When I heard
that voice… and question over the phone, I knew that my dear friend Cheíto was
back. It had been a long time since our last contact. I was happy to hear from
him… and curious as to what he had to say.
-“What’s up
Cheíto?" "Man, I haven’t heard from you in a long time. How are you and your
princess and your wife?”
-“Uel”, “I
haf a long story my fren'”
-“Tell me
about it”, I said to him.
-“Remember
in april las’ year juen I tol’ yu about mi princesa’s 15 birday?”
-“Yes, I
remember Cheíto”. “You were going to rent a big hall and have a big party”.
“Did you have the party?”
-“Uell… jes’n no”
Sensing
that a major mistake was made at some point, I went ahead and asked anyway…
-“What do
you mean, yes and no?”
-“Guel… I guanted
to sav’ son money” “Yu no, those parties cos’a lot’o money man… an’ I’m not
rich”.
- “And?” I
insisted…
-“I saw a
pictur’ of dis beautiful plais in the country an’ it cost ‘bout haf the other
plais that my wife wanted”
-“And…”?
-“Uel… how
do yu say… I wen’n got it” “Jus’ sen’ a Wester' Union”
-“You mean
you paid for it without seeing it?” “Or without telling your wife?”
-“Yeah…
dats’bou’ it”
-“It sounds
to me that something did not go well” I ventured to say. Then followed a moment of silence from the other side, a sure indicator that the inevitable answer
to an incriminating question is “yes”.
-“Rafa… the
party was a big nuthin’” “People din’t even fin’ the plais’”. “It was noplais…
in da’ country with one road, mud an’ all that”.
And… “what
happened?” I ventured to ask.
-“My waif…
she tol’ me she wanted a divorce” and… “my princesa said she no wanted to see
me again… ever”
-“Wow”… I
was actually speechless for several seconds…
-“What
happened then Cheíto?”
-“I had to
mov’out… Took me fiv’ mon’ to hear from her agin’”
-“And what
happened?”
-“Mon’… I
had to promis’ a sweet 16 party’, “An’ they choos’ da plais… an’ evrithin’”
He was
quiet for a moment and then, with much feeling he added…
-“Yu no’…
my mom always tol’ me that cheap is expensiv’” “I’n goin’ to be payin’ this
mistake for many years”
Then I
wished him the best and we bade our good byes. I will be talking with him again
soon… somebody has to make sure that the saving bug doesn’t get to him again.
Several of
you had asked about him and his absence. Now you know… Seems that his comments
always are on target, very direct, honest and from a simple perspective. He
is not a political animal or much of a commentator on current issues. He’s just
another guy from the streets… the Hialeah streets, that is. But he’s a good man
and a better friend who just tries to do his best to survive in this world and
its everyday problems, mistakes, issues and yes, moments of happiness as well.
Sounds familiar?
Be Well … Be Back!!!
Final
Notes:
· Pray for those who are fighting an illness
which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and
counts!!
· Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
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