IN 1968 MY PARENTS BOUGHT 2 1/2 ACES OF LAND-
IN THE HIGH DESERT JUST DOWN THE HIGHWAY FROM PALMDALE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
I WAS 11 YEARS OLD.
THE AREA WAS CALLED PINION HILLS. THE PROPERTY WAS ON DEER HAVEN ROAD. THE PROPERTIES WERE SUBDIVIDED INTO 2 TO 3 ACER LOTS. I BELIEVE MY PARENTS PAID $5000, THEY MAY HAVE PAID ONLY $3000.
I REMEMBER IT WAS A VERY GOOD DEAL, BECAUSE AT THAT TIME NOBODY HAD INTEREST IN THE AREA.
EVERY WEEKEND WE WOULD CAMP OUT IN A FLIMSY TENT. MY DAD HAD A PLASTIC & METAL PORTA-POTTY THAT LOOKED LIKE A WALKER. YOU WOULD TAKE IT TO A SECLUDED PART OF OUR 2 1/2 ACERS, DIG A HOLE AND SIT OVER IT WITH A BLUE PLASTIC BAG. YOU WOULD THEN BURY THE BAG. SOMETIMES A COYOTE WOULD DIG UP THE BAG,
THE NEXT MORNING YOU COULD SEE PARTS OF BLUE PLASTIC SHINING IN THE SUNRISE.
I GUESS THIS IS WHAT WAS CALLED “ROUGHING IT.”
EVENTUALLY MY DAD BUILD A OUTHOUSE OUT OF REDWOOD.
LATER THAT SUMMER, MY DAD, UNCLES AND COUSINS LAYED A FOUNDATION AND BUILD A MODEST,
BUT CUTE LITTLE “CABIN.”
I REMEMBER WE WERE LAYING THE TAR PAPER ON THE ROOF IN THE HOT DESERT SUN. MY TEEN-AGE BROTHER TOOK OF HIS SHIRT AND HUNG IT OUTTA ONE CAMMY PANT POCKET. HE WAS MY BROTHER, BUT I FOUND THIS EROTIC, ALTHOUGH I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT THESE FEELINGS WERE.. I WAS GOING ON 12, SO JUST HITTING PUBERTY.
“AL, MY MOTHER BELLOWED FROM DOWN BELOW, PUT YOUR SHIRT ON! AL?… AL!”
“RELAX, OLD LADY,” MY BROTHER SHARPLY REPLIED.
“OK, SAID MY MOTHER, DON’T BLAME ME IF YOU BECOME A TAR BABY!”
MY DAD LOOKED AT MY BROTHER, MY BROTHER LOOKED AT MY COUSINS, AND THEY LOOKED AT ME.
WE ALL BURST OUT LAUGHING. IT WAS SUCH A RIDICULOUS THING TO SAY.
WITHIN A FEW MONTHS THE “CABIN" WAS FINISHED. THE OUTSIDE ANYWAY. MY DAD THEN LAYED INSULATION IN THE WALLS FOR WARMTH, AND SOME CUTE FAUX-WOOD PANELING WITH FAKE GRAIN.
IT WAS TACKY IN AN INNOCENT WAY, BUT STILL VERY COSY.
WHEN I WAS IN 7TH GRADE MY DAD ALLOWED ME TO INVITED FOUR OF MY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS FOR THE WEEKEND-
ERIC HEINS, ROBERTO MUNOZ, SUSAN EDINGER AND BETTY FENAR.
WE RAN AROUND THE 2 1/2 ACRES HAVING THE TIME OF OUR LIVES. TAKING PICS AND HAMMING IT UP.
I STILL KEEP IN CONTACT WITH THREE OF THEM ON FACEBOOK.
EVENTUALLY MY DAD INSTALLED A FLUSH TOILET INSIDE. WE NOW HAD PLUMBING, RUNNING HOT & COLD WATER,
AND A FIRE PLACE. ALL OUR THANKSGIVING & CHRISTMAS’ HOLIDAYS WERE SPENT AT “THE CABIN.
AS I GOT OLDER I WOULD RIDE MY MINI-BIKE, THEN MOTORCYCLE AT THE “CABIN.”
IN FACT I LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE THERE AT AGE 14 IN A DUNE BUGGY.
AS A YOUNG ADULT MY PARENTS WOULD SOMETIMES RELUCTANTLY LOAN ME THE KEYS, SO I COULD INVITE A FRIEND OR “DATE” FOR A WEEKEND AWAY.
ALL MY FRIENDS WERE URBAN, FROM NEW YORK OR FASHION QUEENS.
THEY REALLY DIDN’T HAVE MUCH INTEREST IN THE HIGH DESERT AND NOW, NEITHER DID I.
MY SISTER, BROTHER, AUNTS, UNCLES AND COUSINS, ALL BOUGHT PROPERTY AND BUILT HOUSES IN THE AREA OF DEER HAVEN. I WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE FAMILY WHO DIDN’T BUY PROPERTY.
THE LAST TIME I WAS AT THE “CABIN” WAS A FEW YEARS AGO. MY MOTHER WAS NOW IN THE LATER STAGES OF ALZHEIMER’S. IT WASN’T SAFE FOR HER AND MY 94 YEAR OLD FATHER TO DRIVE OUT ON THEIR OWN,
SO I WOULD ACCOMPANY THEM. MY DAD INSISTED HE DRIVE THE TWO HOURS TO THE HIGH DESERT. .
I WAS ENJOYING A WALK THRU OUR 2 1.2 ACRES ON A BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY AFTERNOON. DELIGHTED AS TO HOW MUCH THE JUNIPER BUSHES HAD GROWN, AND DISCOVERING THE REMAINS OF THE OLD REDWOOD OUTHOUSE.
I WAS HAVING A NOSTALGIC FLASHBACK.
AS I WALKED BACK TO THE “CABIN” MY DAD WAS ALREADY IN THE TRUCK WITH MY MOM BUCKLED IN…”OK LET’S GO!” HE SHOUTS. “DAD, WE’VE ONLY BEEN HERE 30 MINUTES” I SCREAMED BACK. “HAVE TO BEAT THE TRAFFIC,”
WAS HIS RESPONSE. THERE IS NO ARGUING WITH A CONTROL FREAK. BELIEVE ME, I’VE TRIED.
SO THAT WAS MY LAST MEMORY OF OUR CABIN ON DEER HAVEN ROAD, JUST DOWN THE HIGHWAY FROM PALMDALE, IN THE HIGH DESERT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
UNTIL I READ THIS IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER-
DURING OCTOBER OF 2012 FIRST GRADE TEACHER JENNIFER GARCIA OF PALMDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NOTICED
8 YEAR OLD GABRIEL FERNANDEZ WAS WEARING A GIRL’S DRESS IN THE PLAYGROUND.
SHE DECIDED TO BEFRIEND HIM AND ASK QUESTIONS. LITTLE GABRIEL SAID, “MY MOM MAKES ME WEAR IT.”
JENNIFER DECIDED TO CONFRONT HIS PARENTS, BUT WHEN SHE SAW THEM SHE CHANGED HER MIND,
“MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF THEM WAS THEY LOOKED A LITTLE BIT SCARY.” SHE DECIDED IT WAS BEST TO STAY ON THEIR GOOD SIDE.
15 DAYS LATER GABRIEL ASKED JENNIFER, “IF ITS NORMAL FOR YOUR MOM TO HIT YOU WITH A BELT?”
“WELL NO,” JENNIFER REPLIED.
“MY MOM HITS WITH THE METAL PART WITH THE SHARP EDGE. SOMETIMES I BLEED.”
THAT DAY JENNIFER GARCIA MADE HER FIRST REPORT TO SOCIAL SERVICES.
SHORTLY AFTER GABRIEL CAME TO SCHOOL WITH A SWOLLEN AND CUT LIP.
JENNIFER ASK GABRIEL WHAT HAPPENED TO WHICH HE REPLIED,
“MY MOM PUNCHED ME IN THE MOUTH, BECAUSE I DIDN’T DO MY HOMEWORK.”
JENNIFER CALLED A CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE AND TALKED DIRECTLY TO A SOCIAL WORKER.
A FEW DAYS LATER GABRIEL CAME TO SCHOOL WITH LUMPS OF HAIR MISSING, AND
A BIG SCRATCH OVER HIS EAR.
JENNIFER MADE ANOTHER CALL.
2 DAYS LATER GABRIEL CAME TO SCHOOL WITH A MOHAWK HAIR CUT.
A FEW DAYS LATER GABRIEL’S MOHAWK HAD PIECES CUT INTO IT.
THEN GABRIEL CAME TO SCHOOL WITH A SWOLLEN FACE AND LITTLE BRUSES ALL OVER. WHEN JENNIFER PRESSED HIM ON WHAT HAPPEN, GABRIEL FINALLY TOLD HER HIS MOTHER SHOT HIM WITH A BB GUN.
SHE IMMEDIATELY CALLED SOCIAL SERVICES.
GABRIEL WAS ABSENT FOR 12 DAYS. HE CAME BACK TO SCHOOL ON MAY 12TH, 2013 MOTHER’S DAY.
HIS HEAD WAS COMPLETELY SHAVED. HE LOOKED BATTERED AND BRUISED.
GABRIEL COLORED A MAMMA BEAR AND CUB WITH PINK, PURPLE AND TURQUOISE CRAYONS, WITH THE CAPTION-
I LOVE MY MOM!
AFTER CLASS JENNIFER FOUND A POST IT NOTE.
ON IT WAS WRITTEN-
“I WILL KILL MY SOWF”.
I WAS A SUICIDE NOTE FROM LITTLE GABRIEL FERNANDEZ
HE HAD SPELLED SELF INCORRECTLY.
THAT WAS THE LAST DAY GABRIEL WENT TO SCHOOL.
IN TOTAL, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER JENNIFER GARCIA ,AND OTHERS, MADE 60 COMPLAINTS TO SOCIAL SERVICES AND CHILD PROTECTION.
AT HOME GABRIEL’S BROTHER AND SISTER STATED THEIR MOTHER-
PEARL FERNANDEZ HARSHLY PUNISHED THEIR LITTLE BROTHER.
HIS MOUTH WAS STUFFED WITH A SOCK AND HE WAS TIED UP AND FORCED TO STAY IN A WOODEN CABINET.
HIS SISTER DESCRIBED IT AS A BOX.
GABRIEL WAS HIDDEN IN THIS BOX WHEN A SOCIAL WORKER CAME TO CHECK IN.
GABRIEL’S SISTER SAID HER MOM’S BOYFRIEND, ISAURO AGUIRRE SHOT GABRIEL WITH A BB GUN AND REPEATEDLY PUNCHED HIM.
ISAURO ALSO BEAT HIM WITH A BELT, A METAL HANGER, A WOODEN CLUB AND A BASEBALL BAT.
HE WAS THEN SHOT IN THE FACE AND GROIN WITH A BB GUN.
HIS MOTHER PEARL FERNANDEZ ALSO SHOT GABRIEL IN THE MOUTH AND NOSE LODGING BB PELLETS IN HIS LUNGS
GABRIEL’S MOTHER PEARL KICKED HIM IN THE GROIN, HIT HIM WITH A BROOMSTICK, AND PUNCHED HIM IN THE FACE KNOCKING OUT TWO OF HIS TEETH.
GABRIEL HAD BEEN FORCED TO WEAR GIRLS CLOTHING TO SCHOOL TO EMBARRASS HIM.
SHE HOPED IT WOULD ATTRACT BULLIES. SOMETIMES GABRIEL WOULD TAKE OTHER CLOTHING AND CHANGE
IN THE SCHOOL RESTROOM. WHEN HIS MOTHER FOUND OUT SHE BEAT HIM.
GABRIEL’S BROTHER SAID GABRIEL WAS FORCED TO EAT CAT LITTER AND CAT FECES.
HIS MOTHER PEARL WOULD ALSO MAKE HIM EAT SPOILED FOOD. WHEN GABRIEL WOULD THROW UP SHE WOULD FORCE HIM TO EAT HIS VOMIT. SOMETIMES SHE WOULD LOCK HIM IN THE CABINET. WHEN GABRIEL WOULD CRY SHE WOULD TAPE HIS MOUTH SHUT.
GABRIEL’S BROTHER & SISTER WERE SPARED THE CRULTY THEIR LITTLE BROTHER EDURED.
GABRIEL’S OLDER BROTHER SAID HIS MOM AND HER BOYFRIEND WOULD DO ALL THESE THINGS TO GABRIEL
BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT HE WAS GAY. GABRIEL WAS 8 YEARS OLD.
PEARL FERNADEZ’S BOYFRIEND- ISAURO AGUIRRE IS 6FT 2. HE WEIGHTS 270LBS.
GABRIEL FERNANDEZ IS 4FT. HE WEIGHTS 60LBS.
GABRIEL ASKES HIS MOTHER TO LEAVE ISAURO. IN RESPONSE PERL TOLD ISAURO, WHO IN TURN CONFRONTED GABRIEL DEMANDING TO KNOW IF HE HAD SAID THIS.
IN FEAR GABRIEL DENIED IT AND CALLED HIS MOTHER A LIAR.
ISAURO EXPLODED IN A RAGE OF ANGER. HE PUNCHED GABRIEL AND BROKE HIS RIBS. HE THEN KICKED GABRIEL HURLING HIM AGAINST THE WALL WITH SUCH FORCE IT DENTED THE WALL. THIS ALSO CRUSHED GABRIEL’S SKULL.
ON MAY 22ND, 2013, THE LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT WENT TO THE FERNANDEZ FAMILY HOME
AT THE 200 BLOCK OF EAST AVENUE Q-10 IN PALMDALE,
JUST DOWN THE HIGHWAY FROM DEER HAVEN ROAD IN THE HIGH DESERT OF CALIFORNIA.
TWO DAYS LATER, LITTLE GABRIEL FERNANDEZ WAS TAKEN OFF LIFE SUPPORT.
THE AUTOPSY REVEALED-
*DEPRESSED FRACTURED SKULL
SWOLLEN BRAIN
TWO UPPER TEETH MISSING
CHUNKS OF SKIN MISSING FROM SCALP
SKIN INJURIES THROUGHOUT THE BODY
CIGARETTE BURNS OVER THE ENTIRE BODY
INFLICTED WOUNDS, BRUISES AND RELENTLESS BURNS
22 BB PELLETS EMBEDDED IN HIS GROIN, AND LODGED IN HIS LUNGS
TWO BLACK EYES
BRUISING ON BOTH EYES
PEPPER SPAY IN BOTH EYES
DEVIATION OF THE NOSE
NECK SWELLING
LACERATION ON THE LIVER
LUNG DISEASE
SWOLLEN LIPS
COLLAPSE INTESTINES FROM NON EATING
ONTOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE, GABRIEL WAS BEING STARVED TO DEATH
THIS IS ALL I CAN THINK OF WHEN I TRY TO REMEMBER A LITTLE CABIN BUILT ON DEER HAVEN ROAD,
JUST DOWN THE HIGHWAY FROM PALMDALE, IN THE HIGH DESERT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
copyright rick castro- 2019
