Juan turned his back, leaned against the payphone, picked up the receiver. He typed in the phone number on the card, listened to the automated woman’s voice until it asked for his pin, then pushed it in with an anxious finger. When prompted, he dialed his mother-in-law’s number which he knew by heart. There was silence, and for a moment he nearly panicked. When it started ringing, his knees shook and his stomach roiled.

He shuffled from foot to foot as it continued to ring, and just as he was sure nobody was home, the gruff voice that he’d never been more happy to hear said, “Bueno.”

“Hey, it’s Juan. Is Claudia there?”

A long pause, then a rattling sigh. “You still remember her name, at least. How are the American whores treating you?”

Juan couldn’t help but smile. “I’ve been doing nothing but thinking about my family. I found a job and got a promotion on my first day. Already got my first pay.”

Grunting, then a coughing fit. “Yeah, and I bet you hand that money right over to the first pussy you see. Or you’ll drink it away. Or both. What do you want anyway?”

“Claudia. I want to speak to my wife.” Juan’s mustache twitched and he shoved his free hand into his pocket. “Please.”

“Mama, who is it?” Juan heard the faint voice in the background. Then some shuffling and moving around. He could tell his mother-in-law was reluctant to hand over the phone. “Juan?”

“Hello, beautiful. How are you?”

“Oh, Juan. I, I miss you so bad. I was worried you’d been caught by border patrol or something.”

“No, Manuel set me up pretty good. How’s our baby girl?”

“A handful, of course. But Mama has been a huge help. I…I found a job.”

Juan sighed. “I’ll be sending you some money soon.”

“I know. We just need a little extra to get by.”

Juan’s hand became sweaty and he had to grip the phone harder. “I love you. All I can think about is having you and our baby back in my arms. I…I miss you so goddamn much.”

A sniffle. “Me too.”

They went back and forth like that for a few minutes. Tears streamed down Juan’s face and he felt more lost than he had before calling. He thought it would make him feel better, and to a degree, it did. But hearing Claudia, and sensing the sadness in her, Juan never felt more far away.

“Would you like to speak to your daughter?”

“More than anything.”

A short pause that felt like a lifetime. “Daddy?”

“Hi, baby. What are you doing?”

“I brush my teeth. Grandma said you’re not coming back.”

Juan wanted to bash the receiver into the middle of the hag’s face. He wondered what other poison she’d been dripping into his daughter’s ear.

“It’s not true, baby. Daddy will be bringing you to a new home. Soon, okay?”

“Okay. I don’t like it here. Grandma smells and she farts when she sleeps.”