Amigo Brothers
by Piri Thomas
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Antonio Cruz and Felix Vargas are two seventeen-year-old friends from the Lower East Side of Manhattan, so close they feel like brothers. Both share a single dream, to become lightweight boxing champion, and both train together every day. Then they learn they must fight each other in the division finals, the winner going on to represent the Boys' Club in the Golden Gloves Tournament. A wall begins to rise between them. They honestly agree to fight with all their strength and not to 'pull punches', and decide not to meet until the fight, so they can prepare mentally. On the day of the bout at Tompkins Square Park, the two friends fight ferociously through three brutal rounds, pouring out savage punches until the crowd fears it has become 'a fight to the death'. When the final bell rings repeatedly, the two are past hearing; finally the referee and trainers pull them apart. The moment they come to their senses, they rush toward each other, not to fight, but to embrace. Arm in arm, the champions walk out of the ring together before the winner is even announced, showing that their friendship matters more than any title.
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'Amigo Brothers' by Piri Thomas is a story of friendship tested by rivalry. Antonio Cruz and Felix Vargas, both seventeen, have grown up together on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and are so close they consider themselves brothers.
One dream, one fight
Antonio is fair, lean and lanky; Felix is dark, short and husky. Both share the same dream, to become lightweight champion of the world, and train together every day. Then they are told they must fight each other in the division finals, the winner representing the Boys' Club in the Golden Gloves Tournament. From that moment 'a wall' begins to rise between them.
An honest agreement
During a morning run the friends honestly admit they have both been troubled. They agree that in the ring they must be like 'two heavy strangers', fighting fair and square with no pulled punches. To prepare, they decide not to see each other until the day of the fight; Felix goes to stay with his Aunt Lucy in the Bronx. They part with a tight hug, each praying for a quick, clean knockout.
The savage bout
The fight takes place at Tompkins Square Park before a huge, excited crowd. Through three fierce rounds the two friends batter each other with such fury that the crowd, at first cheering, grows fearful, it seems like 'a fight to the death'. Neither gives an inch; their blows fall 'like hailstones' and the referee is stunned by their savagery.
Friendship wins
When the final bell rings again and again, the two are past hearing and must be pried apart by the referee and trainers. Cold water brings them to their senses. The instant they recover, they rush toward each other, not to fight, but to embrace warmly. The fear in the crowd turns to waves of cheering.
No matter what the decision, they know they will always be champions to each other. When the announcer turns to point to the winner, he finds himself alone: arm in arm, the two amigos have already left the ring together. Their brotherhood proves stronger than any title.