dear god. i do not ask for health. or wealth. people ask you so often that you can't have any left. give me god what you still have. give me what no one else asks for. amen.
i'm trying, mom.
when?
could he speak english? emilio couldn't speak english.
crouched low. in the doorway. she stares back at him a beat, then disappears around the corner.
yes, mom?
this way, mr. creasy.
do you like dogs, mr. creasy?
frank doesn't take to most people. do you speak german?
frank only responds to commands in german. he was trained in frankfurt. my dad loves the idea of having a dog around, but hates the fact he lives inside.
we fixed the room up two weeks ago. mom and i. it's nicer than before.
you've got a cd player if you like music. i like music a lot.
that's 'bird.' emilio forgot to take him with when he left.
my last bodyguard. he drove me to school in the morning and picked me up in the afternoon.
in between you can take mom shopping and to lunch. does that sound alright, mr. creasy?
creasy.
looks like he approves of you.
i like him, mom.
he's like a great big bear. 'creasy bear'.
there's something about him.
i think he's been sick. he's alright now, but i think he's been very, very sick.
just like you, a big old bear.
where are you from, creasy?
i know. but which state?
my mom and me are from houston, texas. have you been there?
you can drive and talk at the same time, can't you?
why not?
potential? i don't understand.
are you going to quit? my last bodyguard quit.
someone gave him more money than we could.
being black, is that a positive or negative for a bodyguard in mexico?
there were 24 kidnappings in mexico city in the last six days. four a day. what do you think about that, mr. creasy?
beep the horn.
isn't it beautiful?
sister anna, the headmistress. this is creasy, my bodyguard.
no, sister, he told me just to call him creasy. he's american. from no state in particular.
we're taking a different way home.
i understand. smart.
did you like school, creasy?
not at all?
but why not?
hmmm?
so you were unhappy?
oh.
what happened to.
your hand?
i'm not crying.
you can take me home now, mr. creasy.
give me god what you still have. give me what no one else asks for.
i go to school, don't i?
bye, mom.
once i get in the water but not starting off. by the time i catch up, it's too late.
calling for emilio's macaw. i thought i heard him.
maybe. did you hear him?
how do you think he got out?
it's better to be free, right?
i got you to talk, creasy bear.
you're going to miss mexican halloween. the day of the dead.
they can stay for two weeks. i don't care.
come on. come on. bird!
it hurts.
everywhere!
my ankle.
oh, creasy.
the night you arrived, mom asked you if you had a family and you lied, didn't you?
i'm too old for him. don't tell my friends.
creasy? could you play the song?
i think i'll sit in the front. there's more room for my foot.
he's only allowed to travel in the car on weekends. dad says the car will smell 'doggie'.
yes.
it's not too bad. will it take a long time before it's better? our big swim meet is in three weeks. interschools. i was going to swim in the one hundred meter freestyle.
doesn't matter. i always finish second.
i will.
creasy, what's a concubine?
it was in a book at school. concubine.
but the emperor of china had 1000 of them! how can that be?
it must be difficult having lots of wives.
yeah. can you imagine my mother multiplied by a thousand?
creasy, you're smiling.
so how come you know so much about those countries?
what did you do in asia? is that where you met the man with cigarettes?
i don't understand.
creasy, what happened to your hand?
yes.
good things happen, too, creasy. like meeting me.
do you have a girlfriend, creasy?
did you used to?
you're late.
you were never late before, i was worried.
where's my mother?
it's no wonder you're late. why didn't she just come with you?
do you think my mother likes you?
i'm not afraid you, creasy.
are you afraid of me?
good.
the gunshot holds no fear.
i'm tough, creasy. i'm tough as you.
hi, dad.
what's so important in los angeles?
why today? and why'd she have to go with him?
you're coming with me.
stand near the finish line.
i'm a prisoner in them. until the gunshot sets me free.
splash! ten meters in before she breaks the surface. her head sweeping left and then right.
i won, creasy! i won!
my dad said all your friends were dead.
okay, i think now is as good as time as any.
i bought it with my own money. i saved it.
it's st. jude, the patron saint of lost causes.
yeah, that's right.
could i ask you a question?
you don't drink like you used to.
i know because i go in your room and check the bottles.
my mom drinks, too.  why do people drink, creasy?
you think too much?
i don't want to play piano! i want to swim!
frank. frankie.
frank. frankie.
you should break all my fingers, creasy, then tape them back together. i won't be able to play the piano, but i could still swim.
there's no such thing as tough, creasy. just trained and untrained.
i'm going to keep people safe someday. just like you.
i could do it. remember the day you wanted the pencil? i know why. and i saw that car again. i wrote the license number in my notebook. except i missed the last number.
dyslexic?
you got that right.
for you, creasy.
creasy.
creasy!
i love you, creasy.  and you love me, right?