Giovanni, a lot has changed since you left. Mango Street is no more what it used to be.

Remember the spot where Alima and Saada fought one New Year eve? We woke up one morning to find a thief lynched and tied to an electric pole there.

We did not know how the whole incident was relayed to the mayor. The next day, we saw soldiers, and policemen, and caterpillars in the neighborhood. They demolished everything from the crucifixion site of the thief all the way to that quack’s clinic overlooking Miriam’s uncle’s house.

We looked on as one caterpillar stretched its arm, lifted the little clinic gently off the ground and squashed it in its palm. That little den of devils housed dirty secrets, and after the demolition, those secrets were on the streets for everyone to see.

Do you remember telling me there was something odd about the way Dr. Alabi examined your penis when you suspected you had an infection? Do you remember the remark Godé’s mom made when we told her we had been to Dr. Alabi’ s clinic that day? You won’t believe what they found in that clinic during the demolition.

Mango Street has never been the same afterwards. You’ll see when you come.

They have destroyed the colorful memories evoked by the signs that greeted us whenever we headed down No. 1 Lane: Mope Hair Saloon, Sunshine Academy, Mungo Park, Busy Boys Restaurant, Sargent Lee Washing Bay and the All Stars nightclub around the blocks factory.

The Mojadin Square where reggae nights used to be hosted is no more.

There were talks of gunfights erupting between police and the area boys. But many of our boys are now smart. They prefer looking for money instead of looking for trouble. Life is too sweet and too large to be spent in a little jail.

Let me know if you’ll be here in time for the excursion I told you about.

Bye for now!

What do you see # 260- 28, October, 2024