Read Online Barefoot Dogs by Antonio Ruiz-Camacho - Free Book Online

your brain.”
    “I’m serious, Homero. There are noises in the apartment. For real. ”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about, chimp.”
    “Wait. It stopped.”
    “Whatever.”
    • • •
    “Anyway. You were saying—”
    “Oh, yeah. Imagine yourself gliding for five hours straight. Imagine you could fly anywhere you want, free of everything and everybody, without having to worry about shit. Like, if you had wings.”
    “Like an eagle, all majestic and menacing? Or like a monarch butterfly? Frail and cute, but totally unbreakable?”
    “Like an airplane. Like you had steel wings, but they were a natural part of your body.”
    “Whoa, dude. This shit’s kind of scary.”
    “Like me.”
    “Yeah, you wish.”
    • • •
    “Ximena?”
    “What’s up.”
    “What are those things on the curtains?”
    “Those cute little bugs printed all over them? The blue ones look like flies, no? And the other ones—aren’t they like, ladybugs?”
    “That’s gross. And super gay. Who’d put curtains with bugs in their living room?”
    “They’re kinda cool.”
    “You don’t have to like everything just ’cause we’re here, Ximena. We’re not offending Philippe by not liking his apartment. He can’t hear us, you know? They’re awful .”
    “I’m just trying to like something about this place, okay?”
    “Don’t look at the windows, then. Those curtains are ugly as shit.”
    • • •
    “Homero?”
    “What now?”
    “Remember that time we all came to New York?”
    “For Christmas?”
    “Where did we have dinner?”
    “At the Plaza, I think. Or the Waldorf. One of those places near Central Park.”
    “When Mom and Dad said we could stay in Philippe’s apartment, I imagined something like that, around the park, with a doorman and everything. Not this .”
    “At least we’re not in Harlem, chimp. Or Brooklyn .”
    • • •
    “Did Grandma and Grandpa come with us on that trip?”
    “Oh, yeah. On Christmas Eve, Grandpa took you, me, Nico, and Fer to FAO Schwarz while everybody else got ready for dinner. He bought us Tamagotchis. Mom and Aunt Laura were so pissed, but Grandma told them to chill, like she always did.”
    “I barely remember Grandma.”
    “You were too young, chimp.”
    “Do you think she’s looking?”
    “From above ?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “Nah. Better for her, though.”
    “Why do you say that?”
    “’Cause it would kill her again—knowing about Grandpa.”
    • • •
    “Homero?”
    “Yes, chimp.”
    “There’s this girl thing I used to talk about with Carla and Michelle?”
    “If it’s what I’m thinking, don’t even go there.”
    “Just got it today. And it’s like, alive , man.”
    “TMI, dude.”
    “Who am I supposed to talk to about these things now?”
    “Not to me. That’s gross . Talk to Mom when she calls.”
    “Are you out of your mind? ‘Hey, Mom! Guess what? I’ve got my period! Five days late. Isn’t that a relief ?’ ”
    “Ximena, stop. I mean it.”
    “Easy for you to say. You guys fool around and everything’s cool. We girls mess around a little bit, and we’re screwed. It’s depressing. And unfair.”
    “Maybe, but I’m not fucking Doctor Ruth, okay? Read my lips: T.M.I.”
    “How old are you? Nine? ‘ Mo-om , Ximena said the word va-gi-na in front of me!’ ”
    “Fuck you, chimp.”
    “No , Homero! Fuck you !”
    • • •
    “Homero?”
    “Not here, dude.”
    “It’s that noise again. Did you hear it?”
    “It’s those ladybugs and flies. They’re coming for you, chimp.”
    “Shut up, Homero. I’m serious.”
    “Forget it, smarty pimples. Not talking to you unless you apologize.”
    “Don’t be a dick.”
    “Good luck finding someone to listen to your shit here. Not talking to a young lady from Virreyes who behaves like a truck driver from Neza.”
    “Hey, you said fuck you first!”
    “Remember what Mom and Dad said at the airport?”
    “What part? They said, ‘Look out for each