Other Writings

Audio

  • A Love Affair With Skateboarding (MP3)
    A short audio essay that originally aired on NPR's "All Things Considered." The commentary was produced by Ellen Silva for the January 17, 2005 edition of ATC.
  • Outside the Toy Store (MP3)
    A recording of Bret reading "Outside the Toy Store". The reading was recorded and produced by Dianna Stirpe, and originally aired on WSUI, the NPR affiliate in Iowa City, IA.

←Back to Web Extras

Republican

Page 6

But the reward never came. Days, then weeks, passed after he saved Whitney Garrett and still Carlos heard nothing. He called me every few nights to talk to me while he drank. He asked if I'd enroll with him in classes to become a rodeo clown, and another time he told me the story of catching himself in his trouser zipper and getting stitches. He said, “Julian, that's happened to me twice, so please be careful.” He told me that as a boy he'd wanted to be a mariachi singer, that his father had owned a monkey that smoked cigarettes. He talked about how he'd spend his reward money — he planned to buy La Cocina as well as a shrimp boat and recording studio, to outfit Alma with a new wardrobe, to send Melinda to college. He asked if I could think of why Mrs. Garrett would promise to visit the restaurant, but hadn't.

“Maybe she's planning something really special,” I said.

“If someone saved my daughter, I'd give them the keys to my house. I'd send thank you cards every morning. I'd call every night and sing them to sleep.”

* * *

← Previous page | 6 | Next page →