We Were Here

Darkness falls as Rondell and Miguel resume their silent journey. They sleep under a graffitied lifeguard tower in Malibu. Both boys stare at the ocean; Miguel feels as emotionally lost as he would if he were lost at sea on a boat. Rondell pretends to read his Bible. Moved by the events of the day, Miguel is unable to comprehend the contents of The Catcher in the Rye.

Upon awakening, Miguel takes a minute to orient himself and recalls Mong’s tragic end while looking at the tooth necklace. Miguel realizes that he “wouldn’t go south today” (199). He and Rondell continue in silence as they watch a basketball game and view the weightlifters on the beach. Miguel admires the surfers and wishes that he could try surfing some day. He wonders if he might have done so already, had his father not been Mexican.

The boys come upon a large, diverse group of people playing bongos on the sand. A young woman gives the boys a bongo drum to use, and Miguel is moved by the group experience. He imagines that they are engaged in a memorial ceremony to Mong, his father, or “something with Diego” (203). He imagines that this activity is one that Miguel and his brother would enjoy doing together.

In juxtaposition to the spirituality of the preceding day, Miguel is experiencing a sense of psychological exhaustion, self-loathing and dislike of Rondell. He sees them as “two meaningless kids with some meaningless plan” (205); he feels that nothing they do will ever matter and that perhaps he should follow Mong’s example. He notes that Mong’s empty smile has become his own.

Miguel is jogged from self-pity when Rondell tells him, “If you gonna leave me then just say it” (207). Miguel is moved and promises that he won’t leave, noting that he has even entrusted Rondell with care of their cash. The naïve Rondell feels that perhaps it was his fault that Mong died; Miguel explains that this is not the case, and assures him that Mong considered him his “best friend in the world” (209). 

Miguel calls his mother twice from a phone booth, yet is unable to speak when he hears her voice, despite the fact that she says “Miguel?” upon his second attempt: “I hadn’t heard my moms say my name in forever” (211). In an emotional reaction to the call, Miguel hits himself in the ribs and lip, causing bleeding from his mouth; somehow, this causes him to feel better. 

Miguel and Rondell are more clearly allied now. They decide to try to get to Mexico by bus, and Miguel’s spirits rise thinking of a simple life near the beach where they could “[c]ook fish Rondell caught and meet pretty girls” (213).

Miguel calls Jaden to let him know that Mong “isn’t with us no more” (213), but that he and Rondell are alright. He apologizes for the theft of the money and asks if Mexican people ever go surfing; Jaden assures him that they do. Miguel hangs up prior to revealing their travel plans and the pair await the bus.

The boys arrive at their destination and look through the chain-link fence to Tijuana, Mexico. 

Miguel reflects that he is just outside his father’s country, and notes that everything in Tijuana–people, fruit stands, streets, sidewalks–appears to be brown; however, the wares sold in the stalls are colorful. Miguel locks eyes with a boy his own age trying to sell pottery, “[b]ut nobody stopped at his stand” (217). Miguel reflects on inequality, wondering why he had been born “on the better side of the fence” (218). Immersed in guilt, Miguel feels that he doesn’t deserve to go to Mexico, telling Rondell that it’s alright for him to go there alone. They plan a restaurant dinner of steak as their last shared meal before Rondell leaves the following day. 

The pair spend the night on the beach. Miguel observes the rusty fence sunk deep into the water that is intended to stop migrants. He splits the remaining cash, $386, with Rondell in anticipation of the other boy’s departure the following morning, cautioning him to spend it wisely. Miguel vows to find a way to pay back the original $750 that he stole from the group home.

Rondell wonders if he would be able to win a lottery in Mexico; however, he has a difficult time understanding Miguel’s explanation of differences in currencies between the US and Mexico. When the conversation becomes wearying, Miguel removes the three books that Rondell had been carrying in his bag and starts to read. Rondell is saddened by this, as though “not carrying [Miguel’s] books no more made it official that [the boys] were splitting up” (226).

Rondell begins laughing inexplicably after looking at his Bible for about a half-hour. Miguel asks him the reason why. Rondell explains that he had been worried about being lonely in Mexico without Miguel and his “mom and dad told [Rondell] it wasn’t true” (227), indicating that they would be there with him. Rondell says that he replied that his parents were different sorts of companions “cause they ain’t real people” (227) and that this made his father feel inferior. Miguel is concerned that his friend is hallucinating and questions him further. Rondell points to two huge boulders on the beach and explains that they are his mother and father, although he grants that “it sound weird” (228). While Miguel initially wonders whether Rondell is schizophrenic, he reconsiders his opinion when recalling the horrific events of Rondell’s early life. He wonders if perhaps Rondell’s imagination is just a way of surviving a difficult life.

Although Rondell’s limited capacity for comprehension often annoys Miguel, he realizes that he will miss his companion. He tells Rondell that he is “smarter than [he] realize[s]” (231).

The boys return to the Mexican border the following morning. Rondell looks teary when he hugs Miguel goodbye. Miguel, while very fond of Rondell, feels that “[h]e wasn’t the first person I’d had to say bye to” (231). Miguel confirms that his friend has the map of Tijuana and his share of spending money, and they part ways. Miguel doesn’t look back because he feels that it’s less painful to leave someone that way. Having done his best to look out for Rondell, Miguel’s next goal is to earn enough money to repay the group home the petty cash that he stole. He makes an attempt to call his mother but reaches only Diego’s voice on the answering machine. Subsequently, he calls Jaden to advise him that he will send him the re-payment of the petty cash as soon as possible. They discuss daily happenings at the Lighthouse, including the fact that Jaden has ordered new books with Miguel in mind. As the conversation ends, Jaden tells Miguel to call him collect at any time; additionally, he notes that his mother is aware that Miguel has been in touch.

Miguel recalls an incident involving his mother insisting upon bringing the boys out for ice cream one evening, followed by her actually starting a small food fight by flicking some of her sundae at Diego. They laugh all the way home, but his mother’s expression changes upon reaching their parking lot. Miguel recalls that “[s]he gripped the wheel and cried harder than anybody I’d ever seen before” (239); it was the first time she had cried since being advised that her husband had been killed in a freak military training accident.

In the midst of these recollections, Miguel hears a familiar voice behind him, and finds that Rondell has returned.

Miguel is happy to see his friend but unwilling to display his relief. Rondell explains that he has decided to pursue his goal of becoming a fisherman in the US prior to relocating to Mexico, which will enable him to help pay back the money to the Lighthouse. He has guilt about having used stolen funds, and asks, “[I]s it okay if I go with you instead?” (240). Miguel agrees and Rondell trusts Miguel to develop a plan as to what to do next. 

Miguel meets and falls in love with a beautiful Mexican girl, Flaca, when he and Rondell resume their travel in southern California.

While wandering blindly through a neighborhood, the boys notice four girls at a baseball field. Rondell and Miguel sit to consider their options; legitimate employment will be difficult due to their lack of a permanent address and references. Miguel considers robbing a large chain store, such as Wal-Mart, whom he feels wouldn’t miss the lost funds, in order to repay the debt; however, he fears the legal repercussions, should they be caught. While considering these options, they are approached by the girls.

The girls are all drinking beer and engage the boys in conversation. Miguel tries to pretend that he’s Portuguese when they question his background, but this is unsuccessful. Flaca introduces herself and shares her beer with him, and then they invite the boys to a party on the following evening. As the group continues to talk, Miguel notices that Flaca “made an excuse to come sit closer” (246) to him. When she questions the boys more carefully about their backgrounds, Miguel fabricates a story about visiting from Idaho with Rondell’s parents, who he says are zoologists. They all agree to meet at the ballfield the following evening in order to attend the fraternity party together.