My Mexican Bodega

Part 21

From the Derilict Mind

of

Eric Murphey

A few weeks have passed and we are all getting restless and bored with the boys being out of school. One good thing is Emilio gets his cast of tomorrow. He is thrilled about that. I have to be honest. It is making Mario and I very happy too Because its getting a little um stinky. I grab my laptop and see I have an email from my old boss.

"Oh boy. Oh boy. Oh boy."

I said as I read the email.

"What papi?" Emilio asks me.

"The playground equipment will be here the day after tomorrow."
"Cool." Mario puts in his 2 cents worth. Two Pesos worth?

"I need to call Hector."
"He said he would help for free papi."

"I know Mario I was there remember?"
He giggles.

I rub the top of his head.

"Papi how long you think I will have to use a cane for?" Emilio asks.

"Panchito I have no idea."

Yes his nickname now is panchito. Mario kept poking fun at him for arguing with the dietician to bring him panchitos he may as well be a panchito. So I just started calling him panchito. He likes it and so do I. Its like a secret nickname not many people even know what it is. Because I made up the damn word.

"You think I can help when the stuff gets here?" he asks me.

"Im not even sure I can help. I sure know you arent going to. Or you." I say turning to Mario as he was opening his mouth and I poke him in the belly.

He giggles.

"Papi whats for supper?" Emilio asks.

Let me tell you with him the past week it has been like this. Question after question after question. Its been like a four year old except the questions are harder. Or easier not sure which. Four year olds ask things like. Why is the sky blue? Emilio asks me if he should study solar technology. Five minutes later hes asking about what kind of cookie is my favorite then why? I tell you what I am so ready for him to be able to go outside and play. I love him dont get me wrong. I love him with all of my heart. But his anxiousness and boredom are getting on my nerves. I know he is doing the best he can. But he is anxious and rightfully so. Asking me questions for some reason makes him feel calmer. So I dont get upset when he asks me the same question several times. Earlier was an eample of how long will he have to use a cane. The doctor said he didnt know. So how could I without education have any possible guess.

"I was thinking chitterlings."
This is the only thing I have found that both boys refuse to eat. Personally Ive never eaten them and the only reason I know this is becuase Lupe offered them some and they both said ewwwwwwwww. For about 20 minutes after.

He rolls his eyes at me.

"When you tell me what you want to study I will start dinner."
"I want to study dinner." he says giggling.

Mario is laughing on the other side of me.

"Mario what do you think we should have?"
"Spaghetti like you make it."
"I do have some sauce frozen. That sounds like a plan."
I get up and get the sauce from the freezer. Its a habit I got years ago. I make a ton of sauce and freeze it becuase I like it and its not exactlly a five minute process to make sauce. Well, unless oyu open a can or jar. But Im picky when it comes to that and make my own. I put it in the microwave to get it thawing I get it about half way then put it in a pot and slowly heat it up. Takes a half an hour or so. But it makes it nice. I get out some frozen garlic bread and put it on a cookie sheet and put it in the freezer. I like to have it ready. I heat the oven and well, you know what I do. I dont have to tell you soon enough Mario was setting the table.

"You know when you get your cast off you got to set the table forever like I have been." Mario tells him.

"I will be glad to get this stinking cast off. Ill set the table forever." He tells him.

They both giggle. They have been doing that more lately. I think its becuase they are secure and happy. I think anyway.

The rest of the day passes with nothing of any impotartnce to share. Other than I spent the day with the two I love most in the world. Which is important but nothing happened that was exciting. I crawl out of bed the next morning around 5am. I dont understand my sleeping has been rather odd lately. One day I sleep until 7 the next 5. We go to bed at the same time. My sleep is not consistent it seems. It started doing that when I turned about 50 or so. I remeber when I was a teenager and in my 20s I slept 10 hours and wake up and take a nap. I guess when we get older our body knows our time is running out and doesnt want to waste it with sleep. Or not what do I know. I go and make some coffee and around seven the boys come join me. I make them some eggs and add some charrizo, peppers and onions to it. I put some Oaxaca cheese on the tortillas and add the egg mixture. We enjoy a nice breakfast with juice and chatter. Mostly Emilio excited today is the day he will get his cast removed. I think hes pretty excited about it. OK I know he is. Im pretty excited about it too. Not just because my oldest boy will have his mobility back easier. But also so when he rolls over in his sleep Im not awakened by pain of a cast crashing down on me as he turns over. Mario and I have never discussed it. But we both have some bruises from it. I havent mentioned it to Emilio becuae I dont want to hurt his feelings because its not like he can control it. I dont think Mario has either. I imagine, he like myself doesnt want him to feel bad. After breakfast we all get cleaned up and dressed and head to the next town to see the doctor and get that bloody purple cast off his leg. We get in the truck and ride over. I turn on the radio and we are singing along with the old Mexican folk song and enjoying our trip. I think I should have brought them over for breakfast at McDonalds. I dont think either of them has ever had that. It would be a treat for them. I think they would think it is rather plain compared to our usual fair. I dont use a lot of jalepenos. I tend to use Serrano peppers which are actually hotter but dont upset my tummy like jalepenos. I dont try to make sense of it. I jsut accept it and go on. But at breakfast I dont really do spicy just flavorful with bell peppers and onions. Sometimes I slice a tomato and put it in with the eggs. I dont have one today though. But I suppose I could have walked downstairs and got one from the shop. I didnt but I could have. I sell a lot of fresh produce. So much actually lately that I have taken to having it delivered every few days. I was tired of Bob complaining at me that the customers were complaining we didnt have something. I have a nice selection of produce now. I have a couple kinds of tomatoes, red and green cabbage, cilantro of course. A few kinds of onions and severl kinds of peppers. Bell and hot ones. Lettuce of course and some fruits. Avacado of course, yes its a fruit. I sell a lot of fresh produce. Im thinking I may talk to some ladies and have them come in and make fresh tortillas Im kind of ashamed I sell the kind in packages that are made in a factory. I mean they are fine and all. But a fresh tortilla if you have never had it the difference is between taking a loaf of bread out of the oven and having a slice of hot warm bread or opening a cellophane wrapper and pulling out a piece of tasteless cold bread. Yeah Im so hiring a couple ladies. Maybe I should talk to Lupe about that. I dont think it will cut in on her business. I had thought about putting in a lunch line. But I dont want to take from her earnings. That would be OK business wise and probablly pretty smart. But from a human standpoint. Not so much. I try to do as Mr Brown and Mr Eric always do and did. Do the right thing at the right time, all the time. Taking her business from her is not the righ thing. We get to the office and we all take a seat.

"Im thirsty." I say and before I could get up and go to the water cooler to get a cup of water Mario was half way to get it. He handed me the cup a moment later.

"Here Papi."
"My little mouse to the rescue."
He beams.

I drink it and we waited a little while and were escorted back. Before the doctor took off the cast he had them x-ray Emilios leg. I dont think they ever did that for me. But I also never had to have pins and plates and all that sort of shit either. Finally the doctor comes in and puts the film on the light and looks at it.

"Verygood. Yes very good indeed. Lets get that monstrosity off your leg. You looking forward to that?"
"Yes sir." Emilio says with glee.

The doctor chuckles and he starts the saw. Blech I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. Sometimes you have to think or say something at least three times to really get the point across that you hate it. It takes a while but finally I can see his withered leg that has atrophied some. Man does it fucking reak too. Woo hee does it stink to high heaven. The doctor washes his leg pretty thoroghly getting off the ickiness of the dead skin and filth he hasnt been able to wash away for weeks on end. Its so gross. I did remember to bring his other shoe though. So thats good. im not cmpletely useless. Just partially.

"Now young man." The doctor starts. "Your leg is very weak now so make sure you dont overdo it. You will need and want a cane for some time. Thats OK but I dont think you will need it forever. I think maybe a month or two. Possibly three or four. It takes time to heal properlly. So you use it until it feels good without it. I am however worried that the platelates in your leg were damaged meaning that your legs will grow at different speeds and the damaged one wont grow as much as the other. So if thats the case we will have to do surgury a few times on your good leg so that way your legs are the same length and you wont look like you need a V8."
I giggle and think. They must have had that ad campaign here as well. Or he was trained in America.

The doctor hands him a cane and its pretty cool really. Its metal but it it colored purple. The metal shines through the color. I cant explain it better than that. Its just pretty cool. If I ever need a cane. That would be just fine. But prefer I blue.

"Now I want you to take a few steps and get a feel of the cane."

Emilio stands up and he takes a step. He takes another and I can see it on his face. The doctor is righ tnext to him for just in case.

"This is kind of hard. Is it supposed to be hard?" he asks.

"It will be for a while. You had a lot of dammage. You are going to have to strengthen your leg and Im sure your leg doesnt feel like it used to before the dammage occured."
"No it feels kind of......I cant describe it. But not right anyway."
"Now I need you to be honest. Are you feeling any pain or discomfort?"

"Does wobbly count?"
The doctor chuckles.

"No wobbly is to be expected. Now I dont expect you to be playing football anytime soon." The doctor lowers his head and looks up at him. Letting it be known he is serious.

"Yes sir."
"Not until you come back and I say its OK. I dont want you to have to get it repaired again. While it is healed. It isnt 100% just yet. In time it will be. Its still fragile and could break easily again. You dont want that do you?"
"No sir." He says with big eyes and shaking his head.

"Alright you listen to your papi and I know he has some sense and wont let you do anything foolish like run a 5K." The doctor chuckles at his own humor and so do we.

"Dr how far at first do you think I should allow him to walk?" I ask.

"I cant give an exact on that. Like oh 273 steps a day. I will say to allow him to do what he wants. He wont want to do much at first because it is so week and it will tire him out for a while. But he needs to walk some so it will get back the muscle it needs."
"Before this we would walk to mass its maybe half a mile?"
"That should be OK. But first get him to walking around the hosue a lot first. Maybe the yard."
"We are building a playground!!!" Mario shouts.

He is apparently pretty excited about it. I wont lie. Im excited about it too. I grew up a couple blocks from a park and it was great.

The doctor looks at him then me.

"Whats this?"
"Dr in our little town there are no parks for the children to play in that anywhere near us. So my old boss in America knows a guy that builds playground equipment. He bought the equipment and Im paying shipping and setup. So the children will have somewhere safe to play."
"Thats commendable."
"I suppose."
"Yeah and papi is adopting us and he has a store and he give all the profits to the orphanage." Emilio says to the doctor.

Im thinking what are they doing? They know I dont like to be all out there like that. Its not that its secret. I just dont advertise these things. It feels like bragging unless its in our little area. Then Im good with it. But really thats just because I wanted people to shop there to help the children. Otherwise I would have done it in the dark as the Creator commanded us to do. But in Mexico with shops everywhere. What Mexican would go into a white mans shop all the time? I wont say its racist. Loyal maybe. Maybe it is racist. I dont know. But its the only reason I did it. That and so I dont have to pay protection money to anyone. Also so the cartel will make bad people stay the fuck away from me. While they can be and are viscious ruthless killers. They do respect children and those helping them.

"Ist that something." The doctor says grinning.

"Yeah and he bought a new bus for them too." Mario tells him.

"Boys thats enough. He doesnt need to know my life story. Im not oing for sainthood." I tell them blushing from embarassment. "Now lets go the doctor has other people to see. You arent his only patient."
As we head out the doctor rubs Emilios head.

"Be careful."
"Dont you know it." He says as serious as he can muster.

I smile as he does. Hes so amusing.

We walk to the truck it taking a bit longer than before becuase he got pretty quick with the crutches. Also I am carrying them now. I help Emilio into the truck becuase I was worried he might have a bit of trouble. I think he was glad I was helping becuase he smiled when I did. His leg is so weak now I just wanted to make sure.

I get in the truck look at the boys.

"Maccas?"

I see grins.

So off to Mcdonalds we head. We have a nice time eating and then head back to the house. The boys suggested we get something for Bob and I will be honest I never would have thought about it. So we get him a meal and head back. He was all smiles when we took it into him. He tore into like a starving man. Im sure he wasnt becuase I allow him and Jamie to get what they want to eat while they are working. I dont set a limit on it. I just tell them not to get carried away with it. Its hard sitting in a store full of things and not think. I want THAT. Of course I could say they had to pay for it like every store in the world it seems. But I figure its just better to have them get what they want and write it down. Becuase it prevents theft. Its why Mr Eric always had free meals for workers. Its just one less thing to worry about Mr Eric told me once. Most franchisees do offer free meals. But it isnt a requirement. I heard some dont and their employee theft is higher. That and they dont pay anything either. These are people that shouldnt run businesses because they just want what they can get without any thought to the workers who put that money in their pocket. When we get upstairs after a five minute wait on Emilio getting up the stairs we all sit down and I turn on the TV and soon Im napping. Its been a long day. I wake up an hour or so later and Emilio and Mario are in Marios room playing game.

"Why dont you guys go outside and play a while?" I suggest.

They both grin. Emilio grabs his cane and soon they are heading out. A while later I get a text from Father Lopez telling me hes pleased Emilio is getting around so well. Twenty minutes laater I get nearly the same text from Sister Carmencita. Apparently the boys are making their rounds. So much for taking it easy. I get supper started and text them its going to be ready in fifteen minutes. We have supper and get everything cleaned up after. Around 8 I can see in Emilios face he is exhausted. I suggest he head to bed and he doesnt even think about arguing. He yawns and heads to my room. Mario and I join him shortly after. Thing Ive noticed about getting old. I sleep less but more. I know that sounds ridiculous but if I explain that during midday I end up just falling asleep if Im idle then I sleep at night. So naps kind of happen on accident. I wake up an hour or so later thinking how did that happen?

Around three Im awakened by a semi truck idling. I go out and see a man walking around his truck inspecing it. I go to talk to him in my robe and slippers.

"Is this the playground equipment?"

"Yes."
"You must be tired. Why dont you come upstairs and get some rest." I tell him.

"I realy want to get this unloaded and head home to see my family. But a rest would be nice."

"I feel what your saying. But it is eaither really early or really late depending on how you look at things. So getting help now isnt happneing But I sure I can have guys here by 7. So come up with me get some rest and we will get it off loaded quickly around then."
He smiles.

We head upstairs and I offer him a shower which he gladly accepts and then he crashes in Marios bed. Of course Mario is in mine. Im awake now. No way I can get back to sleep. Im super excited to get the equipment and get it set in. I make some coffe and text Hector to let him know that the stuff is here and to come when he can. Im surprised he text back about five minutes later and tells me he will be there around 5:30 because the sun is up around then here. I text back thanks and drink some coffee. I text Chuy as well as Father Lopez seeing as how they both got volunteered by the boys to help. I thought it was funny. But they readily agreed with smiles when the boys asked them. I told them that the equipment was here and Hector will be here around 5:30 and to show up when they can. Around 5 five I start making some eggs with stuff in them for some tortillas and I get a text from Father Lopez saying he will be at our house in a few minutes hes leaving the rectory now. I go to wait on him and let him in when he gets there and Chuy is walking up with Juan as well. Juan much to my surprise gives me a hug.

"Sr Esteban I wanted to thank you." he tells me.

"Why?"
he looks at me with a serious expression.

"I was a jerk. I was a bully and mean to people becuase I felt so alone. It made me feel good to be able to do something. It made me feel like I had some power I suppose. Even if it was over more vunerable people. I regret it and I want to make up for it. But if you wouldnt have talked to me and helped me see how I was messing up I dont think Chuy would have wanted to have me in his life. Im still having problems with my anger issues but Chuy is helping me with it."
I put my hand on his shoulder and look him in the eyes.

"Im really proud of you Juan for the turn around you have made. I have noticed that more of the children are hanging out with you now. That it seems you have friends now."
He blushes.

"Chuy tells me he is proud of me too. I really dont know or understand how to accept it. But I do like hearing it."
"Chuy is a good man. You can trust what he says is true."
"I know."
We all head upstairs and I get them fed and then we go down leaving the truck driver to rest. I figure he needs it. We start unloading the truck. Hectors cousin shows up as we are. To my surprise he brings half a dozen other men with him. Now mind you its 6 in the morning on a Sasturday. I got all these guys helping. It feels so amazing. So much love and compassion becuase they all know no one is getting paid. Its for the children. What is even more amazing to me is half an hour later a few wives show up and start giving guys stuff to eat. Hector and the construction guys are assembling the swing set and getting it set up and in concrete. The regular slide was super easy. The curly slide isnt going to be that simple I dont think. I really didnt think about it. But we need a crane or something to set it up. Now while thinking this I see a guy on a cherry picker driving up the road. OK Hector has thought of this more than I have. OK not more maybe but hes a construction guy and thought more thoroghly as to what we will need.

Im helping doing what I can. But Im 55 and I cant work as hard as the guys that are next to me that are like 20 and used to this sort of thing. We get the truck unloaded and Mario is next to me. He is barefooted, no shirt just shorts and he looks at me.

"Papi whose in my bed?"
"The truck driver. He got here pretty early and looked really tired. Seemed the right thing to do to give him somewhere to rest a while."
He just nods. One of the ladies puts a burrito in his hand and some Juice that I got out for everyone. Basiclly I opened the door and told them all if they need anything to get it and write it down on the tablet on the counter. I want it to be free to them for their generous help so early on a Saturday. By 8:30 we have the truck unloaded. I head upstairs to wake the driver. He is sleepy still but is glad his truck is unloaded and he didnt have to touch it. He is smling as he takes off. He told me he hasnt been home in a month and is looking forward to seeing his wife and children. He has six so I suppose he gets home enough. One of the ladies gets him a coffee and some food for his drive. He thanks her and heads off. One thing I noticed is all the old ladies from morning mass are here. They cant do tons. But they are raking the area and getting any and all trash and debri off the area. I set up a couple trash cans with bags se they have somewhere to put it. At around noon we now have a crowd up children watching waiting eagerly to use the equipment. Sadly they are told they have to wait until tomorrow because the concrete needs to dry first. They are good with that. But its really exciting to me to see how excited they are. We get it all set up around 11:30. I look at Sister Carmancita who is standing next to me just grinning the entire time.

"Sister?"
"Yes?"
"You think that we can borrow the bus and take all these people to lunch? They have all worked so hard even the children helping the ladies clean the debri and hauling it off. I think its the least I can do."

She smiles and takes off. A few minutes later she pulls up behind hte shop in the bus. Now I just cant help but chuckle because she may be 5 feet tall and is a stick of a woman. But her driving that big bus makes me chuckle.

I get everyones attention as they are finnishing up.

"Everyone I want to thank all of you who have come to help. Sister Carmancita got the bus from the home and I want to take all of you to lunch to show how much I appreciate your help."

Let me tell you what it was standing room only in the bus and my boys and I took one seat Mario on my lap as most children were sitting on their parents laps. Im glad we arent in America Im sure having a hundred people on a bus is a violation of some sort of law. But thats what we had. I had grabbed a ton of cash because I knew thats what it would cost. She drives to a local resrteraunt I asked her to take us to. I thought about McDonalds of course. But I thought they deserved a nicer mean then that. Of course the children would have been thrilled. But I wanted it nicer. We all go in and overwhelm the poor staff. But it takes them about an hour and working their asses off but everyone is fed and happy. I pay and leave a very generous tip to the staff there. I feel its only right I worked the poor people so hard.

When we get back Father Lopez gets everyones attention.

We all follow him over to the curly slide that is now deep in concrete so it will be safe for the children. We also has spread rubber pieces all over the ground so if a child fell it would lessen the fall so they hopefully wont get hurt. I was suprised to see it on the truck. I guess Mr Eric thought it was a good idea. It was, and I wish I could take credit for it.

He bows his head as we all do.

"Dear Heveanly Father. I want to thank you for bringing Esteban to our community. I want to thank you for his generous heart and all he has done for the community and the children in it. He has had an amazing impact on us here and got lots of us thinking how we can help our neighbor from watching him. Lord I ask that this playground be a haven for the children to play and have fun. I also ask that you allow the injuries here to be minor. We all know children will be hurt playing. Thats part of life. But please allow them to be minimal. We ask this in the name of your son. Amen."
"Amen." We all said.

It took a while beause everyone was milling around and talking but soon they had all left after we roped off the playground so children wouldnt use the new equipment before it was ready tomorrow. I look at it and Mario and Emilio wrap their arms around my waist. We all three are looking at it and smiling. Im smiling becuase I am thinking about all the children running and playing and just having a great time. I dont know maybe thats what hte boys were thinking. Ir maybe they were thinking of the fun they would have playing here. I dont know. But I do know it was one of the best moments in my life.

When we go into the shop to grab a soda and drop off a nice supper for Bob and Jaime becuase they helped too. But wanted to stay and keep the shop open. I told them why everyone that shops here is here. They did sell a lot of things though they said. Which is good.

"Hefe what do you want me to do with the money people left on the counter?" Bob asks me.

See I didnt even know they had done that. Hes a good and honest man. Im glad that Chuy recomended him to me.

"Well I suppose jsut drop it in the safe. I told them that it would be free. I had panned on absorbing the cost of it myself. I still plan to do that. I suppose I will just give it to the sisters."
He smiles thanks me for his food as does Jamie.

We sit on the couch and we are all out like lights. Long very long day so far.

______________________________________

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ericmurphey1971@gmail.com

Exciting week for someone. Mine was normal. Hope one of you guys hit the lotto or something fantastic. I figure I didnt hopefully you did.

Anyway I found what I think would be the perfect house for me. If you would be so kind to pray to whomever it is that you pray to if you do so and ask them to allow me to use it. Thanks if you do. Thanks if you dont.

So guys I know I ask you to do lots of things. I know this. The reason I do is your all great people. Ive been watching this boy on YouTube and he is a great little guy. He goes around unclogging drains in his city. Like big street drains. He is pretty cool and has some odd interests. But um I cant really judge on that now can I?

Anyway he has 890 subscribers. I think you need 1,000 to get paid from YouTube. If you would like to help out and subscribe I dont want to just put his name up here because...........well, becuase. But if you want to know his page just email me I will be glad to give it to you.

I hope everyone has an amazing week.

Eric