Manuel-ito Being Manuel-ito

Manny: "Ah mi Dios. Otro día en escuela", (Oh my God. It is another day at school) said nine year old Manuel-ito Ramirez from his squalid little tenement in the Washington Heights section of the Bronx.

Manny thinks: Oye tiene cuidado mi ventana. Estoy en las sombras del Estadio Yanqui... (Hey look out my window. I'm in the shadows of Yankee Stadium...)

Manny: "No quiero ir a la escuela hoy." (I don't want to go to school today)

Narrator: Excuse me Manuel-ito. This is Bleacher Report. Please habla in English.

Manny: "Comprendo." said Manny. (I understand)

Narrator: I said English, Manuel-ito. (Little Manny).

Manny: "No juego por las reglas. " (I don't play by the rules).

Narrator: But you must play by the rules, you little #@$...* (Can't be translated due to FCC regulations).

Manny: "You soy Manuel-ito. (I am Manuel-ito!) No Necisto doy nada." (I don't Need to do nothing.)

Narrator: Dios mio. (Oh, my God!!)

Manny: "Estoy el reglo de beisbol. Mejor que la nino Rodriguez y el' toma vitamins de su primo." (I am the King of baseball. Better than the Rodriguez kid and he takes vitamins from his cousin).

Manny: "Okay, okay. I speak ingles before the readers go loco."

Manny's Madre (Mom): "Manuel-ito. Es time for school."

Manny: "But Mom. I can't go to school today. I tweaked my hammy."

Manny's Madre: "Which one?"

Manny: "The left. No, the right. Oh not a hammy. I have pharyngitis."

Manny's Madre: Manuel-ito. "No excuses. Your classmates are depending on you. Hustle up."

Manny: "But mom...Manuel-ito don't hustle for no one.  Es me. Manuel-ito."

Manny's Madre: "I know! Manuel-ito being Manuel-ito. If I hear that one more time, I think mi cabesa (my head) will split."

Manny: "Es my mantra, Madre."

Manny's Madre: "Hang on, Manuel-ito. Es el telefono."

Manny's Madre: "Manuel-ito. It was your school principal on el telefono. He says you knocked down the school secretary. She is an old lady. Manuel-ito, why you do that?"

Manny: "Porque, Madre (because, mom)."

Manny's Madre: "And he said, you fight the little Youkillis boy. Why you do that?"

Manny: "Por que, Madre."

Manny's Madre: "And he said you did pee pee inside that Big Green Wall behind the school. Why you do that?."

Manny: "Porque, Madre (because, mom)."

Manny's Madre: "And he said you cut off the little Damon boys errant relay throw, and your hair is too long and you wear that ugly doo rag in the school when no other kids do that. Why you can't be like the otra ninos, Manuel-ito? (other kids, Manuel-ito)."

Manny: "Porque, Madre (because, mom)."

Manny's Madre: "And he said, you could be the greatest student ever, but you put in no effort. Except when the grades are ready to come out. And that you don't even want to go to this school cuz the other kids no treat you nice no more. Es true, Manuel-ito?"

Manny: "Madre, Es just Manuel-ito being Manuel-ito".

Manny's Madre: "Manuel-ito..You out in left field. Now let me finish. The school no want you to go there no more. The other students want to learn and you no want to learn. They send you to another escuela (school) way on the other side of town. They'll love you there if you put in effort. Maybe they'll have you come back."

Manny: "Si, mama. Manuel-ito will be the best boy. They'll think I'm funny."

Manny's Madre: "I know Manuel-ito. Es not easy being you. Now here. Here is 45 cents for two days lunch money."

Manny: "45 cents...for two days???? No way. You crazy. How's a boy gonna eat? I'm calling my friend, Scott. I will eat for nothing less than four days and $1.00. Dios, mio! (Oh my God)."

Manny: "No es easy being poooooor little Manuel-ito. Maybe it will get better when I'm older."