We Were Here

The boys determine to pass the time on their long walk by telling stories about their lives.

Rondell relates a tale about a foster mother who kept an un-neutered cat as a pet. Overcome with desire for a passing female cat one day, the male cat jumped through the screen of the sixth floor apartment window to find the female cat. The animal was too injured to recuperate and the vet had to euthanize him. Rondell relates that the group held “a little funeral” (155) for the cat; however, he knows the animal was denied entrance to heaven because “the little guy committed suicide” (156).

Miguel recalls that he and his brother took a day trip to the beach in their mother’s car following their father’s death. Diego picks a spot closest to a group of pretty girls, and postures for their benefit while playing football with his brother. He dives in the water, encouraging Miguel to do so as well, in order to impress the group; however, they become fearful due to their inability to swim. Convinced that they are near drowning, they motion to the lifeguard. Upon seeing them, she stands up and indicates that they are in waist deep water on a sandbar and should merely walk back to the shore, yelling “No! Just stand up! Just stand! Up!” (159).