Happy Families_ Stories - Carlos Fuentes [83]
He stood. “I don’t want to see your pals around here again.”
3. Don’t be discouraged, Richi Riva said to Enrique Mayorga, hugging him to the rhythm of the yacht anchored in Acapulco Bay, it’s all right, we won’t run races at Los Pinos anymore, but as long as your papa doesn’t send you away with the bodyguards, we can keep having a great time, look, here we are, the two of us alone on my yacht, and as the saying goes, gloomy night falls and you and I have our lives in front of us, don’t let yourself get trapped by the old geezers, play it smart, look at Acapulco in the distance, how fantastic, how those lights shine and each one is like an invitation to let yourself go, Quique, give in to your emotions, that’s something nobody can take away from us, that’s what makes all the papas green with envy, because they don’t know how to have fun anymore, but you and I, Quique baby, look at Acapulco waiting for us, imagine the wild night that’s waiting for us, we can go wherever we feel like, you have the protection of the federal army, Quique my friend, who else in this country can say “The army is my babysitter”? we’re untouchable, bro, don’t let yourself be trapped, everything’s under control as long as you’re with Richi Riva, your best bud, we’ll go to whatever disco you want, your goons will open the way for us, we’re the greatest and we have everything under control, pick the babe you like best, send the lieutenant to bring her to the table, what else is power for, you jerk? look at the supply right here in the disco, what do you prefer, society girls, good-looking broads, top models, or plain European whores? ah what the hell, go on, order those bleached blondes to stop in front of us on the floor and moon us, to pull down their panties and show us their buns, go on Quique baby, don’t be shy come onto the dance floor with me, let’s give in to our emotions, the gringa doesn’t want to come over to our table? tell the lieutenant to threaten her with the uzi, fuck, don’t let yourself be trapped by power, use it Quique my friend, let the eagle lift you up and the serpent get you excited, don’t let yourself be trapped, don’t be afraid, I ordered the soldiers to occupy the roof of this dive and if you get tired of the hood we’ll just move on to a cooler one, let’s see, Lieutenant, bring us that broad and if she refuses threaten her with the uzi and if there’s a boyfriend (the broad’s, not yours, Lieutenant, it’s no innuendo) take him away by force and if he gives you any trouble shoot him on the beach ah fuck don’t wake the wildcat I have inside, Quique my friend, because you should know I want to move at full speed with the whole world, I want to be nice and have everybody love me, and the only thing I want is to get along with the galaxies, I swear, I love to have good relations with bad friends, it’s my specialty, fuck, don’t beat yourself up so much Quique my friend, make a stand, you’re the son of the prez, you can do whatever the fuck you want, just surround yourself with soldiers, that’s what the national army’s for, so you and I can have a hell of a time in a cool world, now let’s go, this hole stinks, Mancuernas is expecting us, you know, the one with the retro haircut? the one who pets me and caresses my cheek and tells me Richi you have a sweet and dangerous face, but your eyes are glass . . .
4. Señora Luz—Lucecita—let them arrange her hair carefully but she avoided looking at herself in the mirror because I don’t want to know the face I have after three years in Los Pinos and I’m just waiting for the moment I go back with Justo to a life that’s more peaceful for me, for him, for our son, I came with Justo from Sinaloa to Los Pinos, I’ve been a loyal companion, I’ve never asked anything for myself, I’ve only worked to clear the way for Justo so he doesn’t stumble on my account, I’ve never shown any personal ambition, I’ve only worked for my husband’s success, tried never to overshadow him, never to say anything that would hurt