—What you doing, Viejo? The counterman asked. Don Chan had been frequenting the luncheonette for weeks and the counterman had never asked him anything before.

—Do you really want to know? Don Chan didn‘t like to talk just to talk.

—I‘m asking, ain‘t I?

The counterman with one lazy eye looked over at the mess Don Chan was making.

—This I learned from the CIA, Don Chan said with a laugh, wishing Miraluz was around so she could laugh along with him. Anyone who knew Don Chan would find it hilarious to hear his name and CIA in the same sentence.

—You were really CIA, Viejo?

—If I tell you, I‘d have to kill you, Don Chan said with a serious face and then he relaxed him with a smile. By the gleam in the man‘s eye, Don Chan could tell the counter guy had seen one too many movies.

The little girl giggled some more while she diligently read out loud the headlines in her elementary Spanish.

—Forget the CIA, let me show you how you could find out how to predict the future, Don Chan said as he put together his paragraphs made up of headlines.

U.S. LURES DOMINICANS TO THE CRUEL SEA

DOMINICANS FIND BACK DOOR TO NEW YORK IN PUERTO RICO

ANOTHER NATIVE GOES HOME TO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IN COFFIN

GYPSY CABS: A HARD, CHANCY LIFE ON THE SIDE STREETS OF NYC

Oswaldo took a drag from his cigarette and walked over to be closer to them.

—This some crazy stuff, old man.

HOW THE SAUDIS AND KUWAITIS COULD GIVE BUSH A

$300 BILLION TAX CUT

BUSH SAYS IRAQI AGGRESSION THREATENS ”OUR WAY OF LIFE.“

IRAQIS ARE STUNNED BY FEROCIOUS ASSAULT: DEATH

SUDDENLY RAINS DOWN THROUGH BLACK CLOUDS;

TANKS POP LIKE POPCORN

POSTWAR BOOM IN SAUDI STOCKS INFLAMES FUNDAMENTALISTS

—It‘s better not to know sometimes, Don Chan said, moving the headlines around.

—Viejo, live your life. That‘s the world. We‘re here. You can‘t be thinking about those things. Right, kiddo?

The young girl didn‘t respond, and ducked under and away from Oswaldo‘s grasp, moving to the other end of the booth, closer to the window.

—But everything that happens in the world affects you and your family. Doesn‘t it worry you?

Oswaldo adjusted his small bow tie. —Why you being mean to your daddy?

He pulled the young girl over to him.

Don Chan noticed her bite her upper lip and cringe when Oswaldo patted her head. She quickly broke away from him and busied herself with the clippings.

—You want a cigarette? Oswaldo asked Don Chan.

—No. I have to preserve as much of myself as I can.

—Ain‘t you tired of living yet? What are you, about seventy, eighty?

Don Chan looked over at the young girl.

—Hey, Chino, I‘m talking to you?

—I bet she cares, Don Chan said. —Do you care, little girl? He pointed to the headlines. —Will you fight for your life, little girl?

Don Chan wanted her to look up at him. Suddenly, she became shy and withdrawn.