A So-Called Vacation

Author:Genaro González
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arte Público Press
Published: 2009-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

11

Earlier that week, Gabriel and his family had been looking forward to going to town together that Saturday. But they had been around each other in the fields and in the claustrophobic shack for so long that by the time the weekend arrived, they agreed to go in different directions. Even Paula, who had decided to join their mother at the movies, couldn’t wait to blot out every face in the darkened theater.

Yet once they reached the town limits, their mother made one last pitch for togetherness. “Boys, are you sure you wouldn’t rather see a movie? After all, the water in that pool isn’t going anywhere.”

“Actually, it is,” said Paula. “I hear they drain the pool Sunday nights.”

“Why is that?”

“It has something to do with migrants swimming there on the weekend,” said Paula. “I guess people of color turn the water a little dingy.”

“At least they time it right,” said their father with the same cynical tone. “They start the week with clean water and let it get dirty. Then they let the raza come in and put the finishing touch, the ring around the rim. That’s what the Anglos used to do back home when I was a kid.”

“Dad,” said Gabriel, “you’re not talking your way out of this one.”

“I’m not trying to. I’m just saying that maybe the movies are a better choice.” Yet underneath the feigned concern in his voice was a hint of someone attempting reverse psychology, knowing that the boys would do the opposite.

“Mom, Dad,” Gabriel corrected them, “down here in the sticks they call them pitcher shows.”

“It’s a double feature,” said his mother.

“You know why? Because neither one’s a first run.”

“If they’re showing the same ones from the last time we were in town—” Gus started to say.

“You know they are,” said Gabriel.

“Then I already saw both back home,” said Gus, “way back during spring break. I’m not sitting through that again.” He turned to Paula. “Look, I’ll save you some money and tell you how it ends.”

“Don’t you dare! I’m in the mood for a movie and no one’s going to ruin it. Any good, old-fashioned picture show will do. I’d even go see one of those old silent movies. I spent every day in that harsh sun and every night listening to you guys whining. Now I’m going to chill out in some air conditioning, like a bat in a dark cave.” Her anticipation was so vivid that she revealed the gooseflesh on her arms.

She was also hoping to get under her older brother’s skin, and the tactic proved so enticing that he ended up arguing back. “I’ll bet she’s meeting her Borrado boyfriend in the theater,” he told Gabriel.

“I don’t blame her. What girl would want to be seen with him in broad daylight? Anyway, he shouldn’t be hard to find. He’s so pale he glows in the dark.”

“Actually,” she replied, “you guys are more likely to bump into them. Maybe you can even race a few laps against them. Just for practice.

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