he was heading to San Diego out
of Portlandheading down the 5
Buttonwillow was as good a place as
any to stop stretch his legs get a bite on
the shoulder of the road as he exited he saw a weathered shingle that
advertised a pupuseriaWha
the hell was that sounded exotic he missed whose pupuseria
he found it Titas just the name warmed his heart
then inside their curtido warmed
the rest of him
he started to soften like heated wax
Diego could wait for tomorrow it was growing dark hed spend the night the Bueno Vista Motel was right up his alley
clerk told him he lucked out one room had come open earlier that
afternoon the tenant died I
thought you should know.
I appreciate that Did heexcuse me or she die
in bed
No. In the bathroom.
In the tub or shower
No. Found her on the floor.
Was she on the floor long
No. Neighbors next door heard a
thud, they knew her, rapped on the door, when she didn’t answer they got me.
Ill take it for the night
We rent by the week.
he smiled
Ive rented by the week You collect the week upfront if not more Im gonna guess your deceased tenant probably had
a couplethree days if not more time on her lease Ill give you a Ulysses yare ahead As a matter of fact if you arent the proprietor
yare really ahead
Im out before
noon
the clerk smiled wolfishly
You had someone do a cursory
cleaningyah Fresh sheets blanket towels
washcloth Yah
Yes. Would you like a bar of soap?
I appreciate your
hospitality he said as he unfolded a
Ulysses from a fold of bills he carried in his front pocket I carry my own
the clerk took the 50
I dont suppose you want me to
sign your ledger but Ill need a receipt You wont have to sign in blood
the clerk scribbled on a Bueno
Vista notepad and handed it to him
he looked
You didnt sign it he handed it back
the clerk signed it and handed it
back to him
Lemme see your ID Rafael looks like Rafaelgot a tagger flair to
it I know my signature has a similar flair
the clerk seemed reticent
The 50s real I just wanna make sure yare not a mirage or a
spooka ghost
the clerk went the billfold in
his back pocket opened it showed him his Mexican ID a matricula consular
Thank you Rafael Yaknow that cards no longer acceptable as ID in
California A recent law But why would you be carrying it if it wasnt you Right
Okay, you say, gringo.
Close Joe My
names Joe
Rafael is there a bar nearbywalkin distance where I
could wet my whistle I didnt see one on
my way here from Titas
You know Titas?
I hadnt but I saw their sign
exiting the highway Delicious Asked an employee and she told me about
youthat maybe you might have a room
You could have said that earlier.
Wha an miss our tete-a-tete achieve détente
I dont know what you’re talking
about.
That one of us does is
plenty A bar
You saw the packaged goods store.
Liquor there. In Shafter, not walking distance, Foxy Lady, halfhour.
Is it worth the roll Ive been on
the road all day
Brother the kindest Rafael had been It’s worth the roll he tossed him the keys Number 9.
he thought to himself Well
shit Hendrix Beatles The stars have aligned
Appreciate that amigo
they both started laughing
You’re welcome, gringo.
illuminated Gulf Corporation signs
over the door once upon a time in
another galaxy a long ago he hustled them two
brightpink capsules on their sideone over the other Foxy Lady in script over COCKTAILS
going through the door he saw they
had a pool table money was being held and
not small money he might be able to pay
for his room his gas his trip dependent
on if theyd play him
the barmaid approached him
she wasnt attractivewasnt homely she
was however built Mickey Spillane built she
had a fine First Person nose wide eyeshed have to pump her about the her
freckles he had a soft spota hard on for
freckles
Jess
she wouldnt refer to herself as a
barmaid rather on the nametag on the
white lapel of her black serving outfit they
were a long way from Vegas maybe
she was on a farm club team cutting her teeth it read in fine script
diagonal from her name Cocktail Waitress
Jess I see youll be my cocktail waitress this
evening
I am.
Sensational Have a house specialty you might recommend
Care for a Bloody Mary, they’re made
with tequila.
Came over on a recommendation from
Buttonwillow dined on pupusa and curtido
Sounds spot on Ya readin my mind
he smiled she laughed she didnt cover her mouth Trust me yadon wanna be reading my mind
she laughed harder
incandescent
he liked her
halfway through his second Bloody
Mary Jess admitted she asked the bartender also a woman to pour him heavy he asked if he could buy her a drink most
places hed been had allowed it until recently
she said yes Jess also had a Bloody Mary
they were getting
along famously
he crossed his fingers
for infamously
he didnt pressed the pool table he did cover his tab and a generous tip for
Jess
shes a cocktail waitress
he wondered at closing time if she
might be cajoled to open up
or vacation in Diego with him
see where things went
Are you a betting girl Jess
I am.
Lets flip a coin
she smiled
Let me see the coin first
occurred early AM,
Reggae Friday, 13 11. 20
1359, Reggae Friday, 13 11.
20
