HOLA AMIGO!

By: Kenda

 

Cecilia Simon walked into the study. Jack was seated at his desk, reading papers he had brought home from the office. Cecilia slipped up behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

 

"It's getting late. Are you about ready to call it a night?"

 

Jack Simon tilted his head and kissed his wife. "In about fifteen minutes. I need to go through these last few pages before tomorrow morning's meeting."

 

"You shouldn't have helped Rick put that model car together tonight," Cecilia scolded as she sat in her husband's lap. “That could have waited for another night.”

 

"It could have, but I don't get to spend enough time with either of the boys, and it was important to Rick. It didn't take long."

 

"No, I guess it didn't, but then you read three stories to A.J. One would have been enough, sweetheart. "

 

Jack rubbed his hand over his tired eyes as he chuckled. "Andy never tires of being read to, that's for sure. You should have heard the questions he was asking tonight about the stories. He sure is smart for a four-and-a-half year old."

 

Cecilia playfully poked her proud husband in the chest. "Don't bust any buttons there, John Simon." As Jack chuckled again, Cecilia kissed his forehead. "You're a good father. "

 

"I don't know if I'm a good father, but I try to be. It's not always easy, that's for sure." Jack changed the subject. "Did Rick get his homework done?"

 

"Finally. Once he got started on it, he had it done in ten minutes. I can't believe how we have to fight with that boy to do one third-grade math paper. I don’t understand it. Rick is so bright. His teachers have always told us how intelligent he is. Why does he give us such a hard time when it comes to his schoolwork? He doesn't care if it gets done or not. When he finally quit grumbling and got that paper finished, it was perfect."

 

"I know, Cece, I know. Rick's lazy attitude toward his schoolwork drives me crazy, too. Did you hear what he said to me tonight when we finished the model and I told him to work on his math paper?"

 

"No."

 

"He said, ‘Dad, you should go to the school and have a talk with my teacher. Tell her I've got too many responsibilities here at home, and that I don't have time to do homework.’”  

 

Cecilia laughed. "I didn't even know Rick knew a word

as big as responsibilities. See, Jack, he is smart."

 

"Of that I have no doubt. I knew it when Rick told his second grade teacher that he didn't do his homework because he and his little brother were orphans, and that he had to sell newspapers on street corners when he wasn’t in school just to put food in their mouths and a roof over their heads."

 

Cecilia laughed again as she recalled that incident. "Yes, among other things our Rick is an accomplished con-artist. I'm still amazed that for three days his teacher believed that outlandish story. She was excusing him from homework, and bringing him a sack lunch besides. Who knows how long it would have gone on if I hadn't noticed that Rick was bringing the lunch I had sent with him each morning, back home in the afternoon."

 

"Well, at least tonight we had a threat we could hold over Rick’s head if he didn't get that homework done. I told him Carlos wouldn't be allowed to come over after school tomorrow if the math paper wasn't completed."

 

"That was a good idea. Rick sure has been excited about Carlos's visit. He's told me four times in the past two days that Carlos likes peanut butter sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies for an after school snack. I guess that means A. J. and I will be baking chocolate chip cookies tomorrow in preparation for the big event."

Jack leaned back in his chair as he wrapped his arms more snugly around his wife's waist. “Finally, we get to meet the infamous Carlos. He sounds like he's even more trouble than our Rick. I bet between the two of them Mrs. Dexter has her hands full in that classroom every day."

“Yes, I’m sure she does. She told me at the PTA meeting last week that Carlos and Rick keep her on her toes. She had to separate their desks because of their constant shenanigans."

 

"I have a feeling you'll be kept on your toes tomorrow afternoon, too, hon. Think you can handle another boy as active as Rick?"

 

"Oh, I think so. I'm a pretty tough mom. Or so Rick tells me anyway."

 

Jack patted his wife's leg. “So you are, dear. So you are." Jack helped his wife stand so they both wouldn’t be dumped backwards in the chair. "Don’t drive Carlos home before I get here.  I'd like to meet him, too."

 

"Okay," Cecilia agreed, as she kissed her husband. "I'm going to bed. Don’t work too late.”

 

Jack returned his attention to his papers while promising, “I won’t.”

 

Cecilia watched him work for a moment, then left the room and headed for the stairway.

 

_____________________

 

 

At three-twenty the following afternoon, the front door to the Simon house slammed shut. Nine-year-old Rick and Carlos entered while chattering about their day at school.

Upon hearing the door, A.J. ran through the kitchen and into the living room as he did every day when his brother returned from school.

 

"Rick! Rick!"

 

The excited boy skidded to stop when he caught sight of the strange boy with Rick. For several days Rick had talked of nothing else but Carlos and his upcoming visit. And today, A.J.'s mother had mentioned several times that Rick would be bringing Carlos home with him after school, but still, the four-year-old wasn't quite prepared to meet this new friend of Rick's.

 

As A.J. slowly walked to Rick's side, his older brother greeted him. "Hi, kid. Did ya’ have a fun day while I was at school?"

 

With his eyes on Carlos, A.J. nodded his head in answer to Rick's question.

 

"Ya’ didn't get into any of my stuff, did you? You didn't mess with my new model, did you?"

 

Still watching Carlos, A.J. shook his head no in answer to Rick's inquiries. Rick had threatened A.J. with life and limb that morning before he left for school, telling the boy that he'd better stay away from the model car Rick and their dad had built the previous evening.

 

Cecilia entered the room. "Hello, boys," she greeted, as she moved to give Rick a kiss.

 

"Mom, not in front of Carlos," Rick stage whispered before his mother's lips could make contact with his cheek.

 

Cecilia smiled and whispered back, "Sorry, honey." She raised her voice to normal pitch. "Rick, would you please introduce A.J. and me to Carlos."

 

"Carlos, this is my mom and this is--"

 

"Rick, that's not how you introduce someone,” Cecilia admonished.  “Now, do it like Daddy and I have taught you." 

 

Rick sighed. His parents were too hung up on manners in his opinion, but he started over. "Carlos, this is my mom, Mrs. Simon. Mom, this is my friend, Carlos."

 

Cecilia was pleased, and amused, as the Hispanic boy held his hand out to her. As she shook the offered hand, he said, "I'm very pleased to meet you, Senora Simon. "

 

"I'm very pleased to meet you, too, Carlos. Rick talks about you all the time."

 

While this exchange was transpiring, A.J. slid behind his brother. Upon Rick's encouragement, A.J. poked his head out from Rick's legs. "And this is my little brother, A.J. A.J., this is Carlos."

 

Carlos could see that the chances of getting A.J. to shake his hand, as his mother had always taught him was proper upon being formally introduced to someone, were slim to none. Therefore, he settled on giving the little boy a friendly wave. "Hola, A. J."

 

When A.J. didn't reply, but continued instead to at his brother's friend, Cecilia asked, "A.J., don't you want to say hello to Carlos?"

 

A.J. shook his head no and hid behind Rick again.

 

Rick looked at Carlos and shrugged. "Sometimes he's kinda shy. Believe me, he won't be this quiet once he gets to know ya’."

 

Not wanting Rick's friend to be hurt over A.J.'s refusal to say hello, Cecilia added as she ushered the boys into the kitchen, "Yes, Carlos, A.J.'s a little shy. Once he gets to know you better he'll say hello, I'm sure. He was excited today about helping me make chocolate chip cookies for you, so I know he was looking forward to your visit.”

 

Carlos took a seat at the kitchen table, Rick following suit and sitting across from his friend. A.J. studied the table for a moment, and then climbed up into Rick's lap.

 

"My little sister Carlotta is three and she's real shy, too, Senora Simon."

 

Cecilia placed plates of peanut butter sandwiches in front of each of the boys. "Oh, you have a little sister, Carlos. How nice."

 

"Well, really I have three little sisters. Three little sisters, and three big brothers. "

 

"Three sisters and three brothers!" Cecilia exclaimed. "My goodness, Carlos, your mother must keep very busy."

 

“Yeah, I guess so,” Carlos acknowledged while taking a bit of his sandwich. “We all help her though. We're going to have another baby at our house soon, too."

 

"Another baby! And I think I have all I can handle with Rick and A.J. Your mother must be a saint, Carlos."

 

"My papa says so," came the reply that caused Cecilia to chuckle.

 

Cecilia took a seat at the table with the boys. "So, Carlos, are you hoping for a baby brother, or a baby sister?"

 

"A sister, Senora. Very much a sister. If it's a brother, I'll have to share my room with it, and I already share a room with Julio and Juan, so me and my brothers are hoping for a sister."

 

Cecilia smiled. "That's a good reason to wish for a sister, I suppose. Do you like your new house?"

 

"Yeah. It's got a lot more room than our old one. We've got a basement, too. My papa's going to make bedrooms down there soon, so then I'll only have to share a room with Juan."

 

 "Do you like your new school?"

 

"Uh huh.  It's a good school. I don't miss my old one too much any more. Ricky was my first friend at my new school, Senora. He showed me where everything was on my first day."

 

Cecilia smiled with pride at Rick. She imagined that the first few days of school had not been easy for Carlos. It was hard enough for any child to transfer to a new school in the middle of the year, let alone for Carlos to transfer to a school that had only a handful of other Mexican-American children. She knew he must have felt out of place in the beginning. She was glad to hear that Rick had extended his hand in friendship, looking beyond color as she and Jack had taught the boys was the right thing to do.

 

"Mom, that's enough questions,” Rick complained, as he took a cookie. “Carlos is gonna feel like he's in jail."

 

"All right,” Cecilia agreed, “no more questions."

 

The two boys chattered away, telling Cecilia about their day at school. Through it all, A.J. sat on Rick's lap, eating a sandwich and munching on a cookie while staring at Carlos the entire time. The four-year-old appeared fascinated by Carlos's deep brown eyes, and coal colored hair.

 

When the boys were finished eating Rick lifted A.J. out of his lap and set him on the floor. "Come on, Carlos. I'll show you my room. Well, A.J.'s and my room, I mean. The model that my dad helped me make last night is up there, too."

 

The two boys ran from the kitchen, A.J. trailing along behind. As Cecilia cleared the table she heard three sets of footsteps on the stairs. As she prepared supper, the sound of the older boys' voices would drift down from the bedroom. The three children played together in harmony for the rest of the afternoon. 

 

When Jack arrived a few minutes after five he met Rick’s new friend, and like Cecilia, was impressed with Carlos’s manners.  A.J. remained at the house with his mother, while Jack and Rick drove Carlos home.  By the time they returned, supper was on the table, and all Jack and Cecilia heard from their oldest son throughout the meal was, “When can Carlos come over again?”

 

For reasons he couldn’t explain, Jack suspected this young friendship between Rick and Carlos, was one that would last a lifetime.

 

_____________________

 

 

Cecilia was just taking supper from the oven on Saturday evening when Jack and the boys entered from outside. As the screen door slammed Cecilia looked up and instructed, "Rick, A. J., get washed for supper and then come back down and set the table, please."

 

“Aw, Mom,” Rick moaned, as though this wasn’t his job every night.

 

In imitation of his big brother, A.J. threw his head back and groaned, "Aw, Mom.”

 

“No, ‘Aw, Mom,’ boys,” Jack said. “Now do as your mother asked.”

 

Rick and A.J. knew better than to sass their father.  They ran up the stairs to the bathroom to wash their hands.

 

Jack crossed to the kitchen sink to wash his own hands while Cecilia pulled the plates and glasses from the cabinets for the boys.

 

"Did you get Carlos home all right?"

 

"Yeah, no problems, hon. It's too bad Carlos doesn't live close enough so that he can ride his bike over. Rick would be thrilled to be able to play with him every day."

 

"Yes, he sure would be," Cecilia agreed. Carlos’s family lived five miles from the Simons, so until the boys were a few years older, that distance was too far for them to ride their bikes unsupervised. "For as much trouble as the two of them manage to get into when they're together, Carlos is a nice little boy, and so polite."

Jack dried his hands on a dishtowel. "That's for sure. He makes me ashamed of Rick's manners sometimes. He seems like a good kid, although a little on the wild side."

 

"Oh, you're just still angry because Rick and Carlos hid all your shoes last week," Cecilia teased.

 

"I was late for work because of that little stunt, if you remember right."

 

Cecilia chuckled, then said, "Well, for all the trouble they get into, I do like Carlos. He's always so nice to A.J., too. I overheard Rick telling A.J. to get lost the other day when Carlos was over, and Carlos piped right up and said, ‘Leave him alone, Ricky. He can play with us. He's not bothering anything.’"

 

“I've noticed that, too. I suppose with three little sisters he's had to learn how to deal with younger children. I get the impression all the Escobar kids have a lot of responsibilities at home."

 

"Yes, I think they do. I suppose if I had seven children and one on the way, I'd need all the help I could get, too." 

 

Jack came up behind his wife and began nuzzling her neck. "I think I could arrange for us to increase the size of our family."

 

Cecilia was just about turn around and kiss her husband on the mouth, when Rick and A.J. came back into the room. She smiled and pulled away from him. "Timing is everything, Jack."

 

"I guess that means no, huh?" Jack teased.

 

“Yes, it does,” Cecilia said while handing the boys the plates and glasses. 

 

The boys bickered over who could set the table faster, as Cecilia put the finishing touches on supper. Cecilia's attention was shifted to refereeing the battle that was going on at her dinner table.

 

“Rick, don't push your brother.

 

“A. J., put that tongue back in your mouth. I’ve told you before we don't stick our tongues out at people in this house.

 

“Boys, don't run with those dishes in your hands. Now quit your arguing and get the table set."  

 

Cecilia turned to look at her husband. "As you can see, Jack, I've got all I can handle with two boys. I certainly don't need any more children. May God give Mrs. Escobar a special blessing. I don't know how she does it and stays sane."

 

And with that last comment of admiration for Carlos’s mother, the family sat down to dinner.

 

_____________________

 

 

Later that evening, harmony once again reigned within Cecilia's home. The boys sat at the kitchen table playing a game, while their parents worked together rewiring a faulty lamp at the other end of the table. Cecilia looked up at the clock to see that time had gotten away from her, and that it was eight-thirty.

 

"Boys, it's time to put the games away."

 

After several, "Oh, Mom's", and "Aw, Mommy's", that did them no good, the boys put the games back in their boxes and returned them to their shelf in the pantry.

 

“Rick, would you please get A.J. ready for bed while Daddy and I finish this? Help him get his pajamas on and see that he brushes his teeth. We'll be up in a little while."

 

"Okay, Mom," Rick agreed amiably, as he usually did when this request was made of him.

 

The boys disappeared around the corner with Rick ushering A.J. up the stairs. Rick did his best at helping his little brother wash his face and hands, then supervised while the blond brushed his teeth. The boys now stood by A.J.'s bed. Rick assisted the youngster with the buttons on his pajama top.

 

Rick secured the last button.  "There, all done. What story do ya’ want me to read ya’?"

 

"I don't care,” A.J. replied, as he sat cross-legged on his bed.  “You pick."

 

Rick picked a Golden Book from the shelf. He sat down next to A.J., copying his posture.

 

As he opened the storybook to the first page, Rick paused. "A.J., why don't you ever talk to Carlos?"

 

"I can't, Rick."

 

"Whatta ya’ mean, you can't? Course you can. You're hurtin’ Carlos's feelings 'cause you never talk to him. He keeps askin’ me when you're gonna get over being shy."

 

"I can't talk to Carlos, Rick, ‘cause he won't understand me. He's Spanish."

 

"A.J., Carlos can understand you!"  

 

"No, he can't," A. J. insisted. "He speaks Spanish."

 

"Yeah, but he speaks English, too. You know that, you've heard him talk. Me, and Mom, and Dad talk to Carlos, and he understands us, so he can understand you, too."

 

A.J.’s eyes widened.  "He can?" 

 

"Of course he can, goofy. Where'd you get the idea that he couldn't?"

 

"Well...the first day you brought him home from school he said, "Holo, A. J.,” and that's when I knew he couldn't understand me, 'cause I don't know what ‘holo’ means, but I think it's Spanish."

 

Rick laughed. "It's not holo, it's hola, and it means hello. Carlos was telling you hi."

 

"Oh...well if I’d have known that I would have said hi back, but I didn't think he could understand me. "

 

"Well, he can. He can understand you perfectly, and he wants you to like him, so talk to him from now on, okay? You do like Carlos, don't ya’?  

A.J. nodded. "Yeah, I like him. He's nice to me all the time. Except sometimes you and Carlos get in too much trouble, Rick."

 

Rick shrugged. "Aw, we're just havin' fun. It's no big deal."

 

"Yeah, but Daddy was sure mad when he couldn't find his shoes that day. I told you guys not to do that. I told you you'd get in big trouble, but you didn't listen." 

 

"A. J., sometimes you sound just like an old woman. Me and Carlos like to have fun, and sometimes in order to have fun you gotta be willing to get in a little trouble."

 

A.J.'s brows knit together in puzzlement at this explanation. Sometimes Rick confused him. He couldn't understand how you could have fun, when you knew the fun you were having would eventually get you in trouble.

 

Rick decided to put an end to the subject before A.J. could question him any further. He wasn't about to waste his time explaining to his little brother how fun and trouble go together. Rick had a feeling A.J. would never fully understand that concept.

 

"Look, from now on, just talk to Carlos when he comes over, okay? Don't give him the silent treatment and hide behind me anymore. You don’t have nothin’ to be afraid of."

 

"All right, I'll talk to him,"A.J. agreed. After a thoughtful pause, the boy asked, "What do you want me to talk about?"

 

Oh brother, Rick thought with exasperation.

 

"I don't care. Talk about whatever you want to. Say hi. Ask him how he is. I don't know! Just quit bein’ shy."

 

"Okay."

Upon hearing A.J.'s agreement, Rick let the subject drop. He looked down at the open book and started reading aloud. He had gotten as far as the third page when he was interrupted.

“Rick?"

 

Rick looked up from the book.  "What?"  

“Teach me to say something to Carlos in Spanish."

“A. J., he can understand English perfectly good. I just got through tellin' you that."

"I know. But I want to say something to him in Spanish. "

Rick sighed. "Okay, okay." The nine-year-old thought a minute, and then offered, "How about this? Hola, Amigo."

"What's that mean?"

"It means, ‘Hi, friend.’” 

A.J. smiled. "I like that. Holo, Ameeco."

Rick laughed. "No, not like that. The first word is hola. O-la. O-la. Hola. Now you say it."

After three false starts, A.J. finally got it. "Hola."

 

"That's right!" Rick praised. "Now the other word is amigo. A-me- go. A-me-go Amigo. Say it, A.J."

 

A...me...co.

 

“No,” Rick shook his head. "Amigo. Like the word ‘go.’ A-me-go. Go. Amigo."

 

AJ’s face scrunched in concentration as he tried again.  “A...me...go. Amigo.” 

 

"Yeah, that's it! Now put it all together. Hola, amigo."

 

"Hola, amigo!"

 

"That's right. You got it now."

 

A. J. grinned from ear to ear. "Yeah, I got it!" A.J. cocked his head. “What did I just say again?”

 

Rick shook his head fondly. "You said, ‘Hi, friend.’"

 

"Yeah, that's right. Hi, friend. Hola, Amigo! Hola, Amigo! Rick will you remind me how to say it the next time Carlos comes over?"

 

Rick smiled. "Sure."

 

"But don't tell Carlos I can say it. I wanna surprise him."

 

"Whatever you say, kid," Rick agreed. "Now come on. Let's finish this story before Mom comes up and yells at me 'cause you're not ready to go to sleep.

 

A.J. snuggled into the crook of Rick's arm, and soon lost himself within the tale being read by his big brother.

 

_____________________

 

 

Carlos arrived home with Rick after school the next Thursday. He was surprised to find A.J. waiting for him at the front door.

 

Hola, amigo!" A.J. greeted while sticking his chest out with pride. He had been practicing the phrase with Rick all week, and then again today with his mother while Rick was at school.

 

Carlos was shocked. This was the first time in the month that he had been coming to the Simon house that A.J. had spoken to him. Once he got past the initial surprise, Carlos grinned. "Hola, amigo!"

 

“That means, hi, friend,” A.J. explained.

 

Rick rolled his eyes.  "He knows that, A.J."

 

A.J. ignored his brother as he took Carlos by the hand.

 

"Come on, Carlos. Come up to my room. I’ve got a new model to show you. It's not Rick's. It's just mine. But you can play with it. And we've got cookies for you, too. Not chocolate chip, peanut butter. Mommy was out of chocolate chips. And I've got another turtle, too. I got him yesterday. He doesn't have a name yet. You can name him if you want to. Hey, you know what else I've got? I got a new football. Well, really it's an old football. My cousin gave it to me. He doesn't want it anymore. He's grown up now. And I wanna show you--"

 

Carlos was in a daze as A.J. led him from the room. The blond barely paused for a breath as he continued to babble a steady stream of chatter.

 

Cecilia had appeared from the kitchen to greet the boys. She chuckled as she observed A.J. and Carlos, and as she caught the look on Rick's face.

 

Rick turned to his mother. "He's stealin’ my friend."

 

Cecilia ruffled Rick's hair. "Oh, honey, no he's not. I think A.J. has just gotten over being shy around Carlos, and now he wants to make up for a month of silence. He'll run out of things to say pretty soon."

 

"I don't know about that, Mom," Rick grinned, as he and his mother listened to A.J.'s voice as it drifted down the stairs. “So far Carlos hasn't gotten a single word in.”

 

Cecilia patted Rick on the back as she urged him toward the kitchen. "You help me get the cookies and milk ready for you boys, then you can go rescue Carlos."

 

"Okay. But, Mom, please don't let A.J. bug us all afternoon." 

 

"I won't," Cecilia promised. "He can go outside and play with some of his own friends."

 

"Good. I don't think Carlos wants to hear A.J. say, ‘hola, amigo,’ a hundred times before he goes home."

 

Cecilia laughed. "No, Rick, I don't imagine he does. I heard it about two hundred times today myself, and I can tell you that after about fifty it gets rather old. "

 

The last plate was put on the table, and the last glass of milk was poured, when Cecilia instructed, "Go rescue Carlos, honey. Tell him and your brother to come down for their snack. "

 

"And then we can ditch A.J.?" Rick asked with undisguised glee.

 

"I wouldn't put it quite that way, but yes, after your snack I'll send A.J. out to play.” Cecilia glanced out the patio doors. “I see that Tommy and Mike are in their sandbox. He can go next door and play with them for a while."

 

"Good, " Rick replied, as he raced up the stairs calling for his brother and his friend.

 

_____________________

 

 

The following Saturday afternoon, Rick, Carlos, and A. J. were playing in the Simons’ backyard. The boys grew bored with the swing set, and at Rick's suggestion headed to the garage to find something else to do.

 

As the boys rounded the corner of the house, Carlos’s eyes widened. "Wow! What a neat car. Whose is it?"

 

Rick glanced at the new black Cadillac parked in the Simon's driveway. "It's Mr. Haskell's. He's my dad's boss."