Now, how could she have come up with such ideas, I ask you. To throw me out of the house. Me! Sounds incredible, doesn’t it? My God, who would’ve thought she’d do something like that?
I park the car, come into the house after a hard day’s work with the County Commissioners’ Court, and that was it, picked up and dumped like an old dish rag, right to the trash barrel. Just like that.
I asked her three times, four, maybe more, and the answer was the same in each case: “I’ve decided etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.” And I couldn’t get her to say anything else. Like a cracked record, “I’ve decided … ”
The bitch had been changing all along, sure she was, and I bet she didn’t even know that I was noticing something new about her. Han! To throw me out of the house; and out of the bed, too. But that was our secret. And the kids? What could they have been thinking about my sleeping in the spare bedroom?
The bitch planned it real good, too. Oh, yeah … here comes that jackass and there we were, in the living room. The kids by her side. She planned it right down to the last detail. And then? To choose Romeo Hinojosa to represent her? No, whatever anybody says, choosing him was no accident.
God … everytime something happens on the County level, there he is. Jesus. Aren’t there any other lawyers in town? Han! All I can say about him is that he’s got nothing else to do but get in the County’s hair. Buttinksy! Know-it-all! And nosey? All those rolled up in one … And let’s see? Why isn’t he rich if he’s such a hotshot? Why, he hasn’t got a pot to put a flower in …
Someone, somewhere, helped him in our divorce every step of the way. What does he know about the law? Someone helped him out, had to. I know I’ve asked Polín Tapia a thousand times, but even he hasn’t been able to find out anything … Han!
But she sure showed a lack of consideration, and of shame, too. Imagine getting married just eighteen months later? What was the bitch’s rush, anyway? Jehu Malacara! You’d swear she’d done it on purpose, to make me look the fool … Well, all I can say is she’s going to learn, and see and know, that Jehu Malacara isn’t the bargain she thought he was when they married.
But Jehu too didn’t exactly strike oil there; I look upon that marriage as a case of private punishment for Jehu. He’ll learn. He’ll see just what size pants she wears. Oh, yeah. He who is so sure of himself. He who walks around as if he were bullet-proof or something. He’ll see.
And that ought to teach him. Her, too. That Jehu is a regular hell on wheels, and my wi … well, all I can say is that she better watch out. And I’ll say this too: They deserve each other. Yessir.
And will you look at them? That’s a lovely role they’re acting out, isn’t it? As if they were worthy of respect. Han! Why, she’s a divorced woman, what my mother calls a woman of the world. A divorced woman turned around and married a Mr. Nothing. A relative of the Buenrostros. Who says so? And what do I care if he is or not? My uncle don Javier said that the Buenrostros, all of them and their relatives, too, that the Buenrostros were, are, and will continue to be a big bunch of hypocrites. That’s right! Did you know that the Buenrostros own 200 hectares in Soliseño? Part of the Llano Grande grant? Rafe owns and farms that in Mexico! Right across from the El Carmen Ranch. Is that legal? Probably bribed Mexican officials to farm there!
Yessir. The Buenrostros are not a band of angels. You mean that just because the oldest brother and Rafael were in the service that gives ’em a special place somewhere? I didn’t go to Korea ’cause I took and passed a deferment exam when I was up at St. Mary’s. And Jehu? What did he do in the Army? Yeah. He himself says he worked as a chaplain’s assistant; as if chaplains were in any sort of danger. Han!
But the marriage won’t last. How can it? And, neither one knows how to spend money; they lack the talent. Worse, they can’t even satisfy the kids when it comes to buying presents, as I can … and do. But Becky’ll see for herself, she’ll see what kind of person Jehu is. Yessir.
To begin with, he’s not generous, he is one of the most conservative bankers there is and so much so, there’s a smell of tight-waddishness there.
It’s funny. And her? Becky? Does she think that just because she works with Viola—and how much can she earn, anyway?—does she think she can buy all the clothes she wants? She’s the world’s leading spendthrift. And him? Why, that man is the original Mr. Skinflint, I’ve never seen a man so tightfisted, and he uses all four fingers and a thumb, too. He thinks he’ll keep her happy being the way he is and just because, right? Han!
They’ll see, they’ll see …
And Becky too will learn something else, if she hasn’t already. Let me ask you this: How many friends does she have? The very few Anglos she knew at the Music Club moved away from Klail City, yeah. And those who stayed, and I can bet you on this, they probably don’t even know or care if she’s alive. That’s right, let me remind you she’s no longer The Commissioner’s Wife. She’s never had less friends than now.
And that’s it; goodbye to whatever social life she had, and forever, too, because Jehu lacks the grace and savvy as to how to make new friends. If Becky isn’t careful, the bitch’ll be like a cloistered nun because that guy is a stay-at-home. For days, weeks even. He’s like a hermit, you know. But Becky will see just what kind of trouble she bought when she married Mr. Jehu Malacara. Han!
And that town! Nothing like Jonesville. Everywhere you turn around, so and so is related to so and so, and it doesn’t matter if you’re first, second or third cousins. They’ll fit you in. Why, talk about inferiority complexes where they have to hide behind relatives and such
And what does she know about sacrifices? I’m the one who told, pointed out to Noddy Perkins, when that job opened up in Jonesville.
The job at the Klail Bank was taking too much time from County business. And now that I’m here at the Jonesville Savings and Loan, I’m better off by two hundred per cent. Jonesville is a bigger town; it’s a city, really. And Noddy’s very happy with my performance and my work both here at the S. and L. and in the County.
One has to live one’s life, right? There’s no reason why I should give up my freedom, is there? My Mom and I have talked on this a thousand times, and we see eye to eye on this.
And look, when Jehu brings the kids to my mother-in-law’s, I say it isn’t necessary that he wait in the car until he sees them walking through the door. I’ve told Charlie and Sarah to tell him how I feel about that, but you think he cares? It’s not that important, I know, but it’s like throwing dirt in my face that he’s the one who brings the kids here.
It’s a good thing the kids are sweet kids; otherwise they would’ve insulted Jehu by now. But they weren’t raised that way. They should treat everyone with the same respect. This house was established with social responsibilities; it’s our form and function.
But those two don’t have to worry about me. She’s the one who wanted the divorce, and now she’s stuck with it. She’s the one who wanted to marry Jehu Malacara, and that was a door she opened for and by herself, yessir. She made the decision, well, she’s got to hold on to it now, and may God and His Holy Church forgive me, but I wouldn’t go back to her even for the kids’ sake.
This is not overweening pride; not at all. I look at it as a great favor that’s been given me, a boon, something for which I’ll be forever grateful when I was rid of her.
No, I’m not coming back for seconds, thank you, no. Here I am, closing in on forty, and I sure won’t be the one who’s going to cry for someone who doesn’t deserve crying for. Oh, no! And doña Elvira better not even think of coming to this house. My mother has never cared for her. In her life. Never.
But there’s no danger from that front and so, why worry? I’m the happiest I’ve ever been, and I, for one, certainly don’t wish them any ill-fortune of any kind. And why would I, anyway? What would be the use? Me? I’m content enough to say that they deserve each other, one and the other, and that’s nothing less than the Truth itself.
But that’s up to them, that life of theirs. They’re each going to have a handful putting up with one another. And that’s as sure as rain falls somewhere every day, just like it’s falling out in Gulf right now. And they’re just like the rain, inconsistent.
And you know what she said? What she had the nerve to say? I heard she was talking to Sammie Jo or to Viola, to somebody, anybody who’d listen to her most likely … Someone had asked her why, why the divorce? Know what the little bitch said? Han! Listen to this and tell me if she isn’t going out of her head: “I saved myself. That’s all that happened between Ira and me. I saved myself, and I’ll let it go at that.”
The listener, too, will let it go at that.