Let’s see. Friday night, I was hanging out, Bill rehearsing for a play, Juan out running around somewhere. The cellphone rings and its Pedro. I’ve been thinking about him, and hadn’t heard from him in weeks. Usually we talk on the phone at least once a week, but after leaving messages I hadn’t heard from him. I didn’t worry despite occasionally reading articles about life in and on Riker’s Island. It’s never any good news of course, but since his name never comes up in the papers I figured everything was all right. And it certainly was.

He proceeded to give me the low down about what he’s been up to in the jail, fighting crooks, with his fists. He’s got the fists for it I tell you. Some pretty gruesome details that I won’t repeat here, only to say when the going gets tough, that’s when the corrections officers call for him to set things straight. He loves it, always been a scrapper and with the law behind him he is almost untouchable. I’m sure it’s not easy working around people who would kill you given half the chance. His girlfriend Connie, is also a corrections office, though not in as violent a wing as Pedro’s.

Pedro asked what I was doing the next day, Saturday and I answered honestly. Nothing. Nothing at all, besides laundry that is. He suggested hopping on a train and heading up to Otisville NY. I said it sounded like a good time, and an hour later, his girlfriend, Connie told me what train to take. I told Bill what I was thinking of doing and it worked out perfectly. I could buy a ticket and hop on the train in Hoboken and be in Otisville in two hours. Easy peazy.

I did my chores and ran some errands and soon I was on the train, listening to the Smiths and reading about Manchester and Joy Division in the latest Mojo. Soon I was past Teterboro and Hackensack heading to new destinations, at least new to me. I got off the train, the next to last stop and stood around for about five minutes before Pedro showed up. I got in the car as we drove and I couldn’t believe how dark it was. Keene, NH was never as dark as this. Saw some deer across the street from Pedro and Connie’s new house.

Another old friend of Pedro’s and myself, Excer had driven up for the evening as well. I’ve known both Pedro and Excer for about 20 years, so it was a nice occasion. Excer is raising his kids on his own since he split from his wife and doing a really good job though the kids being kids resent him for it. But he perseveres nonetheless. We hung out and ate a nice turkey dinner that Pedro and Connie had cooked up for us. Lot’s of wine was consumed as well and before you know it I was nodding off at 12:30 while Pedro had put on ‘Tombstone’ with Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer.

Woke up around 8:00AM and waited for Connie and Pedro to stir as Excer and I watched ‘200 Cigarettes’ on cable. Connie whipped up pancakes and scrambled eggs with lots of Spanish coffee, Bustelo. Then Pedro was off to work again and Excer and I following his lead out of Otisville, heading to the New York State Thruway. Back in Hoboken, foggy down here, foggier up in Otisville and probably foggy in Arcata CA too. Day off tomorrow courtesy of Martin Luther King. Three day weekend, four day work week. Nice indeed.