Chương 32: Hecho

A distant cry woke Robin from a bad dream. Grandpa Hector's P-61 Night Fighter flew over his bed, tied to a hook by a length of thread. Above it, long shadows shifted across the ceiling. His bedroom window faced west, towards Candelaria Farms and the Rio Grande beyond. In the dream, Robin was pursued by a host of Bloodfiends with crocodile teeth. Whenever he struck one, it would split in two, like the broom from Fantasia. He called out for his friends but they ran off without him.

Abandoned, he fled through an endless maze of mineshafts. No matter how he ran, he kept returning to the same place. He lay awake and listened to the night, trying to shake the dream. Wind sighed from the west and the interstate rumbled from the east, pervasive and inescapable. Something crashed in the brush west of the house. Robin jolted and froze in place, afraid to look. When he found his nerve, there was no madman at the window. Robin slipped out of bed and tiptoed over to look outside.

The back yard was empty but he was sure he'd heard something. Una's Chinese pistache tree sat at the north corner, just inside the broken-down fence. A junk Chrysler loomed in the empty lot beyond, rusting on blocks. No one was there, of course. No burglar would come here; they had nothing to take. It was probably just a stray dog or a drunk neighbor. Una's house was the last one on Telesfor Sanchez Road. Behind it was a fence she'd been meaning to mend for years, then a big empty lot.

The holes in the fence were overgrown with sand sage and snakeweed. Anything could get in. A pair of yellow eyes flashed from the gap. Coyote! The sneak saw Robin at the window and paused. He didn't seem afraid. For a moment they stared at each other and neither knew what to do. An owl hooted and broke the spell. The coyote turned and bolted with a flick of its black-tipped tail. Up in the pistache tree, Robin could see the sentry that had spooked the intruder.

The saw-whet owl was a little thing, no bigger than Robin's namesake. It called again, too-too-too, like a tiny train. Robin thought about looking for binoculars, but the owl leapt from the branch and flew away on silent wings. Robin stood by the window afterward and wondered what the coyote was after. Probably just the trash can. Still, the yellow eyes hung in his mind. It took a long time to fall back to sleep. *"¡Teléfono!"

"Huh?" Robin woke from a deep sleep. Befuddled, he tugged on his faded Fannin Panthers gym shirt and stumbled into the kitchen. The receiver sat face-up on the table at the end of a long, curly cord. I hope it's Emilio, Robin wished. It was just after nine AM. If Emilio was calling this early, something was wrong. Maybe he needed a place to stay. Maybe he could come to live in Albuquerque!

"¿Hola?" It was only Duncan.

"Robin! Good morning bud. Sorry to call so early. Big news! My dad has to go deal with some real-estate thing tonight. That means I'm free after the store closes. Do you want to continue our adventure? The other guys are all in. Hey, are you there?" If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"Um, yeah. Sorry, just waking up," Robin brightened up.

"That sounds awesome. Let me check with my grandma." It was amazing news. Robin thought he would have to wait all week to find out what was inside the Lost Halls of Blagg Bore. He turned to ask Una. She was already shaking her head.

"No. You can't stay out all night again. Traes una cara (you look rough)," Una answered from the stove. She was heating up a pot of chaquewe (blue corn grits) in her church clothes.

"Ah, Una!" The receiver squawked, Duncan had overheard the refusal.

"Hey Robin! Tell your Grandma we're starting early today. The store closes at five on Sundays. I can pick you up and have you back by nine, maybe ten at the latest. And thank her for the cookies, please. They were amazing." Robin relayed the message that Una had already half-overheard. Her frown was deep, untouched by Duncan's flattery.

"Por favor, Tita?" Robin pleaded.

"The guys are depending on me. The game needs all of its players. I promise, I'll go right to bed when I get home." The flat line of her mouth creased. She was wavering.

"And you'll be back by nine?"

"Yes! Duncan will give me a ride."

"You can go, if you come to church with me this morning," Una offered." Ah Tita, ay yo no! (I don't wanna!)" Robin back-pedaled. He'd rather go to jail than San Felipe De Neri.

"Then, no."

"That's not fair!"

"Ni modo. (That's that)" Robin was trapped. Una had been hassling him to come to church with her ever since he'd returned to Albuquerque. She'd threatened him with eternal damnation; he wasn't phased. Then, she tried to bargain: all he had to do to make her happy was sit in a pew and mumble through a few prayers. He would not budge. She tried bribery, with movies and fast food. Not even if you drag me. But now, Robin needed something from her. Duncan was still on the line.

If Robin didn't go along, he'd blow the game for everyone. Maybe they would even let someone else take his place." Voy. (I'll go)" Robin surrendered." Hecho (Deal)," Una agreed at once.

"I can come," Robin told Duncan. Unable to see his face, Duncan cheered. They worked out the logistics. Robin thanked him for the call and hung up the receiver. The kitchen was so quiet they could hear the chaquewe bubble. Robin's eyes bored into Una's back as she turned to click off the burner. Una knew exactly how Robin felt. He did not believe and he did not want to go to church. She'd finally found a lever to make him do what she wanted. It was no wonder Lucinda ran off and Una barely had any friends.

She always did this.

"Don't pout. It's just a few hours," Una said. He said nothing. Una grew angry too. A good deal left everyone unhappy.

"Watch yourself. You'd better eat breakfast and get dressed before I change my mind," Una warned. It was no bluff. Robin bit back everything he wanted to say. He sat at the table and gulped the chaquewe down without butter or salt. Silently, he cleared his place, washed his bowl, showered, and dressed in the starchy church clothes he hated. Soon, they were in the Falcon and on the way to Mass. The drive felt like it went on forever.

"You'll understand when you're older," Una promised. Her words vanished into a gulf of silence. Robin knew she was wrong.