Paint It Yellow

by López, Andrés G.

  “So your wish came true?” Gabriel asked.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “Thanks,” Mandy said, relieved in the awkward silence that followed, as twilight slipped on night’s garment.

  “I better head back. See you tomorrow, Mandy.”

  Gabriel did not feel miserable that spring. In fact, it became the most beautiful season of his young life — one he’d always recall longingly. Despite his disappointment, he had his books and learning to play chess and roller hockey after school and baseball season set to begin; Gabriel had plenty to occupy him. But it was being around Mandy that cheered him and gave him the greatest joy. She became the close friend he needed. Her smile brought him optimism, her warm eyes, a belief in human goodness, and her enthusiasm, renewed hope. That she was now Matt’s steady girlfriend didn’t matter. At school, they often chatted while Matt played touch football with the other boys. Their conversations were about school assignments and projects, upcoming candy drives, preparing for exams or exchanging class notes. But they were enough.

  CHAPTER 30

  An hour later, finding no one at 112 Park who could enlighten him, Gabriel headed to his father’s place, but first stopped at Parisi Bakery on Broadway and 31st to get a loaf of Italian bread. While he waited on the long line that stretched outside the store, Gabriel observed the folks rushing like racehorses down the train platform stairs into the street. Some went to the rear of the bread line, others scooted into Jay’s Liquor Store across the street, while the rest dispersed in all directions to their homes. The overhead trains arrived every five minutes; their rumbling shook the concrete sidewalk, their screeching metallic wheels and hissing air brakes added to the busy Astoria atmosphere. Though not yet dark, streetlights and Christmas ornaments illuminated Broadway toward Steinway Street in the distance, and the jubilant holiday excitement could be sensed among passersby.

  The hectic activity kept Gabriel from dwelling on anything somber. As he took in all the movement and sound, he recalled pleasant childhood days when his parents got along and worked hard to build their American dream. He thought about the huge Christmas tree his parents had hauled ten blocks to their 28th Street apartment when he was in the sixth grade. Gabriel was now just feet from Parisi’s door and as it opened and closed, he smelled the enticing aroma of freshly baked bread, cakes and pastries. Through the large storefront window, he saw shelves replete with various sized loaves, and excited customers pointing at what they wanted.

  A familiar voice pierced the surrounding cacophony. “Hey, Gabriel! Up here!”

  Gabriel looked up and spied a figure in a long woolen coat and hat, smiling and waving wildly from the platform stairs.

  “It’s Matt! Matt Jones! Finn’s Pub. Remember me?”

  Gabriel was euphoric. It was like he’d felt as a boy, seeing his mother embrace her mother at the airport when they’d arrived in Miami from Cuba, all those years ago. What a welcome surprise! It was as if Mandy herself called to him, so accustomed was Gabriel to thinking of and seeing the two together. He waved at Matt, still in shock — as if Matt were an apparition. That same moment, he saw Mandy’s face burst into smile, remembered her excitement during the eighth-grade Easter candy drive, felt her fingers coursing through his hair at the December dance, sensed her soft lips on his and then saw her sitting happily in sunshine on summer afternoons watching Matt and Finn’s Pub boys playing softball. Thinking of their happiness back then brought Gabriel the peace and joy of those days and lit a torch in his soul’s gloomy cave.

  Matt rushed down the stairs and Gabriel gave up his spot on the bread line to meet him. Overcome with emotion, he wrapped his arms around Captain Matt, as he had around Mr. Jones weeks earlier.

  “How’ve you been man?” Matt asked, holding Gabriel firmly and patting him hard on the back. “So damn good to see you. Been meaning to look you up since dad told me he’d seen you in Maspeth. I heard you lived on the Island.”

  Matt Jones hadn’t changed much in eight years; he’d only grown taller and gained a few pounds; his short blonde hair was parted on the side and covered most of his scar (twenty stitches worth) that he’d gotten on a dare when he’d jumped off a moving train at the 36th Avenue station and flown head first into a steel platform girder. But he was still handsome Matt who could melt any girl’s heart. And his smile still defined him, radiated the warmth of his winning personality.

  Matt was a born leader; he’d been elected captain of their team because he knew how to inspire and make players shed their egos and hustle for one another. He had a knack for bringing together disparate characters to battle for common goals. Even when he was thirteen, Gabriel had understood Mandy’s attraction to Matt and her desire to be his girlfriend.

  “And you?” Gabriel asked. “Your dad told me you worked at his company.”

  “Yeah. Dad helped me get it. A little monotonous, but don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful. The pay and benefits are good. I’m on my way to see him and mom now. Thought I’d get some fresh bread and wine. Dad loves Parisi’s.”

  Gabriel smiled. “Looks like we both had the same idea. I’m headed to my dad’s too.” He glanced at the line that had advanced without him. “Well, I’ve lost my spot; we better get to the back.”

  But an older man who’d eavesdropped on their conversation offered them a spot in front of him, and Gabriel and Matt thanked him and squeezed into the line near the door. Soon, both had gotten their steaming loaves and walked outside as dusk descended. Neither said much, but Gabriel felt so at ease having Matt near. They crossed the street together and strolled into Jay’s, where Matt searched for a bottle of wine. Snaking slowly through the busy aisles, Gabriel browsed with Matt and finally got the courage to say what he wanted, despite the nearby hubbub.

  “My head’s been spinning since your dad told me about Mandy. Sorry to bring it up, ‘cause I know how you love her. I’m just so sad about what happened, Matt. How’ve you coped?”

  “Nearly lost my mind,” Matt said, his voice thinning. “The hardest part was, I had no clue anything was wrong. Sounds crazy, but I was totally shocked. Everything seemed fine. I didn’t know she was depressed. Should’ve walked her home … should’ve … I don’t know.”

  Gabriel’s face felt flushed, his head dizzy listening to Matt talk about Mandy.

  “It was more painful than when I split open my skull. I couldn’t sleep. Kept reliving everything. Searched for what could’ve been wrong. Anything I’d missed. But we were happy.”

  “I know,” Gabriel said, putting his hand on Matt’s shoulder. “I can’t imagine what … I’m just so sorry for what you and her family have been through.”

  “You know Mandy cared a lot for you. She missed you when you went to Mater Christi.”

  “Thank you for telling me that. It means a lot.”

  “Wherever she is, I hope she knows we love her. I pray for her, every day.”

  “I do too,” Gabriel said.

  “Susan’s given me new purpose, but thinking of Mandy still brightens my life. She’ll never leave my heart.”

  “Nor mine.”

  The two friends fell silent, again heard the folks around them. That moment, Gabriel realized Sal had been right to chastise him for thinking that he could’ve done something to have altered Mandy’s fate. He felt less guilty, but much sadder, yet he understood it was the police’s job to investigate, not his — it was silly for him to think he could somehow find her.

  A few feet away, Matt held up a bottle. “I think Mom and Dad would like this one.” He paid for it and the two walked down Broadway toward Crescent. They stopped at 29th Street, where Gabriel would head toward his father’s apartment and Matt would continue to 21st to meet his parents.

  Matt stopped on the corner, reached for his wallet and pulled out his favorite photograph of Mandy, one he’d carried since they’d started dating. It was a small creased treasure that showed Mandy smiling at her fourteenth birthday party, her eyes glowing like
emeralds. Matt had kissed that photo every night before going to bed while they dated. After her disappearance, he’d added a Hail Mary to his ritual, the short prayer providing enough comfort to get him through each long night.

  “I’d like you to have this,” he said, putting the photo in Gabriel’s hand. “To remind you of how beautiful she was and is! I know she’s still here with us — somewhere.”

  “Thank you. I’ll treasure it.”

  Gabriel tucked Mandy’s photo into his pocket, then gave Matt’s hand a strong shake and pulled him in for one last embrace.

  When Gabriel walked through the door at six thirty, Daniel hugged and kissed him though he then proceeded to chastise Gabriel for not phoning to let him know he was all right. He couldn’t believe Gabriel could go more than a week without calling. Even Paul had started to worry when Sal had said he didn’t know where he was. Gabriel apologized and told him about Helene. Knowing how much his father worried, he didn’t mention anything about driving nights or the lunatic with the knife.

  Daniel placed a steaming cup of Cuban coffee on the table. Together they watched the news in Spanish, devoured a heaping plate of black beans, rice and pork chops, and waited for Paul to come home. Daniel retired early, leaving Gabriel at the dining room table reading Byron. When he’d finished “She Walks in Beauty,” he looked at the photo Matt had given him as if he peered beyond Heaven’s gate at paradise. He kissed the photo, carefully tucked it by the poem and closed the book gently.

  CHAPTER 31

  It was December 22. Gabriel sensed there was no way Sal would be out hustling for bucks in the heavy holiday traffic, unless he planned to give Julia an expensive Christmas gift. He dialed his number.

  “Shit,” Sal said, when he heard Gabriel’s voice. “Just where the hell have you been? I’ve looked at every hotel and airport line. My last hope was to go to your garage to see if you’d disappeared.”

  Gabriel laughed.

  “It’s not fuckin’ funny. You had your dad and brother worried to death. I didn’t give a damn because if a friend of mine pulls that shit he’s no friend. But where’ve you been?”

  “Working nights, making cash, staying with a woman.”

  “Real or imaginary?”

  Gabriel laughed again. “Real.”

  “I don’t fuckin’ believe it!”

  “It’s the truth. Maybe Paul and I can come over. I’ll tell ya all about it. Are you driving today?”

  “Hell no. I’m ready to tell my dispatcher to shove his job up his ass. He says he needs more production outta me, that I’m not steady enough. You believe that shit?”

  Gabriel cracked up. “Yeah, I believe it. The only thing you’re steady doing is cleaning your Caddy and drinking coffee.”

  “I gotta pot on now that’ll keep you up for days.”

  “I’ll be there in forty-five minutes.”

  “Great. I’ve gotta show little man the new Pioneer stereo I installed in the Caddy. We’ve become good friends since you’ve been away.”

  Five minutes later, Paul and Gabriel were in the Dodge, on their way to Sal’s.

  “I thought you said that Gibbs was a hardheaded grouch?” Paul said, after Gabriel told him about his vacation from work.

  “Only sometimes.”

  Gabriel didn’t want to tell his brother about the crazy knife-wielding guy, but he wasn’t used to keeping things from him. “I had a close call early yesterday morning. I picked up two guys uptown on Columbus, and one of ‘em had a knife. I forgot to shut my divider and he got pretty close. I was really scared. So yesterday I told Gibbs I needed some time off and he understood. He said stuff like that happens to all drivers at some point. Told me to take the time and think about what I wanted to do.”

  “Shit! How’d ya get out of it?”

  “Luck, I guess. A cop car magically appeared. I pulled up beside it and screamed at my passengers to get out.”

  “You are blowing me away with this. Why’d ya start driving nights, anyway?”

  “Heard the money was better. And I met a woman.” He glanced at his brother.

  “Ohhh … Pops told me you’d said you’d met a nice lady.”

  “Yeah. I only stopped to see the spot where Lennon was shot and—”

  “What? That sounds kinda eerie. I’d stay away from such an unlucky place. I saw those mourners on the news. Some of them said they hadn’t cried as much over their own parents’ deaths. Those people are as crazy as the man who shot Lennon, if you ask me.”

  “Helene’s not like that. She was there mourning her dead husband who’d died in a freak accident on the same date three years earlier. She loves the Beatles. And she felt lonely and thought that joining other mourners would help. She invited me into her group and then she rode back downtown with me. We went out to dinner. And … we became good friends.”

  “Good friends, huh?”

  Gabriel shot his brother a look. “Yes. And then she invited me to stay at her place while she went home to Minnesota. Her father’s sick.”

  “Figures it’d be Minnesota. Your favorite place. Remember how much grief you gave Mom about wanting to move there?”

  “Actually, I was amazed when I found out she was from there. And get this, during dinner she told me her husband had been a college football star. His dream was to play for the Vikings.”

  “No way. That’s really weird. You must’ve fallen off your chair when she told you that.”

  “It was strange. Felt like our running into each other was more than a coincidence.”

  “Is she hot?”

  “Gorgeous.”

  “Springfield!” Paul exclaimed, pointing. “You’re gonna miss the exit!”

  “I saw it.” Gabriel carefully maneuvered the Dodge to the right lane. “As a cabby, you can never lose your concentration. Driving’s automatic, and knowing where you are at all times.”

  “Well that’s dandy Gabe, but you should also let those who care about you know where the hell you are. Pops was ready to call the FBI. You know how crazy he gets.”

  “I know. Sorry for not calling. I haven’t been the same these past three weeks. Since finding out about Mandy, I’ve been distracted.”

  “No excuses,” Paul said. “Besides, I know what’s really had you distracted — your lady friend — what’s her name again?”

  “Helene Hansen.”

  “Nice name. If she’s as beautiful as you say, I know what you’ve been up to. I’m sure Helene’s shown you more than her broken heart.”

  Gabriel didn’t reply. He carefully backed the Dodge into a cozy parking spot directly in front of Sal’s apartment and locked it.

  Minutes later, sitting comfortably in Sal’s kitchen, devouring donuts and sipping Sal’s delicious coffee, the three friends were the picture of happiness. Sal leaned back in his chair, stretched his muscular arms over his head and came back down to light a cigarette.

  “So how’s the money at night?” he asked Gabriel.

  “Very good.”

  “And the assholes?”

  “Just a few more than during the day. Other than that, it’s pretty much the same, except there’s hardly any traffic.”

  “I think I ought a try it a couple a nights. But I’d hate to leave Julia here all alone.” He took a deep drag of his cigarette, blowing smoke rings when he exhaled.

  “Friday and Saturday nights are the best,” Gabriel said. “There’s plenty of action at the clubs. And they’re everywhere downtown. Weird places too. Weird people. But they carry cash, and that’s all that matters, right?”

  “Hell yeah! How’re the tips?”

  “Excellent.”

  “Any interesting episodes?” Sal asked. “You said you met a woman.”

  “By the Dakota, two weeks back.”

  “One of those crazy vigil keepers with a pierced nose?” Sal asked.

  “No! Hey, whatta you and Paul here got against those people?”

  “They’re a bunch of nuts, that’s what.”


  “They’re just people who feel things deeply, who love music and peace, who hate violence and hypocrisy, like Lennon did.”

  “They’re a bunch of hippies who don’t realize a decade’s gone by.”

  “They’re nice people, Sal. If you’d been there, I know you would’ve gotten into it.”

  “I doubt it. But how’s the woman you met?”

  “Wonderful.”

  “Does she put out?”

  “I’m not gonna answer that.”

  “That means yes,” said Sal, winking at Paul, who was busy stuffing his face with donuts.

  “She’s a very nice person, Sal — smart, sensitive, introspective.”

  “Will you listen to him?” Sal asked Paul. He turned to Gabriel. “Man, oh man, all I’m asking is if you got some, if this new woman has woken you up and made you stop thinking of Mandy.”

  “No. Mandy’s still on my mind. I’ll always think about her. But let’s change the subject, all right?”

  “Suit yourself. Though I’ve done a little detective work these past two weeks. You know, to help my pal out. But if you want to drop the subject, that’s fine by me.”

  “Go ahead. What have you found out?”

  “Nothing. Forget it.”

  “C’mon.”

  “You want more coffee?”

  While Sal got up to pour the coffee, Gabriel wondered what detective work Sal was talking about and he remembered the big dark-colored car with the shiny bumper he’d seen downtown on 38th between Broadway and Seventh the morning he waited outside that dingy hotel. Sal came back to the table and turned to Paul.

  “Come on, little man. Let me show you the new system I installed in my Caddy.”

  “Hang on, Sal. I thought I saw your Caddy on 38th near Broadway two nights ago? In the early morning. Was that you?”

  Sal’s face turned fire red, his jaw dropped and his expression went blank. Then he grabbed his keys and tossed them to Paul.

  “I’ll be right down, little man. Let me talk to your brother a second.”