we're not kids anymore.
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"
cherry valley forever
dirt enthusiast
AnasAbdin
Origami Around
#extradirty
đȘŒ
noise dept.
KIROKAZE
tumblr dot com
Cosmic Funnies
oozey mess
DEAR READER
if i look back, i am lost
Keni
ç„æ„ / Permanent Vacation
trying on a metaphor
No title available
PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
seen from China
seen from Finland
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Singapore
seen from United Kingdom
seen from France
seen from Germany
seen from Russia
seen from Uruguay
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Canada
seen from Singapore
seen from Mexico
seen from Russia
seen from Georgia
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
@diegodontdothat-blog
âIn New York I was popular in Grindr, and here I never talk to anybody. Whereâs all the available people? Are the guys hiding?âÂ
âItâs New York, everyone is popular in New Yorkâ.Â
âMany New Yorkers would not agree. Itâs easy to be invisible if you arenât good at being out there.â
âEurgh. I turned twenty eight today. It would be an understatement to say Iâm depressed,â Meg groaned. âI hate getting older. Why canât I just be eighteen again?â
âI am thirty-seven with a heart that is seventeen.â He told her with a raised eyebrow. âIt will become easier.â
âIn New York I was popular in Grindr, and here I never talk to anybody. Whereâs all the available people? Are the guys hiding?âÂ
New Friends | Diego & Beth
diegodontdothat:Â
Fridays were usually a good day to be a police officer. It was a day a lot of people were cooling down for the weekend, getting a little more active than usual. It was nice but also sad in a way as Diego wanted to be out and about himself. Of course there wasnât nearly as much excitement as in New York City but that didnât mean the day was totally without it. Slamming the door to his cruiser shut he walked into the clinic and looked at the woman at the desk. âHey, are you the one in charge at this place?â
Beth was only at the desk a few minutes when Louisa stepped away to help a patient with some paper work. Use to this happening to her a lot Beth paid no mind to it until a gentleman approached the desk. Glancing up she smiled at him and took notice of his uniform. âBy this place, do you mean the front desk or the clinic because thereâs a big difference. Either way the answer is no but I can help you find either one.â
Giving the girl at the desk a genuine smile he thought for a minute which he was looking for, because he thought whoever ran the desk would run the clinic as well. âIâm sorry I-â He looked towards the door and decided on how to answer her. âI need whoever I can bring up parking violations to. I noticed itâs a regular thing around here and I donât want to give out tickets.âÂ
November 23rd, 2004Â â Diego & Carmen (flashback)
A look of pride crossed his face when she mentioned that his job fit him perfectly. It was validation he always wanted to hear when considering the fact that he was not always as confident in his job as he should be. âIâm glad to her you say that. A lot of people they only want this job to be the boss of people and be in charge. I donât see why being a bully would be at all helpful to anybody. It just makes people like you less.â Listening to the womanâs story he couldnât help trying to bite back a laugh. He could only imagine what it would be like to preform on a stage and fall off to a crowd of disgusting men come to watch her get naked. âThatâs horrible, did you get hurt?â
He scoffed, thinking about his coffee maker that every morning he cursed and thought he should replace yet never did. At her comment about her makeup he couldnât help but laugh. âThere is nothing wrong with that. Snow White is over rated, the Evil Queen is where itâs at.â He said jokingly and shook his head at the very thought of wearing six inch heels. He smiled as she talked about her son. It was sweet, the thought of having a child, but it was also something he was sure he wouldnât experience. It wasnât that he didnât like kids, he just never saw children of his being in his life. âDiego? You named him after me!â He joked with a laugh. âNever, I want to go to Florida though and see Disney World.â
âNo, no, I donât think youâre a bad person.â He told her seriously and shook his head. âThis itâs a job⊠You do it so you can live with him and your son happily, yeah?â He wasnât a person to stand here and judge, and it was admittable that he was a bit promoscuious without having to do it for a job. âOh my GAWSH, if we let Mexicans scrub our toilets it means we arenât racist right? I mean they need something to do while we go out and buy two different looking socks to wear thinking itâs cute. Letâs keep spending hundreds of dollars to look poor.â
Carmen maintained her smile as she heard Diego speak of his job with interest and passion. âThatâs good, that you care so much.â She complimented truthfully, nodding her head gently. âMany people donât have the privilege of liking their jobs, and not only do you enjoy your own, but you also want to do it right. You actually want to do a good, meaningful work, and I canât say that about a lot of people.â Sure, she met hardworking and ambitious people, but none of them had the same fire in their eyes when they talked about their profession as he had. âItâs okay, you can laugh. Itâs a funny story.â She smirked as she noticed Diegoâs been holding back a laugh. âOther than my pride, not really. But I think I lost that way before.â She joked, but was she really being sarcastic?
The Latina gasped as the guy remarked that he preferred the Evil Queen over Snow White. âFor your information, Snow White is the best princess. If anything, sheâs underrated.â She said decisively, protecting her favorite Disney lady. âNow tell me, how can I possibly have named my 7 years old son after a guy I literally know for no more 20 minutes?â She chuckled, rolling her eyes and laughing. âDisney World! Gosh, Iâve never been there as well, I have to confess.â She admitted; her family could never afford those pricey trips, it was only nearby states and family visits in Puerto Rico for her.Â
âThank you.â Carmen showed her honest gratitude, as she needed to hear that affirmation from someone whoâs not herself. âSo we could live, would be a more accurate statement. My guy- heâs, um, well- never mind, forget I said anything.â She shook her head, brushing it off with a grin. There wasnât any use to tell the man the depressing story of how her fiance was severely injured and left her with a major debt to pay, right? âHold on, Becky, I gotta do the twerk. Gosh, I wish my ass wasnât as flat as an iron!â
Diego nodded happily, he liked to think of himself as a good cop. The kind of cop a kid could come to for help rather than shy away from. He recalled every encounter heâd had with the police and there were good and bad ones. If he was lost though, he always wanted help to get home, not to get caught trespassing. Heâd be the kind of officer to help someone home, not arrest them. âSo, if itâs not taking your clothes off, or if it is maybe, what are you passionate about?â He asked. âClearly you are a mother, which is a title. If you could have any job in the world though, what would it be?â
He smiled at her remark about the princess, finding it sweet. Though he had to disagree, he could see why she would like Snow White. She was a princess of kindness and innocence, made of pure love. âIâm just saying the woman was willing to murder someone so she could be the fairest of them all. Thatâs determination.â He nodded. âI donât know, but I am sure you found a way. Iâm that good, clearly. Heâs seven? That is so cute, does he speak English or Spanish?â Diego asked curiously. âWhen we were moving I asked where we were going and Disney World was the only place in America I knew of, my mom told me that was where we were going.â He laughed. âThe mice in our apartment were not Mickey.â
Diego gave her an assuring nod. âIt is good of you, to do what you can to take care of your family. It shows you are a strong woman and a good mother.â He said assuringly. If he had a partner and children, he was sure that if need be he would do anything for them. Anything. âOh honey just use one of those as seen on TV ass expansions, I bought it on the shopping channel on my cellular phone!â He said with a flip of his hand. âOh my GAWD I havenât brought up my political opinion in like ten minutes, thatâs like totally against my white pride!âÂ
November 23rd, 2004Â â Diego & Carmen (flashback)
A look of pride crossed his face when she mentioned that his job fit him perfectly. It was validation he always wanted to hear when considering the fact that he was not always as confident in his job as he should be. âIâm glad to her you say that. A lot of people they only want this job to be the boss of people and be in charge. I donât see why being a bully would be at all helpful to anybody. It just makes people like you less.â Listening to the womanâs story he couldnât help trying to bite back a laugh. He could only imagine what it would be like to preform on a stage and fall off to a crowd of disgusting men come to watch her get naked. âThatâs horrible, did you get hurt?â
He scoffed, thinking about his coffee maker that every morning he cursed and thought he should replace yet never did. At her comment about her makeup he couldnât help but laugh. âThere is nothing wrong with that. Snow White is over rated, the Evil Queen is where itâs at.â He said jokingly and shook his head at the very thought of wearing six inch heels. He smiled as she talked about her son. It was sweet, the thought of having a child, but it was also something he was sure he wouldnât experience. It wasnât that he didnât like kids, he just never saw children of his being in his life. âDiego? You named him after me!â He joked with a laugh. âNever, I want to go to Florida though and see Disney World.â
âNo, no, I donât think youâre a bad person.â He told her seriously and shook his head. âThis itâs a job... You do it so you can live with him and your son happily, yeah?â He wasnât a person to stand here and judge, and it was admittable that he was a bit promoscuious without having to do it for a job. âOh my GAWSH, if we let Mexicans scrub our toilets it means we arenât racist right? I mean they need something to do while we go out and buy two different looking socks to wear thinking itâs cute. Letâs keep spending hundreds of dollars to look poor.â
November 23rd, 2004Â â Diego & Carmen (flashback)
Diego could recall times in his life that heâd gotten into fights. It was mostly in high school, he was quick tempered and if anybody found it in them to call him a name he wouldnât hold himself back from responding harshly. He loved it then, the rush that came with it. The way noise would drown out any thought. The way his breath burned in him as he tried to move as quickly as possible. Hell he even loved how his heart would stop when he got hit. âI used to love fights. But now, Iâm like you, Iâm a lover not a fighter.â He laughed and his face turned slightly red. âThat wasnât even my worst night on the job. Somebody stole my handcuffs once. My first week on the job I was doing a presentation at a high school, stole my handcuffs."
He gave her a friendly smile and a nod. "I will go to the cafe sometime, of course. It is probably much better than to drink the horrible coffee I try to make. My coffee maker is thousands of years old, I think. Though, I like your makeup this way. You should wear it to your other job." He told her playfully. "The shoes though. I don't think would be very comfortable." The officer pointed out. "Kids! I love kids. There's a lot of them in my building, always running around, one knocked me over once." He nodded. "Your fiancé sounds like a good man. New York yes was my first state. My family moved to the Bronx but I moved to Manhattan when I got the job here. I've never really been to other states."
He noticed her reaction and nodded. "I do not know him, but I won't tell him." Diego never liked hiding things, not from anyone. He came out when he was young. He never held back anything, but he never had a secret like that. He supposed if the woman was stripping, she needed money, and her fiancé probably didn't want to know. "No Pedro, it's wine it's fancy, not tequila! But maybe you can take us to Cancun sometime and be our translator. Of course we need to be in bed by sunset or those scary scary brown people might get us!"
; in with a bang
diegodontdothat:
Diego laughed as he grabbed the first aid kit from the passengerâs seat of the cruiser. He knew other officers kept it under the seats but he liked it where he could see it. Heâd always been a messy person. Nothing was ever put away properly. âIf I died by a paper cut I would not be shocked.â He shook his head, taking some disenfectant and putting on gloves. âHold out your arm for me?â He asked before thinking again. âI can get hurt doing anything, but a papercut, that will be my end, I forsee it.â He joked.Â
Her smile grew at the sound of his laughter, head shaking lightly as she too would laugh holding out her elbow as he asked, âNow that will make a perfect eulogy,â she teased him.
âAh we have gathered here to celebrate the life of Officer Diego DeLeon, he survived getting shot but those damn paper cuts got the better of him.â He said mockingly towards himself. âItâll be a beautiful service.â
; in with a bang
diegodontdothat:
He grimaced at her question, wondering if when he said this town he sounded like he was new. Of course, he was, but he didnât like showing it off. He felt like every time he stopped being the new guy, he went right back to it. He moved from Guatemala and then when he was used to it, he joined the police force and was new again, years later he got injured and was back to the newbie in a new town. âI came here a month ago.â He said honestly, shrugging his shoulders. She seemed like she was having a bad time with this. He lead her to his cruiser where he had a first aid kit right in the passenger seat. âI know the feeling, Iâve been hurt countless times but I get a paper cut-â he raised his hands. âIâm done.â
She instantly felt guilty for the way he would react to her question, her smile slipping slightly as she would look down at her feet. The wish to apologize pressing against the backs of her teeth yet still she would remain quiet on the subject, the thought that perhaps saying something more would only make things worse having her changing the subject, âI donât blame you,â she would say smile returning, steps slowly to a stop as she waited patiently, âDeath by paper cut would be the worst way to go.â
Diego laughed as he grabbed the first aid kit from the passengerâs seat of the cruiser. He knew other officers kept it under the seats but he liked it where he could see it. Heâd always been a messy person. Nothing was ever put away properly. âIf I died by a paper cut I would not be shocked.â He shook his head, taking some disenfectant and putting on gloves. âHold out your arm for me?â He asked before thinking again. âI can get hurt doing anything, but a papercut, that will be my end, I forsee it.â He joked.Â
; in with a bang
diegodontdothat:
He shook his head. Raiderâs Cove certainly didnât have the same work excitement as New York. Especially not when he was told to take it easy as to not damage his head again. âThis town people drive like theyâre the only people whoâve ever existed.â He looked to her and offered out a hand to try and pull her away from the dirt and gavel. He was always told to make sure a person was okay before taking any action, and she did seem like all she needed was his first aid kit. âCome on Iâll make sure we get the cleaned up.â
She laughed a little at his words, taking his hand as her free hand would swipe away the dirt which clung to her pants, âHow long have you been here?â she asked looking to him, offering him a thankful nod as she would finally be straightened to her feet. Her words were a harmless question for she couldnât help but believe him to be knew to the town at his own. Releasing his hand Evie would watch him, cradling her elbow delicately as she would look down at it once more, she would laugh again but this time at herself as her head would shake, âYeah thanks,â she would say to his next words though her mind was berating herâteasing and chastising her for being such a klutz. âItâs funny, a person can shatter the exact same arm without so much as a peep but throw her over the handle bars of a bike and she turns into a big babyâŠâ she would sigh, though her smile would remain as she followed him back towards his cruiser.
He grimaced at her question, wondering if when he said this town he sounded like he was new. Of course, he was, but he didn't like showing it off. He felt like every time he stopped being the new guy, he went right back to it. He moved from Guatemala and then when he was used to it, he joined the police force and was new again, years later he got injured and was back to the newbie in a new town. "I came here a month ago." He said honestly, shrugging his shoulders. She seemed like she was having a bad time with this. He lead her to his cruiser where he had a first aid kit right in the passenger seat. "I know the feeling, I've been hurt countless times but I get a paper cut-" he raised his hands. "I'm done."
November 23rd, 2004Â â Diego & Carmen (flashback)
Diego scanned his brain for a moment, sure he had come by this club before on duty. Then the memory snapped to him and he broke into a wide smile. âYes, yes, there was a night and we got a call for a 10-59⊠thatâs a fight. A womanâs husband had been coming here and one night the woman followed him here and picked his favorite stripper and punched her but then- then the two women teamed up and started hitting the husband.â He explained. âSo I tried to intervene verbally and another officer was trying to pull them apart. The man comes to hit me in the face but I took out my pepper spray⊠but accidentally sprayed myself.â He shook his head with a laugh. âWhere do you work mornings? If you donât mind my asking?â
âStrange, loud, obnoxious, spanish families are better than strange, loud, obnoxious southern families.âHe explained playfully. âSix? That is amazing, I wish I had six siblings, but I was such a hard kid to keep safe that my parents never wanted another. When we came to the USA my Mama saw a woman with her kids on leashes. She said it was too bad she didnât see that back when I was that small or maybe we would have had a much better life.âÂ
He nodded with a sympathetic shrug, he was sure the last thing this woman needed was to have to sit there and feel sorry for herself. âYour fiance, is he from New York or Maine?â He questioned, wanting to hear more of this girl as a person rather than her as a stripper. âWhenever I pull over a white person at least one calls me Officer Gonzales.â He rolled his eyes but broke into a smile and tried to copy an American accent. âOfficer Gonzales, no habloâ He said pronouncing hablo wrong. âEspanolâ He pronounced that wrong too. âI was only speeding because I needed to get to the produce stand before they ran out of Swiss Chard.âÂ
Carmen nodded along as Diego rolled the dramatic story of the wife who found out her husband attends strip clubs regularly, and eventually teamed up with his most favorable dancer in order to beat the living crap out of him. âOh my God, I remember I heard of this!-â She blurted out excitedly, her mind tracing back to the time one of her co workers revealed to her this unbelievable, completely ridiculous and apparently true tale. âI didnât work that night, but when I heard of this⊠I thought this isnât real, my goodness.â She laughed. âGetting into a fight and spraying pepper spray all over yourself, probably not your best night. Though itâs still better than tonight, probably.â She smirked cheerfully. âI work at Aroma Mocha. Itâs a coffee house thatâs two blocks away.â She explained, biting her lip in hesitation. âDonât tell anyone, though. I donât want costumers to come at me when Iâm not at the club.â She added, just in case.
âAgreed, agreed.â She confirmed, making a disgusted expression. Carmen had many white friends- hell, her spouse of 8 years, the one she had a child with, is white. However, there was some undeniable cultural differences which made her cringe, not to mention occasional racism and ignorance on their behalf, especially the older ones. âI honestly love them, all of the siblings. Theyâre messed up, but I love them.â She smiled brightly. âLeashes? Really? Gosh.â She shook her head. âThatâs downright child abuse.â She said. âHow old you were when you moved here form Guatemala?â She asked, taking a genuine interest.
âMaine, weâve been together since high school.â The woman answered. Even if it wasnât by choice and the two were pretty much forced to settle down and have a child together, Carmen couldnât imagine doing it with anyone else. They were having a rough patch at the moment, but she was positive theyâll get through it. âOh God.â She burst into a loud laughter. âIâm sorry, officer Ramirez! I just had to over complicate my order at Starbucks, and clapping at the end of the movie. You know, to keep my ethnic heritage alive.â She spoke, imitating a Texan accent quite successfully.
At the girlâs reaction Diego practically leaped with excitement. Then he recalled the story wasnât exactly something to be proud of. A greenie accidentally pepper spraying himself in the face was by far the joke of the department for a long time. âThe fights I get called to are always something else. That was not my most proud moment though. When I am retiring and telling the story of my best moments of police work that certainly wonât be on there. Though that is what I get for trying to use mace inside.â When she pointed out it probably wasnât as bad as tonight he shook his head. âWell at least I made a new friend tonight, yeah?â
Diego nodded, he was lucky to have come directly to New York City and not the southern United States. He'd experienced a fair amount of racism in his life, but he reminded himself again and again that it could be worse. "Having a lot of siblings sounds like so much fun. I guess it may have downfalls though. I don't think my parents could have handled more than one of me." He shook his head. "Keeping a child on a leash. That is something that I think I would definitely only find in America. Free country my ass, keeping kids on leashes." He let out a laugh and scratched the back of his head. "I was ten. We moved overnight, so I didn't really think it was anything but an adventure until the initial adventure feeling wore off."
Her fiancé sounded like a good man. Not many people who were together in high school stayed together. "It is not my business but, does he know you work here?" He asked with curiosity. "Nevermind, you don't have to answer that." He laughed as loud as he ever had in his life and tried to do the best impression of a Long Island white girl he possibly could. "You see I was only speeding so I could make sure I could get all my husbands guns clean before he comes home to watch Survivor and American Idol with our one token black friend"
; in with a bang
diegodontdothat:
Looking her over he hissed when he saw the wound. It wasnât even his own but from the look of it it was painful. âNo, somebody else will catch him soon. Iâm more concerned for your safety.â He stated, looking to his car. âI have a first aid kit in my cruiser, you may want to clean that out.â He offered, his spanish accent was thick but still understandable. âIf thatâs okay of course.â
Green eyes darted to his at that hiss, gaze bouncing between the lips which had made such a sound and the concern she couldnât help but believe she heard within his tone, âHe was really flying now wasnât he?â she asked though it was more of a comment then a question as sheâd tear her eyes from his face to look off down the street. She couldnât even see the car anymore, and at that she shook her head, âThat would be nice,â she said looking back at his question, his accent bringing that smile back to her face for it only seemed to make him appear more kind than he already had been. She tried to move then, beginning the process of pulling herself from the dirt, stone and earth falling from her clothes as she would grimace.Â
He shook his head. Raiderâs Cove certainly didnât have the same work excitement as New York. Especially not when he was told to take it easy as to not damage his head again. âThis town people drive like theyâre the only people whoâve ever existed.â He looked to her and offered out a hand to try and pull her away from the dirt and gavel. He was always told to make sure a person was okay before taking any action, and she did seem like all she needed was his first aid kit. "Come on I'll make sure we get the cleaned up."
Wish someone prepped me for the major headache it is to cancel a tour. Selfish people donât get why âpersonal reasonsâ are so important. They got their money back, so they needs to calm down. No me gusta.
They wonât understand until theyâve experienced it themselves. To me it sounds like you need a real break, aside from the personal reasons. Use it as an opportunity to make personal time worth it. Mientras se gana algo no se pierde nada.
; in with a bang
diegodontdothat:
Diego had turned his lights and sirens on and began after person whoâd been speeding. It was mere seconds that the car went too close to a woman on a bike and sped off. He radioâd in that he was stopping, letting the speeder get away, and pulled the cruiser over. âAre you alright?âÂ
Pushing the hair from her face she groaned as she shifted upon the ground, turning over from her stomach and taking hold of her elbow, âYeah I think soâŠâ she trailed off looking down at the ruined flesh of her arm, road-rash littered with stone staring angrily back at her. She sighed looking up at him, those eyes drifting quickly to the flashing lights before darting back to his, âIâm guessing this means that you didnât get him?â she teased, smiling despite the ache.Â
Looking her over he hissed when he saw the wound. It wasnât even his own but from the look of it it was painful. âNo, somebody else will catch him soon. Iâm more concerned for your safety.â He stated, looking to his car. âI have a first aid kit in my cruiser, you may want to clean that out.â He offered, his spanish accent was thick but still understandable. âIf thatâs okay of course.â
; in with a bang
Her form grew stiff when the car passed too close in front of her, cutting her off and sending that old bike skidding to the groundâher form over top of it, her frame hitting the hard dirt of the road side.
Diego had turned his lights and sirens on and began after person whoâd been speeding. It was mere seconds that the car went too close to a woman on a bike and sped off. He radioâd in that he was stopping, letting the speeder get away, and pulled the cruiser over. âAre you alright?âÂ
November 23rd, 2004Â â Diego & Carmen (flashback)
Her comment was absolutely true. Heâd responded to a few calls to strip clubs, they were common. Men acting out of line and getting kicked out. Women trying to fight other customers or sometimes the strippers. âIâve responded to a few calls to these clubs before. The customers arenât my favorite people to bring in. I got thrown up on once, there was⊠glitterâŠâ He faked a horrified shiver. âGood, Iâm glad you can enjoy some of your night. It must be good to get off your feet.âÂ
âWell I could cover one of their cruisers in tape. Or on one of our blocks there is a family⊠they are-â He paused as he tried to find a nice way to describe this group of people. âThey are people who try to talk us in circles and are⊠they are strange. They have a lot of dogs and there must be 10 people living in this one apartment. When there is new people we send them there as kind of a welcome. I can switch their calls all over to only that house.â He offered. âYou have a lot of siblings?â
Looking at her he felt a bit of sadness. It was sad that people didnât say that enough to her. Of course she was working a job that was far from glamorous. He supposed it was how he felt when heâd give a speeding ticket and be screamed at and called offensive names, but there were other part of his job that did go over well, which he was thankful for. âIf it were not for money Iâd have seen the entire world by now.â He smiled as he imagined all the places he wanted to see, the places he would see one day. âI tell them I assume their names are John Smith. Every white guy is John Smith.â
âReally? Do you remember ever coming here?â Carmen asked, wondering perhaps sheâd seen the man before. Having police officers around the building wasnât exactly rare, but it wasnât too common either. âI can imagine, though. These clubs are hardly the most peaceful places to spend your night at.â She laughed cheerfully. âOh my goodness, that sounds gross.â Almost like what she did for a living, ha! âWith these shoes?â She remarked, gesturing to the ridiculously high heels she was wearing. âHoney, trust me; Iâve been dying to take a break for a year now.â She laughed. âBesides, I have work first thing in the morning, so a break sounds lovely.â
The woman listened with interest when Diego told the story of the more than unpleasant family he and his coworkers has to deal with. âLoud family, huh?â She stated, moving around the couch a little to avoid the sticky feeling the couch had against her bare thighs. âThat sounds like a great plan, I say go for it. Tell me later how it went.â She joked, though she doubted the guy will ever come back to this place unless heâs on duty. âI have five of them. Weâre six, Iâm the second.â She explained. âI guess we were the strange, loud, obnoxious family once. Minus the dogs.â She giggled lightly.
As she spotted a sad, sympathetic look from the guy, Carmen let out a smile. âItâs fine, really.â She promised; true, her current situation wasnât exactly the best, but she hoped itâs all temporary. âThatâs my fiance, honestly. Heâd be travelling constantly if we could afford it.â She shared, her eyes sparkled as she began talking about Ty. âIâm not like that, I need a permanent place I can call home.â She said; she used to be a lot more adventurous, but her years with Michael definitely made her less curious about the world. âI swear to God, thatâs the most accurate thing Iâve heard about white guys. Iâve met at least 3 John Smithâs, yet somehow every Hispanic guy is Jorge Garcia, right?â
Diego scanned his brain for a moment, sure he had come by this club before on duty. Then the memory snapped to him and he broke into a wide smile. âYes, yes, there was a night and we got a call for a 10-59... thatâs a fight. A womanâs husband had been coming here and one night the woman followed him here and picked his favorite stripper and punched her but then- then the two women teamed up and started hitting the husband.â He explained. âSo I tried to intervene verbally and another officer was trying to pull them apart. The man comes to hit me in the face but I took out my pepper spray... but accidentally sprayed myself.â He shook his head with a laugh. âWhere do you work mornings? If you donât mind my asking?â
âStrange, loud, obnoxious, spanish families are better than strange, loud, obnoxious southern families.âHe explained playfully. âSix? That is amazing, I wish I had six siblings, but I was such a hard kid to keep safe that my parents never wanted another. When we came to the USA my Mama saw a woman with her kids on leashes. She said it was too bad she didnât see that back when I was that small or maybe we would have had a much better life.âÂ
He nodded with a sympathetic shrug, he was sure the last thing this woman needed was to have to sit there and feel sorry for herself. âYour fiance, is he from New York or Maine?â He questioned, wanting to hear more of this girl as a person rather than her as a stripper. âWhenever I pull over a white person at least one calls me Officer Gonzales.â He rolled his eyes but broke into a smile and tried to copy an American accent. âOfficer Gonzales, no habloâ He said pronouncing hablo wrong. âEspanolâ He pronounced that wrong too. âI was only speeding because I needed to get to the produce stand before they ran out of Swiss Chard.âÂ
No one had been in The Tavern all morning, so, bored, Caressa had turned on the Wicked soundtrack over the loudspeakers. So far, she shuffled through Popular, Dancing Through Life, and Defying Gravity without incident, and her favorite, No Good Deed had finally come up. Sheâd slid into the kitchen where her fellow employee was working, and serenaded them. As the climax of the song approached, she leapt back into the main room singing at the top of her voice, âFIERYYYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-â and cut off abruptly when she saw the patron standing on the other side of the bar. She cleared her throat awkwardly.
Having just come off from an overnight shift of driving around and kicking teenagers off of playgrounds and out of local parking lots Diego was dying to unwind. He changed into his street clothes at the station and drove to the Tavern, dying to drink something cold and maybe get some food. When he walked in to see the place nearly deserted he started laughing when she sang. âDonât stop itâs the best part!â He cheered, chiming into the song. âOne question haunts and hurts, too much too much to mention, was I really seeking good? Or just seeking attention?â
