Tony got in the passenger side of his father's truck. He felt vaguely nauseated and tried to slow his breathing. The boy expected his father to lecture him all the way home, but instead he listened as the man spoke to himself quietly in Spanish. He heard his dad wondering if leaving Mexico had been the right decision and if he had somehow failed his family. These distressing comments made Tony want to beg for his father's forgiveness. But he wasn't sure if his dad intended him to hear, so he kept quiet. The boy knew apologizing would happen later.
When they arrived home, Mr. Padilla said, "Hijo, espérame en el garaje."
The teen nodded and went to garage, where he knew his dad would make him wait for awhile. He imagined that his father would go tell his mother what had happened. Tony knew his mom would make him go to confession at church. The teen wandered around the garage, unable to settle. He hung his leather jacket on one of the hooks in the workshop. Then the boy looked for something to do. He put away tools that had been left on the work table and cleaned an oil spill on the floor. After 30 minutes, Tony felt antsy. He heard the kitchen door open and felt his anxiety surge.
When the garage door opened, Tony saw his older brother Raul creeping in.
"Hey, Tony, just thought I'd come check on you. Mom and Dad are still talking in their room."
Tony sighed and sat down on a crate. "Talking this long…, they must be planning my funeral."
Raul chuckled. "Remember when Marco got brought home by that cop?"
"Yeah, Dad went ballistic."
"Well, he was throwing rocks at cars from the roof of the hardware store. I mean 14 is too old to be that dumb."
"I know but he got beat and he didn't even cause any damage. And he didn't get arrested."
Raul nodded, understanding his brother's anxiety. "Hey, when you're done with Dad, let's go to Rosie's."
"You think I'm gonna want to go to the diner after Dad beats my ass?"
"You're always ready to go to Rosie's…," Raul smiled.
Tony stared hard at his older brother, then rolled his eyes. Raul's smile faded and he whispered, "Good luck, hermanito." Then he left Tony alone, still sitting on the crate.
The boy's nerves were fraying by the minute. When he heard the kitchen door open again, he stood, hoping and fearing that it might be his father coming.
His dad opened the door and came in quietly. They stood facing each other, neither talking.
Finally, Mr. Padilla spoke, "Antonio, me decepcionas."
"Sé, papá. Lo siento.
"Bájate los pantalones. Pon tus manos sobre la mesa."
The teen nodded, then unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans. He pushed them down to his knees and leaned forward to put his hands on the work table. Tony felt flutters in his stomach and his hands were clammy with sweat. He heard his father unbuckle his belt and pull it through the loops, a petrifying sound. Tony tensed, anticipating the first sting of el cinto. The belt landed with a heavy thud on the boy's butt. He gritted his teeth and held his breath. The second slash smacked the middle of rear end. His father quickly settled into a rhythm: belt drawn back over his shoulder, swung forward, thwack across the teen's backside; back, forward, thwack; back, forward, thwack. Tears were running down Tony's cheeks. Back, forward, thwack; back, forward, thwack; back, forward, thwack.
"Lo siento, papá," he whispered.
Back, forward, thwack; back, forward, thwack; back, forward, thwack.
"Papá… ¡Por favor!" Tony begged.
Back, forward, thwack; back, forward, thwack; back, forward, thwack.
The teen groaned, trying to prevent the sound from escaping. Back, forward, thwack; back, forward, thwack; back, forward, thwack. The last lick seemed especially sharp and Tony could no longer remain quiet. He yelped as the belt whacked his now burning backside.
"No vuelvas a ser arrestado. ¿Entiendes?" Mr. Padilla said, threading his belt back through his pant loops.
"Sí, en…tiendo," Tony stammered.
"Cálmate. Entonces ve a disculparte con tu madre."
"Sí. …Papá, ¿puedo ir al diner con mis hermanos?"
Mr. Padilla looked at the boy quizzically and then smiled. "Mi hijo, siempre listo para comer. Sí puedes ir." He ruffled the boy's hair and left the garage. Tony wiped his face on a clean rag, put on his jacket and followed his dad back to the house.
Translations:
Hijo, espérame en el garaje.= Son, wait for me in the garage.
hermanito= little brother
Antonio, me decepcionas.= Antonio, I am disappointed in you.
Sé, papá. Lo siento.= I know. I am sorry.
Bájate los pantalones. Pon tus manos sobre la mesa.= Pull down your pants. Put your hands on the table.
el cinto= the belt
Lo siento, papá.= I'm sorry, Dad.
"Papá… ¡Por favor!= Dad... please!
No vuelvas a ser arrestado. ¿Entiendes?= Don't ever get arrested again. Understand?
Sí, en…tiendo.= Yes, I understand.
Cálmate. Entonces ve a disculparte con tu madre.= Calm down. Then go apologize to your mother.
Sí. …Papá, ¿puedo ir al diner con mis hermanos?= Yes. Dad, can I go to the diner with my brothers?
Mi hijo, siempre listo para comer. Sí puedes ir.= My son, always ready to eat. Yes, you can go.