Summary

“Angel’s Laundromat” opens the collection. It is told in the first person and follows Lucia’s observations and interactions at Angel’s Laundromat in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At the laundromat, Lucia meets Tony, a Jicarilla Apache, as he hands her dimes for the dryer. Initially, she does not understand the gesture, but he explains that he has the shakes and has difficulty putting the money in the machine. The laundromat is mostly used by Apache Indians. Lucia continues to go to the laundromat, even though it is out of the way. She strikes up a friendship with the old Indian. One day he asks her to go back to his camper with him, but she deflects by pointing out that the machines should not be left unattended. She remembers Tony getting quite drunk and getting into a fight in the parking lot...