Page 32 of You've Got a Place Here, Too
“You feeling okay?” Mami murmuredyes.“Do you need
me to call your doctor again?” I asked.
Last time they’d had her on medication with harsh
side effects and it wasn’t until I spoke to the main doctor
that anyone listened. Whether it was because I was a man, or had
fluent English, I didn’t know, but I did know that I needed to stay
on top of things for Mami or else people wouldn’t pay attention.
I could hear the smile in her voice as she responded. “No,
they know muy bien not to mess with me anymore
or my son will give them a boche.” She asked me about class, and I
told her about flight training, and the midterms in a month.
I thought about mentioning Melody, but I heard a muffled sound and
then Tía Luisa’s voice was coming through.
“She fell asleep, mijo. I’ve been trying to get her to rest all day,
but all she needed was her son’s voice, you’re her lullaby.
She’s having a big test done next week. Make sure she gives you
the details. I’m going to send pictures of all the forms.”
And so, in addition to studying for midterms,
I’d be studying all of Mami’s upcoming exams.
The simulator was an actual grounded Bombardier.
All of the aircraft letters and numbers had been mangú in my mouth
when I first got to Tuskegee, but I quickly learned the difference
between each kind of plane. Clearly, I’d been on the
simulator before, but usually with several other
students outside, and a professor lecturing, and during daytime.
That time it was just me and Melody. She took the
co-pilot seat.
“Now, tell me everything you are doing, while
you’re doing it.”
My lips quirked.
