THE WEATHER WAS GETTING HOTTER and Ronald was down to a light T-shirt and shorts in the truck. He never wore what some people called a “wife-beater.” For one thing, it was a terrible name. And for another, he just felt as if there was something disrespectful to have that much skin showing as a chef. Which is how he saw himself – even if not everyone else did. But today was going to be a good day, because it was his last for three whole days. He and Edward were going to take a little trip, go fishing near Marina Del Rey, and stay at a friend of Edward’s. California had these free fishing days every year and the two men were going to take advantage of that – and the free lodging – and actually have a long weekend together. Ronald had not taken a day off, except Sundays, since he started the food truck.
All that day he was telling his customers he wouldn’t be there the next two days. Some were truly disappointed, which made him feel awful. But a lot of them supported him getting away. Take a break, my man. You deserve it. Disfruta! The day whizzed by and Ronald was proud of himself – he had guessed pretty well how much food he would need, so that not much would be wasted. Because he couldn’t save anything left over from Thursday for Monday’s meal.
He drove home, feeling excited like a kid. It made him think of when his dad would take him and the other kids fishing. His mother would pack wonderful picnics with empanadas and aguas frescas in mason jars. It was a cliché, he knew, but life was simple back then. Or so it seemed anyway. Sometimes he really wondered if leaving his home was the right thing to do. What was he searching for anyway? Maybe he would already have a family if he had stayed, children to take fishing himself. As he sat in traffic on the 2 Ronald imagined a fully different life, something that he did not usually allow himself to do.
After dropping off the food truck and picking up his Toyota Corolla, fully packed already, he arrived at Edward’s a little before five. Edward’s car wasn’t there. Ronald thought maybe he was out getting some last-minute groceries. Ronald let himself in. Edward’s duffel and fishing equipment were sitting right by the couch, all ready to go. Ronald sat down on the plastic covered couch and let out a sigh. He would just sit for a moment. A good start to the vacation.
Edward returned five minutes later, with beer and everything needed to make an authentic Guatemalan meal. He had a cooler filled with steak, chorizo, shrimp and chicken. He bought rice, green onions, and avocados, too. What a feast they were going to have! It would really feel like vacation. Ronald’s mouth was already watering.
They packed up the trunk of Ronald’s car and settled into their seats, checking the GPS for directions. Ronald said he might know a shortcut, to avoid the freeways that time of day. “There are no shortcuts in LA, man,” said Edward. “You know that.”
The men pulled out of the driveway. Edward noticed several cars parked alongside the curb, cars that didn’t look like they belonged in that neighborhood. “I don’t like the looks of those cars,” he said, under his breath. Ronald told him to chill. Edward had a tendency to be jumpy about things. The traffic was slow right off. They were about three blocks away from the house, stopped at a traffic light when two men wearing green vests ran up to the driver’s side window.
“Get out of the car!” they shouted at Ronald as they attempted to open the car door. The automatic locks were on and this made them angry. Ronald tried to motion that he was going to pull over, instead of getting out of his car in the middle of an intersection. One of the green-vested men pulled a gun. Ronald turned off the car and got out. As did Edward. Cars were honking, seeing just one more obstacle to the interminable commute. But then, one of the drivers, a small, dark-haired woman, stopped behind Ronald’s car and got out. She held up her phone and said, “I’m recording this.” The man with the gun cursed at her but the woman kept the phone trained on him.
Meanwhile, Ronald was able to pull out his red “rights card” while the officers were distracted. (Because you never reach for something when a cop – or whoever these people were – stops you). Ronald proceeded to say in a monotone, “We do not wish to speak with you, answer your questions, or sign or hand you any documents based on our 5th amendment rights under the United States constitution.” He then said, “Edward, call Stephano.” Edward, shaking, still with the phone in his hand, called their lawyer.
Meanwhile the officers were spewing curse words at Ronald, Edward, and straight into the camera of the phone the woman was holding. The one without the gun started walking towards her, but she stood her ground, remaining silent. He stopped in front of her, threateningly, but doing nothing for the moment. Another car pulled up alongside the woman. The driver got out to see if she was alright and after realizing what the situation was, got back in their car and made a phone call. Meanwhile, the man with the gun was yelling about “no rights for non-citizens” and then broke Ronald’s passenger window with the butt of his gun.
“Maybe we should just ask them what they want,” Edward said after about ten minutes of standing there. “Who knows how long it will take Stephano to get here.”
“Absolutely not, Edward. We know our rights.” Ronald stared straight at the man with the gun. Then suddenly he heard Edward yell. The other officer had gone around to his side of the car and cuffed him with some zip ties. “You can’t do this! Why am I being arrested?!” Edward cried.
Ronald ran to his friend, trying to grab him away from the officer. The man with the gun hit Ronald in the head. And Toni just kept on recording.
Katie Singer 