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Nitty Gritty Tales: Prayers for Edgar
Edgar’s life is at risk no matter what he decides. But something is happening that he can’t see.
Summer’s thick dust turns to mud when winter rains fall over Pacoima, an enclave in the northeast San Fernando Valley, blue-collar to the max and totally alien to Los Angeles glitz and glamour.
Past the convenience stores and used car lots, worn signs in yellow lettering offered car parts and easy cash advances.
Edgar knew the area well but driving along the familiar streets felt like a knife was cutting his insides. He was on his way to deal with Cowboy, a man he wished he had never met. It all began in middle school. Riding skateboards to the park with Angelino and hearing some older guys joke about the fast cash they’d made selling weed.
Angel’s eyes lit up. “Think about it.”
“Nah, I don’t know.”
Once he was in high school, Edgar thought about his options. He didn’t make the varsity soccer team and took a job at McDonald’s which was good enough. The minimum wage paycheck covered taking girls to movies and he bought his own clothes and decent presents for his mother on her birthday.
But he had seen Angel with a wad of cash and a nice car, hauling in enough money to…
