9. Tapacolmes

"Here we are, Rosales, also once known as Santa Cruz de Tapacolmes," Chonito said authoritatively, breaking the silence.


They were nearing Delicias and the junction to big man-made lake in the municipality of Rosales. The capital city of Ciudad Chihuahua was now less than an hour away.  Although the sun had now completely set, the western horizon was still quite visible against a clear violet summer sky. Had they been traveling earlier in the day, they would noted a much greener landscape than the vistas they had been seeing from the highway farther south. The road lay straight and wide open, unencumbered with slow-moving farm trucks and cruisers.


"You sure seem to remember your history lessons from Mr. Leyva," said Ervey, "too bad it was for all the bad reasons and that you didn't learn anything else in high school."


"What are you talking about? His daughter was by far the prettiest girl in the whole school," said Chonito, "and it worked."


"Yeah, and you didn't think of anything else the rest of your time in school...like you were studying girlfriend," said Ervey.


"So? I got lot's of kisses. Nobody will ever take those away," said Chonito.


"Then when you went to take it up, no, down another level, what happened?" Ervey chided his companion.


Chonito shrugged and didn't answer.


"The scandal that followed that misstep, Jesus Christ!" said Ervey. "And you got suspended and...where did you go, güey?"


"California, güey," said Chonito, "it wasn't so bad. I wanted to leave anyway. Spend all those years in school like you for what? End up the same as everybody else? You were a good student, and look at you now here doing the same thing as me. And I got you this job."


"You're right. It's all about connections in this world," said Ervey, "but you can always do more with them than use them to chase skirts, güey."


"Those who can't always say not to," remarked Chonito.


"And those who still can, say keep doing it while it lasts," retorted Ervey.


"Hey, güey, let's go into the city through the airport road," said Chonito, changing the conversation.


"You want to see if they're racing? Jesus, güey!" said Ervey.


"What?" asked Chonito.


"It's way too early for that to be happening, racing on the boulevard is stupid, and I want to get home before Fabiola's asleep," complained Ervey.


"OK, OK, güey," said Chonito. "if you just drive by to see if people are already showing up, I'll drop you off and take the truck into the warehouse on my own."


"Deal," said Ervey.


"Deal," said Chonito.