With the bet over and everyone ready to leave, Cheeto and some of the kids were heading over to David to demonstrate their new found amazement at this stranger. Cheeto of course known him from before was quick to point out his acquaintance with him.

"Maaan that was bad-ass! Where did you pull that one out off? Haha" Cheeto said as he slapped David's hand.

The rest of the kids also crowded around David. They were excited as most children are excitable about anything new and different they see, kind of like puppies. Sammy though was instantly infatuated with David. As kids chaotically hovered around David, Cheeto and Claudia, Sammy coyly made his way to David, timidly excited. That is he was trying to match the enthusiasm of the other kids but nobody was paying attention to him or more precisely acknowledging him. He was just kind of in the way.

As David, Cheeto and Claudia spoke of the game and where David and Cheeto were headed too and joked and teased one another, Sammy made his way to them. By this point most of the kids had made their way to some other shinny distraction but Sammy stayed now with the trio.

"Hey there little man!" said Cheeto who noticed Sammy right as David and Claudia begun to get on him for his bad shape and about instigating such excitable children.

"There is my next star. Man you was kicking ass in that bitch!" Cheeto said.

"Cheeto! Don't be cursing in front of the kids. Especially Sammy, mi muchachito lindo (my sweet young man)," Claudia said tenderly as she embraced Sammy from behind.

"You played a great game I'm so proud of you!" she said as Sammy writhe trying to get free from her. He was a bit embarrassed by the feminine affection in front of the men, but truthfully he enjoyed it. What man wouldn't?

"Oh ok," Claudia said as Sammy got loose.

"I see you want to be cool, that's alright, I get it," she said winking at him and pointing her two index fingers at Sammy, nodding her head.

"Just don't get too cool for me," Claudia continued.
"Ahh Sammy is always gonna be one of the hommies. Right carbon (male-goat/stud)!" Cheeto said again cursing.

"Cheeto," said Claudia disappointingly and with a mean look directed at him.

Sammy didn't pay any attention. He was fidgety, moving around and looking in David's direction. David stretched out his hand to pat Sammy on the shoulder.

"You did well out there little man."

Sammy liked that and smiled wide. He jumped up towards Cheeto, pushing him in a nervous fit.

"Hey man easy! Ha-ha what's up with you?" said Cheeto.

Sammy was burying his face in Cheetos chest.

"Aww I think he's embarrassed," said Claudia.

David reached out to Sammy and said "We haven't been introduced properly, I'm David what is your name?"

"What? You know his name, this is Sammy," interrupted Cheeto.

"I want him to tell me," said David as he stretched his hand out.

"What's your name?"

Sammy wasn't used to this level of formality. People either ignored him or talked down to him.

"Men shake hands when they meet one another," said David.

"Well, andale guey (go ahead fool), shake his hand," said Cheeto as he pushed Sammy towards David.

"Sammy," he said or rather whispered with a stutter as he limply extended his fingers out to meet David's hand. His fingers were sticky, dirty and wet just like any other kids.

"Like this, you want to get a firm, confident grip and shake up and down with authority," advised David.

"Nice to meet you Sammy."

Sammy felt important for a minute. He felt respected. It's funny what a simple handshake can do for a person. At this, Sammy jumped up towards Cheeto in a nervous fit and said "Invite him to my party."

"Aye guey (fool) tell him yourself he's right there!" replied Cheeto.

"You want him to come to your party?" asked Claudia.

"Yeah" Sammy said softly still clinging to Cheeto.

"Ey carbon (Hey fool) you gonna mess up my shirt."

"He must really like you. He's very shy especially towards strangers. Are we invited too?" asked Claudia to Sammy.

Sammy grinned approvingly. "Yeah" he said almost to himself.

"I didn't know you had a party guey (fool)," stated Cheeto shoving Sammy back who was still fidgeting with him.

"Is my sisters," Sammy replied.

"Oh Nicole? How nice!" said Claudia, "When is it?" she asked him.

"Tomorrow"

"Oh ok. We'll be there thank you!" Claudia said to Sammy.

"Yeah little man we'll be there ready to party." Said Cheeto lifting Sammy arms making him dance and lifting his tight little shirt over his belly, which Sammy tried to pull back down.

"I'm sorry Sammy, I don't think I'll be able to go, but thank you," said David

Sammy was disappointed and immediately lost the smile on his face.

"Chingao porque (Why the hell) no?" inquired Cheeto.

"I have things to do. Besides you all just meet me and I don't know the people throwing the party. I don't think it's right just to show up," said David.

"No seas guey (Don't be an ass)!" countered Cheeto.

"Little hommie here just invited you. Besides that's how we do it here. That is how you meet people! It's all in good fun," explained Cheeto.

"That just because you like to smooch off everywhere," jumped in Claudia.

"But he does have a point, you should go. The family is really nice and I'm sure they would be very happy if one Sammy's friends showed up," she said to David.

"And I know this little guy would be thrilled if you showed up," Claudia said embracing Sammy who didn't push away this time.

"Come on guey no te agas del rogar (Come on you ass, don't make us beg). Don't worry little man he'll come for sure," said Cheeto.

"Man, don't speak for me" interjected David in a bit of a stern tone which took Sammy and Claudia by surprise.

"Ahhh man," chuckled Cheeto.

"Don't worry he'll come," Cheeto reassured Sammy completely oblivious to David's tone.

David shook his head with the faintest grin, too small to be noticed, but someone did notice.

"I'll try to come, but just for a little while. Thank you Sammy," said David.

Sammy smiled and ran to the playground yelling and jumping.

"I guess he's happy," said Claudia.

She too was happy because she thought it was kind of David to go even though he clearly wasn't too keen on the idea. Besides she wanted to see him again, find out more about this stranger.

"Well, it was nice meeting everyone here but I have to go," said David.

"Dude, why you in all a hurry? You always gots some place to go or something to do. Just chill, kick it for a minute," said Cheeto.

"Some of us have things called duties, and lives and have to be on the move to try to keep up," said David as if speaking to a child.

"Chales guey (Whatever chump)! Aqui muy (Here all) Mr. Duty,"

"You just got back to stick your pops in the ground. What you gotta do? Just chill for a bit," said Cheeto.

David tilted his head to a side giving Cheeto a dumbfounded look. He was ready to address Cheetos comment when Claudia interjected.

"Cheeto, God! Be more sensitive. If he has something to do then you have to respect his commitment and privacy," said Claudia.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha! No manches (Stop Jerkin)! Ya andale onde vas (Come one, where you going)?" inquired Cheeto.

David was amused by the situation. Were it anyone else, including his family, he would be more dismissive. It really wasn't anybody's business. But Cheeto with all of the tactfulness and sensibility of a gorilla with poison ivy in its butt, was so ridiculous at times, that David couldn't help but sub come to his charm. Cheetos was also very transparent, like a dog. Honest and lovable and with the same attention span and foresight of one. Sure on occasion he would slobber over you and get up on your business regardless of what you are doing. And his main priority was playing with his ball, he did drool in his sleep.

David almost wanted to pat Cheeto on the head as he said, "Well, it's really none of your business but I need to look for a job or something to occupy myself with while I get my next assignment. There is some...red tape that I have to go through and I don't know how long that will take," he said with some hesitation.

"Work man? You stressing about work?" said Cheeto.

"I don't even remember the last time.." Cheeto was saying.

"You had a job!" jumped in Claudia.

"No! For yo info I do have a job, a couple actually," countered Cheeto.

"What, where?!" Claudia questioned.

"Aver (Let's see), right now I'm at the shoe store by Bob's Burritos and I'm also a dishwasher at the Maharaja's Palace," said Cheeto.

"What happened to the construction job?" asked Claudia.

"Ahh man they wanted me to work all the time. They be calling me on weekends and shit it was getting old," said Cheeto.

"Ves (See)! That's your problem. You can't commit to something. You get bored or it's too hard and you quit," protested Claudia.

"Why you always gotta be riding me. You worse than my mama...," was saying Cheeto.

"Well why you gotta be so irresponsible...," interrupted Claudia.

Inaudible.

As Cheeto and Claudia descended into one of their usual verbal sparring matches, David became a little amused by the scene. Still he was growing anxious and wanted to leave.

"Ok well regardless, I have a lot of things to think about and I need to get some space and clear my head for a bit," said David.

"Oh that's understandable. You've had a lot going on the last couple of days. It was nice meeting you and I hope to see you at the party," said Claudia.

"So where you going?" asked Cheeto.

"I don't know, I just need to be by myself," said David.

"Oh ok. Can I come?" asked Cheeto.

"He just said he needs to be by himself!" said Claudia

"He didn't say he wanted to be alone," countered Cheeto.

"Sure" said David with a deep breathunderstanding the futility of explaining the difference to Cheeto. Perhapshaving someone around wouldn't be a bad idea.

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