Chapter 30: Waffle Dinner at I-5 and I-80.

Pammie went up to Vancouver Washington at the start of the summer, to attend summer college classes in Portland. Her father Ernie bought a new full-sized 4-door pickup, packed her stuff in the back, and drove her up. In a surprise move he left the truck with her, she would use her bicycle for most things but “I hear that sometimes it rains up there,” he kidded. (Portland sees rain about 2 days out of every 5.) Also, he intended that she have something to drive back to LA “at any time she felt like it.” He was thinking of Tonto, but with kids it could be anything.

However, much had changed since then so plans had to be adjusted. It would be easy for her and Tonto to be caught up in events when they returned. In fact, Ernie suggested that maybe they didn’t have to return right away but instead should stay out of LA until at least a week after Labor Day, and avoid the 49 and Aztex areas completely.

The new plan started with Pammie and Tonto. With the gang war coming, even if the actual killing was going to be in Mexico, the two kids reached the clever decision to spend some time “on the road” looking for a place to go to college. It is something kids do these days. Usually girls visit colleges with their father as a bonding experience, but Pammie was unusual. It was a greater concern for Pammie, her education was important. For Tonto, just staying out of LA longer was a good idea.

Also, it was better for Ernie. He wanted Pammie to visit as many schools as she wanted, but flying out of LA every weekend (their original plan) had a lot of costs in terms of their time and the way they explored their options. As long as he trusted the kids together all were good with it.

Plus, to be honest, if the kids were not going to be good, it was likely already a couple months too late. They all agreed that Tonto had a very charming manner and male urges.

When Pammie and Tonto got back to LA in mid-September or later, they could finish high school with private tutors. Our high school was very good about such things. After all, the school districts bent over backwards for Hollywood, so why not for minority kids too? Tonto was too public a figure to risk.

Ernie and Belen endorsed the plan, as did Tony. Tonto’s mother was not consulted, given what she planned for Tony, keeping her in the dark seemed the best move for all.

There was a second family issue, Belen and Cynthia were both pregnant, and that was not the type of thing you shared over the phone. In person Cynthia and Belen could both rub their bellies as they stressed to Pammie “do what we say, not as we do.”

So a family meeting at their favorite Waffle place was arranged. It was not in LA.