Heaven O Hell: The Black Omen

By Robert Nathaniel Oriyama'at

From the Islands of Cuba. Coming from the boat like Tony Montana, comes Maximo Cienfuegos at a young age to get a close up look. Here is a boy who was filled with mad ambition and lust to see the ghettos of America. So here he is in the urban jungles of Brooklyn to get a handle of Hard Knock Life and to show a side that the ghetto had never seen. That side is a side that an average OG would die for.

This story of Maximo is about the struggle of day to day of blacks and latinos in America. The gunplay, The wild friendships, The crazy opportunities to a loving relationship with a great friendship..... In Cuba, where the weather is so beautiful and rich with the beautiful fruits and palm trees to the gritty streets of Brooklyn, New York (The Planet) Where most kids hit the block for fame.....To the streets of Bridgeport Connecticut, where the OGs, there are up to no good and much drama is in.

Finally in the Boston Massachusetts Area for a getaway peace. But how long will this last? Check this book out to see if peace can ever last in the world of Maximo with all the ambition. This book is filled the lots of action and spontaneous scenes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 14, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456727833

Robert Nathaniel Oriyama'at

Robert Nathaniel Oriyama'at is an very animated character with much childlike imaginations preserved in him..He like to venture out to different worlds and even if he is not physically present in the area. He will image an idea or a picture of some place, or have a certain emotion when listening to a song or being at a particular place. A constant thinker and in ways to find how he can manifest on how he sees things or how he feels. He is in practice of how he can relate to people on things he feels. This book is much person for Robert, because he is so fond in being young and being thoughtful. That he feels a connection to all kinds of youth. He feels that he can relate to all kinds of youth due to personal life experiences growing up in Bridgeport, CT and spending some time in Naugatuck CT, New York City and some other places around the world. Robert is a veteran of the US Armed Forces Active Duty and the Connecticut National Guard. The United States Airforce for over six years and has traveled to places like Mexico and Korea. He currently an apprentice in HVAC and has published a poetry booked called the True Sea Of Life. Robert currently resides in Somerville Massachusetts, which is located in the Greater Boston Area.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Dusk In A Tropical Paradise

O n a beautiful early morning, as the sun is beaming through the windows of a hard clay cement tenement building, Maximo looks up at the ceiling. The covers are pretty warm he thought. Then he had noticed some loud noise coming from outside. His little brother had screamed La Carnival!!! Today was a celebration of Cuba’s independence in the capitol of Havana, Cuba. The actual day of independence of Cuba was on December 10, 1898. The independence was the liberation from Spain without the help from the United States as far as on the land of Cuba. The United States’ only influence was in rid of the Spanish navy. The carnival of the celebration happens every year, with the respects of Antonio Maceo, Jose Marti, and Maximo Gomez, etc. These people were heroes of Cuba. Many of them died in combat.

La Habana (Havana, meaning The Haven) Cuba, is an ancient industrial capital. As many of us know, Cuba is famous for cigars and their cigars are one of the best. About 15 to 20 a box of american dollars in Cuba. Now the Cuban government doesn’t want anything to do with the mean lean green, but if you exchange your ducketts out in Jamaica, Dominican Republic, etc. You are able to use that mean lean green to your advantage and cop you a box of Habanas. But I assure you never buy them and try to take them to the U.S!, unless you want to head to prison after hours of lecture. Getting back to the scene now, Maximo had left his bedroom. This building that Max and his family was living in, was a green single floor cement stronghold with the spanish style colonial roof setting. It was lit in a big way with the flowers all around the front lawn. Inside was all antique laid out display of furniture that was decorated with the great sowing and knitting of Maximo’s mother and aunts. The tables and chairs are wooden. The sofas and coaches where either red leather or multi color linen, the color inside was of different array of colors like in the kitchen it was white. The rooms were the funky fresh red to sky blue. Now, Maximo is now in Centro Habana, where some of the oldest cigar factories are located. It is in a barrio, but in a better condition. Maximo gets up and he smells papas(potatoes) with eggs. He washes up and heads in the kitchen.

Cabron!, said Maximo. You ate all the breakfast! How am I going to eat Jose, you pendejo! Jose had just walked in the kitchen.

I’m sorry., said Jose licking his lips. But I was hungry this morning. Besides I need it for today. The carnival has begun.

I got no time for that. Maximo had went into the cabinet to get a box of Captain Crunch. I got to bounce to Old Havana, out to get my look in the ocean, before the people come like cucarachas!

Why do you have to see the ocean, Max? Jose was sipping on a glass of orange juice.

When I come back, I’ll tell you that. Max had grabbed the box of cereal and a cup with a spoon and he had put them inside his backpack. Maximo was always thrilled to see the waters.

Cause, I’m one day will go to America., Max had said it anyway as he was walking out the house. I want to see what it is like.

I heard some talk from momma and papa that might be the case., acknowledged Jose. Jose was the wild younger brother of Max. He was always a pest for Max. But he was bright as the sun in the day. Now today is Independence Day. In 1983, the Independence Day is still very emotional and existing in Cuba. In which you would see all the children of the soldiers who had put their life down, right down to the great great grandchildren who were learning day by day of the stronghold of the independence of Cuba from any type of colonialism. Max is 8 years old, born in Sept 14, 1975. He is a grandson of the great Camilo Cienfuegos, a revolutionary of Cuba, who Fidel Castro, yes, the president, had great friendship with besides Ernesto Che Guevara. Camilo Cienfuegos was a legend in his own right. He, though, unfortunately died in a plane crash before the triumph of the revolution. He took off from southern Cuba on the way to Havana to meet Fidel. It is speculated that some of the forces of the dictator Fulgenico Batista, a black man himself, had planted a device in the plane to blow up. Some of the media of the exiled refugees from Cuba had said that Fidel himself had ordered a device in the plane. This is because if Camilo Cienfuegos was alive today, he may of have been the President of Cuba himself because of similar popularity like Fidel. Some say he had more. Nevertheless, the fact remains that Fidel and the revolutionaries had no FULL complete control of the island until the revolution had conquered the capitol of Cuba, Havana. The force of Fidel had come from the Sierra Maestra, a mountain region in Southeastern Cuba. Most of the forces of Fidel and Che went through the northern parts of Cuba. So how can it be today that the same story exists about Fidel was envious of Camilo? These rumors that the Media had started have raised doubt on the American public’s eye on The Cuban Revolution. That is, the ones that have looked up some information of the beginnings of the Cuban Revolution. There are books that are in favor in that a change was needed in Cuba, but in the end Fidel had became an over influencing tyrant. Then there are books that don’t give no credit for Fidel to change anything in Cuba, in that the protocol in riddening Fidel and the Communist Party. But the first ones that I had indicated are much more than the second. The third are books that give all the respect to Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, a son of a wealthy white Spanish father and a Black native Cubana. Also in these books on the fact that Fidel and the people of Cuba had implemented a free education and free medical treatment in Cuba, along with the beginnings of movements of the rights of the people. So it is up to you if you are interested to find out the actual facts if the truth and base your opinion on what happened, what is happening now and the future happening in the Cuban Revolution. Camilo Cienfuegos has a spiritual and a monumental presence in Cuba today. Camilo was indeed a hero to the Cubans and is remembered in every way in Cuba. The family of Cienfuegos lives on. This book is not an attempt to display the actual lives of the Cienfuegos family, because it is simple. I know little about the Cienfuegos family. This book is out to make a point and to be entertaining to the average readers of lifestyles of the pimps and whoes, good citizens and the scandalous fiends in the game of life.

Chapter 2

The Point of Views

C amilo’s son Humberto Cienfuego is a very conservative man who was happy to be an inheritance of the revolution. He was wed to Estrellamaya Irizzary, a sew factory worker. She was a queen in her own right. She was light-brownskinned ‘mulata’ as you would say in ‘Old Cuba’ with long jet black hair. Humberto had work in a tabacco factory named Partagas Cigar in Capitolio, in centro Habana. It is Cuba’s largest cigar factory producing 5 million cigars a year. Humberto was a hardworker idealist, who co-headed the factory to greater heights. He with Estrellamaya as the backbone, taught their children to be positive, courageous, and independent. They had two sons, Maximo and Jose, and two daughters, Omara and Jesusita. Jose was 5 years old, Omara was 14, and Jesusita was 9. So that leaves Max the monkey in middle, almost. He was a tan complexion man with curly black hair. He was blacker indigenous in features than white spanish than his dad Humberto. The rest was mixed up. Max was now in his way to the Malecon. The Malecon was a long roadway along side the beach separated by a cemented wall. The Malecon is definitely a place for a nice couple to spend a nice time any part of 24 hours. It is one of the most famous sites in Cuba… . It might be the number one major site in Cuba, with many post cards have done pictures to show the beauty of the shores of Cuba. With some many romantic Kodak moment pictures that will sparkle your mind to come and see for yourself of the precise white sand of this paradise, along with the cool breeze of the shoreline.

The Malecon starts from Old Havana, a section where the Spanish had sent captured Africans as slaves in 1492. It was one of the major slave ports of the Americas. Max had jumped off the wall in the beach and met with Javier. Javier was around the same age as Max.

He was a good friend of Max. He had stayed close with Max since 5 years old.

Max, it is about time your slick self had got here!, yerked Javier.

I’m been so upset to be waiting like I’m waiting for Santa to fall out the sky!

Yeah, Max had gone to open up his backpack and preparing to eat his cereal. My little brother got on my nerves. He a jinetero.

(A hustler) Max then had took a stone and threw it at the ocean.

How can you get out hustled by your little brother?, questioned Javier.

Nobody out hustles me!, shouted Max with pride. I though feel different about things.

Different? Javier was sitting on the rocks.

I want to see America. Maximo was smacking on the Captain Crunch.

Are you sure? Javier had again questioned Maximo. How you going to go to America? Hit a raft there?

Hell yeah!!, replied Max throwing. A raft to Miami. I will miss Cuba though. Max was pondering in the deep clean clear water where you can see the Continental drift.

American society, I heard is very stereotypic. Javier had just stared at Max. America got that crazy President Reagan. I don’t think you’ll like him at all. The government of the U.S. is filled with diablos! They hate black people, and they the richest country in the world and don’t do shit for blacks over there. In material things we don’t have much, but at least there is unity here in Cuba.

True., said Max. But that ain’t the reason I want to go there.

I want to see the whole crazy life there. La vida loca. Tu sabes? (You know?)

Max was now staring at Javier. In Cuba, the embargo on the island had been planted to destroy the economy on Cuba for years. Since President Castro had nationalized the oil and destroyed American businesses. The U.S. had sanctioned Cuba. Plus the U.S. government had encouraged other countries, especially other Latin American countries to do the same or else… For years, the rest of Latin America has been in and out with Cuba. Cuba for the most part has depended on Russia to buy the bulk of its Sugar quota, which was for a long time, the number one major export of Cuba. There I go again to say number one. The other is tobacco to fruit and vegetables as now since the fall of U.S.S.R. The sugar quota had dropped dramatically. But this was a bit after the second term of President Reagan. The President Reagan administration had been spying on Cuba, constantly plotting to kill Fidel. But they never had able to move him out of Cuba. For Cuba is united and strong in masses and ready for war as well as the U.S. Military… But it wouldn’t be good to come out to somebody else’s yard and start trouble. Would it?

Max had thought next, If I go to the US, I will not lose my pride of Cuba!!! Maximo had finished the bowl of cereal and took the bowl and he had and dipped it in the water. Or even be poor there.

I’ll do whatever it takes to be successful. Max had thought. I’m young now, but I will stay a Cuban in the U.S.!!

You’ll need a 11 million ton of azucar(sugar) contigo, Maximo., suggested Javier. Open market in the States.

Lot of money to be made there! That is what is good about America., said Max. I ain’t saying I’m a capitalista, but President Fidel said that if everybody had benefited from capitalismo, then capitolismo is great. The constitution of America, they don’t follow., said Javier. How the fuck the U.S. can have so much successful businesses, but not have quality education in the innercity schools there? That is a fucking chiste( Joke). Max had laughed.

You are wild. Javier had looked at Max laughing. You talking about your brother wildling.

Well, I tell you., replied Max. I’ll be like Scarface in Miami.

You talking me? I’m be a biggest damn hustla in Miami, New York, I don’t care… .

Shut the hell up, man. Javier had chucked a small pebble at Max. You and your Forest Gump stories! Your brother always out hustled you in for breakfast.

Later in the early afternoon, Max and Javier are back in the carnival.

The women are sure out. All clear curves and beautiful that you see of the features of the women, going from red, blue, to the white costumes, belly showing and dancing to all the salsa with rumba tunes that was loaded in the streets and the parks in Havana on this day. The women were dressed to the T, to Lucumi and other African ritual dressing. The ‘Lucumi,’ meaning my friend, were yoruba speakers. Yoruba is a sense of belief of worship and a way of life. The language of Yoruba is one of the significant ancient african languages in history… The language is still spoken today and many black people around the world practice Yoruba. Many practices in the belief perform sacrifices and dances for a person or a group to receive a blessing of what they ask for. Some of it was in act of worship.

In slavery times in Cuba, it was secretly after interference from so called slave owners, called Santeria. Santeria is catholic belief mixed with yoruba beliefs.

In the carnival, many women in different shades were present.

Being black in Cuba was no problem. This is because of the Cuban revolution that landed blacks in Cuba to inherit and own 77 hectares of land, along with the white people. The blacks in Cuba had understood that owning land was the most important thing to have, considering they were working in the rich white ‘haciendas’ and they were in hut and the rest areas were lots of food. Back to the carnival, there was lots of loud great sounding music blowing beautiful tunes in the streets. The loud music were played of Tito Puente (The great Puerto Rican drummer), Lazaro Ros, Compay Segundo, Perez Prado, Mezcla, Pio Leyva, Omara Portuondo were present. There were so many musicans.

This was a great carnival. The family had gathering food at a small park in Capitolio near Centre Habana of where they live.

Parque de 21 Ky.

Dad, this is great! Max was grabbing his father.

Your behind better stay put! Your ass is mine if you bounce on me. Humberto with his bulk frame had grabbed Max on the arm.

No problem papa., Max insured as he couldn’t go anywhere for a second. His father had then let Max go. Max was amazed of the women he saw. The flamenco dancers had come through now. They were well-rounded, firm breasts, luscious lips, and if you were close, they smelled like a greenhouse garden of incense to fruity fragrance.

Cuban women are one of the sassiest creatures on the planet. When a Cuban girl speaks, her accent is so sassy and feminine. Tourists around were amazed.

I wish I was older. Jose was looking at the women over twice his age in lust.

You perver!, said Jesusita.

You always say that! Max was staring at the girls hard.

Yeah, perver and not no maricone., insured Max with his eyes out at the nice cleavage. I can’t look at girls now? I am supposed to look like I don’t have any feelings, huh? Like Mr. Spock? Javier, who was with the family, had two ice creams in his hand.

You pig!, inquired Max. But where is my ice cream? In the time like this mi hermano, mira for tu hermano.

You know the deal black man. Javier was away licking the ice cream. Socialista for all and you know that I got you next time.

They are sure melting quick! l love ice cream. This is living!

Beautiful day. No stress at all! Why go to the States? You crazy! You gonna just leave here and hit the United Snakes and you gonna have to cut your grass low all day and every time you wake up.

Shut up Jav!, replied Max loudly.

Huh? What’s this about the States Max?, questioned Humberto who had heard of what Javier had said. Talk to me.

The money? You too young to be Tony Montana. You getting dogged by your younger brother. You gonna drown in misery in the States!(laughter) But I reaaaaaaaallly think you are thinking irrational at the moment on the thought of going to the States.

What makes you want to go the Big Bully? And you think you gonna get pass me? Are you serious?

"Uhhh… , I just was interested in seeing the monument of Martin and Malcolm X. Max was moving sort of away from his father. Besides I was curious seeing how the education system is in the States." Javier and the rest of the crew had laughed.

We are going to talk about that later. Humberto was now thinking why Max had wanted to leave. Max is only 8 years