souvenir shop selling information of its history.
Take a drive down Avenida Ashford and there were plenty of modern storefronts to fuel the consumer’s consumption for transient things.
Jessica frequented Condado for the high-end fashion stores. Selange accompanied her on occasion. She said the shopping spirit in Condado was reminiscent of Miami. He agreed. Palm trees and quaintness is an attractive inducement to spend.
Avenida Ashford was formerly a derelict shopping district. Alfonzo recalled the before picture. He leaned closer to the car window as the car rolled by the chain stores such as Chanel, Ferragamo, and Gucci. The after looked better, but the before was more real. Glitz is expensive and many of the inhabitants could not afford a Chanel purse or even a belt.
Alfonzo had renovated a luxury hotel nearby. “Grande, grande,” the owner demanded. Big and sparkly costs but that’s what attracts people to plunk down their platinum credit cards and that’s what he gave in spacious rooms.
The locals went to the upscale mall, Plaza Las Américas—the largest in the Caribbean—known to locals simply as ‘Plaza.’ However, amid the grande was an earthiness of Latin souls. A person could find a secluded spot and bask in the vibrant scenery and feel at peace because that’s what the island does.
Finally he arrived at his destination. Emilio waited. He wore shorts and appeared relaxed. The collision of shoulders and fists caused Alfonzo to stiffen in remembrance. He was in the ‘hood, with Domingo in spirit.
“Qué paso?” Alfonzo asked.
“Nada.”
Alfonzo gestured toward the beach after removing his shoes. “Let’s take a stroll.”
Emilio fell in step.
Alfonzo trudged across the sand for several kilometers before he spoke “I’m glad you’re finally tying the knot. Congratulations.”
“Gracias ,” Emilio replied. “I’d like you to be my Best Man.”
“I’m honored to do it.”
“Thanks, we’re doing a small wedding before the end of the year.”
“All right.”
“I’ll call you when everything’s ironed out.”
Alfonzo nodded. The sun was setting. The beautiful orange-yellow glow sitting atop blue waters was stunning. Alfonzo had seen many sunsets in his life, and yet to see it from the island continued to take his breath away. Puerto Rico, man, he loved it just saying its name. He turned to Emilio. “I need to ask you a question.”
Emilio walked straighter. “Yeah, sure.”
“Are you satisfied with your business, with your woman and your life?”
The answer came after a few steps across the sand. “When I look back at how far I’ve come, man oh man I see an ocean that separates the kid I was to the person I am now.” When Alfonzo stopped Emilio did too and looked Alfonzo in the eye. “I thank you for the opportunities. I can tell you beyond a reasonable doubt that I am damn happy with Jessica and being a father.”
“And that adrenalin rush you craved, where did it go?”
Pearly teeth sparkled. “A woman named Jessica is all the excitement I need. Have you met her, yet?”
Alfonzo smirked and then humor dissolved. He didn’t want to worry about Emilio and have more burdensome nights. “Stay your ass clean. You’re a good dude. If you ever need anything –tap me. Don’t get mixed up with the street pharmacists or partner with anybody in business. Show my cousin there’s another side of life where honest hard-working men exist.” Alfonzo shook his head just thinking about how Domingo spit on men like Uncle Al. If Alfonzo could he’d make a trade for such a life where he could go to an office or change bolts and then go home and unwind. But that reality was for others, his destiny included lawlessness and violence. “Be the person I’m not, comprende?”
Emilio nodded. He looked down at the glistening sand atop Alfonzo’s bare feet. They both held their shoes in their hands. When he lifted his head, he saw an honorable guy who changed a car thief’s
Take a drive down Avenida Ashford and there were plenty of modern storefronts to fuel the consumer’s consumption for transient things.
Jessica frequented Condado for the high-end fashion stores. Selange accompanied her on occasion. She said the shopping spirit in Condado was reminiscent of Miami. He agreed. Palm trees and quaintness is an attractive inducement to spend.
Avenida Ashford was formerly a derelict shopping district. Alfonzo recalled the before picture. He leaned closer to the car window as the car rolled by the chain stores such as Chanel, Ferragamo, and Gucci. The after looked better, but the before was more real. Glitz is expensive and many of the inhabitants could not afford a Chanel purse or even a belt.
Alfonzo had renovated a luxury hotel nearby. “Grande, grande,” the owner demanded. Big and sparkly costs but that’s what attracts people to plunk down their platinum credit cards and that’s what he gave in spacious rooms.
The locals went to the upscale mall, Plaza Las Américas—the largest in the Caribbean—known to locals simply as ‘Plaza.’ However, amid the grande was an earthiness of Latin souls. A person could find a secluded spot and bask in the vibrant scenery and feel at peace because that’s what the island does.
Finally he arrived at his destination. Emilio waited. He wore shorts and appeared relaxed. The collision of shoulders and fists caused Alfonzo to stiffen in remembrance. He was in the ‘hood, with Domingo in spirit.
“Qué paso?” Alfonzo asked.
“Nada.”
Alfonzo gestured toward the beach after removing his shoes. “Let’s take a stroll.”
Emilio fell in step.
Alfonzo trudged across the sand for several kilometers before he spoke “I’m glad you’re finally tying the knot. Congratulations.”
“Gracias ,” Emilio replied. “I’d like you to be my Best Man.”
“I’m honored to do it.”
“Thanks, we’re doing a small wedding before the end of the year.”
“All right.”
“I’ll call you when everything’s ironed out.”
Alfonzo nodded. The sun was setting. The beautiful orange-yellow glow sitting atop blue waters was stunning. Alfonzo had seen many sunsets in his life, and yet to see it from the island continued to take his breath away. Puerto Rico, man, he loved it just saying its name. He turned to Emilio. “I need to ask you a question.”
Emilio walked straighter. “Yeah, sure.”
“Are you satisfied with your business, with your woman and your life?”
The answer came after a few steps across the sand. “When I look back at how far I’ve come, man oh man I see an ocean that separates the kid I was to the person I am now.” When Alfonzo stopped Emilio did too and looked Alfonzo in the eye. “I thank you for the opportunities. I can tell you beyond a reasonable doubt that I am damn happy with Jessica and being a father.”
“And that adrenalin rush you craved, where did it go?”
Pearly teeth sparkled. “A woman named Jessica is all the excitement I need. Have you met her, yet?”
Alfonzo smirked and then humor dissolved. He didn’t want to worry about Emilio and have more burdensome nights. “Stay your ass clean. You’re a good dude. If you ever need anything –tap me. Don’t get mixed up with the street pharmacists or partner with anybody in business. Show my cousin there’s another side of life where honest hard-working men exist.” Alfonzo shook his head just thinking about how Domingo spit on men like Uncle Al. If Alfonzo could he’d make a trade for such a life where he could go to an office or change bolts and then go home and unwind. But that reality was for others, his destiny included lawlessness and violence. “Be the person I’m not, comprende?”
Emilio nodded. He looked down at the glistening sand atop Alfonzo’s bare feet. They both held their shoes in their hands. When he lifted his head, he saw an honorable guy who changed a car thief’s
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