The Golden Donut and Restaurant - Softcover

Lopez, Ralph

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0595098339 ISBN 13: 9780595098330

Publisher: iUniverse, 2000

Synopsis

Hector Huerta, baby boomer, idealist, night security guard, military brat, lives in Central Square, Cambridge, a colorful and diverse community that is changing day by day. Reflecting on how little he has to show for his forty years, he wanders through a cityscape where homeless and wealthy, students and townies, frenzied commuters and sedentary neighborhood old-timers live side by side. Dissatisfied with the tenor of the times and the spirit of the "Modern Age," Hector searches for meaning in the world around him. He finds radical politics, greedy developers, and relationships that tend to implode. Join him on his journey through the lush and desolate regions of the of the heart, a journey which leads through the soul of a disappearing neighborhood: The Golden Donut and Restaurant, Central Square, The People's Republic of Cambridge.

About this title

About the Author

The author has lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts for over 12 years. He has been published in various newspapers, including Spare Change, an advocacy newspaper for the homeless in the Boston area. He graduated from Yale University with a bachelor s degree in economics and political science. He grew up on military bases around the country, a strange, broadening, and sometimes surreal experience, and is the son of a Vietnam veteran.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

(Excerpt)

The thing sat in its pick-up truck and watched the playground, its oyster eyes willing something to appear to appease the ashes of its soul. It pretended to study a map, as if lost, so that anyone passing by or peering out a window unseen would draw the intended conclusion. It had once served three years for attempted kidnap but it was a clumsy attempt, and a judge had bought the contrite act and the bungler act and let it off with most of its sentence consisting of probation. It was determined that the next time there would be no mistakes. Dandruff clung to its greasy hair and it breathed with an adenoidal rasp, and its heart raced at its determination to really do it, there was no going back now. In front of the pick-up green dog-shit flies swirled around a fresh pile. Its hands trembled as it folded the map, knowing full-well the danger of its situation. The judge had ordered it to stay away from schools and playgrounds, and if it was stopped and questioned for any reason, things could go badly and it could wind up back in jail.

Stupid judge. It laughed at the idiots, the social workers, the court shrinks who said with arrogant tired sighs that it did not fit the profile of the repeat offender and would probably never try it again. Last year the state had tried to pass the death penalty, and it scoffed as it followed the campaign. How are they going to pass the death penalty when they can t even keep me in jail?

Fools.

A car passed slowly on the road behind him and its heart pounded wildly. It ventured a look in the rear view mirror to see that it was not a cop but was still a man, perhaps a nosy neighbor. It pushed its face further into the map, concentrating on it furiously, deathly afraid of anyone its own size. Shaking badly it lit a cigarette and started the car, putting it into gear and easing back onto the road. It had a meeting with its parole officer in a few hours and would need that time to calm down.

Edition details

• Publisher: iUniverse
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0595098339
• ISBN 13: 9780595098330
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224