Yolanda try her best to call Estella by main phone and cell phone, but is unable to make contact with her. Then on late Saturday night, Estella call home. Yolanda did talk to Estella for over 2 hours or so. Estella told her mom that she, Salvador, and Eric are doing doing okay. As they says their goodbyes, Yolanda heads upstairs and enter Ofelia's bedroom. Ofelia is sleeping at the moment.

"Ofelia....please be wake up." Yolanda says quietly.

"What mama?" Ofelia ask.

"I just want to let you know that your sister and her family are doing ok."

"Can't you tell me in the morning?"

"Sorry. Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"Your sister told that she asked you to move in with her after you finish school."

"Oh. Estella told me that if I attend a music college in New York......I could move in with her and fer family."

"Why you need to go your college? Your father, myself, your sister and brothes didn't bother to go to college."

"But I want to college. I don't to be like you and the others."

"Whatever you say, Ofelia."

Yolanda exit the bedroom and close the door behind her. When Sunday morning came, Yolanda made some breakfast for Ofelia and Ricardo before heading to work. Ofelia is playing on her guitar in her bedroom. She isn't playing loudly, but to her father, it is loud. So, he enter her bedroom and took away her guitar. Ricardo won't give it back to Ofelia unless she cleans around the house. Ofelia did clean the house after she ate her breakfast. Once she finish, she heads to the living room. She found her dad sitting on the couch, watching some tv.

"Can I have my guitar back?" Ofelia ask.

"Yea...its in the closet in my bedroom.' Ricardo answer.

Ofelia quickly heads to her parents' bedroom and heads to the closet. Once she got her guitar, she quickly exit the bedroom and heads upstairs to her bedroom. She play her guitar for over an hour before putting it away. She then began reading her book for a while. As she read, her cell began to ring.

"Hello?" Ofelia says to the caller.

"Hi Ofelia. How are you?" Estella ask.

"I am doing alright. Are you, Sal, and Eric re alright?"

"We are now. We have to leave our apartment and stayed at the hotel for a couple of days."

"Okay. At least you guys are alright."

"Yea. Anyway.....did Cesar and Luis call home?"

"Nope. I haven't heard them over two months."

"I thought they working with dad."

They did, but they changed companies over a year ago."

"I see then."

I think they just busy, Estella."

"From what Ofelia? Work or drinking or sleeping around?"

"I don't know."

They continue to talk for a few minutes before hanging up. Ofelia then gets off her bed and heads to her closet. She change out her clothes and change into blood red short sleeve gothic knee length dress. She outs on her white socks and tennis shoes. She brush her hair a bit before grabbing her purple backpack and exit her bedroom and house. Ofelia heads to the nearest synagogue and went inside. There are some people inside, but few of them look at Ofelia's legs. Soon enough, she met with Rabbi Kaufman.

"Hello sir." Ofelia says to him.

"Hello Ofelia. Is your mother going to do anyhting on Rosh Hashanah?" Kaufman ask.

"Probadly not sir."

"And she call herslef Jewish. I guess that you get for marrying a Christian."

"Papa is a athiest now."

"It must be a shame then. Well....are you going to do anyhting on Rosh Hashanah?"

"I will be coming here sir."

"Good girl."

Rabbi Kaufman excuse himself before heading to another person. Ofelia hang out at the synagogue before heading to the local resturant and ate lunch. When Rosh Hashanah has came, Ofelia has to look nice before heading to the synagogue. She is wearing black and bordeaux velvet gothic dress with long flowing sleeves. As she puts on her necklace and bow hairclip on, her mother enter her bedroom.

"Are you going somewhere?" Yolanda ask.

"Today is Rosh Hashanah. Remember?" Ofelia ask.

"Oh. I must have forgot."

"Yea. Well, I am heading out. See you later."

"Okay but be careful......mija."

"I will....."

Ofelia says her goodbyes to her mom before exiting the house. As soon as she's at synagogue, there are already people inside. So, Ofelia then heads inside and began hanging with other people. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Years. Ofelia wishes that she becomes a first member in her family to college. She didn't come home until around 9pm. As soon as she enter her home, she sees her dad watching tv and her mom is reading a book.

"I'm home." Ofelia says as she close the front door behind her.

"I stilll don't know why you still go to Synagogue. Your mother and I are not like them." Ricardo says to her.

"I know, but I still want to go no matter what. Anyway, I already ate dinner earlier. I am going to my room. Night." Ofelia says to her parents before heading to her bedroom.

"Ricardo.....why you bring religion up to her? She simply want get in touch with her Jewish back." Yolanda reply.

"She's quarter Jewish. Besides......I thought you were going to converted to a Christian." Ricardo says to her.

"I did but out of nowhere.....you became a athiest when Estella was born."

"I don't want to go through all that crap like the first communions....."

"I wish gave the kids bar and bat Mitzvahs."

"I already told you. I don't want my kids to become freaks for being Jewish."

"Then how come you let me sent Ofelia to Yavneh Hebrew Day School?"

"Because she is different."

Yolanda and Ricardo continue to argue a bit before heading to their bedrooms. When Monday came, Ofelia woke up the usual time and did her usual stuff before exiting her home. As she enter the school, she met up with her friend, Marguerita Arias. Like Ofelia, Marguerita is quarter Jewish.

"Hey Ofelia." Maggie says to her.

"Hi Maggie." Ofelia reply back.

Maggie has dark chocolate shoulder length wavy hair, light brown eyes, and light tan skin. She's also wearing a school uniform.

"Did you went to the Synagogue on Rosh Hashanah, Ofelia?"

"Yes I did."

"What about your family?"

"They didn't come with me, Maggie."

"Oh....."

"Yea....."

They talk for a bit as they head to their classes. After 9 to 10 days after Rosh Hashanah, its Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur is the Jewish day of atonement, a day of fasting and repentance to reconcile themselves with the Creator for the mistakes they have made in the last year. The day before Yom Kippur, Ofelia's school release the students an hour earlier, Rabbi Kaufman told the students there will be no school tomorrow. As soon as Ofelia enter her home and close the front door behind her, the house it empty.

"Mom and dad are probadly still working or something......." Ofelia mutter to herself before heading upstairs to her bedroom.

Once Ofelia close the bedroom door and place her backpack on the floor. She then heads to her closet and took off her school uniform. She then puts on her long sleeve dark purple shirt, black sweat pants, and purple socks. She brush her hair a bit before grabbing her shoulder bag and exit her bedroom. As Ofelia exit the house, she walks towards Ocean Beach. Once she is there, she heads to the local resturant and went inside. As she led to the empty booth, Ofelia began to order a couple of dishes.

Once the dishes has came, Ofelia began eating her dishes. She want to be full and enjoy the food before the fasting starts. Once she finish, she pay the food before leaving the resturant. As soon as she enter the house, her father is watching tv as usual and is drinking beer. She couldn't find her mom near her dad.

"Hi dad....." Ofelia says to him.

"Where have you been?" Ricardo ask.

"I was at the resturant, eating dinner."

"We have food here."

"I know.....but I don't want to make a big dinner if you and mom are going out and eat at your friends' houses. Besides.....I will be fasting....."

"For what?"

"Its Yom Kippur."

"Oh....whatever.....anyway your mother and I will be heading out got it?"

"Yes dad....."

Ofelia quickly heads upstairs and enter her bedroom. The next morning has came, and Ofelia is sleeping late, but her mom woke her up.

"Mama.....why you woke me up?" Ofelia ask.

"I know you don't have school today for Yom Kipper, but I want you awake right now." Yolanda says to her.

"Still........Why?"

"I would like you clean around the house a bit while your father and I are working."

"Okay....."

"See you later then."

Yolanda says her goodbyes before exiting the bedroom and the house. Ofelia is laying for a few minutes before getting off her bed and put on the prosthetics. As she heads to the bathroom, she can heard her dad moving around in the living room. Soon enough the front door is open and close. She knew that her dad just left for work. So, she exit exit her bathroom and heads downstairs. She then began cleaning up the living room, parents' bedroom and the kitchen. Then she heads upstairs and enter her brothers' old bedroom.

Her parents did put away her brothers' belongings, but they did sold their beds and desks. So, she simply dust the room before heading her bedroom. She used to share her bedroom with her sister before she moved to the States. Her parents also put away her sister's belongings in her brothers' bedroom, but sold her bed and desk. Anyway, Ofelia cleans up her room before she heads to her closet and took off her pjs. Ofelia then puts on short sleeve knee length red wine dress with ruffle on front. She fix her hair in a long braid. She puts on her tennis shoes before grabbing her shoulder bag before exit her room and house.

Ofelia want to the synagogue, but can't at the moment. The reason is because she knew that there is going to be a lot of people. So, she spent a day walking around the stores and the local beach. After 2 hours or so, she return home. Its lunch time she got home. She assumes that her parents are at work. So, she heads to the living room to watch some tv before heading upstairs to her bedroom and play her instruments. Around dinnertime, her parents came home from work and they brought some dinner with them. Yolanda heads upstairs and enter her daughter's bedroom. Ofelia is playing her guitar.

"Hey Ofelia." Yolanda says to her.

"How is work?" Ofelia ask.

"The usual. Is Yom Kippur over yet?"

"In a few hours."

"Okay. Your father and I brought some dinner for you once the holiday is over."

"Are you and dad are going out?"

"Yes we are. Please don't wait up for us."

"Got it."

Yolanda exit the bedroom and join her husband in her bedroom. After an hour or so, Yolanda and Ricardo left the house. After a couple of hours, Yom Kippur is over. Ofelia exit her bedroom and heads to the kitchen. She serve herself some dinner before heading to the kitchen and watch some tv.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Ofelia is 14 and her friend, Maggie, is 13. Maggie is in 8th grade and Ofelia is in 11th grade. Maggie will be turning 14 in March and Ofelia will be turning 15 on Jan. Another thing, I did look up some info about Judaism and if anyone, who is Jewish, correct me if I made any mistakes about Judaism if you guys are not busy. Anyway, please read and review if you're not too busy.