Model Ricans

From Trainwreck to Vehicle and Back

Poli Sci class. Gym. Lunch. Math. Until the bell rings, all I can think of is me in my car sitting next to his car waiting for destiny to move us forward. It appears the old train wreck called Desiree has transformed into a vehicle baby called Blanke.

He spells his name with an E. That's so odd.

It's clear. I am supposed to call this B-O-Y. Literally reading my mind about the poor engineering of this town is a clear sign. Tia would tell me not to ignore this sign, even though she also tells me she will murder me if I do anything Desiree risked. "Weigh the pros and cons so you can navigate the situation with honesty," I can hear her voice echoing around in my mind.

I know exactly what I need to do.

As soon as I unlock the front door, and check that the coast is clear, I dial the digits on the white piece of paper. Try not to breathe into the phone, I tell myself even though I ran most of the way home. The ringing on the other end of the line seems never ending. I stare out at the tree in front of our house, attempting to ground myself. Tia taught me to do this whenever I get nervous. A wave of peace rushes through me. I am focused. I'm grounded so deep, his hello barely reaches my ears which have metaphorically sunken into the soles of my feet. I respond quickly. "Never been picked up before. At a stoplight. In a car."

Blanke laughs. His laugh is like a green light at a busy intersection. "I was impressed with your beat-up Hyundai."

As much as I don't want to laugh, I do. It's the kind of laughter I've only shared thus far with Desiree. Oh. There she goes again, trying to infiltrate my thoughts when I prefer to be right here. My mouth intercepts. "Inherited it from my dad after he got a new pick-up truck." Oh God. Why did I say that?

"Cool," says Blanke. "You should drive on over to my house Friday night for dinner."

"I can't," I say quickly.

"Why not?"

"I just started driving," I say.

"Good practice, then."

He's so persistent. "I meant that I'm visiting my dad this weekend."

Blanke pauses. He takes a deep breath. "Your parents are not together?"

Oh no. Is he going to be like John? Is he going to act like another religious person who doesn't believe anyone can be anything but married? I bet his finger is hovering above the receiver, about to hang up. I should have known. I should just hang up before he does, but the repetition of his question interrupts my paranoia. I think I am going to deflect this one. "Yours are?"

"Of course they are! Marriage is a sacred thing in our family."

"Cool," I say. Then an awkward silence. Blanke is definitely going to be like all the other guys. He is definitely going to reject me after learning about Tia and Valeria. "Ok, I gotta go. Math test tomorrow."

"Call me again after you're done studying?"

"Maybe," I say and hang up, promising myself I won't think about Blanke while studying for the next three hours because what's the point? But then the phone rings.

"It's me. Do you want to study together? I can help you."

It isn't Blanke. It's Desiree.