Where I Live Now. Lucia Berlin

down the steps and up to the bar.

      “She forgives me, she loves me. She is sleeping now.”

      “Shall we go back for dinner?” Sam grinned. Tony was offended. Then after a while he said he was, in fact, dying of hunger. Memo had been awake, taking everything in. He said he was hungry too, they should go in the kitchen and fix breakfast.

      Victor arrived alone, sat at a far table in the now dim light. Raúl took him hot chocolate and pan dulces. Victor never drank or took drugs. Hernán believed he must be very rich by now. Raúl told Victor that Luis was still upstairs. “I’ll wait,” he said.

      Memo came out of the kitchen just as a few people came in for after-dinner drinks. Tony went over to wait for Luis with Victor. Tony had chocolate too and Hernán sent him over some aspirins. Tony didn’t mention the evening to Victor, just talked about his new boat.

      Sam came to the bar and ordered a Kahlua with brandy. He held his head between his hands. Hernán handed him the drink and said, “You need aspirin, too.”

      Luis came downstairs, carrying one of the woman’s shopping bags. The three friends spoke in whispers, laughing like teenaged boys. They left, loped effortlessly past the open windows of the bar, their laughter trailing back with the sound of the waves, easy and innocent.

      “What was that clicking sound. Maracas?”

      “Teeth. Luis took the woman’s false teeth.”

      Hernán picked up Sam’s empty glass, carefully wiped the circle where it had been.

      “It’s time for me to go home. Want some ice for that lip?”