Now that I had a PlayStation of my own, Alonzo and I would often lend each other games; the perks of being neighbors. Granted, my relationship with money has always been a bit evasive, but I would save up pennies if it meant I could walk to Game City and…
Growing up in a strict religious household, Christmas was never a part of my life. We didn’t put up decorations or exchange gifts; the holiday simply wasn’t celebrated. But one year, when I was still a young boy, my father decided he wanted to do something special for me. This…
I remember the day I left the “special” IS 383 like it was yesterday. The school that catered to the “Gifted and Talented” had no room for my entrepreneurial spirit, which manifested in selling Warhead candies to fellow students. The administration showed me the door, and I found myself at…
Growing up in the church had its benefits, not least of which was the sense of community that fostered lifelong friendships. One of my closest friends was Eddie, who was much closer to my brother’s age than mine. He was like a big brother to me, protecting me on countless…
From the concrete jungle of New York, the trip to Puerto Rico always felt like stepping into a time machine, one that transported me to a world of deep-rooted history and timeless traditions. The family-owned land and the generational homes standing proudly on it were living monuments to our heritage….
Up until this point, I had Elementary School by the horns. But 5th grade was a tumultuous time, and after my parents split and my dad moved away, my grades dropped drastically. I stopped being a straight-A student and spent the bulk of my time distracted by my own imagination….
Sitting in our cozy living room, the sun casted a warm glow on the plastic-covered furniture that crinkled beneath me. I couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement as my eyes locked onto the television screen, where John Carpenter’s “Big Trouble in Little China” was playing. The first time…
If my memory serves me correctly, we got our Sega Genesis first, making it the second official gaming console we would own. I still remember the excitement that coursed through my veins as I unboxed the sleek black console, its glossy surface reflecting the light in the room. This system…
As I look back at the faded photograph in my hands, a wry smile creeps onto my face. My hairline, even back then, made me look like a cross between Eddie Munster and a young Vegeta. I was just a kid, but I already had the makings of a unique…
The “old-school” TV in our living room was a bulky, rectangular piece of nostalgia that seemed to have a soul of its own. Its dial seemed to laugh at us, with only a handful of channels and subpar reception, as it challenged us to find something worth watching. Each weekend,…
