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The purpose of this thread is to follow the lives of Richard Barela, and his younger brother Joseph Barela, both Rancho born and raised. In the summer of 2004, Richard Barela was born to his Mexican born father, Rodrigo Barela and American born mother Yolanda Barela. The couple were not long wedded and had moved to Rancho from El Burro Heights due to the cost of living, and the low-income area of Rancho's housing opportunities for a young, broke couple. Richard wasn't planned, nor was he easy. The couple worked away almost every day in order to provide for their son, Rodrigo worked in construction, and his mother Yolanda worked in sanitation services after returning to work after maternity leave. Still, it was hard for the parents to raise their first child, bills were to be paid, rent was due, and now they had a baby to look after, not forgetting the money they'd lost due to their wedding costs. Over time, it got better, but it meant Richard would find himself in the care of his Abuela more often than before, up until the age he was ready to start kindergarten. It wasn't long before Rodrigo and Yolanda soon welcomed another son into the world, Joseph Barela. They gave both of their sons everything they could, but as most parents know, it isn't always enough. Love can only do so much, the rest depends on money, time and a whole load of other things. The two brothers were raised in a lively household, their cousins were always around the house, there were always parties and it always seemed to be someone's Quinceañera every other month. The family was well known, and well respected. Rodrigo had a great work ethnic and often had friends from work over for barbeques and family parties, they were real social butterflies, Yolanda especially. Years went by, and the two brothers had a great childhood. Sure, they were poor, ''but money doesn't always make you rich'', quoting Rodrigo. Those words were taken lightly by the two brothers, who would soon grow into teenagers and search for money by any means, including theft, fraud and whatever else could put a dollar in their pockets. It didn't start with crime, originally they'd rake leaves, mow lawns, do paper rounds and other tasks, but eventually the local gang got grips on the two. Their older cousin Benjamin 'Cazador' Atuñez was a veterano in the sureño gang 'Varrio Rancho 13'. It didn't help seeing their elder cousin in nice cars, with chicks, money and a whole load of respect in their neighbourhood. They aspired to be as cool as him. Benjamin had a huge rep in the area, being known as the PRIMO GENERAL, for his historical lead of the clique 'Los Primos', a ferocious clique branched off Varrio Rancho, who had been through many wars with other rival gangs including several Crip sets, along with Bloods. Los Primos were almost like an EBK clan, if you weren't with them? You weren't nobody. It all came to an end though, like most things do. There were a series of raids from the Los Santos Police Department which soon would see the downfall of Los Primos, with most members locked up for serious crimes, or even dead, the clique died with them. Time went on, and the two brothers would find themselves hanging out with a bad crowd, as their father would claim. Rodrigo wasn't a fan of it at all, he called them idiots, ''pendejos wearing clothes that're too big for their puny bodies.'' Rodrigo sook a bright future for his two sons, he was a paisa after all, the way of life in Mexico was certainly much different to the life in Los Santos.