Rafa wrinkled his brow. Maybe, he said.
When we heard the front door open, we let ourselves out of our room and found the apartment empty.
We better go after her, I said.
Rafa stopped at the door. Let’s give her a minute, he said.
What’s wrong with you?
We’ll wait two minutes, he said.
One, I said loudly. He pressed his face against the glass patio door. We were about to hit the door when she returned, panting, an envelope of cold around her.
Where did you go? I asked.
I went for a walk. She dropped her coat at the door; her face was red from the cold and she was breathing deeply, as if she’d sprinted the last thirty steps.
Where?
Just around the corner.
Why the hell did you do that?
She started to cry, and when Rafa put his hand on her waist, she slapped it away. We went back to our room.
I think she’s losing it, I said.
She’s just lonely, Rafa said.
—
THE NIGHT BEFORE THE SNOWSTORM I heard the wind at our window. I woke up the next morning, freezing. Mami was fiddling with the thermostat; we could hear the gurgle of water in the pipes but the apartment didn’t get much warmer.
Just go play, Mami said. That will keep your mind off it.
Is it broken?
I don’t know. She looked at the knob dubiously. Maybe it’s slow this morning.
None of the gringos were outside playing. We sat by the window and waited for them. In the afternoon my father called from work; I could hear the forklifts when I answered.
Rafa?
No, it’s me.
Get your mother.
We got a big storm on the way, he explained to her — even from where I was standing I could hear his voice. There’s no way I can get out to see you. It’s gonna be bad. Maybe I’ll get there tomorrow.
What should I do?
Just keep indoors. And fill the tub with water.
Where are you sleeping? Mami asked.
At a friend’s.
She turned her face from us. OK, she said. When she got off the phone she sat in front of the TV. She could see I was going to pester her about Papi; she told me, Just watch your show.
Radio WADO recommended spare blankets, water, flashlights, and food. We had none of these things. What happens if we get buried? I asked. Will we die? Will they have to save us in boats?
I don’t know, Rafa said. I don’t know anything about snow. I was spooking him. He went over to the window and peered out.
We’ll be fine, Mami said. As long as we’re warm. She went over and raised the heat again.
But what if we get buried?
You can’t have that much snow.
How do you know?
Because twelve inches isn’t going to bury anybody, even a pain in the ass like you.
I went out on the porch and watched the first snow begin to fall like finely sifted ash. If we die, Papi’s going to feel bad, I said.
Mami turned away and laughed.
Four inches fell in an hour and the snow kept falling.
Mami waited until we were in bed, but I heard the door and woke Rafa. She’s at it again, I said.
Outside?
Yes.
He put on his boots grimly. He paused at the door and then looked back at the empty apartment. Let’s go, he said.
She was standing on the edge of the parking lot, ready to cross Westminster. The apartment lamps glared on the frozen ground and our breath was white in the night air. The snow was gusting.
Go home, she said.
We didn’t move.
Did you at least lock the front door? she asked.
Rafa shook his head.
It’s too cold for thieves anyway, I said.
Mami smiled and nearly slipped on the sidewalk. I’m not good at walking on this vaina.
I’m real good, I said. Just hold on to me.
We crossed Westminster. The cars were moving very slowly and the wind was loud and full of snow.
This isn’t too bad, I said. These people should see a hurricane.
Where should we go? Rafa asked. He was blinking a lot to keep the snow out of his eyes.
Go straight, Mami said. That way we don’t get lost.
We should mark the ice.
She put her hands around us both. It’s easier if we go straight.
We went down to the edge of the apartments and looked out over the landfill, a misshapen, shadowy mound that abutted the Raritan. Rubbish fires burned all over it like sores and the dump trucks and bulldozers slept quietly and reverently at its base. It smelled like something the river had tossed out from its floor, something moist and heaving. We found the basketball courts next and the pool, empty of water, and Parkwood, the next neighborhood over, which was all moved in and full of kids.
We even saw the ocean, up there at the top of Westminster, like the blade of a long, curved knife. Mami was crying but we pretended not to notice. We threw snowballs at the sliding cars and once I removed my cap just to feel the snowflakes scatter across my cold, hard scalp.
Miss Lora
1
Years later you would wonder if it hadn’t been for your brother would you have done it? You remember how all the other guys had hated on her — how skinny she was, no culo, no titties, como un palito but your brother didn’t care. I’d fuck her.