Double Zero

"The Cariboo Cafe"
Helena Viramontes

"But God is just a man and His mistakes can be undone."  - page 76

"The Cariboo Cafe" was one of the most intentionally confusing stories I have had the pleasure to read.  My main concern about this blog post is that I will have misinterpreted information, leading to completely false conceptions about the story.

That aside, it was certainly intriguing.  I chose the quote above because of its implications.  "God" and "His" are capitalized, hinting that the woman still believes in God's omnipotence.  However, the phrase "God is just a man" obviously implies that he is completely fallible, and it is directly stated that he makes mistakes.  This, combined with the previous statements about men being pigs who "rape women then their rip their fetuses from their bellies", implies a blatant distaste for the higher power that should guide her so.

The entire part III is a mess of thought, perspective, and timeline.  What can be gathered is that this woman has lost her son, and then replaced him in her insanity with Macky and his sister.  The writing style of part II is indicative of the woman's feelings.  There is no clear line of thought, and the point of view can change instantaneously.  This illiterate mess metaphorically represents the woman's feelings.  Driven to the loss of sanity, she finds Macky and forces herself to believe she has finally found her son again.  We, the readers, experience this happening through broken thought processes and poetic, negative emotion.

Also intriguing is the place of the cafe owner in all of this scenario.  From what I gathered, a man OD'd in his bathroom, and the resulting death destroyed the reputation and business of his cafe.  Having lost his son JoJo and wife Nell, he is alone in a scarred establishment fit for nothing but the scum of the earth.  The cafe owner is critical of everyone and everything, pissed off that he has no business but at the same time pissed when business presents itself to him.  There seems to be no middle ground, and he finds himself the destination of many who have nothing to spare for tip.

It is clear right off the bat he likes Macky, but is unaware both children were kidnapped by the crazed woman.  He considers himself above and outside the realm of both police and immigrants, refusing to get involved in many of the situations that may present themselves to him at his run down cafe.  The "double zero", as many people call it represent just how low on the totem poll these people have fallen.  All stripped from their family in one way or another, they find some kind of refuge here in a forgotten slum.

However, the cafe owner betrays them, much to his own distaste and calls the police for the stolen children.  On one hand, he likes Macky and probably owes the children.  However, he also hates police officers and feels no responsibility to the law.  When he turns in the immigrants before the woman and kids come in, it is obvious he feels the shame from their stares.  At the final end of the story, everyone is a complete emotional mess.  The woman having lost her sanity at the sight of the police goes insane, and the cafe owner actions are described in horrific detail implying his own nervousness.

Regardless of what this story means, at least it was cool.