The Road to El Dorado pt 1

"Mija, you will see your popi in the brightest of lights, bathed in gold…"

Izzy, lays with her favorite stuffed animal, a raggedy stitched up raccoon, she's named appropriately, Bandito.

"Like mi Padre and his Padre before him, we have a legacy to uphold, Mija. We have to be the golden idols our ancestors have demanded us to be…"

She's dead asleep, oh how I miss the simpler times, when my life wasn't carved out by the roads between cities. Izzy holds my heart, protecting it as I protect her from the harshness this world has to offer.

"It is too easy to say it is our destiny, mija… Because a destiny's pre-determined and that is the way of the lazy gringo. We are rich through our hard work and determination. Our ancestors paved our roads and it is our duty to honor them with our very own legacy."

I speak, knowing my words are falling on deaf ears, but I know they'll ring true in due time for my little, Izzy.

"Rest now, for tomorrow I will tell you all about the future that awaits us, mija… A future filled with golden opportunities."

***

"Popi! Popi! Come quick!"

Dead asleep when she's sleeping and a spit fire like her Madre when she's awake. She takes me by the hand and leads me down the hall to the kitchen, where I'm greeted by mi Familia and a bountiful hearty breakfast.

"Is that rancheros, mija?"

As I reach for a soft tortilla my hand is met by mi Madre, the original Isabella, from whom mija gets her name.

"No, no, no, mijo, not till we say grace."

Mi Madre may have stopped me, but it set my cousin, Paco up to sneak a couple of pieces of bacon behind his back, not shying away from the Latino stigma of being good at lying, cheating, and stealing.

"Very sneaky, Paco…"

"Silencio, mane, it's just a couple-eh pieces of bacon."

"It's your funeral when she takes her shoe off, cuz."

"Pssh, I'm not afraid of your ma-"

Leave it to Paco, to speak loud enough for mi Madre to catch him.

"What was that, Paco?"

And like that Paco, books it with mi Madre giving chase with her flip flop in hand, barely dodging Izzy who's carrying a plate of rancheros toward me.

"For you, popi, I hope you like it."

"Aww, you help Gee with breakfast?"

"Si, we wanted to make sure you got a good meal before you go to the gym today."

I take my bountiful breakfast and make a straight shot to the breakfast nook where my slimy uncle, Salvador sits talking on his cell phone.

"No, no, no… I have a sure thing, just tell Muertos that Salvador has a true perro with a good strong back… It'll be worth it, I promise."

Salvador nods before hanging his cell phone up quickly.

"Nephew… Isabella whipped up a mighty breakfast this morning, wouldn't you say?"

"Sure thing, Sal… How's the biz treating you?"

I honestly don't care, but I learned a long time ago that it is best to keep my Uncle close, because his schemes always affect the Familia.

"Nephew, your uncle is doing better than most, I can tell you that… So many perros to invest in, without having to lift a finger, now that is what they call the gringo's American dream."

Leave it Sal to take all the shortcuts to reap the biggest benefits at the cost of others.

"You were always good at picking your spots, Sal, so I couldn't help over hear you had a sure thing in mind?"

My uncle takes a sip of what is obviously coffee with a nip of patron in it, his snake like tongue wipes the liquid from his upper lip before he spews deceit my way.

"Nephew, that was all just a little theatrics for Muertos and his boys… I honestly came here this morning to hand deliver you an offer that come across my desk… And before you think your Uncle Salvador is only in this for himself, I have chosen to donate my share to the local orphanage."

The horns that hold up Sal's halo shift a bit as I rub my eyes.

"An orphanage, huh?"

"What? I'm not as bad as you think… Take a look at this little baby…"

I watch as Salvador slides a piece of paper across the table toward me and it is as if time stands still before I pick the paper up. Money, that's the first thing that stands out to me and it's as if my Uncle is pulling at my strings to make grab at it. Sal watches my surprised reaction and he quickly pops me back to reality.

"Yeah, that prize is real…"

"$50,000 prize, seriously?"

"Black Pyramid Wrestling, they're looking for the best of the best to compete and I sent them a plethora of your best works… All you have to do is sign that dotted line and your road to El Dorado can begin."

A road to gold, my uncle is speaking my language and to start off by fighting for $50,000 is a definite leap in the right direction… But does playing a pawn in one of my uncle's schemes really what is best for me and mi Familia?

"Nephew, this is a no brainer… All you have to do is sign, go to Vegas, smack around a bunch of gringos, and March toward the gold. I know of no other man who competes at the level you do Lázaro and it is high time you show the world."

The world… The very thought of it…

"Sal, I don't know, what about Izzy?"

As I speak Izzy's name, she pops up with a plate of rancheros of her own.

"What about me, popi?"

"Mija, Uncle Sal has some friends who want me to go to America for a bit…"

My sweet girl shrugs and innocently shakes her head, no understanding what the issue is.

"Then you have to go, Popi…"

"But, mija…"

"No, popi, this is your chance to prove that you are the best, so you gotta go."

Where did my little girl go? In this moment I feel as if her mother is standing across from me, speaking in a clear rational voice, and pointing out the obvious.

"As long as you're behind me, mija, I'll take on the entire world."

I look to Salvador who's snake tongue flicks out in satisfaction as he pulls a black fountain pen out of his pocket.

"Well, Nephew, sounds like Izzy is all for this… So next, all you have to do is sign the line and leave the rest to me."

Before I can take pen to paper, Paco and mi Madre come back into the kitchen in a frenzy.

"Come on, auntie, it was only a couple strips of bacon!"

"¡Eres un chico estúpido codicioso!"

"Cuz, tell your moms that I'm not a greedy stupid boy!"

I hold the pen and both look at the paper sitting on the table, mi Madre throws her hands up looking at Salvador.

"What are you up to, Salvador? Are you pulling mijo into one of your get rich schemes?"

"Isabella, it hurts me that you think I'd compromise your mijo like that… No, he has himself an opportunity of a life time to show the entire world what he's capable of in the squared circle."

Mi Madre's tune changes as images of mi Padre's career runs through her head.

"Oh mijo, you're going to grace Arena México like your popi?"

How do I break the news to her that I'm going to America to showcase my talents and not Mexico city? Before I can say anything, Paco grabs the contract off the table.

"Sweet, we're going to Vegas, cuz?"

There's the bomb… The bandaid ripped right off… Mi Madre takes a step back and the tears building in the corners of her eyes cut away at me a thousand times over.

"America, mijo?"

I rest a hand on mi Madre's shoulder, looking in her eyes filled with tears.

"Do you believe in me? Do you believe in my destiny? Our Familia needs this, Madre… I need this…"

Her warm hand rests on my cheek and I wipe a tear from hers.

"Of course I believe in you, mijo… I just know what not just our Familia have gone through in this industry in America, but our people as a whole…"

"I'm not like the rest and you know that. This is MY chance and you know I need to go out there and prove it."

Mi Madre stares right into my soul and I can feel her hope run right through me.

"Mijo… You know I believe in you and I know you're going to do your Familia proud… I just can't help but see your popi in you and I…"

"I'm not going to end up like popi, I promise… I just want to take my shot and I won't take it without your blessing."

"Mijo, you have my blessing…"

Mi Madre smiles and kisses me on the cheek before looking to Salvador with daggers.

"Don't you put him in harms way…"

"Mi hermana, I wouldn't think of it…"

Sal's smile holds strong as he shoots me a wink.

"Ready to sign, nephew?"

Sal slaps Paco upside the head and takes the contract from him before placing it on the table.

"Remember, this is your destiny…"

He's right… This is my first step along the road to El Dorado and finally prove my Familia right. Sign the line and… Izzy guides my hand and the pen that's within it toward the table.

"Show the world, Popi, that you are The Golden Idol and-"

Paco chimes in over mija.

"And win that $50k and go for the gold, CUZ!"

"Yeah, what he said, popi."

I take the pen and I quickly sign my name on the line, instantly I see my uncle literally jump for joy.

"Alright, Sal, looks like we're on our way…"

Paco high fives everyone in the room with uncontrollable joy.

"Viva Las Vegas, cuz!"