LA CUMBRE
After an afternoon of hot sex my new love Kelly and I are on our way to La Cumbre for some much needed sustenance in the form of one of the best burritos in the whole City. I hadn't seen her for a couple weeks so she gave me a real work out and now we are both famished. Since it's a pleasant evening and only a mile or so from her place on Poterro Hill to 16th and Valencia St. we decide to walk it. That way we can have a little social intercourse and catch up on what's happening with each other. We gossips about our friends and the San Francisco scene as we walk holding hands and bumping one another just to keep the heat going.
We have arrived. As I said, La Cumbre in the Mission District is the best taco and burrito palace in the City. Why for only two bucks they give you a giant steamed flour tortilla filled with your choice of 6 different meats, beans, rice, onions, cheese, avocado, hot sauce, and if you ain't a wimp, 2 or 3 HOT jalapinos. Have just one of those delicious mouth watering puppies and you won't need anything else to eat for hours. And they taste so good that when you first bite into one you just got to stop, savor the flavor and smile. I order a Carnitas with the works. Kelly gets the chicken sin jalapinos. We each get glass of agua con hielo, find a table then dig in. Sitting there with a beautiful babe and enjoying a tasty treat I am content. Life is good!
Right after we start eating a Spanish looking dude comes in the place, looks around, see us then comes over. I ask him what's up?
Standing there looking down at me he says, "Would you mind buying me a taco, man? I ain't got no money and I sure am hungry."
I tell him no problem and hand him a couple dollars then tell him to join us after he gets his food.
He thanks me then walks over to the counter and places an order. He comes back to our table, sits down, takes a big bite of his taco, chews, swallows, smiles, looks at Kelly and me then says, "Man, that's good. By the way, my name is Jamie and I just got out of San Quentin this morning."
When we congratulate him on his good fortune he shakes his head saying, "I tell ya man, I don't like it here on the outside. Maybe I'm institutionalized but life's just to confusing out here. I mean, in prison everyone knows exactly who they are and where they stand. You know your friends and your enemies. Everybody has their place, knows what's expected and what's happening when. Outside everything is always going on all the time. Nobody knows anything. It's way too chaotic for me out here. I need the orderly life on the inside where you look at the clock and just know."
I tell him, "Well dude, you just got out. Give it some time. Once you adjust I'm sure you will love it and never want to go back to prison again."
Jamie says, "No man, I went in when I was only 18 and now I'm 32. I don't wanna learn no other way. I'm going back inside just as soon as I finish this taco. The reason I ain't got no money is because I spent all of it they gave me when I got out this morning on a whore, and now that I've been laid and fed I plan to be back in jail by tonight."
Kelly and I try to talk him out of it as he finishes his food but he ain't hearing us.
When Jamie's done eating he says, "Thanks again for the taco and for the company but, you know the liquor store on the corner?"
I say I do.
Well," he continues, "I'm going to go rob it now then wait for the cops to come and haul me away. I just hope they send me back to Quentin so I can be with all of my friends there." Then he smiles saying, "But any prison will do. I know the trip." Jamie gets up shakes Kelly's then my hand saying, "Well, wish me luck." and walks out the door.
Kelly and I just look at one another. What can we say to that? As we're finishing our burritos we hear a siren coming down the street then stopping about a half a block away. We don't bother to get up and look; we know what's happening. And anyway, we have to save ourstrength.We have all night and each other's body to look forward to.