Chapter 47: Mexican Birthday Parties Had a Completely Different Atmosphere
Chapter 47: Mexican Birthday Parties Had a Completely Different Atmosphere
“Jason… Auto repair is much harder than I thought…”
Noah was currently looking at the wiring diagram I had drawn and replacing the Metropolitan’s wires one by one with new ones.
“Of course it is.”
I said it with an intentionally solemn air, but the truth was that wiring was one of the jobs I disliked most too.
No, it was probably the task almost every mechanic and restorer avoided the most.
It took a long time, and because you had to keep checking and cross-referencing the wiring diagram, it demanded a great deal of concentration and patience.
Some people even said they would rather pull an engine twice than do electrical work.
“Still, it finally feels like I’m actually participating in the work, so I kind of like it too. Hehe.”
Noah smiled brightly while holding bundles of wire in both hands.
The sight of that smile made something prick slightly at the corner of my conscience, but this was work he absolutely needed to learn anyway.
“By the way, Noah, do you have plans for Saturday the week after next?”
“The week after next? I don’t even have anything planned this week.”
Noah looked at me incredulously and pouted.
“Really? Then do you want to go to Mexico with me? The daughter of the man who commissioned this car is having a birthday party. Their family is rich, so there’ll probably be tons of food you’ve never tried before.”
“Ooooh! Yes, I want to go! I’ve never been abroad before!”
Life returned to Noah’s eyes, which had grown tired from the repetitive wiring work.
Come to think of it, Noah had never even left Arizona, much less gone overseas.
The farthest he had probably traveled was the Grand Canyon trip with me.
“Do you have a passport?”
In the United States, getting a passport could take at least two months even under ideal circumstances, and people generally allowed around three months to be safe.
There was expedited processing, but it required proof of imminent international travel, such as an airline ticket.
“Yes. Mom applied for one as soon as I turned sixteen. She said it was better to have it just in case.”
That was Rachel for you.
Even while living a life so hectic she barely had time to breathe, she never lost her smile and still took meticulous care of Noah.
“That’s good. But first, you need to get Rachel’s proper permission. For reference, it’ll be a two-day, one-night trip.”
“Uh… Does that mean we’ll be sleeping in the truck bed again…?”
Noah, who had been throwing excited jabs into the air, suddenly looked at me as though something had occurred to him.
“No. Unfortunately, that would be difficult in Mexico. Alejandro, the man who invited us, said he would provide rooms instead.”
“Whew… What a relief… I mean, what a shame!”
“Right. So stop slacking and get back to work. We still need to send it out for the interior restoration after this, so we have to keep moving.”
“Yes, sir!”
Ever since he started working with me, Noah’s personality had become noticeably brighter.
Even now, he struck a salute and smiled playfully.
Whenever I saw him like that, I found it ridiculous, yet also strangely satisfying.
I hoped he could continue living a life where he was able to smile like this.
For that to happen, I need to work harder too.
Szzzzzt—
I resumed welding the underbody reinforcements I had paused while we talked.
The Metropolitan used a unibody construction.
The problem was that high-strength steel like the kind used today did not exist back then.
That meant additional reinforcement members had to be attached like this to achieve rigidity comparable to a body-on-frame design.
There were also gas-filled shock absorbers to reduce its bouncy ride.
Then there were small details such as whitewall radial tires that looked classic on the outside but used modern rubber compounds.
There was no shortage of things that needed attention.
Still, thanks to Noah, I’ll have more than enough time to meet the deadline.
If I had been working alone, the wiring alone would have consumed at least two or three full days.
Of course, that also meant Noah still had more than a day of wiring work ahead of him.
“Ahem… Noah, are you hungry? Should we get pizza on the way to your house later? How about Red Rock Pizzeria?”
I casually asked while looking at the boy, who was concentrating so hard on the work that deep wrinkles had formed between his brows.
“Really? I’d love to, but… is it okay to go there this often?”
After finishing work, I sometimes went out with Noah on the way home to eat pizza.
Red Rock Pizzeria was the place Jack had brought takeout from before.
So far, it still held first place in the Jack, Cole, and Steven trio’s rankings.
Apparently, the pizza suited Noah’s tastes too, because he often demolished an entire thirty-five-dollar jumbo pizza by himself.
It seemed that had been bothering him.
“You don’t need to worry about things like that. Rachel is working the day shift today too, right? Good. We can get one to go for her as well.”
“Yes… Thank you.”
I continued managing the money I spent on myself as strictly as ever, but strangely, I never felt that spending money on Noah was wasteful.
“There’s nothing to thank me for. Think of it as an employee benefit.”
Even I found the words awkward after saying them, so I quickly picked up the welding rod again.
The Saturday that had seemed so far away arrived in the blink of an eye.
Noah and I were heading toward Meoqui in the Mexican state of Chihuahua.
This time, because we were departing from Arizona rather than El Paso, Texas, we crossed through the Agua Prieta border checkpoint near Douglas.
Other than submitting a travel consent form signed by Noah’s legal guardian because I was not his biological father, the process was the same as before, including placing a deposit on the vehicle.
“Wow, Jason! Look at that. It’s a cactus.”
“…Yeah. We have the exact same ones in Arizona.”
A border was ultimately nothing more than a line drawn by people.
Southern Arizona and the Sonoran Desert had nearly identical vegetation, terrain, and everything else.
(Translator’s Note: Sonoran Desert — A North American desert covering parts of Arizona, California, Sonora, and Baja California. It is the natural home of the giant saguaro cactus)
There were thin, sticklike ocotillo shrubs, thorny mesquite trees, and even saguaro cacti.
(Translator’s Note: Ocotillo — Fouquieria splendens, a tall desert plant native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Despite its cactus-like appearance, it is not a true cactus.)
(Translator’s Note: Mesquite — A group of drought-resistant thorny trees and shrubs native to arid regions of the Americas. Mesquite wood is widely used in the southwestern United States and Mexico for grilling and smoking food.)
(Translator’s Note: Saguaro — Carnegiea gigantea, a giant columnar cactus native to the Sonoran Desert. It can live for more than a century and is a major cultural symbol of Arizona.)
However, to Noah, everything seemed new simply because this was a foreign country.
Since the trip would take at least eight hours even without stopping, we had left before dawn.
We ate sandwiches for breakfast because there were plenty of places open early in the border town of Douglas.
Naturally, Old Trapper jerky was indispensable on this road trip too.
“Jason. I think I’ve discovered the appeal of this jerky.”
After chewing on a single piece for nearly five minutes, Noah spoke in a serious voice.
“Your tongue gets all numb after eating it, right? Then you take one perfect drink of Dr Pepper!”
“Aaah!”
“It clears out your whole mouth, and then you can immediately eat another piece of jerky.”
Noah gulped down his favorite soda while scrunching his face dramatically.
“Noah, I have a feeling you’ll be really good at drinking beer someday.”
“Really? Hehe. You said my dad was great at drinking beer too. He could finish a whole six-pack in no time while sitting in one place.”
“Yeah, that’s right. There were plenty of people on the team who could drink that much, but Daniel drank it at a ridiculous speed. I’m telling you, he practically poured the beer straight down his throat.”
I had never imagined this would happen.
That one day, Noah and I would be able to talk about Daniel so naturally.
Of course, painful memories did not heal that easily.
Even now, thinking of Daniel made my mouth feel gritty, as though I were chewing sand, and left me craving a beer.
It was probably the same for Noah.
Except in his case, it would be Dr Pepper rather than beer.
Even so, compared to a few years ago, there had clearly been progress.
For both of us.
Grrrrr—
After another two hours of driving, a thunderous sound came from Noah’s stomach.
Perhaps because he was still growing, the amount he ate was no joke.
The sandwiches he had eaten for breakfast had already amounted to nearly two servings.
“Noah, if you’re hungry, we can stop for lunch.”
“No. We’re going to a party. If I eat until I’m full now, I won’t be able to eat much there.”
No…
Exactly how much was he planning to eat?
“Don’t worry. Even if we hurry, we won’t arrive until after seven.”
“What? Really? Won’t the party already be over by then?”
In the United States, birthday parties for young children under twelve were most commonly held during the day.
Even for those fifteen or older, the meal was usually finished before seven, so it was understandable that Noah was confused.
“Mexico is a little different. Even a party for a sixteen-year-old might not start until seven or eight in the evening. If you’re capable of it, you’ll probably be able to keep eating until midnight.”
“Wow… My God, midnight? Then I’ll definitely hold out.”
Noah clenched his jaw with determination.
“This is Jason. I brought the restored car.”
Bzzzt—click!
The moment we passed through the front gate of Alejandro’s estate, the texture of the air changed.
The harsh, scorching sensation of sand disappeared, replaced by fresh greenery and pleasant humidity that enveloped my entire body.
Sniff, sniff!
“I can’t believe there’s a place like this in the middle of the desert.”
Dusty and Noah simultaneously stuck their heads out the open windows.
“Welcome. You may get out here. We will handle both the parking and unloading.”
When we reached the parking area, an attendant approached and took the keys to my truck and the Metropolitan loaded on the trailer.
“This way, please.”
As we moved toward the courtyard inside the main house, where the birthday party had just begun, another completely different scene unfolded before us.
Rainbow-colored papel picado hung so densely overhead that it nearly filled the sky.
(Translator’s Note: Papel Picado — A traditional Mexican decorative art made by cutting intricate designs into brightly colored tissue paper. It is commonly displayed during birthdays, weddings, religious festivals, and Día de Muertos celebrations.)
Ting, ting-ting, ting-ting-ting—
On a small stage, a five-member mariachi band wearing broad-brimmed hats played a twelve-string guitar called a bajo sexto.
(Translator’s Note: Mariachi — A Mexican musical tradition that developed primarily in western Mexico, especially Jalisco. Ensembles commonly include violins, trumpets, guitars, vihuelas, and guitarrón. UNESCO added mariachi to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2011)
(Translator’s Note:Bajo Sexto — A Mexican twelve-string instrument arranged in six paired courses. It is especially associated with norteño and conjunto music rather than being a standard instrument in every mariachi ensemble.)
Couples dressed in vivid primary-colored outfits and men wearing crisply starched guayaberas—vertically pleated shirts worn in hot climates—talked loudly in front of the waterfall of paper decorations.
(Translator’s Note: Guayabera — A lightweight pleated shirt with multiple front pockets, widely worn in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and other tropical regions. Its precise national origin is disputed.)
At that moment, my eyes met Alejandro’s in the distance, where he was surrounded by guests.
“Jason! Mi hermano!”
Striding toward me, he ignored a formal handshake and instead grabbed my dust- and sweat-stained shoulders before pulling me into a rough chest-to-chest embrace.
It was a Mexican greeting known as an abrazo.
(Translator’s Note: Abrazo — Spanish for “embrace.” In many Spanish-speaking cultures, an abrazo is a warm social greeting involving a handshake, shoulder contact, or brief hug.)
“You came all this way again! Rafael told me the car was completed successfully. Thank you so much! Dusty, you came too!”
“Woof! Woof!”
“Hello, Alejandro. It’s my job. This is my assistant, Noah. Noah, this is Mr. Alejandro Vega.”
“Buenas noches, Señor Vega. I’m Noah Reed.”
“Hm? Hahahaha! Buenas noches, Noah. Welcome. How old are you?”
Noah’s Spanish pronunciation was awkward, but he greeted Alejandro as formally as he could, causing Alejandro’s face to brighten dramatically.
“I turned sixteen recently.”
“Oh! You’re the same age as my daughter Valentina! Thank you for coming to the party.”
Alejandro snatched a sugar-coated churro from the silver tray of a passing server, placed it in Noah’s hand, and continued.
(Translator’s Note: Churro — A fried dough pastry associated with Spain and Portugal and widely adopted throughout Latin America. It is commonly coated with sugar or cinnamon and may be served with chocolate or filled with sweet paste.)
“Eat as much as you can and enjoy yourself! Understood?”
“Uh, yes, thank… I mean, gracias!”
“Hahahaha, yes, yes.”
Perhaps because it was his daughter’s birthday, Alejandro appeared to be in an exceptionally good mood.
And because Noah was the same age as his daughter, his gaze toward the boy was filled with kindness.
“Then enjoy yourselves, and I’ll see you again later.”
Alejandro ruffled Noah’s hair with his enormous hand, then hurried away again.
A long line of people was already waiting behind him to exchange greetings.
“But Noah, you can speak Spanish?”
“No… I only learned a little at school.”
Munch, munch—
Noah awkwardly bit into the churro, looking embarrassed as he answered.
At that moment, the band’s music gradually quieted, and spotlights gathered between the stone archways at the center of the courtyard.
The noisy crowd fell silent all at once, as though they had agreed on it beforehand.
Then, at last, the star of the day appeared.
Valentina Vega.
Her black hair was neatly pinned up, revealing a straight neck and graceful shoulders.
Her deep ruby-red dress, like a flower blooming in the desert, rippled like waves with every step.
“Wow…”
“Valentina!”
The guests around us exclaimed in awe as they looked at her.
Alejandro approached her and took her hand, and the band began playing a gentle waltz.
The father held his daughter and slowly turned with her at the center of the courtyard.
Her heels and Alejandro’s boots crossed over the stone floor as though drawing a picture.
“¿Cuándo creciste tanto, hija mía?”
When did you grow up so much, my daughter?
“Papá…”
Dad…
Alejandro’s eyes held affection, pride, and a faint trace of loneliness as he looked at Valentina.
When the dance finally ended, Alejandro kissed her forehead and picked up a microphone.
“I would like to thank our family, relatives, and friends for coming here to celebrate the birthday of Valentina, my most precious sun in the world.”
Clap, clap, clap—
“Among all of you, we have a very special guest today who has crossed the border to be here. He is the craftsman who created my daughter’s gift.”
Alejandro pointed toward me, where I had been comfortably watching the party from within the crowd.
Every gaze immediately turned in my direction.
As everyone suddenly focused on us, Noah even stopped chewing his churro.
I awkwardly gave the guests a small nod.
Then, with a rattling sound from one corner of the courtyard, four sturdy staff members pushed out a large platform.
A massive shape stood upon it, covered with a deep red velvet cloth that gleamed faintly beneath the lights.
“Oh… What is that?”
“I’m not sure. It looks like a car.”
The guests began murmuring one after another.
Unconcealed anticipation also appeared in Valentina’s eyes.
“Then, Jason, would you perform the unveiling?”
Alejandro’s voice boomed throughout the estate through the microphone.
At the same time, the guests applauded and began urging me forward.
Ah… this is bad.
It seemed I had underestimated just how sociable a Mexican party could be.
[Mariachi Band]
CC BY 2.0, photograph by Larry D. Moore
[Papel Picado, Mexican Paper Decorations]
CC BY 2.0, photograph by Sharon Hahn Darlin