The conversation was short and sweet. “Hey Cat this is Nico from the 1up”
“Hey how are you”
“I’m fine thanks, I was wondering if you would like to meet up and get some tea”
“I would like that”
Nico did is happy dance again, while on lookers at the bus stop, laugh and make weird faces at the weirdo on the phone.
“Cool, meet me at the Dushanbe tea house in Boulder, Sunday at 2:30pm. I’ll text you the address on Saturday”
“thanks, see you soon”
Nico hung up the phone and turned on some music. He was in a good mood so he played some Funkadelic. With his headphones in and huge smile on his face dancing at the bus stop. The bus came and Nico was smiling the whole way to the taqueria where he went for dinner. The al pastor tacos were so delicious, he couldn’t help but smile. He was so excited for his date with Cat. Nico called his mom
“Bueno”
“Mama”
“Sí, mi dulce”
“Tengo una cita para el domingo”
“Estoy feliz para ti mijo”
“Chas gracias, mami gato”
“¿quien es ella?”
“Una mujer conocí en la arcade, Ella es tan hermosa”
“No seas estúpido mijo”
“Gracias, mama. Eres tan amable”
“De nada mijo”
“Tengo ir mama”
He hung up the phone and the words, “don’t be stupid” rattled around in his brain. Nothing like a conversation with mom to make him feel bad about himself. Although she wasn’t wrong. In the past he ruined dates by talking about himself too much, getting too drunk when he still drank, and generally being a dumb ass. She didn’t have to be so blunt but that’s mom for you. He got back on the bus and headed home. When he got home he packed up a bong rip of some homegrown. Good and stoned he decided to play some Mortal Kombat, he was almost to Goro when the phone rang, it was his sister Isabel
“Bueno”
“Cut the shit Nico”
“I don’t know why you, Anna, and Angela, don’t speak Spanish. We’re Puerto Rican for fucks sake”
“Nico nows not the time”
“What’s going on Izzy? Your killing my high”
“Juanito is dead”
“What! How?”
“It was diabetic complications, we can’t find Anna, Nico she’s been gone since the hospital.”
“I’ll find her, I think I know where she is, I’ll call you back when I find her”
His high was all but gone after finding out his nephew had passed away, Juanito was in the prime of his life at 23. Nico lit a candle for his nephew. Then he had to find where his sister Anna was. She’s got to be at the barn up in Conifer or in the Canyon by Red Rocks. Nico gathered his belongings and headed out to find his sister.
To be continued....