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Priscilla.
    â€œDon’t go,” Priscilla sobs.
    â€œI have to, but you know I love you. I gotta have a letter from you every chance you get! And keep playing sports, maybe you can even get Teresa to throw a ball around every once in a while.”
    Jesse turns to Nana. She’s holding her handkerchief up to her nose. She’s not wearing her glasses.
    â€œNana, where are your glasses?” Jesse asks.
    â€œIn my pocket, mijito. I don’t need them. All I want is to see you come back home again! Every second I will pray for you, always. Keep La Oración Del Justo Juez close to you. I gave the prayer to Chris, too.”
    â€œAy que mi, Nana, don’t cry so much! I don’t want to cause you any more white hair!”
    I reach for Jesse before he goes back to Mom and Dad. “Jesse, you’ll be all right?”
    He looks at me. “Yeah, you bet!” He smiles big. His smile makes me feel good and I smile back.
    Now he’s in Mom’s arms again. “Mom, Mom…God, Mom, stop crying so much! Everything will be fine. I love you…you’re the best Mom a guy could ever have. Mom…” he kisses her forehead.
    â€œAy mijito, my son…you’re my world. Ay mijito, you have to come back to me! The war doesn’t matter. It’s you I want back in my arms! It’s your voice I want to hear again!”
    â€œYou will, Mom, I promise you, you will.”
    Now Dad is holding Jesse, patting both shoulders gruffly. “Grow eyes in the back of your head, mijo. Don’t depend on anyone to look out for you. Run like hell if you have to. I don’t want no war hero, I want my son.”
    â€œYeah, Dad…OK, take care of everybody, especially Mom.” He looks into Dad’s eyes, and Dad knows Jesse wants him to stay away from Consuelo.
    â€œYes, mijo. Seguro, sure. I’ll be there for your mom.” They both smile at the same time. It’s the first time I’ve seen them look at each other eye to eye and separate as friends.
    We start walking again, Mom and Dad on either side of Jesse, me next to Mom. Two women walk by dressed in identical flowered pantsuits. They’re saying good-bye to a Navy man. We pass themby. Jesse, Mom, Dad, Nana, Priscilla, Paul, the Guadalupanas, Father Ramon, all of us walking together until we have to let Jesse go. Father Ramon steps ahead of us and raises his hand over Jesse’s forehead to give him the official church blessing. He draws a big cross in the air. Father Ramon looks like Padre Kino blessing a convert. I look around to see if anybody’s staring at us. Everyone is busy with their own good-byes. Girlfriends and wives are hanging on to their men. Jesse wanted Mary Ann to come to the airport, but she didn’t want to. He tried so hard to have a girlfriend, but never did.
    Outside the huge windows, I see the plane waiting: US AIRBORNE . It is a commercial airplane, and will make two stops before heading for Vietnam. The Black Canyon Freeway stretches out in the distance, bordered by the purple ridge of the South Mountains. Chris walks up to me and gives me a big hug. He is tall and I have to reach up to put my arms around his neck. His face is fair, his features chiseled to perfection.
    â€œTeresa, you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen!” he whispers. “Write to me—yes?”
    â€œI will.” I answer without thinking. Chris flashes me a smile that gives me goosebumps. Priscilla gives me the look that says “I knew you liked him!”
    â€œSorry about last night,” I say.
    â€œSorry for what?” We both laugh and he kisses me good-bye, a simple kiss, the kind you can give in front of your parents.
    Father Ramon stands next to Mom as Jesse and Chris walk away. Chris turns back, waves to me, blows a kiss. Everybody waves back at the same time. I blow a kiss. It’s so natural. Everybody’s doing it. Jesse waves to all of us,