The school bus dropped us off about 400 metros away from home at Avenida Chapultepec.
Walking or running to our property was a simple straight shot and often my mother would allow me to run on ahead and greet folks about the safe neighborhood. She often strolled far behind carrying my sister (Luz), my backpack and at time some groceries.
In those early days it was not uncommon to come across a friend and invite him to come over and play in our vast yard that was riddled with dozens of good hiding spots where we could plot and plan adventures like the heroes of the cartoons we watched on Saturday mornings.
That one afternoon, I met him sitting on the dirty street floor by our fence with his back was against our brick wall. He wore brown pants that were rolled up at the bottom and exposed his thin lower legs. He wore simple sandals. The shirt was almost white but it was obvious that my new friend had been playing on the dirt as his wears were covered in randomly scattered patches of deep dark dirt that laid about his chest section.
His name (he said) was Angel.
Despite the dirt his smile was radiant and welcoming and from the moment he hollered an “hola” I felt that this was a worthwhile chap to play with. He was shy but surprisingly funny and we shared a few jokes before my mother caught up to us.
As usual, she was scrambling to find her keys to our large red iron gate and as usual Luz was in an involuntary uproar over being stuck in the cloth carrying device that my mother engineered each and every day for her. Food would need to be ready in a couple of hours time and her mind was on the task at hand. Needless to say she didn’t bat an eye when I asked her if my new found friend could stay a few minutes and play in the yard.
When she agreed….two bolts of lighting careened past her and I couldn’t wait to show him my favorite hiding spots throughout the property.
He didn’t talk much but I was glad because he let me talk. I even shared my most intimate secret.
I wished that one day Matzinger Z would somehow appear at our yard and I would board him and save Mexico from its problems. The economy (as my mother explained) was not doing well and on top of it the dogs had been acting strangely around the property and some other special friends had mentioned some odd event that was due to come. Therefore, if trouble was coming Matzinger Z would help and if I played my cards right I could fly all the way to Los Angeles just like that man who had landed at the Colosseum in Los Angeles the year before.
He let out a roaring laugh and made fun of me. No way was there a city name after him he chuckled and put his hands to his mouth as he giggled uncontrollably at the concept. I couldn’t help but laugh along with him.
He shared too but his dreams were simpler. Angel desired only to visit the beach and drive a car.
Minutes ticked by and before we knew it I heard a loud scream coming from the house. Dinner was ready, the skies were darkening and the day would end soon. Angel and I made plans to play again but as we talked about the next day he grimaced and grew sad. He explained that his trip here was brief and would cease before September ended. With a solemn and kind smile he told me that he was glad to have meet me and that he hoped that he could stay longer. Then he put his hand to my face and stroked my cheek with his thumb and I then knew not to fret too much as the days ahead unfurled.
I felt safe as he looked into my eyes. Without speaking I felt a rush of feeling from him that coiled about my chest. My father (who was away in the US) was okay, he would return to us and no matter what near struggles to come we’d survive.
My mother shouted once again from the house and with a start I looked at Angel and he was dashing off. But just before he reached the Red Gate he looked back, smiled and waved goodbye.
Never again did I see him.
—
About a year later, after the disaster happened and my father returned home for a quick visit, my mother and I talked one night about the previous year. Then I told her about Angel.
She sat at our kitchen door stunned and paralyzed with the exception of a trinity of tears at her face.
That was the night that she first introduced me to the photo of her father Angel.
He died of lung Cancer. His wishes were simple…to see the ocean and drive a car.
