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"Spit it out, child! What’s the problerin

"The proble if you could take irl at school toldAnd I could pay you back after I started working"

"A job is a brilliant idea After you apply we’ll stop by the Wal-Mart for gym shorts I noticed you need so et paid to foster you That ot her keys and walked out of the house, cowboy boots echoing hollowly on the front porch I took a wistful look toward the kitchen, set my duffle by the front door, and followed

"Holy crap! What is that?" I asked, ravel driveway Mrs Carpenter ca at and chuckled A palravel drive in front of me

"I know you’re from the city and all, but haven’t you ever seen a horny toad?"

I tilted my head to the side and studied her Did she really just say that? "A what toad?"

Mrs Carpenter chuckled harder and the reptile scurried away "They’re horned lizards but ays called ’em horny toads," she explained "It doesn’t mean they’re horny Just covered with horns"

"Okay"

We got into Mrs Carpenter’s truck

"So what’s the na?"

I took Yana’s paper from my back pocket "It’s called the Navajo Mexican The address--"

"Don’t you worry about telling me the address I can find it blindfolded," Mrs Carpenter said with a wink

We drove to don Silver City Tall trees with new green buds on winter-bare branches lined the streets, and shops and businesses lined the sidewalks Cars, e students behind the wheel by the look of it, were filling those streets Western New Mexico University was close by

Mrs Carpenter parallel parked in one of the oldest parts of town I peered out and frowned at a narroo-story building sandwiched between a bank and a Navajo jewelry shop The building had floor-to-ceiling s on the lower level and THE NAVAJO MEXICAN was painted on the front door

"What type of restaurant is the Navajo Mexican?" I asked

"The best in town," Mrs Carpenter answered "Are you going to go in and apply on your own, or do you need me to hold your hand?"

I held my hand out and forced a pout to rinned "Just kidding I’ll do it all by h, built that way fro by the fabric store I’ll be back in about fifteen ust of so up onto the knee-high curb, I walked past three metal tables set up on the sidewalk, tables where people could sit at dusk and eat their dinner, and entered the restaurant

It was bigger inside than I thought it would be, long and narroith about twenty brightly painted tables and booths White Christhts, dried red chili peppers in braided ropes, and Native As decorated the walls Quietaccompanied by pipes

A server burdened with two plates and a hugely pregnant belly hurried past ht with you," she called over her shoulder She set the plates on a table in front of two custoing stomach, and came back to me "Table for one?" she asked She was short and dark haired, and above her heart was a na a job," I said, turningif I could fill out an application?"

The woed "How soon could you start?" she asked

"Um Tomorrow?"

She smiled "Come with me" I followed her to the other end of the restaurant and through a swinging door

"José! Naalyehe! Coed in"

Two men turned to face me One was shorter than me, with thick black hair and a mustache that hid his top lip The other ray braid that hung down to the small of his back, a strand of bear claws around his neck, and a potbelly

The short man stepped up to me His mustache twitched and fine wrinkles creased the dark skin around his eyes "The cat dragged in a gringa?"

"She’s looking for a job," Maria said

"I am José Cano, co-owner of the Navajo Mexican" He held out his flour-dusted hand and I shook it

"Magdalene Mae"

"Have you ever waited tables, Magdalene?" he asked, looking hteen years or older?"