Mundo Cruel Read Free Page B

there are strippers and I changed twenty bucks into one dollar bills. ’Cause there’s always more fish in the sea.

FOR GUAYAMA

    Sammy:
    First of all excuse my handwriting since I didn’t bring my glasses. It’s just that, nene, I’m going nuts with Guayama being sick and all, I mean I’m really losing it. That’s why I’ve been looking for you, so you could pay me for the curtains because with this Guayama thing I’m low on cash. I know you depend on your customers to pay me, but Guayama is dying on me. The doctor told me I had to put her to sleep and, nene, I almost fainted. They even had to rouse me with ammonia on a cotton ball and everything because I got so dizzy. He knows about cases like this and was real nice. He made me tell him how I found her and I explained that taking a drive around the island I picked her up in the middle of the highway right after the Guayama toll booth, hence the name. Last night I left her in the doctor’s office so she could rest, but tomorrow they’re going to give her the injection. When I got home, it felt so empty and I felt so afraid of being alone that I said: no, I’m not going to lose her. I immediately got on the Internet and found a place out there where they can stuff her. They say they leave the hair as if she were alive. You know that beautiful coat Guayama has. That’s why I need the dough. Call me, nene, I need the money.
    Your friend,
    Naldi

    Sammy:
    It’s the second time I’ve come to your house to leave you a note and I can’t find you. And on top of that, here’s the note I left you yesterday. Nene, come on, call me or come by the house because I need that money urgently. Not for me but for Guayama, the doctor is pressuring me because she’s suffering too much. The people who do the embalming are ready to take her but I need the money to send her little body over. It’s really expensive. I’m so desperate I called Héctor, who as you know I haven’t spoken to for over a year ever since he called me a pimp right in front of my sister, to ask him to lend me the money to tide me over until you paid me. A lot of good it did me to humiliate myself: that queen told me I was crazy, that it’s the sort of thing only sick people do, which is why he stopped talking to me in the first place, and twenty thousand other things I won’t even mention. That’s why I need the money urgently. Call me, please.
    Your Friend,
    Naldi

    Sammy:
    They put Guayama to sleep this morning. I felt, nene, like I can’t even say. Total despair. You can’t let too much time pass after death to send her, but the doctor insisted and we did it. I was there to make sure, like the people who dry them out recommend—they have a name for that but I don’t remember—that they not add any chemicals with color so as not to damage the fur, since it looks nicer that way. I felt sad but since I know I’ll have her with the money from you for the curtains, well I wasn’t so affected by it. I wondered so much about where you were I didn’t have to be sad. This work costs money. I’ve got her all wrapped up in the freezer at the bodega next door, since for the lady it’s no problem as long as she gets her cuartos , as she says. No questions asked. But, imagine, today they sent me a DVD from the company and you should see people with their little dogs, playing with them like they’re alive. I’m telling you I’m desperate but here are the other two notes I left you before. Nene, where are you? The neighbor said you’re in Santo Domingo. Knowing you, I’m not surprised.
    Naldi

    Sammy:
    I see now that you really are in Santo Domingo. Your landlord just confirmed it for me. In fact, he told me exactly where you are. You’ll see. I need that cash and if you read this note I’m in Santo Domingo, since you know I get free trips because my sister works for