—I live in California.

—But I thought you lived in Dallas.

—Lady, that was make-believe. The show was about Dallas but I live in California.

—No me digas. But if it was in California, why didn’t the Ewings live on the beach? He was lying to her, but she didn’t care. He had to protect himself. He was an important man and couldn’t talk to every stranger who recognized him. She might’ve known him throughout the years, but this was his first time seeing her.

—So the rancho is in California?

—No, the ranch on Dallas is in Dallas. But I live in California.

—But why do they trick me like that?

—It’s no trick, lady. Television’s not real.

—But…that should be against the law.

Patrick faked a smile at her as if to hurry her along.

—I’m trying to read, he said and put the newspaper over his face.

—You should give me something. Something for tricking me that way. The least you could’ve done is to show on the TV that you ride the train like everybody else so maybe I wouldn’t feel so deceived. All this time I assumed men like you didn’t ride the train. You were supposed to be the sweet one. It was your brother who was the unkind one. Now I see you’re also unkind.

—Miss, please.

—They should’ve shot you. They should’ve shot all of you for lying to people, making it look so easy. And look at you, you’re a nothing, like me, on a train, like me, you live like me, but on TV, you pretend that you’re something else and I believed in you.

—What do you want from me, lady? Please calm down.

—I want to go to Dallas. Esperanza felt stupid. —I want to live in a house like yours with horses and chandeliers and crystal glasses.

—I’m sorry, lady.

—Not even Pamela…she doesn’t live in Dallas either?

When the subway doors opened and Patrick Duffy rushed out with the crowds on the train, Esperanza watched his back.

—Bye, Bobby! Thank you for nothing.

She sat back down next to the churchgoing lady reading the Bible. The corners of Esperanza’s lips sank into her cheeks. All along she was dreaming about Dallas when she should’ve been aiming for California.

—Envy slays the simple—Job five, verse two, said the lady.

—What are you saying?

—I’m saying the Lord’s words, the lady said, licking her lips and spreading her lipstick evenly around her mouth.

—But I don’t envy nobody.

—I saw your eyes wide open, as if that white man was handing you salvation.

Esperanza looked around for another seat. But the train was full of new faces. She wasn’t sure who on that train had witnessed her meeting Bobby Ewing. She wondered if Bobby was single. She regretted not having gone to the salon. If she had more time, she could better explain to him what a miracle their meeting was. Important men like him got nervous around strangers.