American Orphan by Jimmy Santiago Baca

Author:Jimmy Santiago Baca
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arte Público Press
Published: 2021-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

It is a good break from the crap Lila and I were suffering. Despite the seasonal changes, nothing changes much between her and me. I don’t ask her why this is happening or to try to comfort her. I close the door to our bedroom, turn on the bedside radio, listen to AM hate: white guys ranting about how America is theirs. “Blacks and Browns” are destroying it, even as whites murder and ravage communities of color. I can only tolerate it for a minute or two, then I change the channel to the liberals on NPR spouting their wisdom from high above the people of color. They don’t see their own biases or entitlement. Both White Hate Radio and NPR carry the same thrill for me I experience at a carnival when I peek into the freak tent.

The October days come and go with dungeon-door finality. I slowly admit I am in debt to Frog King even more. I decide to drive down to break the news. I borrow Lila’s car, go by myself. I tell him straight out I got ripped off. I don’t know what to expect, but it’s certainly not the response I get.

He whales out his barrel-chested, heave-ho guffaw, growls, “I’ll be damned.” Then he says, “Well, what the hell, here’s another five grand. I’ll see you when you get back.”

At the house, I go through my papers in my boxes, search for the slip of napkin where I had written the numbers of my friends when I got out of DYA. I find it and call.

“Who is this?”

“Who’s this?”

“You think this is a TV game show? Who’s calling?”

“Is Chuy there?”

“Maybe. . .”

“Orlando!”

“Ese gűey! I didn’t recognize your voice. How the hell you been, vato?”

I feel an old excitement in my chest like a tornado’s just touched down, blowing away everything that isn’t rooted by God.

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