Time: Saturday, July 15, 10:56 AM
From: [email protected]
Subject: Coda
Sandy,
I think enough time has passed now for each of us to reflect on what’s happened and how it’s affected us. I see that you’ve
reinstated a working relationship with George Cantu and seem to have recovered well from the fallout from his article.
I, for one, can admit that I regret participating in that article. For what it’s worth, I was led to believe that it would
be a profile of me and my work, and not solely a piece about the two of us. My quotes were taken out of context. I was probably
just as surprised and embarrassed as you to read the final work.
I’m sure you’ve already admitted, to yourself, at least, your part in all this.
Despite everything, I’ve been able to continue working and am performing a reading of my thesis at the Fat Man this weekend,
as per the link below. It’s open to the public. However, I hope that any mention you make of it on your Web site refrains
from too personal a tone.
Sincerely,
Daniel
S
andy deleted her ex-boyfriend’s e-mail with a snort. He was completely ridiculous. She couldn’t remember now what she’d ever
seen in him in the first place.
It was the Saturday after the busiest week of her term at Nacho Papi so far. After the Big Date episode, they taped segments
of every staff member delivering his or her auction donations to the charities of their choice. Sandy’s visit to the Chupacabra
was aired on the show, then posted on the site. Readers clicked in record numbers to see Sandy knocking on the door of the
Chupacabra’s house, only to find that no one lived there anymore. She’d used Aunt Linda’s house as the setting. At the end
she’d zoomed in on a goodbye note she’d written and tacked to the door ahead of time. It said
Gone to greener pastures.
Reading the comments online now, Sandy saw that the readers’ reactions were mixed. Of course. Several had come up with elaborate
conspiracy theories about the whole thing being fake to begin with.
She closed down all her files and browser windows, then physically closed her laptop and left Calypso’s corner table.
“Bye, Sandy! See you next time!” the barista called as she left.
A leisurely hour later she pulled into Tío Jaime’s drive. As always, he was waiting on the porch for her with Cano at his
side. His cast had finally been removed and he wore a sturdy new pair of tennis shoes.
Sandy accepted his offer of lemonade, following him into the kitchen to see the telltale pile of yellow sugar-substitute packets.
“I have bad news for you,” he told her once they were settled on his porch, enjoying the ever-present cool breeze. His tone
belied his words, though, and she suspected she already knew what he was going to tell her. “I’m moving to California, after
all. I’m going to live with my little sister in East LA.”
“Are you?”
“Yes. It’s not because of the bills. The money you gave me was more than enough to cover them—”
“The money you
earned,
” Sandy corrected.
“—and I don’t know how I’m ever going to pay you back for that.”
Sandy shook her head just the way he would have, and he went on.
“But, the truth is, m’ija, I am getting older. You probably can’t tell, but my memory isn’t what it used to be. I’ve been
forgetting little things here and there, and it’s starting to make me nervous.”
Sandy didn’t confirm or deny. She just let him talk.
“And, as much as I like visiting with you and my neighbors around here, I have to admit that it’s been pretty lonely since
your Aunt Linda died.”
Sandy reached over and put her hand on the old man’s shoulder. It was the first time she’d heard him speak directly about
his relationship with her great-aunt, and she knew it must have been difficult for him.
“The thing is,” he continued, “it’d probably be nice to go stay with my sister for a while. I’d get to see my nephews and
nieces more, and a couple of my cousins. I’m gonna miss this old place. And you. But…”
“I understand,” Sandy said. “I’ll miss you, too.” They sat in silence for a while. “When are you going?” she finally asked.
“In a couple of weeks. Richard’s flying down to help me settle things, and then we’ll take my truck and drive all the way
back. Cano doesn’t want to fly.” He smiled down at the old dog, who lifted his head as if he got the joke.
“What’ll happen to the ranch? Your goats?”
“They’ll still be here. I’m going to rent the house to someone who’s willing to babysit the goats and keep them safe from
the real chupacabras. In fact, Richard’s been talking to your aunt Ruby, and she’s going to rent out Linda’s house, too.”
Sandy tried to imagine the two houses inhabited by strangers. There’d be no more long drives to the country for her, then.
No more place to go when she wanted to get away from everything. The thought made her sadder than she would have expected.
But she didn’t want to make Tío Jaime’s decision any more difficult for him, so she smiled and said, “Well, everything’s settled,
then. I’m glad you’re going to be with the rest of your family. Maybe I can visit you sometime. Sometimes they send me to
LA, you know.”
“Or maybe you could get a job in LA,” he replied. “Don’t they have Web sites in California, too?”
Sandy smiled. It was as if he’d read her mind before she could even formulate the thought. But all she said was, “Maybe. We’ll
see what happens.”
“So.” Tío Jaime sat back and regarded Sandy through narrowed eyes. “What’s this I hear about you and my nephew going on a
date?”
Sandy laughed aloud. “Is that what he called it?”
“He said you had dinner together. But that’s all he said, and I had to drag that much out of him.”
“Well, then I’m not going to say any more than that, either. I don’t kiss and tell,” Sandy said, savoring the tingly feeling
of keeping something secret. “Anymore.”
A
few days after that, Sandy stood in her boss’s office waiting for Angelica to remove a pile of photographs from the nearest
visitor’s chair and set them on her desk. Sandy took the purple seat. Angelica closed the office door and took her own chair.
With a throat-clearing cough and no other excuse to put it off, Sandy began. “Angelica, I don’t know how to say this. But…
um…”
“You’re quitting,” the older woman said, completing Sandy’s declaration with her signature professional smile in place.
“I’m quitting, yes. How’d you know?”
“Sandy, please. I’ve known since you did that swan-song interview with your Chupacabra friend. Actually, I knew when I hired
you that you wouldn’t last the year here. You’re just not the type. You’re too full of integrity and idealism. Talent. All
those other things.” Seeing Sandy’s surprised face, she added, “That said, you’ve done very well. Better than I expected.”
“Thank you.” Sandy didn’t know what to say now. It’d been said for her. “Well, I should tell you that I’m glad I met you.
You taught me a lot, Angelica, and I’ll always be grateful for that.”
Smile firmly in place, Angelica shook her head. “Oh, stop. You don’t need to do that. So tell me, where are you going?”
“To the
LA Chronicle
.”
“With Jim Mayer?”
“Yes.”
“That’s great. You’re going to love Jim. He’s wonderful. I need to call him and tell him he owes me dinner for stealing one
of my writers away.”
Sandy was surprised at how well Angelica was taking the news. It almost hurt her feelings, a little, that her boss wasn’t
more upset. “I’ll stick around for at least two weeks,” she offered. “As long as you need me, in order to train my replacement.”
“Actually, Sandy, you don’t have to stay more than a week if you don’t want to. And you can work from home if you like. I
haven’t had a chance to make the announcement yet, but we’re already hiring two new writers, and they should be enough to
take your place for the moment. We might be able to hire one more now, in fact.”
“Wow,” Sandy said. “I guess you weren’t kidding about knowing I was going to quit.”
“Well…” At this Angelica’s mask fell, and she leaned forward. “I’ll tell you this in confidence, knowing that Lori or one
of the others will probably tell you anyway. Jacob Levy is moving us to a new salary structure again. One that pays a little
less than the current model. So, if anything, you quitting now saves me from having to advise you to get another day job.”
She smiled wanly.
Sandy felt relieved to see the real Angelica again, one last time. “Thanks for telling me the bad news and making me feel
better.”
Angelica chuckled. “Then I’ll tell you the rest of the bad news, too. Before you go, you need to do a conference call with
Legal so they can go over the terms of your contract that still bind you for a year after its termination. There are a couple
of things we’ll ask you not to write about, basically, under threat of lawsuit. But nothing too binding. It shouldn’t affect
your job with Jim. Much.”
Sandy narrowed her eyes. “Note to self: Hire a lawyer to look at the next contract.”
“That sounds like good advice.” Angelica stood and walked around to the other side of her desk. Sandy stood to receive her
boss’s hard little hug. “I want you to call me if there’s anything I can do for you, okay?”
Sandy nodded. “I will.”
“And, if you wanted to do something for me, as a parting gift…” Her boss smiled suggestively.
Sandy had no idea what Angelica could need from her, but she said, “Sure. Name it.”
“In your last few posts, if you could drop a couple of hints that you’re leaving because of some kind of personal drama—maybe
something like a fight with George, or a new man in your life—that would really help us with the page views. I’d forward you
a bonus check.”
Sandy laughed. But she knew Angelica wasn’t kidding. “I don’t think so. I’ve retired from spilling my guts online. But I’m
sure if you ask George he’ll be more than happy to make something up.”
“Ooh.” The distant, scheming look instantly filled Angelica’s eyes. “That’s a really good idea.”
And, with that, Sandy left Angelica Villanueva O’Sullivan’s office for the last time.
Post on Nacho Papi’s Web Site, Friday, July 21
by Lori
Hola, everybody! Bad news first: Sandy S. and La Sirena are leaving us. P Sandy has taken a job with a real live newspaper,
the Los Angeles Chronicle, and is moving to California. Sandy, don’t forget us when you’re gone, girl! Volver, volver, volver!
And La Sirena is leaving us for the East Coast to be the new hostess of
Hyper Hydraulic
. La Sirena, it was good knowing you! I tell you—keep watching Nacho Papi for the stars of tomorrow, peeps!
And now, the good news: Nacho Papi is holding auditions for four new staff members! Send your clips and your tapes to Angelica
Villanueva O’Sullivan at the address below.
The other good news: None of this bad news is changing our plans to put on Nacho Papi’s First Annual Singles’ Mixer, right
here in Austin, Texas, with me as your hostess with the mostest! So stay tuned for more deets on that and the other Nacho
Papi Singles’ events coming to cities near you.
So La Sirena goes on a site-sponsored date with a competing producer, and then he steals her away? Smooth move, Big A. Not!
Gen Ex
Sandy’s leaving? Sucks!
Luisa
I bet Sandy ran off with the guy she went on the date with, too.
Darth Waiter
Darth: Gross. That was her cousin. He’s Chupacabra’s nephew, and the Chupacabra is Sandy’s dad.
Manny
Manny: No, Sandy is Chupacabra’s niece, and that guy is his lawyer. He scored them a package deal in LA. My mom’s a nurse
at the hospital where Chupacabra had his operation.
Big Wheel
You’re all full of it. Sandy and George have been dating all along. They did all this stuff for publicity, and now Sandy’s
going to LA to write a book about it.
Payasa
Time: Monday, July 24, 11:39 AM
From:
[email protected]
Subject: Hey woman!!
I’m glad we made up and that you aren’t mad at me anymore about all that stuff that happened……
because I can’t wait to stay at your place in Los Angeles!!!
And yeah, I know it’s really in Santa Ana and not right there in LA. But still!! California hook-up in the house!!!
Love,
V
Time: Wednesday, July 26, 1:03 PM
From:
[email protected]
Subject: hey sexy
Just wanted to write and say that you’re lucky you left when you did. Angelica just gave us new contracts. Not only are we
getting paid less, but?
We’re going to start hosting
singles events
in multiple cities throughout the year. Attendance mandatory.
Can you imagine anything so completely horrid?
Love,
Philippe
Time: Friday, July 28, 10:22 PM
From:
[email protected]
Subject: hey Sandy
It’s me George. How’s it going? Have you gone to LA yet?
Listen. I have to tell you that it sucks not having you and Sirena here. Lori and the new chick are cool, but I miss having
someone to argue with like Angelica used to make us do. Remember?
I was thinking. Do you want to give me an interview about your ex-boyfriend? Sort of a revenge piece, in response to the one
he did about you? I’d give you a cut of my page-view bonus.