The Adventures of Gabriel

By Carlos H. Vasquez

Did you ever attend a history class and wonder whether something was left out?

Did you ever wonder whether you were really learning history or whether you were studying events?

Events such as 1776, the Louisiana Purchase, or the Civil War are not history.

History is what happened before that event that led to that event happening when it did.

Did you ever wonder why if that event was so important it didn't happen sooner?

Did you ever wonder whether the best parts of the stories are left out?

Did you ever wonder?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887934891

Book preview

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The Adventures of Gabriel

Carlos H. Vasquez

Copyright © 2023 Carlos H. Vasquez

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2023

ISBN 979-8-88793-483-9 (pbk)

ISBN 979-8-88793-489-1 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

About the Author

To my sisters—Nydia, Leticia, and Myrna

To my favorite brother, Ruben

Most of all, to my mother, Maria, who made me the person I am today

Without this family, this book would never have been possible.

Chapter 1

Gabriel is running to school, Burbank High, because he is late again. He ducks and weaves through the streets and people to hopefully get to class before homeroom breaks into the subject classes. If Mr. Dumbrosky catches him again, he is fried. His mother, Maria, will be called to school, and he'll be punished forever.

He is hoping Ms. Rodriguez covers for him again. She is the nicest teacher around, and she seems to like him. Besides, she hates Mr. Dumbrosky. He has kept her from getting tenure. She thinks he is from the old school where Hispanics only cleaned the schools. They weren't the educated teachers.

Too late. He has reached the school, and the exterior doors are closed. He ducks as he sees Mr. Dumbrosky way in the distance walking the halls. How is he going to reach homeroom before Mr. Dumbrosky checks his class? He knows where Gabriel sits, and he will know he is missing.

To every problem, there is a solution. That is what Mr. Pappas, his science teacher, always told him.

Gabriel starts to think. He suddenly sees the maintenance people coming to work. He sees that they are using a separate entrance. That is the solution.

He runs for the entrance and rushes through the door before he could be stopped. Down a tunnel, through the back stairway, to the floor where his class is. He opens the door and sees Mr. Dumbrosky coming down the hall. Gabriel closes the door so that he won't be seen. He then opens it slowly to see where Mr. Dumbrosky is.

Aha! He has caught a latecomer to his class. It's Mr. Abrams, the English teacher. Gabriel sneaks out of the stairway when Mr. Dumbrosky has his back to him and is distracted admonishing Mr. Abrams. Mr. Abrams sees Gabriel and starts to argue with Mr. Dumbrosky to occupy him and prevent him from seeing Gabriel. He hates Mr. Dumbrosky too. Gabriel makes it to his class, throwing his backpack and coat under the seat in front of his. He is noticed coming in late by Ms. Rodriguez. Mr. Dumbrosky comes in a second later.

Is everything okay? he asks.

Yes, says Ms. Rodriguez staring at Gabriel. Everyone is on time.

Emanuela, who sits next to him, witnesses the whole episode and rolls her eyes.

As Mr. Dumbrosky leaves, Emanuela turns to Gabriel with an incredulous stare. You know, you're the only guy I know that could fall in a pile of manure and come out smelling like a rose, she says.

He smiles and looks forward like a good attentive student.

A few minutes later, the bell rings signaling the end of homeroom class. As they head to the next class, they meet outside the classroom.

What class do you have now? asks Emanuela.

I have track, answers Gabriel. And you?

I have judo, says Emanuela. My mother made sure I enrolled in that class just in case any boy got fresh.

Gabriel puts his hands up and gestures that it's not going to be him.

I'm enrolled in track, says Gabriel, just in case I have to run.

As they both laugh, Gabriel reminds Emanuela that they will both meet in history class.

Emanuela sticks a finger in her mouth and pretends to be vomiting as she leaves for her judo class.

Chapter 2

As the last bell of the day rings, Mrs. Mason, the history teacher, reminds the students of the paper that's due. Don't forget you only have a couple of days to turn in your book report, she says, knowing full well some of the students have left it to the last minute. You have to take a historical event and write about it. No fewer than ten pages.

I hate history, says Emanuela as she gathers her books.

Gabriel exits the building dancing down the front steps as Emanuela wonders what he is so happy about.

Boy, you're a lucky guy, she tells him. Dumbrosky almost caught you this morning.

Luck has nothing to do with it, Gabriel says snugly. It was all skill.

As they walk down the walkway, Gabriel notices something and bends down to pick it up.

What's that? asks Emanuela.

It's a little toy Indian, says Gabriel. I'll add it to my collection.

Emanuela shakes her head in disbelief. Boys, she proclaims out loud.

What's that around your neck? asks Gabriel. I never saw it before.

Oh. It's a locket my grandmother gave me. She's coming this weekend, and my mother said it will mean a lot to her to see her granddaughter wearing it.

What's in it? Gabriel asks.

Emanuela opens it and shows it to Gabriel. A picture of my grandmother and grandfather who passed away, she says.

She was pretty, says Gabriel, admiring the picture.

He was handsome too, she says. They make a nice couple.

They both smile.

Johnathan, a boy in his history class,