Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World

“Aristotle Mendoza was not born to wear glasses.”

“Apparently, Aristotle Mendoza’s eyes do not agree.”

I know I don’t know much about love—but what I know about love, my mother and Dante taught me.”

And I was starting to discover that change didn’t just happen—I had to make it happen

If we’re lucky. If we’re very lucky, the universe will send us the people we need to survive.

I remembered Dante on his bed, and me sitting on his big chair as he read the definition for that word from his well-worn dictionary: Calm, peaceful, untroubled, tranquil. “We’re done for, Ari,” he’d said. “Neither one of us are any of those things.”

Poems do not belong on a painting. And I do not belong in this world

“Hi,” I said.

“Hi,” he said.

“Are you still mad at me?”

“Usually, I stay mad for a couple of days. Sometimes even longer. But you must be special—because I’m not mad anymore.”

So many things were effortless for him. It was as if home was everywhere he went—except that he loved me. And that meant that maybe he’d never have a home ever again.

I didn’t know that voice was going to change my life. I thought he was only going to teach me how to swim in the waters of this swimming pool. Instead, he taught me how to dive into the waters of life.

But me, I’m a sin, right?”

“No, you’re not a sin. You’re a young man. You’re a human being.” And then she smiled at me. “And you’re my son.”