The Weird Neighbor

Dear neighbor Left,

You ’re my problem.

you 're the reason why I have to drench my rooms with air freshener in order to block that horrible cooking smell of onions, garlic, cilantro.

The reason why I’m afraid to roam alone at night knowing that you hang out more in the streets than at home.

The reason why I always feel the need to call the cops every time you're out chatting loudly with your family

You... yeah you, Mr. Uptown. The one who grew up with latin music,

The same latin music that keeps me up all night. The one with the bilingual tongue, incapable of saying your H’s, J’s, or Y’s correctly.

It’s terrible.

It’s terrible that you and your family can’t speak english correctly even after living in a land filled with english speakers.

You, the tall brown skin. You ’re my problem.

This is the land of the rich, the land of the dreamers.

The land of intelligent beings.

The land for hard-working leaders.

Not some reckless farmland you call the Caribbean.

Disappointment is what you are.

Can’t  even achieve greatness, become a role model, gain enough money to support yourself. Why? Because you are different. Get out of the apartment, won’t you?

Sincerely,

    Neighbor Right

Dear Neighbor Right,

You’re sat to talk to.

I respect u, kared for u,

I geven tried to put u first n my life, in return for your fendship.

I’m done!

Estoy hecho not allowing my family to come ober my ouse to partd from 5pm-12am.

Estoy hecho  giving up singing espanish legends in da shower ohen Sunday mornings.

Estoy done not making my favoreet brefast dech when I’m home shick.

I’m done koloring my kin and straytening my hair in orer to not tand out in the lobby.

I wented dis room to libe in a world filed with opportunities.

A world where dreems no longer stay dreems.

A world with promising futures and equal partnerships.

Who cares if I naturally espeak loud?

Who cares if my family can’t peak proper eninglish? Eninglish was never beir birth language.

Who cares if I always buy salami and platanos from our local supermarket?

For the past 17 years, I was rays as a latino and by latinos

You can’t take that away fran me.

Yes I deeferen.

Yes I may half been raised differently den you,

But I will not let that  preven me from accomllising my American dreams.

So go ahead, keep up with the abuse and the horassment

There isn’t anyhing you can say or do that will make me lease this aportment. Why?

Bekause SOY UN LATINO Y SOY ORGULLOSO DE SER LATINO!

-Neighbor Left