Suckerpunch by David Hernandez Page A

curtain, the phone cord stretching behind me. I raised a finger and mouthed, One minute.
    Enrique’s fine, Mom, I said. I told you already.
    Make sure he takes his pills.
    I do.
    You have to watch him take them. Sometimes he forgets.
    I’ve been watching, I said.
    How was the circus? she asked.
    We’re going tonight, I lied.
    Can I talk to Enrique? she asked.
    He’s in the shower.
    Oliver revved the engine and began tapping the horn, making it chirp.
    I have to go, I said. Oliver wants to use the phone.
    Be good, Mijo, she said.
    Once I was outside, Oliver slammed the horn and didn’t let go until I was in the car and sitting in the passenger seat. That’s funny, I said, my voice flat.
    What did she say? Enrique asked.
    She just wanted to know if we were enjoying ourselves, that’s all.
    Some of us are, Oliver said as he pulled out of the parking lot. He readjusted his rearview mirror. Right, Enrique?
    What are you talking about? Ashley said.
    You didn’t hear anything last night? Oliver asked me.
    I shook my head.
    I’m sure, Ashley said. Like I would do that with you guys there.
    It sounded like you did.
    Ashley’s voice was stern. I was having a nightmare. Enrique, tell them.
    We did the hokey pokey all right, he said.
    Ashley punched my brother on the arm. You’re a pig, you know that?
    Catface jumped from the backseat and climbed onto my lap.
    Damn, I was kidding, Enrique said, rubbing his arm. She was having a nightmare.
    Is that what all that groaning was about? Oliver asked, still unconvinced.
    Yes .
    What was your nightmare about? I asked.
    Ashley leaned forward in her seat. It was really weird, she said. This witch was chasing me all around school. And there was this man hanging from that huge tree by the gym. It was awful. His face was all blue and he was kicking his legs like crazy.
    The car grew quiet. It was as if the world was on mute. And then it hit Ashley: Oliver’s dad. The cord, the basement.
    Oh my God, she said. Oliver, I’m so sorry.
    It’s okay, he said. Where am I going, Nub?
    I had the map unfolded on my lap, a black circle marked around the street where my dad lived. Make a left at the next light, I said. We’re looking for the Monterey-Salinas Highway.
    I completely forgot that—
    Ashley, don’t sweat it, Oliver interrupted.
    There it is, I said. Get in your right lane.
    Oliver turned on the blinker and merged over. I rolled down the window and the coastal breeze blew in, smelling of the Pacific. We drove past a vineyard where thousands of sticks were evenly spaced on the dirt with vines coiled around them. We passed a golf course with perfect grass and pine trees out of a textbook, white carts gliding over the green landscape. I saw a man standing in one of the sand traps, one gloved hand on his waist, the other holding his club like a cane. Thinking.
    How far away are we? Enrique wanted to know.
    I looked down at the map. The black circle I’d made with a Sharpie had bled through to the other side.
    Not far at all, I said.

11
    M AKE A RIGHT AT the next stop sign, I said.
    I’m really looking forward to meeting your father, Ashley said.
    I looked at Enrique in the side-view mirror and our eyes met.
    Some other time, babe, he said.
    Why not today?
    You can meet him in a couple weeks. He’ll be living with us then.
    What? There was a pause. How come you didn’t tell me? she asked.
    I forgot to.
    Another pause.
    You’re lying to me, Ashley said.
    We almost there? Enrique asked.
    Yeah, I said. This is the street.
    Why are you lying to me?
    Stop it, Ash, Enrique snapped. Goddamn.
    The car fell silent.
    I looked out the passenger-side window. It was a quiet neighborhood with lots of tall trees and houses far away from the curb, their lawns manicured and lush green.
    What’s the address again? Oliver asked.
    It’s 771 Belshire, I said. It’s an apartment building.
    You’re acting strange, I heard