I stopped in Quick Trip, a convenience store, the other day. Going up to the counter with my purchases, the cashier rang them up and told me the price. As I was swiping my debit card he repeated the the price in Spanish.
“¿Hablas español?,” I replied as his accent was not very Latino although he appeared to be so. The reality is that many 2nd or 3rd generation Latinos only speak English.
To which he responded, “Para nada.” Basically saying, “not really.”
He then went on to tell me that his father was Mexican and his mother was Greek. Adding that there was a very good chance that much alcohol was involved in their meeting! Then he mentioned something about being raised by foster parents, and wanting to learn his paternal language.
I encouraged him in his endeavor, adding that it was a beautiful language.
There is a short story in there somewhere.
And so it goes.