Name's Asidrio Jorge' Montalvan, but most everyone calls me "Sticky", 'count I'm so skinny.  I am 14 years old and I live here in New York City with my family: Mami, Papi, little brother Gio (he's ten), two older sisters Valentina and Christina (they're 15 and 18), and baby sister Octavia (she's 5 and handicapped).  Our Abuela lives with us as well; she has done so since Abuelo (her husband) died early last year).

We live in the projects.  We are low income.  Papi can't work as he hurt his back and is trying to get on government assistance; he's always in severe pain and can't walk without a crutch clamped to his arm.  Mami works two jobs: at a restaurant where she is a waitress and also cleaning houses for rich folk.  She's hardly ever home, so Valentina and Christina act as surrogate mothers: they do the job that Mami can't as she is working so much.  When she is home, she sleeps.  A LOT.

Our nieghborhood is riddled with crime: gangbangin', shootings, drug use, only God knows what else.  It is very dangerous, especially at night; it is not fit for man OR beast once the sun goes down.  Once the sun sets, the baddies and lowlifes come out to play, and we kids have to stay in or else we can risk into getting into all sorts of serious trouble.

Some of the gang kids have tried to get me into joining up with a gang, but I tell them nothin' doing: I have  my pride and my familia to think of.  I'm the man of the house since MY old man can't work.  He needs me.  Hell, my FAMILIA needs me.  So I try my best to keep my nose clean and rely on my senses (and God) to keep me safe.  So far it's worked; I pray it continues ...

I face lots of dangers in this 'hood.  I do have friends, but some are in the gang, so I try to stay away from them.  My friends that I DO pal around with are from church (we go every Sunday morning; we'd go every Wednesday, but it just ain't safe after dark) or from school, and that's on the weekends (during the day, provided it isn't raining or snowing, of course).  If the weather's bad, then I just stay indoors and entertain my little sister and brother.

As I said, Octavia's handicapped.  Cerebral palsy.  She was born brain damaged.  It left her unable to walk or speak.  She is in a wheelchair and needs care 24 hours a day.  It makes me sad because her life is so full of trouble, much more than most people's.

I am like any other teenage boy.  I love to play sports, hang out with my friends, watch tv, listen to music (Latino and rap is what I like best), and draw or write stories.  I love to read (action/thriller or graphic novels) and skateboard.  

I have a lot of dreams.  One of my dreams is to be President.  If a black dude (Obama) can get in, then I'm sure a Hispanic dude can as well.  That would really be something!  Another dream of mine is to be a famous b-baller or rapper or maybe a breakdancer.  That's another thing I love: breakdancing.  I have been breakin' since I was eight and I am really good at it, too.

Well, I'm gonna cut on out of here.  It's nearly suppertime.  Tonight it's chipotle chicken, black beans, salad, and for dessert, sopapillas.  YUM!!  I will write in here again soon; until later, this is Sticky Montalvan saying peace out!  Laters!

~Sticky.  

~To be continued.~