and watch the time roll by. Because Mexicans produced less
measurable wealth than the Americans, living costs in Mexico were
very cheap in comparison, so by some economic alchemy he had
exchanged a threadbare American suit for a comfortable Mexican
poncho. It was not an unpleasant way to live—devoid of glory,
somewhat dishonest, but largely free of struggle. There was a great
deal more unspoken racism directed towards him here, but once
acknowledged as American, he was absolved of his blackness. It
didn’t matter to him either way; like a hydrophobic tourist at the
pool, he only intended to lounge around the perimeter of their
society, taking in only sun, sex and cerveza. Here he did not care
what they thought.
In the middle of the stairway, he doubled over. A sharp, jutting
pain in his abdomen nearly broke him in half. By the time he
managed to crawl onto the couch, Lola was already calling a doctor.
“Let me see,” she said, “Did somebody stab you?” But there was
no blood. She panted helplessly, but the pain subsided and Roy could
speak again.
“I think it was just something I drank,” he said. She held her
hand protectively over his belly.
The doctor showed up a full hour later, still inebriated from his
Sunday luncheon. He tapped his fingers around Roy’s belly and made
googly eyes at Lola, who glared back angrily at him.
“Maybe Lola has been a little rough on you. She’s a hot cat, this
one.”
“Go to hell, Rafael. What is wrong with him?”
“Nothing much, I think. Just a tapeworm.”
Roy did not understand the word for tapeworm. “I’m lonely?”
“No,” she said, “Solitariais an animal that lives inside you.”
“A typeeworm,” the doctor said in English.
“Tapeworm?” Roy said. “That’s one evil fucking tapeworm.”
The doctor scribbled out a note and an address. “This woman will
take care of it for you.” He leaned over to kiss Lola goodbye but she
pushed him away and tossed him some money.
“Now this is all backwards,” he said, looking at the crumpled bills
she had given him.
“Go finish drinking your lunch,” she called after him as he
stumbled out and down the stairs.
Roy had expected to be sent to a pharmacy, but the store Lola took
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