The Charity Chip

by Brock Booher

  “Oh . . . the jerseys? I was working traffic on El Paseo and met this rich lady from over in Lince. She offered me a job.” Julio took another drink of his milk and let the lie settle over the conversation. He reached for a slice of cheese with his left hand.

  Raúl reached out and grabbed his wrist. He held Julio’s hand up to the candlelight. “You got chipped?”

  Julio jerked his arm free, and some of the milk sloshed out of the bottle onto his bed. “The only way the lady could pay me was if I got chipped. So I got chipped, and now I can take care of us both.”

  “You’re a terrible liar.”

  “I’m not lying! I got caught by the police, and she saved me and gave me a job. I didn’t want to tell you about it until I knew it was for real.”

  “Police? Job? What’s her name then?”

  “Graciela.”

  “Does she have a last name?”

  “She didn’t tell me.”

  “What’s she look like then?”

  “She’s tall and thin with . . . red hair and long fingers.”

  “Long fingers?”

  “Yes, you know . . . long fingers,” said Julio as he wiggled his fingers.

  Raúl rolled his eyes and shook his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I know you’re not telling me the truth.”

  Julio jumped to his feet and wagged a finger in Raúl’s face. “I brought you dinner and a new shirt, and all you can do is call me a liar! If Mamá hadn’t made me promise to take care of you, I would kick you out right now and let you take care of yourself.”

  Raúl ignored the angry outburst and tore himself another piece of bread. “You get a job and suddenly you’re my mother? I don’t need you. I can take care of myself.”

  “Hmph. If you’re so good at taking care of yourself, why do hang with los mALditos? You need somebody to take care of you, don’t you, little boy?” Julio braced himself for Raúl’s reaction, but Raúl just rolled his eyes and grabbed the last slice of cheese. Julio sat back down.

  They finished eating in silence, but as soon as Raúl finished drinking his milk, Julio continued. “I got us each a toothbrush and some toothpaste. Go brush your teeth before bed.”

  “Sí, Mamá,” answered Raúl. “Hey, since we’re twins, why don’t you let me work for you some of the days and we can share the money? We look enough alike that she will never know the difference. What do you say?” He frowned and held out his hand. “Help out your poor unfortunate twin brother?”

  Julio shook his head. “How do I know you will do a good job?”

  “You don’t trust me? Your own twin brother?” Raúl feigned shock and disbelief.

  “Stay away from los mALditos for a week, and I’ll talk to her about getting you a job.”

  Raúl stood and faced Julio. “I don’t need your pitiful help. Sergio can get me a job making three times what you make anytime I want it.”

  Julio knew it was true. The gangs were always in need of spotters, runners, and drug mulas. The work was dangerous, but it paid well. “You know Mamá would never approve of that.” He stood and faced Raúl. “Don’t you remember what she used to say? The work you do will define you. Who are you, Raúl?”

  Raúl drew close enough for Julio to smell the cheese on his breath. “I’m your twin brother, and I live in an unfinished apartment above a drunken doctor in a rat-infested barrio. Maybe if I work hard like you, then someday I can move up and live in a run-down house of my own, or a government-run barrio, and my kids can play in the dirty streets of a rat-infested barrio too. You are right, hermano. The work I choose will define me.” He poked a finger in Julio’s chest. “And I certainly wouldn’t choose to be like you.”

  Julio was stunned by his brother’s candidness, but he didn’t blame him for feeling that way. How many times had they struggled just to stay alive? What hope did they have for a bright future? He knew those feelings well. For just a moment, he thought about telling Raúl about Caritas. He could explain it all too him. He could give Raúl hope. But he liked having an advantage over Raúl for a change. Instead, he looked away.

  “I’m going to go brush my teeth,” snapped Raúl. He grabbed the toothbrush and started for the door. Before he slipped past the black plastic, he stopped and looked back at Julio. “At least you picked the right jersey, hermano.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  El Contrato

  (The Contract)

  Early the next morning, Julio slipped on his new Alianza jersey and skated for Caritas. He noticed the tire shop on Renovación with the green house beside it and remembered his conversation with Carmen. He hoped she wouldn’t say anything to Isak.

  When he arrived at Caritas, he stuffed his skateboard into his backpack and stood in front of the door for a moment. He was excited to be here. He swiped his hand in front of the sensor and heard the click of the door as it unlocked. When he entered the study room, he was surprised to find that he was the only one there. He looked for Carmen, but the kitchen was empty. He slid in front of one of the computers, and the screen came to life with a greeting.

  He put on the headphones, but before he could select anything, a video presentation began. It was Isak. “Consider this your first warning,” began Isak. “You will remember that you signed a contract agreeing to strict membership rules. You have violated the rule against alcohol use. If you continue this practice, your spending privileges will be suspended, and you will be expelled from our program.”

  Julio panicked. Suspended? Expelled? I’ve been in the program one day. I didn’t drink any—

  He remembered drinking the wine with Doctor Barilla the night before and put his face in his hands.

  As soon as the video of Isak was finished, a presentation on proper nutrition began. The woman’s voice admonished him to choose healthy foods and avoid excess items such as soda, candy, or other junk foods with little nutritional value.

  Julio looked down at the tiny wound in his left hand. Now he understood why it didn’t authorize the purchase of more Inca Kola. When the computer finished scolding him, he found the orientation segments again and watched them with more interest. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the back door open, and Carmen pushed her way through the door with her arms loaded with bags of food. He pulled off his headphones and rushed over to help her.

  “Gracias, mi hijo. You are a gentleman,” she said as he handed him some of the bags.

  Julio followed her to the kitchen with the bags of food. “Do you have more?” he asked. He hoped that his help might continue to buy Carmen’s silence about Raúl.

  “The deliveryman has a few more things for me just outside in the alleyway,” she said, still breathing heavy from carrying the bags. “It’s the door down the hall and on your left.”

  Without being asked, Julio hurried out of the kitchen and headed for the back door. He swiped his hand across the sensor and tried to open the door, but it remained locked. He turned his hand around and tried again, still locked. He went back to the kitchen.

  “I can’t get the door open,” he told Carmen with a shrug.

  “Of course not,” said Carmen as she smacked her hand across her forehead. “Students don’t have access to that door.” She grabbed a lanyard with several keys hanging beside the large stainless steel refrigerator and slipped it over Julio’s neck. “The keys are labeled—hallway and back door.”

  Julio found the key for the hallway door and inserted it into the keyhole just below the chip sensor. He opened the door and made his way down the hallway to the alleyway door. The deliveryman had already unloaded everything and drove off as soon as he saw Julio. Worried about someone stealing the groceries before he could get them into the building, Julio propped open the alleyway door with a board and set the boxes in the hallway before closing the back door. It took him three trips to haul the groceries to the kitchen for Carmen, but when she treated him to a bowl of yogurt with strawberries for his help, it was all worth the hassle.

  When he
got back to his computer, Graciela was playing a game at the computer next to his. “How did the shopping go, newbie?” she asked louder than she needed to because she hadn’t dropped her headphones.

  “I made the mistake of buying too much soda,” yelled Julio so she could hear. “It was embarrassing.”

  Graciela laughed and slipped one earpiece back. “I told you to pay attention. Looks like you didn’t take my advice about new clothes either.”

  “I got a new shirt,” protested Julio.

  “A new soccer jersey hardly counts for clothing.” She looked over at him and rolled her eyes. “Besides it’s an Alianza jersey. Viva, La U!”

  Julio shook his head. “I figured you were too smart to be a fan of La U.”

  “I’m smart enough to know which Peruvian soccer club has won more championships.”

  Julio thought of a dozen clever retorts but decided it might be better not to make any waves. “I don’t remember much about my father.” He put his hand over the logo just above his heart. “But I remember my father cheering for Alianza. That was enough to make me a fan as well.”

  Graciela stared at the computer screen in front of her. “I had a boyfriend that cheered for La U.”

  The comment killed the conversation and awkward silence filled the space. Julio started his schoolwork. Graciela slipped the earpiece over her ear and got back to her game.

  By the time Carmen announced lunch, Julio had finished two days’ worth of schooling. He was excited to learn, and with each completed lesson, the hope of maybe becoming a doctor welled up inside of him.

  He noticed Angelica sitting at a table by herself again. Just like the day before, she was pushing the food around on her plate. “You don’t seem to like the food today either,” said Julio as he sat down.

  “What? Oh, I guess I still don’t have much of an appetite,” said Angelica as she poked the food with her fork. “Julio, right?”

  He nodded. “Angelica, right?” He was glad she remembered his name. “How long have you been a member of Caritas?”

  She looked up at him with her mysterious green eyes. “About a year.” She took a small bite. “Did you enjoy the lovely Doctor Kozyar?”

  Julio almost choked. He glanced around as he swallowed his mouthful of food. “Is she always so charming?” he asked in a quiet voice.

  Angelica chuckled and continued to push her food around. “Did Isak save you from going to jail the first time you met him?”

  Julio was about to put a forkful of rice into his mouth, but he stopped with his mouth open and looked at Angelica. “Yes. How did you know?”

  She looked straight into his eyes for a long moment, and Julio felt like she was looking straight through him. When she broke her gaze, she stood without saying anything, took her dirty dishes to the kitchen, and left without even looking at Julio again.

  Julio ate his lunch slowly. He didn’t know whether he should feel embarrassed or hurt at Angelica’s strange behavior. In his mind he replayed their conversation, trying to remember what he had said that might have driven her off. Was I too forward? Is she avoiding me because I got caught by the police? Maybe she doesn’t like the way I dress. He stared at his plate as he finished his lunch.

  Julio was still staring at his empty plate when Isabela walked through the front door. She was dressed in a low-cut, black sleeveless dress and four-inch heels. At first he thought she was coming for lunch, but she walked straight over to Julio. He looked up and blushed as she got closer.

  “Isak would like to speak with you,” said Isabela. Her lipstick was a perfect deep red. She pirouetted on her heels and headed to the front door. Before she pushed open the door, she looked back at Julio over her bare left shoulder and said, “Now.”

  Before she could exit, Julio jumped to his feet and hurried to the kitchen with his dirty dishes. He grabbed his backpack and rushed out the front door. He caught up with Isabela before she could get back to her desk.

  “Go right in,” said Isabela as she took a seat at her desk and picked up a magazine. “He’s waiting for you.”

  Isak was standing at the window with his back to the door when Julio hurried in. “You wanted to see me?” he asked.

  Isak didn’t turn around. “You violated the terms of your contract by drinking alcohol,” he said.

  Julio looked down at his ragged shoes. “It was just a glass of wine. I forgot.”

  Isak turned and focused his penetrating gaze on Julio. “Just a glass of wine? You cannot afford to be so casual with your commitments. We have very strict rules against alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. As you learned, the chip can detect the slightest level of alcohol in the bloodstream. If you continue to violate your contract, we will remove the chip and you will be terminated.”

  Julio nodded and continued to look down.

  Isak moved to his desk and looked at his computer. “On a good note, I see that you have excelled at your schoolwork, and Carmen said that you are very helpful.”

  Julio looked up. The lines on Isak’s chiseled face had softened, and he was smiling. “Thank you,” muttered Julio.

  “I have given you an opportunity to change your life. Do not spoil it.” Isak swiveled in his chair and began typing at his computer. “Now go.”

  Julio nodded several times, and he hurried out of Isak’s office. Isabela glanced up at him from behind her magazine when he sat down in one of the foyer chairs to regain his composure. It took several minutes for his heart to stop pounding. After he regained his strength, he exited the building, too scared to do any more schoolwork, and pulled out his skateboard and skated for home.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Los Visitantes

  (The Visitors)

  Julio swiped his left hand over the sensor and pushed through the front door of Caritas. After three weeks, the small wound from the chip insertion was no longer visible, and he barely noticed it under his skin, but it had certainly changed his life. He wore a clean pair of jeans and a new pair of black canvas shoes perfect for skateboarding. Hunger was quickly becoming a bad memory. He had finished almost two month’s worth of lessons since his first day, and Isak told him that he showed great promise.

  Julio had to settle for less expensive things and bargain hunt, because everything he bought for himself, he had also purchased for Raúl. He had hoped that his generosity would break the spell of los mALditos, but the harder he pushed, the more time Raúl spent with the gang at El Infierno. Then last night, Raúl never came home. Julio had searched at the plaza for him, had even skated by El Infierno, but didn’t find him, and he was afraid to approach any other members of the gang. Julio was worried.

  He stuffed his backpack and skateboard into a locker and swiped his hand to lock it. He wasn’t surprised to see that he was the first one there. As usual, Carmen was the next one to arrive. Julio paused his lesson and helped her with the bags of groceries. He lingered in the kitchen and helped her put the food away and wash some of the dishes from the day before.

  “You are like my lost son,” said Carmen as she gave him a bowl of yogurt with banana and patted him on the back. “Your mother would be proud of you.”

  Julio blushed and sat down with the bowl of yogurt. He had just finished when Graciela arrived. He stayed in the kitchen until she got situated at her computer and then snuck up behind her. He pulled the oversized yellow earpiece off of her left ear and said, “Adelante Alianza!”

  She turned and smacked at him playfully. “Viva La U!” They both laughed. Julio returned to his lesson. Graciela continued her lesson.

  Other kids filtered in and sat down at a computer. Angelica, brooding as always, slipped in and took a computer in the corner. Her eyes flitted from side to side like a bird watching for predators. She never seemed to relax. After the last conversation, he had avoided her.

  Julio was in the middle of a math lesson when he saw Doctor Kozyar come in through the back door followed by Isak and another man in a suit. A wave of expectation swept through the room, and everyo
ne stopped what they were doing and watched them, even Graciela. Isak walked to the center of the room and held up his hands. “Good morning, students. I want to introduce our visitor. May I present Señor Pascal Goulet from the United Nations Humanitarian Council.”

  Pascal Goulet looked small beside Isak, but he stood in front of everyone with his hands crossed behind his back. He wore wire-rimmed glasses resting low on his hooked nose, and his thinning hair was sandy brown. He smiled and gave a courteous nod to everyone in the room. His teeth were tall and white like the teeth of a movie star.

  “Buenos días,” began Señor Goulet in an accent Julio had never heard. “It is a pleasure to be here today. Caritas appears to be operating very smoothly. We congratulate you for your efforts. Thank you.” Señor Goulet waved and yielded the floor to Isak.

  Isak smiled and stepped forward. “Señor Goulet will be evaluating us for the next few days. He will be asking you questions and trying to decide if Caritas should be expanded to other parts of Peru, and even to other countries. I expect each of you to give him your full attention if he asks to speak with you.”

  Isabela pushed through the front door in a tight dress. A cameraman followed right behind her, and behind him was a woman that everyone recognized at once—Sofía Encuentro.

  The petite anchorwoman looked just like her oversized picture on the side of half the buses in Lima. Her long black hair was parted down the middle and fell on the shoulders of her black suit jacket. Her jacket was unbuttoned, and her figure filled the white blouse underneath. She wore pants instead of a skirt and carried herself with purpose. Her eyes were black and searching.

  The room started buzzing with excitement. Graciela looked at Julio with her mouth open and almost jumped out her chair. Isak stepped forward and took control. “Students, I know that you are excited, but please show respect to our guests.” The buzz was reduced to mute whispers. “We have invited Sofía Encuentro to tour our facility today. She will interview some of you and report on the success of our program. Please show her the respect she deserves.”