How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water (29)

She said Fernando was wearing a knitted hat, but not the kind you buy on the street, but like someone made it for him, red with yellow flecks. Tita knits to relax so this is the first thing she noticed. But when he took off this hat she was surprised, because his hair was cut short on the sides, but on top, his hair sprung up and out, one big afro.

Like a rooster? I asked, and she said yes.

He looked healthy, not skinny. But the skin on the cheeks was not so good because maybe he was drinking too much milk and sugar. Fernando did love cereal with milk in the morning. He could eat one box for desayuno.



* * *



So, of course I went to see. And from outside I saw him in the lobby, holding a ladder for a man that was painting the wall. Imagínate mi corazón, I couldn’t believe it.

Fernando! I yelled. I scared him because he let go of the ladder, the man fell down with the lata of the paint. Ay, Dios mío. What a mess. The man fell down on top of Fernando, gracias a Dios. But the paint was everywhere. I ran to them. The paint on the bottom of my foot made a more big mess.

Mami? he said. Ay, so many nights I didn’t sleep, wanting for him to say that. The man asked, This is your mother?

Of course, we have the same nose. The same eyes. I was happy to hear his voice. Mami. Mami. Mami. It had been almost a year, he had left. One year!

Fernando had a tattoo in the wrist. An earring in the left ear.

Mami, what are you doing here?

I went close to smell him. He was OK. The whites of his eyes were bright and his pupils a normal size. He was OK. The skin, healthy. He was OK. Ay, that hurt. He was OK without me. Ay, what a relief. He was OK. He didn’t look like a homeless.

Mami, leave, Fernando said. I have a mess to clean up.

With a calm voice, I asked him to come to dinner that night.

OK, he said.

He never came. He never called. And yes, he quit that job. Or maybe he was fired. I don’t know. But when I went again, the super said Fernando told the authorities he didn’t want to see me again.

What is wrong with this country? So cold. With a document, they ruin a life.



* * *



Ay, today I’ve talked too much.





TEMPORARY ORDER OF PROTECTION



DATE: Year of 2000 after Cara went to look for Fernando on 180th and Pinehurst

PRESENT: Honorable Judge



In the Matter of a FAMILY OFFENSE Proceeding

Fernando Ricardo Romero

(Petitioner)

-against-

Cara Romero

(Respondent)



NOTICE: YOUR FAILURE TO OBEY THIS ORDER MAY SUBJECT YOU TO MANDATORY ARREST AND CRIMINAL PROSECUTION, WHICH MAY RESULT IN YOUR INCARCERATION FOR UP TO SEVEN YEARS FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT. IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR IN COURT WHEN YOU ARE REQUIRED, THIS ORDER MAY BE EXTENDED IN YOUR ABSENCE AND THEN CONTINUES IN EFFECT UNTIL A NEW DATE SET BY THE COURT.

If you go after Fernando again you will go to jail. Punto final.

THIS ORDER OF PROTECTION WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT EVEN IF THE PROTECTED PARTY HAS, OR CONSENTS TO HAVE, CONTACT OR COMMUNICATION WITH THE PARTY AGAINST WHOM THE ORDER IS ISSUED. THIS ORDER OF PROTECTION CAN ONLY BE MODIFIED OR TERMINATED BY THE COURT. THE PROTECTED PARTY CANNOT BE HELD TO VIOLATE THIS ORDER.




IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that CARA ROMERO observe the following conditions of behavior:

Stay away from:

[A] Fernando Ricardo Romero

[B] the home of Fernando Ricardo Romero

[C] the place of employment of Fernando Ricardo Romero

Refrain from communication or any other contact by mail, telephone, email, voice mail, or other electronic or any other means with Fernando Ricardo Romero.

Refrain from assault, stalking, harassment, aggravated harassment, menacing, reckless endangerment, strangulation, criminal obstruction of breathing or circulation, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, sexual abuse, sexual misconduct, forcible touching, intimidation, threats, identity theft, grand larceny, coercion, or any criminal offense against Fernando Ricardo Romero.





THE OFFICE OF


CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES

In-Home Small Day-Care Application


Thank you for inquiring about starting an In-Home Small Day-Care Center. Operating a day-care center can be a rewarding professional decision. We are pleased to send you an application package. The Office of Children and Family Services encourages you to request help for additional technical assistance.

This package contains the information you will need to begin the application process. The Day-Care Center Required Documents checklist includes the thirty documents required to complete this application, including: fingerprint request form, criminal conviction statement, qualifications and references, emergency evacuation plan, report for water supply testing, first aid and CPR certification, behavior management training, menu planning, and a behavior management and child abuse policy for your small day-care center.

General Information

All applicants must be eighteen years of age or older and must complete this page





Please PRINT clearly


Applicant



Name: Romero, Cara DOB: 01/18/1953

Address: Washington Heights

Do you speak English? Yes

Capacity Requested



Specify below the number of children, by age group, that you are requesting.