Chapter 9
West Coast Vibes
When Hector Chavez left the SCIF he went to see his mom, Alissandra, called Sandra by her favorite and only son. Hector’s mom gave him a big hug and patted the spot next to where she had been sitting as she sat herself back down at the kitchen table.
“My handsome son,” she said because he was handsome and she loved when he got embarrassed, which he always did when she complimented him. She was very proud of her strong, trustworthy, smart son and she knew it was a good sign that he was still humble.
“Got any coffee, Ma,” Hector asked? “That place has great wine but terrible coffee.”
“Yes, let me get you some. How about something to eat? I made some chicken empanadas.”
“You get the coffee, I’ll get the food,” Hector said. There’s no place like home, he thought.
The bell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Hector said detouring from the fridge.
“Duran, bro, come on in. Mom’s got empanadas. Want one?
“Your Mom’s empanadas, absolutely.” Duran took a seat at the table.
The California prison state was not so fierce about hair length. No one in California had a military hair cut unless in the military or copying the military. Much easier to tell friend from foe, although not always reliable. These young men had hair that suited their character. Hector’s hair was dark brown and in a kind of curly afro style. Duran’s hair was somewhat lighter brown and longer with a short braid down his neck.
“You boys eat up, I made those empanadas with you in mind. I have a lasagna ready to cook later,” Sandra said.
“Lasagna, Mom,” asked Hector?
“I love lasagna, his mother said tweaking his fine curly brown hair. “America’s a melting pot,” she said.
“Duran, get those empanadas,” said Hector, “I’ll set the table. Ma, are you eating?”
“No thanks, just coffee for me.”
“When did you get so tall, Duran,” Sandra said. “You’re taller than Hector. You boys are really all grown up, you’re men. If what I think is going to happen really happens, I wish you were eight again. I don’t want this danger for you, this war. Why can’t we just leave things the way they are.?
“Mom!,” Hector said, “You grew up free, you know this is not the American you loved.”
“Well it was never perfect,” Sandra said, “but when it was good the entire world admired it.”
“Sometimes,” said Duran. “Sometimes not so much.”
“I don’t believe that our republic, after the battles it took to win it, should be the plaything of some kind of ersatz royal family,” said Hector.
“Listen to you,” Sandra said, “what Spanish guy uses the word ‘ersatz’?
“Melting pot,” Duran said with a grin..
“Nuf said, we shouldn’t be talking about this. It’s empanada time, Mami,” Hector said as he tugged on the short braid at the back of Duran’s head.
“I have a place to be later, said Hector, but I will be back for some of the Spanish lasagna.”
“I’ll try to save you some,” his mom said, but she was not happy that he had to go so soon.