Diaspora

You would believe that your actions and character will open a path for you. But what you intend it's not what others see, what you say it's not what they hear. And we live in darkness of each other.
I had one brother, as strong as I am, very assertive and brave, a nice young male. When he was able to survive without mother, he was taken by a neighboring family. It made me happy in two ways; I was staying home one more day and he was going to live nearby and visit . However, he returned in no time. Apparently he panicked being alone and started to cry. He was considered too young to be transplanted to a new home. Shortly after, another family came for him. It was always the same way. They looked at all of us and chose him. I could tell that family was an Alpha one. They were of fair skin and well fed, they had a male and female grown ups and only one child. You can smell wealth. My brother departed and for a time we were talking about how lucky he was. Jack and Elena took their information to track them but they never saw them again. Perhaps they moved, perhaps my family didn't want to know. The other kids in the block told us that they didn't have my brother anymore. Until this day I don't know if he is alive.
My second brother was a weakly one: short hair, wrinkled skin, thin body type. He was also very shy, always trembling in the presence of others. And was almost the last one to go. His family had darker skin and spoke with different words, like they do in the place where my mother was born, although they belong to a different tribe. They are called Mexicans around here. A man and woman with 2 children came to the house. They were quiet, bowed their heads when talking (as people who are not Alpha do) and smelled of dust and oil , since they bring home the traces of their labor. I felt sad for my brother, imagined he was going to sleep outside and share tasteless food. Several seasons later, somebody knocked at the back door. Couldn't recognize them until that smell triggered my memory. There was my brother, still thinner and shorter than me but shining with confidence, happy from nose to tail.
" We spoiled him" the man said.
Perhaps frailty secured his future, he bonded with the youngest child, and they grew up together. Because he was not menacing, he was not attacked. And when the howls of a hostile world finally ceased, they were intact.
One of my sisters became a favorite, she was a lot like me in appearance and demeanor,the kids competed to give her names and she was one day the Princess and the next "la Nina". Another Mexican family adopted her. That pack didn't have a father, there were several kids in the house but one girl loved her the best. She was also returned few days later, the little girl in tears and refusing to let her go. I don't know why and I don't pretend to understand human people. After a while the girl came back through the back door and put a purple collar on her neck indicating that she was going to become her guardian anyway. Her persistence payed off as she was finally given to her. In my late childhood I saw my sister several times. It seemed that the family took my house as an alternative dwelling every time they were too busy or have to go somewhere.
My youngest sister was furry and reckless. She spent the afternoon scratching the glass door of the patio and jumping around. No wonder she was called a "crazy bitch". A black family from two blocks away adopted her. They were two boys, a young playful one and a tall quiet one. Their mother provided for everyone. She asked many questions about my sister (finally named "Coco") and was very involved with her uprising. Frequently I found her in the playground. I know that Coco had a bad accident with a car and broke her leg, but she received tender care and recovered. Even now, that we are living far away we go to visit . The children, who have become young men, open the door for a few minutes and bring her outside. We touch our noses and laugh a bit at how the twists of life still keep us close, she looks at me with dark eyes almost buried in yellow hair as she couldn't believe her luck.
And what about myself?
For weeks I slept in fear, curled close to my mother. She believes in independence and responded by biting my ears and sending me away. I saw the kid next door saving coins to pay for me. He collected enough to pay for five ice creams, which made me proud. But Jack wanted to keep me and they never accepted any coins for us.
The family next door was also black and involved two children. The youngest one was rambunctious and hard to control, just like me at the time. His brother was a good mannered, gentle young man who was always fixing the problems his brother was so prolific at creating. they lived with their mother and uncle, a man who liked to grill meat outside, spreading a heavenly smell that made me wish for a while to move with him.
In the end it was decided I was going to stay and keep Eloisa company. I am glad I did. When I boast of being the chosen one, my mother shakes her head and warns me,
" Don't you think that good looks, courage, or even the wealth of a pack can save your skin"
And if I ask why then I am still here, she will say,
" Don't know, son, I guess is luck and love."