F: This is actually Chapter 5

Chapter: Ah, home

Senor Yanez had not reached any family. No one came to pick them up,
not even the Policia. Jose remarked that the Policia could be found
everywhere except when you needed them, for which he received a slap
across his head from his father. Senor Yanez agreed with his oldest
son, but wanted quiet. He had over a thousand dollars tucked away in
his underwear, but he did not want to waste it. He needed to
think.

While Senora Yanez found a secluded corner to nurse Female, her husband
went about his business. He took the boys with him, even the youngest,
whom he felt was in danger of becoming a shrew like Senora Yanez. It
was almost night, and whoever manned the station where they'd been
dropped off was gone, if such a person even existed. The station was
nothing but concrete and a fancy outhouse, with a patio lit by yellow
light and mosquitoes that were so lazy and stupid that they did not
know how to avoid a slapping hand.

"Come with me," Senor Yanez told the boys, and began walking. The boys
followed at a safe distance, more serious than they'd ever been in
their lives. Alberto, the youngest, wanted to stay, but like the piece
of paper in his pocket, he stayed silent.

They walked for miles, until lights appeared in the distance and
became, almost magically, a small town with houses and the empty stalls
of a market. "A tourist place," Senor Yanez said, and spit on the
ground. The boys followed suit. Alberto's spit hung from his lip, and
he shook his head to dislodge it while his brothers laughed. "Quiet!"
Senor Yanez hissed.

The boys were told to wait on the side of the street. Jose, the oldest,
was instructed to make the "caw caw" of a crow if anyone approached,
and then Senor Yanez disappeared. The night was warm, so the boys
walked about within sight of each other. Alberto listened for sounds;
the middle brother kicked stones and watched the stars; Jose stayed on
the road, pacing back and forth and mumbling to himself.

When the car lights appeared over the small hill that lead into the
town, the boys dropped to the ground. Jose shushed his brothers as they
all watched the lights come closer. Alberto peeled a fingernail off his
right hand, the pain enough of a focus to keep him from standing and
running off into the bare landscape. When the lights stopped, and Senor
Yanez whistled to them, they stayed on the ground. Only when Senor
Yanez called out to them did they stand and go towards the car.

The boys asked no questions, though Jose marveled at the fact that they
were in a stolen car. He held his head up proudly as they drove over
the rough, bumpy road. Alberto and his other brother sat in the back
seat. Alberto tried to move closer to his brother, but was shrugged off
and pushed to the side. He occupied himself by chewing on his
nails.

When the car pulled up to the station, Senora Yanez could be seen
darting from the headlights into the darkness. Senor Yanez beeped the
horn and Jose called "Mama!," but it was still a while before she came
out. When she did, Senor Yanez told Jose to get in the back. He did so
begrudgingly, closing the door with a slam and making Senora Yanez
balance Female while she searched for the car's door handle.

"We are going back to Tlectua now," Senor Yanez said, "But we will not
be there for long." Senora Yanez said nothing, and did not nod her head
in agreement. Senor Yanez begin driving, and soon everyone was
asleep.