Juliana moves from Laredo Texas to California as a young girl. She leaves everything she has ever known behind including her best friend Gordo she finds out on a visit back to Texas that Gordo has moved away and she is devastated . As an adult she...
I stand amongst my small group of friends at the bar they chose for my going away party. It's a country western themed bar called The Saddle Rack. I met these group of crazies my first year at UC Merced. We all met in a group called MECHA; it's an acronym for a group at school which full name is Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán. It promotes higher education and the love of our Latino Culture. I met them at a social event and we all just clicked from day one. We all share a house that we rent together.
Narizon, Changs, The Gooch, Guerro and I have been inseparable since day one. Of course those are not their given names we never use our real names with each other. Narizon is sweet tall gawky guy he got his nickname because of his large nose but his real name is Felipe. Changs is the loudest of the group he got his name because he had a girl in his room and the sounds coming out the room sounded like two monkeys going at it. His real name is Noel. The Gooch is my sister from another mister I have no idea how she got her name, not sure I really want to know. Her name is Cecilia. Last but not least is Guerro he got his nickname because everyone mistakes him for a white boy. His name is Octavio. He was an occasional bed fellow of mine at one time. We lost our virginity together. We figured early on we were better as friends but that did not stop us from the occasional hook up. They call me La Tejana.
"Shit Tejana, I can't believe that you're leaving us." Guerro says.
"I got to go where the job is," I say. "It's a plus to be going back home to Laredo."
"We will miss your sassy assed mouth." Narizon laughed.
"Who the hell let you teach kindergarten?" Gooch cracked up.
"Bitch, I don't talk to kids like I talk to ya'll." I laugh.
"I'm gonna miss all your Tejana slang." Changs smiles. "Enough of the sappiness, let's throw these shots back."
"Shots, Shots, Shots." We all chant as we slam them back. The Gooch and I contort our face as the bitter tequila burns our throats. The guys just laugh and slam another shot with straight faces.
"Bet your dad is excited that you're moving back." Changs says.
"He is sure is. When he retired he was happy to leave California and go back home to the ranch. He said California was never his home."
"How about your lovely Abuela." Gooch laughs.
"She wants to marry me off to this guy named Tito. She is says 'at your age I was married with three kids.' Blah blah blah. I'm only twenty one, I am so good on that."
We take shot after shot. We dance all night long. We close out the bar and pile into a very small Uber. We leave for home but not before stopping at Jack In The Box for tacos. We finally make it home and I am more than a little drunk. I stumble to my bedroom as the others continue the party down stairs. I have to be up in three hours to catch my flight. I flop onto my bed fully clothed and pass out.
I wake up with a moan. Damn it I feel like shit. I get up from the bed slowly as my room spins around me. I shuffle across my room to the bathroom I share with Changs. I will not vomit, I will not vomit I tell myself. I get showered and dressed, head into the kitchen to find Changs with his head on the breakfast bar drooling.
"Morning Boracho." I laugh. "Are you still drunk?"
"Mmmmmmm, naw I think I threw everything I ever ate or drank in my life up. Man I feel like complete shit." He moans out. "Naw, I don't think I'm drunk anymore."
"Same here but I didn't puke." I stick my tongue at him in triumph. "You don't have to take me to the airport I'll take an Uber."
"Naw, I promised your pops I'd take you. You ready?"
"Yup!" I say. As if on cue everyone comes out of their rooms well, except The Gooch. I can hear her vomiting and it makes me cringe. "Gooch I love ya bitch, see you in a few weeks."
"Ok bitch, Love ya too. Tell that fine ass Primo Santiago I say heeeeey," she says and I laugh. My cousin Santiago came to visit last year and they hooked up the whole time.
I hug all my boys, I feel bad leaving them but I want to be where my Daddy is. I miss him. They will be coming in a few weeks anyways for my birthday and a rodeo that my dad is having. Changs takes all my luggage out for me.
"See you soon Tejana, you little bull rider you," Guerro says with a laugh.
"What are you talking about Loco?" I ask.
"You'll see," he says.
Changs drives to the airport to the sounds of his favorite band The Smiths. His rules are: his car, his music, which I do not mind at all. We get to the airport and I hug and kiss him goodbye. I go to check in and wander around to find a quick bite to eat. I find a place that sells bagels and I order a bagel and a coke. God Damn fifteen dollars for one pinche bagel and a can of coke. I pay the bill just as my phone rings and it's my daddy. I answer it while I find a seat in the correct terminal.
"Hi Daddy!"
"Did you get to the airport alright?"
"Yes, Changs dropped me off."
"Did ya'll have a good time last night?"
"Yeah, a little too much fun." I groan.
"Drink again Cabrona." He laughs. "See you in a few hours." He hangs up.
My phone buzzes and I see there is a video sent from Guerro. I click it open and push play. I almost spit out my coke. The video is of me on a mechanical bull and I was clearly drunk out of my mind. I do not remember this at all! I put in my ear buds so I can hear better.
"Hey Tejana what you gonna do when you get to Laredo?" I hear Changs yell out.
"I'm fixin' to find me a Bull Rider and ride him all night long." I scream out.
What the fuck?
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