Chapter 5

A Peruvian Name for Charly

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TOCAYO
Part 1
Prologue
Playa Norte
Charly the American
A Catholic Education
Cold Showers
A Peruvian Name...
Tossing Armando...
Bob Cousey's Shorts
Inside Immaculada
Warming the Bench...
A Little Socrates...
Running From Lola
Ping Pong Politics
A Perfect Basketball Day
A Man Needs His Friends
A Pig In a Hole
Condors Over Ticlio
Wrestling in the Plaza
Handcuffs and Curfews
Rochabus
A Hero Hiding
Hitting A Brick Wall
Part 2

“OK, I tell you. Tocayo is very special name use only for friend with same name as you. You understand?"

"Tocayo," Charly said.

"Yes, Tocayo," I said, certain he did not understand anything I had just explained. "Take a right turn at the next light. It is Avenida Benavides."

Charly responded to the instructions, eager to avoid the subject of friendship, an uncomfortable topic for him. This is why I did not let him. "Do you think we are not friends, gringo?"

"Friends?"

"Yes, gringo, friends. You and I are friends. Technically we are not friends yet, but we play basketball on the same team, so we will become friends. Since we will become friends one day, we are already friends, no?”

Charly did not respond.

“Gringo, do you want me to explain? No, never mind that question. You will say No. So I will explain without your permission. I call a friend with name Carlos, Tocayo. Friend with name Carlos call me Tocayo. Friend with name of Felipe, for example, he cannot call me Tocayo. It is not complicated."

Charly shrugged.

I did not let him discourage me. His Peruvian heart was buried under so many feet of dirt that it would take a long time to dig it out. I had just given him his Peruvian name. Tocayo. It was a beginning.