photo “TV Timeout” by Tyler Malone

Movement

            Teresa and I are watching a futbol match in our T.V. lounge when her cell phone trills. She looks at the screen and touches it and says, “Hello Martín, my dulce amor.”

            I turn the T.V. on mute. Teresa taps the loudspeaker volume. 

            “Hello Grandmother.”

            “How is everything?”

            “Well, I hate to ask you, I mean, well, I’m sorry, but my mother needs 400 dollars to pay for her dentist bill.”

            A few seconds of silence. Teresa looks at me. I look at her, shrug, then turn my attention to the screen as the players are warming up and practicing shots on goal.

            “But you know I talked to your mother about this.”

            “I know,” he says faintly.

            “We paid for two years of administration classes for her, three years of chef school, and a year internship at the finest French restaurant in the country.”

            “I know.”

            “She needs to get a job, your mom. Sorry Martín, but you need to grasp the realities of life.”

            Another pause of silence. The players on the screen are moving into formation and the referee is holding the ball between the two forwards.

            Abuela, you remember a few months ago when I asked you for help with Mother’s teeth?”

            “Yes.”

            “You said yes.”

            “Martń?”

            “Yes?”

            Teresa looks at me again. We make unexpressive eye contact. I turn my head and look at the T.V. screen. The ball is dropped. The opposing team forward kicks the ball.

            “O.K.,” says Teresa. “I will send the money to your home. The same home we pay rent, utilities, and food bill for.”

            “Thanks Grandmother. I really hated to ask. I am . . . I need to go to the bathroom now. Sorry. Bye. I love you.”

            “Love you.”

            Martíńs face disappears on Teresa’s phone. Teresa looks at me, then at the T.V. screen. I turn the volume up and the announcer is giving play by play, but the players are just randomly running around each other, the ball moving in arbitrary directions, kicked by whoever happens to be where the ball is. It looks a bit like looking at cell movement under a microscope.

photo “TV Timeout” by Tyler Malone