Mi Querido Público,
Some of the early stories in this collection were written while I was living in the guest bedroom of my brother and hermana-in-law’s house, Alfred Cisneros, Jr., and Julie Parrales-Cisneros. For the open-door policy, for the luxury of that room when I needed to be writer, thank you.
Gracias to my mother, la smart cookie, my S&L financial bailout more times than I’d like to admit.
To the National Endowment for the Arts for twice saving me in one lifetime. Thank you. Always, thank you. My life, my writing, have never been the same since.
Rubén, late or early, una vez o siempre—gracias.
La casita on West Eleventh Street. A borrowed blessing! Thank you, Sara Stevenson and Richard Queen, for your generosity.
Las readers de conciencia—Helena Viramontes, Liliana Valenzuela, Sonia Saldívar-Hull, Norma Alarcón. Song researchers—Laura Pérez y María Herrera-Sobek. A todas, gracias.
Las San Antonio girlfriends—Catherine Burst, Alba DeLeon, Sophia Healy, Joan Frederick Denton, y la Terry “Mujer de Fuerza” Ybañez. Tex-Mex text inspected by Juanita “La Tejanita” Luna-Lawhn. Agradecimientos. Un beso y apretón para cada una.
La Yugo sister—Jasna “Caramba” Karaula. Sister, hvala.
Los San Antonio vatos—Ito Romo, Danny Lozano, Craig Pennel, César “Ponqui” Martínez—gracias, muchachos.
My thanks to los mero meros—El Erroll McDonald y la Joni Evans de Random House. For fierce support and fierce faith.
Praise to la bien bien linda Julie Grau, my editor. Ay, Julie, believe me, I am eternally grateful for your unflagging cariño, patience, and sensitivity through the labor and delivery of this book.
Gracias a la Divina Providencia que me mandó la muy powerful y miraculous literary protectora, Susan Bergholz la brava. Hay que hechar gritos, prender velitas, hacer backflips. Te abrazo con mi corazón, Susan. Por todo.
Damas y caballeros, un fuerte fuerte aplauso for my most special reader, the most special friend. El Dennis Mathis. Mi Ojitos.
Virgen de Guadalupe Tonantzín, infinitas gracias. Estos cuentitos te los ofrezco a tí, a nuestra gente. A toditos. Mil gracias. A thousand thanks from el corazón.