10/23/2025
EXCERPT from Only The Bad Things You Remember // Written by MD REVO // from The Daughters Of Hustle series
ANTOINETTE “BOOGIE” MATTHEWS LEANED against the far back window, inside of Manuela's - the best empanada shop in the entire City of Lawrencia. She pulled her long auburn hair away from her soft brown eyes and stared directly at the large picture of Federica Montseny on the wall. The golden frame picture of the Spanish Anarchist leader and intellectual appeared as a blatant tribute to her soul.
Boogie smiled as she remembered the evening her mother, SANCHA LUISA, introduced her to the Spanish Revolution of 1936. The sound of her mother’s voice suddenly appeared and invaded her soul.
Her mother said: “It began as a revolt by right-wing Spanish military officers in Spanish Morocco...and it moved quickly to the mainland of Spain. Then General Francisco Franco broadcast a message...from the Canary Islands...calling for all army officers to join the uprising, so they could overthrow Spain’s leftist Republican government and...”
Boogie smiled, and then whispered: “And within three days...the rebels captured Morocco.” She exhaled softly and continued to stare at the large framed picture on the wall. The sound of her mother’s voice disappeared again.
“Number 150,” said the man from the counter. He spoke louder. “Five Carne Asadas and two Faty’s, with no lemon.”
Boogie turned around and observed the large number of people waiting in line. She glanced at the man at the counter before she sat down at the large wooden table. She looked down at the research paper, next to her glass of sweet tea. She raised the sleeves on her beige, cashmere sweater, and then slowly turned the pages. She found the last page she had read and began to read quietly.
“A true revolution begins with a certain ideology...that normally demands independence from the natural order of things. Then it becomes...an eventful way of life...with a paramount focus on changing the political, economic...and...the social structure of a society.”
Boogie paused and thought about what she just read. She turned to the cover page, and with great admiration. She stared at the author, CHARLES HUFFMAN.
The man at the counter yelled again, “Number 152. Two Greek salads, with no cucumbers and extra banana peppers.”
Boogie watched as a tall and deliciously curvy woman walked confidently towards the counter. She was wearing a black, satin dress that was wrapped tightly around her body like new skin. She resembled a younger, seductive version of Rita Moreno. She stood at the counter and paid for her order.
Boogie continued to stare at the woman’s turquoise, diamond-encrusted heels. She immediately thought about THE ROSES.
The woman turned around and noticed Boogie watching her. She smiled and began to walk out of the shop. The man at the counter glanced towards Boogie as she focused her attention back on the research paper. She continued to read quietly.
“The leaders of these uprisings are mostly males...who were born in the lower class. And they all have minimal education. And sometimes...they begin as slaves...like Nat Turner...who in 1831...led the biggest slave revolt in United States history. In Norfolk, Virginia, his revolutionary entourage killed over fifty-three white men, women, and children.”
Boogie stopped reading when she heard loud voices coming from outside the shop. She stood up and quickly trotted to the back window. She pulled back the yellow curtain and looked out the window. She watched two “undercovers” chase three young girls down an alley.
Her mind suddenly flashed back to the night, when she tied ARTHUR KATZEN to a steel fence. The irritating and eerie sound of the old man pleading for his life invaded her mind unexpectedly: “Please...please...I’ll tell you everything.”
Then suddenly, the dark “voice” that had haunted her throughout her life made its presence known in her thoughts again: “HE DESERVED TO DIE. LOOK WHAT HE DID TO YOUR LITTLE SISTER.”
The Daughters of Hustle presents
ONLY THE BAD THINGS YOU REMEMBER
Written by MD REVO
RELEASE DATE: TBA
