Siesta – Chapter 5
Preview from Ron and Bruno: Against the Doctatorship
After Edwin left, I walked back into the bedroom, looking beyond the furnishings to the memories that might have been. I could imagine Audrey Hepburn shyly looking across the room at Gary Cooper, a scene from the movie, Love in the Afternoon. Or was it Audrey Hepburn with Humphrey Bogart in a deleted scene from Sabrina. And yet, I saw Victoria in my imagination, and I was the debonair, older man. She hadn’t aged a day. Her playful eyes and spontaneous smile contrasted with her designer clothes. And was that a smudge of food on her blouse? Such details in a daydream! But that was Victoria: natural, trusting, loving, and… Had I really loved her? What an odd flash of imagination. Well, as the wise King Solomon said, “It is not good to look on days past, but we must put our hands to the day’s task.” And this would be a busy day.
My thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door and a voice.
“Food service.”
That’s odd. I just checked in. I opened the door, and a young woman greeted me.
“Mr. Miller?”
“Yes, I’m Mr. Miller. But I didn’t order food.”
“Oh, this is complimentary.” She said, rolling a cart with trays into the room. “It’s included with all the bridal suites.”
She was dressed in the same kind of outfit that might have been worn when the Sortida was established, over a century ago. She reminded me of an old picture of my grandma when she was just 18, around the opening of the Sortida.
My grandma worked in the ticket booth of the Moore Egyptian theater. That’s where my grandpa played piano for silent films. He was as close to a star as my grandma ever met. He was a tall man for the times, but even in high heels, Grandma stood over a foot shorter than him. I would have liked to hear their love story but that was all I knew. I was too preoccupied during their lives to ask. I met Victoria shortly after Grandma passed away. Seattle sure had a way of bringing back old memories.
The young woman waiting with the food cart was Carmelita. It was her hair woven into a net that made her look like the picture of Grandma in my scrapbook, otherwise, there was little resemblance. Carmelita was curvaceous, and despite her outfit looking like it came from another era, it couldn’t hide what was underneath. And let me state, there’s nothing vulgar about anything or anyone that God creates. He has created us to be who we are. Carmelita was created with just a little bit more of who she was.
“My order says there are two guests.”
She glanced to where Bruno was stretched out on the couch, still asleep.
“Oh, that’s Bruno, my friend. He won’t be staying the night. We’ll be taking care of some business later.” I said.
“Bruno?”
She smiled.
“Yes. Is there something I don’t know?” I asked.
“Oh, no, I just lovethe name Bruno. It sounds like the name of a bold man, a say whatever you feel like kind of man.”
“You got that right.” I said.
She spoke with a thick Spanish accent and kept looking at Bruno, as if hoping he’d wake up. She was noisily arranging the dishes on the table, so I shushed her.
“Please, I think he needs the rest.”
“Oh, sorry sir.” She said.
She quietly placed the rest of the contents of the cart onto the table. I put a tip on her cart, and she rolled it out of the room.
“Thank you, Mr. Miller.” She said.
“Thank you too, Carmelita.” I replied
I was still keeping track of name tags. Carmelita Divina, her tag read. I couldn’t read the rest. It was smudged. It matched her makeup which looked hastily done. She had a loose tag hanging from the bottom of her skirt. Too bad Bruno hadn’t woken up. He would have been nuts about this woman. I knew his type and she just walked out of the room! I felt guilty knowing Bruno had missed out on meeting Carmelita. Well, I’d tell him her name. He could track her down later.
I went back into the bedroom. The food could wait. I was dead tired. My dreams were arriving before my head hit the pillow. “Wow, this is a big party. Nice to meet you.” I said under my breath. My dream continued as my head touched that softest of pillows. “Sure, where should I meet you… Zzz”
When I woke up, I was completely rested. I looked at the clock on my phone. I’d managed to get in a quick 30 minutes. Bruno was already eating.
“Where’d you get this Mexican food?” He said. “Es una comida muy deliciosa. I haven’t had food like this since before Guadalajara’s closed.”
“Room service delivered it. They said it was compliments of the house. It’s provided with all the bridal suites.” I said.
“Bridal suites? What ain’t you telling old Bruno, Ron?”
“An old girlfriend paid for the room, Bruno.”
“An old girlfriend paid for the room, he says.”
“It’s a long story.” I said.
“So you gettin hitched?” Bruno asked.
“No, I ain’t gettin hitched. That would be an odd wedding. She passed away. Her kids got me this room. I’m gonna be godfather to all their family. I didn’t even know it till Edwin told me. He’s her son.”
“Whose son?” Bruno asked.
“Vilma’s, I, I mean, Victoria’s.”
“Make up your mind, there Ron. I know there were a lot of them, but let’s have a little respect for the dead.”
Now that was the irreverent Bruno I knew. It was good to hear him talk like himself again.
“Here’s the deal, Bruno, I thought Victoria’s name was Vilma but now I know it’s Victoria.”
“Oh, Okay, old Ron. Whatever you say. As long as I ain’t stuck payin for the room, or for the food.”
“Don’t worry about that, Bruno. And by the way, the lady who brought the food was exactly your type. But don’t worry, I got her name.”
“As if you’d know my type, Ron. You know your type, they all look the same, but you don’t know my type. I got a particular taste in women, you know.”
Now I knewBruno was going to get over what they’d done to his mom. It had taken a lot out of him, but this was core Bruno, sarcastic, quick witted, and edgy.
“Okay, Bruno. Anyway, if you want to check her out. She’s probably down in the kitchen. Her name is Carmelita, Carmelita Divina.”
Bruno now roared a roar that only Bruno could roar.
“Ron! You let her get away! Oh! She’s here! My Camerlita!”
Bruno deliberately mispronounced her name.
“Camerlita was here, and you didn’t wake me up! That’s her food. That’s what she cooked for me at Guadalajara’s. They said she went to work in a swanky hotel after the restaurant closed, but I never found out where.”
“Welp, she works here, and when I mentioned your name, she purred, ‘Oh, I just lovethe name Bruno. It sounds like the name of a bold man, a say whatever you feel like kind of man.’ Ha-ha!”
“Oh, she purred, did she. I think she fancies me.”
Bruno’s crooked smile no longer aligned with his meticulously cut mustache.
“Fancy you?” I said. “She was clanging those plates around so much I had to shush her. It was like she wantedto wake you up.”
“Now, Ron, don’t tell me you shushed my Camerlita.”
Just then the room phone rang. I picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Mr. Miller. This is Edwin. I heard Carmelita just took a food cart there. She’s my fiancée’s cousin. She said Carmelita is crazy about Bruno. I’m supposed to keep track of her. I was the one who told her about the job here. Promise me you won’t leave her alone with Bruno. My fiancée’s family would be furious with me if she were courted by a man her family hasn’t met.”
“Just a moment.” I said to Edwin.
“Hey Bruno, looks like you’re gonna be meeting Carmelita’s family. That’s the only way you can courther, Edwin says.”
“Court her, eh? I got no problem with that. So, when’s the meeting.” Bruno asked.
“Edwin, Bruno wants to know when he can meet Carmelita’s family.”
“Well, they’re coming to the Sortida Back Room Ballroom tonight. It’s practice for this Sunday’s dedication service. Bruno can meet them tonight.”
“Tonight, Bruno. You’ll meet them tonight.”
“Fine and dandy.” Bruno replied using one of his favorite outdated expressions.
“I’ll let them know.” Edwin said. “And when you two are ready, I’ll take you to the hospital to get your form signed.”
Between my memories and Edwin’s telling me about his family, I’d forgotten he had someone on the inside to help us get into the hospital. God was surely watching over Bruno and me.
“Thanks, Edwin. I’ll give you a call in about an hour.” I said.
After I’d hung up the phone, I sat down to try some of the food Carmelita had brought.
“So tell me about your Carmelita.” I said. “Is there anything in that nickname you’ve given her?”
“Oh, Ron, do I have to explain everything to you? And you a linguist. Camera Lita becomes Camerlita. She was always takin pictures of me and her food. Genius that I am, I came up with that nickname and everyone at Guadalajara’s started using it too. So, what else can I educate you on, old Ron?”
“I’m sure you’ll think up something.” I said.
“Yes, as surely as professors used to actually teach, before the commies took over, I’ll think of something.” Bruno replied.
Bruno knew everything about the food Carmelita had brought. He explained which ingredients were used and why, and the ones Carmelita told him improved a man’s vitality.
“Oh, so Carmelita is teaching you about vitality? Could be she’s worried…” But before I could finish, Bruno retorted.
“Now old Ron, just because you got seven kids doesn’t mean you got vitality. And you told me about that doc who sewed you up, reversing your vasectomy. You said he did something extra to your plumbing, kinda turbocharged it. In fact…”
Now I interrupted Bruno.
“Alright, just a little lighthearted kidding, Bruno. You better figure out what you’re wearing to meet Carmelita’s folks. You got clothes in that wrinkled up old bag?”
“What did you figure I had in this bag? As far as clothes, I’m covered.”
Bruno tilted his head and looked at me sideways, as if his pun was worthy of attention.
“Oh, the punster.” I said. “I’m sure Carmelita’s daddy will be impressed with your one-upmanship. Yes, muy contento having a son-in-law who talks like he’s had a few, even though you’ve never touched a drop.”
“Alright, ya got me there. Just pray that I don’t screw it up. She’s got to have something wrong with her to want me.”
“Don’t start with the poor Bruno routine.” I said, “A woman likes a man who’s not afraid to be a man and blusters around a bit. Just be natural with her. And when she looks at her Bruno with adoring eyes, her parents will see they got no choice.”
“Oh, so now I’m takin advice from a man who’s just gotten his, what is it now, third divorce?”
“If it matters, second. But Bruno, I wasn’t advising you. I’m congratulating you. You got yourself a young woman after you. How old’s that girl?”
“I know what you’re thinking, Ron. And she…”
I finished his sentence.
“She ain’t young enough to be your daughter. I know, I know, your daughter turned 36 last week. So your new girl is somewhere between 37 and what?”
“Between 37 and an old maid, Ron. Can’t you see, I’m a saving her from a life of shame.”
“Ha! Okay. Old Bruno is a saving the damselin distress.”
“Now, old Ron. You know I ain’t a racist, and I ain’t a sexist, well, not in a bad way, and I certainly ain’t an ageist. And I will not make age an issue in this relationship. I’m not going to exploit my girl’s youth and inexperience for any purpose.”
“Well, Bruno, Reagan won an election against Mondale with that quip and I’m certain you’ll win the hand of your Carmelita, quip or no quip. So, congratulations in advance.”
“Congratulations? Win the hand? Now, wait a minute. We don’t need to be talking about any hand winning around here. It’s just a simple introduction to Camerlita’s folks. So stop your congratulating. That’s code for gettin hitched.” Bruno objected.
“Well, Bruno, why do you think Carmelita’s folks need to meet you before they’ll allow her to be courtedby you?”
“Courted by me?” Bruno half roared, then said. “You know, I could do much worse, muchisimo peor.”
“Bruno, I don’t think you could do any better.”
“Welp, I hate to say it, Ron. But this might be one of the rare times you’re right. What is it they say about a broken clock?”
Bruno and I had finished eating every chimichanga, tostada, and enchilada on the plates, as well as the other tasty dishes that Carmelita had prepared. There was nothing left but a few drops of salsa and that was only because we ran out of tortillas to wipe them up.
“So, you got a routine?” I said to Bruno.
“What do you mean a routine?” He said.
“You know, so you don’t get fat, eating like this every day.”
“I ate like this every day at Guadalajara’s. You’re looking at a fine specimen of humanity.”
Bruno smirked his signature smirk as he boasted.
“Yes, Bruno, as long as Carmelita sees you that way, you’re a blessed man. Well, time to text Edwin so he can take us across the street to get your form signed.” I said.
“Edwin?” Bruno asked. “What’s Edwin got to do with it?”
“While you were sleeping, Edwin told me that they’re locked down over at the hospital. But his fiancée works there, and she can get us in.”
“Okay, let’s get this over with.” He said. “You don’t know how much this kills me, not having this all behind me.”
Then he looked at me, remembering how many griefs I’d been through, and said:
“It’s just an expression, Ron, just an expression.”
“Yes, I know. It’s a burden having unfinished business when it comes to a loved one’s passing. We both know.”
“Maybe that’s Edwin knocking on the door now.” Bruno said.
I opened it.
“C’mon in, Edwin. Bruno and I have to get our lines right, before we walk to the hospital and talk to the doc.”
I took out the form that we wanted the doctor to fill out.
“Are you good with what you’re gonna say to the doctor, Bruno?”
“Yeah, ‘I got a comorbidity form, Doc. Can you sign it?’”
“Well, that may be all it takes.” I said.
“Okay, let’s get on with it.” Bruno said.
Then he turned to Edwin.
“I’d like to thank you for helping us, Edwin.”
“Oh, you’re welcome, Sir Bruno. Carmelita told me about you. She says you’re a get things done kind of guy.”
“Let’s hope so, Edwin. I don’t really need this form signed. It’s just that I’m responsible for taking care of my mom’s estate, and I wouldn’t feel right if I let one penny go unaccounted for.”
“You’re an honorable man, Sir Bruno.”
“You can drop the Sir, Edwin.”
“Okay, Mr. Hartman.” He answered.
“Now on second thought, Edwin. Mr. Hartman does sound a little stodgy. But Sir Bruno kind of rolls off the tongue.”
“I think so too, Sir Bruno.”
Proceed to Next Chapter – Click Here
OR
Buy on Amazon – Click the Book
