It was pitch black when he arrived at Catalina’s ranch.

He’d used the flashlight on the top of his phone to fumble down the back road, away from the glaring factory lights outside town. The dried-up dirt below his feet crumbled as he knocked on the vibrant, red door.

Catalina was wearing her nightdress and had her hair in rollers. Her body was held up by the old, wooden stick she used around the house. “M’ijo, come inside.”

Shane smiled as he walked into the lounge behind her. His first cousin, Dani was stretched out across the sofa, and flicking through the TV channels.

His long, dark hair was down to his waist and engulfed his skinny frame. His fraying khaki pants were resting above his ankles, with a dark vest top above.

Dark eyes crinkled at the corners as he turned around to face Shane, grinning. “I heard about your Tio’s party.”

Shane nodded. “Yeah, it was chaotic, but I guess they had to find out sometime?”

Dani sat up and high-fived him. “That was badass, though. Keepin’ your cool when he came at you like that?”

“I had to or else he would have kicked my ass more.”

Dani nodded. “Yeah, I get it, you comin’ to sit down or what?”

Shane put his backpack on the floor and sat down beside him. A random telenovela was playing in the background that Catalina liked to watch called Amores Prohibidos. She was staring at the screen intensely, yelling profanities in Spanish.

Dani laughed. “Yeah, we better not disturb her. She gets antsy if you even think about changin’ the channel. She whacked me over the head with the remote-control last week for accidentally changin’ it.”

Shane laughed as he took off his shoes and put his feet across the table. He looked up at the television, watching as a couple started arguing with a hot woman. “So, this is all dramatic stuff?”

Dani nodded. “Everyday, yeah. It’s corny, cheesy but it’s entertainin’ to watch, y’know? You get used to it when you live here.”

Shane nodded. “Yeah, but I dunno how long I’m staying here for.”

“That’s understandable,” Dani patted the sofa,” You’re gonna sleep down here, aight?”

Shane opened up his backpack. “Yeah, that’s fine. Don’t really care, as long as I’m away from them and can chill.”

Dani pulled out the lighter from behind his ear. “So, yeah. We can chill here, y’know? Catalina doesn’t care, if you clean up afterwards—lemme see if I got some mota here—”

He looked around the room and checked under the sofa cushions. The coffee table was empty, and there was nothing in his pockets. “Damn, looks like I smoked the rest of it.

Shane looked at Dani. “I think I might have something in here.”

He dug around, finding a bag of weed deep in the recesses of the bag.

Dani grinned. “You’re a lifesaver, carnal.”

Shane passed him the bag. “Don’t mention it. I knew I had something in there. I was saving it for my graduation, but I forgot about it.”

Dani nodded. “Maybe this is a better occasion. You’re free, now right?”

Shane smiled as Dani lit up the blunt. He took a hit, then passed it over to Shane.

“It’s been a while since we last spoke,” Shane said, “you had a shaved head and were being shipped off to the military.”

Dani laughed. “And you were a sophomore in High School. Bro, time flies. Look at you now. You’re all grown up and rebellin’ against the man.”

Shane ran his hand through his buzzcut, then felt his beard. “Well, in their eyes anyway.” He sighed. “I have work tomorrow.”

“You work at the produce store downtown, right?”

Shane nodded. “I’ll be working in the storeroom, taking stock.”

Dani scoffed. “Why? Go out there and own it. Everyone knows now.”

Shane passed the blunt back and shook his head. “I don’t want to deal with them, or have the attention ‘round me, y’know? I’m just there for the paycheck.”

Dani looked at Shane and thought for a moment. “So, you’re in work tomorrow from nine to five, right?”

He nodded. “Why?”

“I’ll come and keep you company and be your bodyguard.”

Catalina scoffed at Dani. “This is nine in the morning, not the evening,” she reached her hand across the sofa, “Dame un hit, por favor.”

Shane smirked as Dani sighed and passed the blunt over to her. Catalina sucked in the smoke like a human vacuum, then let out a sigh of relief. “Gracias.”

“De nada,” Dani said.

Catalina grinned. “My pain feels better now.”

Dani nodded. “Good,” he turned to Shane, “what do you think of that idea?”

Shane leaned back into the sofa and tapped his feet on the floor. “I dunno… we could give it a go and see if it works out… if not we can scrap it?”