I’m driving laps around Urique’s unpaved streets with Arnulfo, the world’s fastest ultra-runner up front Chugging tesguino disregarding Young son, Mateas in the back Handing us the 2 liter Coca- Cola bottles, full of the mashy corn brew. The cholos are drinking Tecate, mumbling under the palms stalking the river, watching us break down at ever lap. Arnuflo heaves the truck from behind, alone, screaming and pushing.
I snap it into second gear Mateas trembling, and off we go. Arnulfo hopping in smoking more cigarettes passing the tesguino around shouting Rapido! Poco a poco! Andale!
Rancherra bumps full blast, the Eternal bumping, beem, boom, up and down Beem, boom, beem, boom Tubas and brass echoing through all the adobe walls meandering all the way down the arroyo to God know’s where.
The cholos challenge Arnulfo to a race in their harsh stares under flashy hats and shiny mustaches, Ed Hardy models with sharp pointed snake-skinned boots Ayyeee, Arnulfo says, He won’t race gainst Oscarine who they say is the fastest young Chabochi better than the elders who used to chase down deer, gently twisting their necks after tracking them to an ending exhaustion.
Arnulfo tells them I can win as Oscarine snorts more from the bag they pass around from his pocket
Off we go twenty yards Around the farthest tree And I win because of Arnulfo's ancient assurance