By EDUARDO PAZ-MARTINEZ
McALLEN, Texas | Patrick was done with daytime TV. Morning had broken with breaking news about some horrific death down the road toward Brownsville of a teenager, his pals injured in an overnight wreck. And then had come head-shaking audio and video from a news conference held by a crazy front-runner for the American presidency.
Things were toasting from sea to shining sea and chewing was getting hard on the front teeth. Moving noise accompanied the afternoon rain for the first time ever, and it became clear to Patrick that simply living a life without societal drama was now a thing of the past.
He called his current female companion, a sparkplug hairstylist named Laura, and asked to see her.
"I'm on my period for three more days," she had quickly thrown at him, drawing real laughter from Patrick, who had grown up with a hard-ass father who made fun of his mother's menstrual cycle.
"I just want to have a nice, quiet dinner with you," he'd said in a rare, restrained tone. Where, had been her next line.
"I'm thinking of something basic, like meat loaf and mashed potatoes, rolls and iced tea over at Diaz Diner downtown," he'd said in calm reply.
"Geez, Patrick," she went on. "That does not sound like you. Something basic? Since when! You're a heartless, bronc-busting cowboy, a bow-hunter, a demanding-as-Hell lover and a tireless warrior from way back in the day!"
Been watching the news, he told her. That's what's got me down a bit. Laura, a Mexican woman with the sort of body that says "romance a-comin' " with every high-heel step she took, laughed a bit softer this time.
"That's why I tell you, lunkhead - all you need on TV is Judge Judy," she continued, sighing for effect. "News today will ruin your day and your life!"
Seven okay for you, she heard him say from the other end.
"Seven-thirty," she shot back, fronting her womanhood...
-30-
No politics today?
ReplyDeleteOh, we'll get around to it...
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