Life:
Altered 03.43 ~*~ Pass Into Our Future

            Candace slammed the hammer into the
nail, blinking as the dust settled.  She
rubbed her nose with the back of her dark hand. 
They were shoring up the north wall of the old house.  Hoping that they could salvage at least the
beaming of the massive undertaking. 
Candace studied the wall, seeing the small fissures and she nodded to
herself, thinking it could be done.  It
could be gutted and saved from the pile of rubble it was becoming.

            “You look right at home there.”  Ro said and Candace turned, jumping at the
sight of the young Latina.  Ro had a half
grin on her face, looking up at Candace with no distaste on her face.

            “I am.”  Candace said simply stepping down from the small stepladder.  She pushed the hammer into the metal loop on
her belt like a cop holstered their gun.

            “Lots of work to be done here.  Ya need a new roof too.”  Ro offered and she dug into her back pocket
and handed her a stuffed envelope.  “Can
you give that to Bette for me?”  Ro
asked and Candace blinked, she shook her head.  She tried to hand the envelope back but Ro
stepped back and away from her.

            “You give it to her.”  Candace said with a gentler voice than she normally used with
Rosita.

            “Look.  I know you don’t like me.  If you think I got’s my sites set on your
woman, you are wrong.  She tried to show
me the other side of the life, but I’m not cut out for it.  Just tell her, tell her to use that like she
thinks it should be used.  She can find
herself a new project, cuz that’s all I was.” 
Ro said gallantly and began to turn away, and Candace said.

            “I never said I didn’t like
you.  I just know your kind.”  Candace stated and Ro turned around, an angry smile on her
face.  She understood where Candace was coming from but she didn’t have to condone
it.

            “Yeah.  Like you read any better than me?  You never gave no one a chance before
huh?  Don’t you hate when people judge
you for where you come from, or how you live and what you do instead of the
person you are?  My mother died when I
was a kid and papi died before I finished high school.  Is it an excuse?  No.  Do
I deserve a chance?”  Ro asked, shaking
her had and not understanding this woman at all.