The Bridge, Part I - La Mordida

Part I - La Mordida

Well, I don't remember exactly how it all got started but there I was with Domski, Big C, Sandra and Debbie and we were chatting it up their Mazatlan apartment when Kiki strutted in. We called Kiki Mr. Mazatlan because he looked like a living magazine ad, all chic, good looking and smooth with the ladies. Kiki was also hella fun and big man around town. Well, there we all were when C and Kiki started riffing on Domski Luv for not having the balls to jump off "the bridge." Domski, also normally very smooth, apparently had gone out with Kiki and C a few days before and had gotten cold feet and not been able to go through with the jump. Now he was suffering that special sort of humiliation that only comes from being a big pussy. They just waited till the room was filled with girls and looked at Domski and said "the bridge" at which point D just shook his head, salt had been thrown into his game and nothing he could say about it. I, of course, had to open my big mouth (just couldn't miss and opportunity to crack on someone) and before I knew it, I had a date with the bridge.

It became a big deal over the next week around school with everyone talking about the bridge jump to take place the next weekend and a lot of us were going around bragging about how the bridge was nothing and we could do it with our eyes closed blah, blah, blah. Well, actually that was me doing that. This was before I actually saw the bridge.

When the fateful day arrived, the bridge had taken on legendary proportions like Hercules against the Minotaur and it seemed that half the school would be turning out to witness the event. Me and about half a dozen bridge jumpers climbed into the back of Kiki's truck and made our way though the sleepy city toward the bridge. Domski was there and I could see by the look on his face that this was more like a funeral precession that a parade. For the first time I began to have my doubts. I tried to focus on the sky and all the people while we drove. Let me say only that I assumed the bridge was about 20 or 30 meters high. I could dive off the 10 meter platform into a pool so I though jumping feet first off some bridge would be no big deal... until we arrived.

"The bridge" was actually more of an overpass on the outskirts of Mazatlan that ran over the channel boats used to enter the marina. It was an 80 meter drop into the dark water passage below and we were all instantly beyond terrified. When I looked over the edge, I couldn't seem to pry my fingers off the cement rail. It was one of those situations when every warning signal in your body goes off and your muscles tense and all you can think of is making it all go away. Even C, who had done it once before, started looking nervous. How delighted we were to see all the pretty girls in school arriving to witness our act of bravery. This made an exit all but impossible.

Before we leapt to our fates, Kiki had a helpful piece of advice: "I want to tell you all now that they were doing some construction there and so maybe there might be metal polls or something sticking up on the bottom of the water. You should try to jump were there are no polls." Kiki explained. "Where's that?" I asked trying to hide my alarm. "I'm not sure, man." Kiki replied scratching his head.

First up was Canadian Dan. He climbed up on the rail and sat there. Minutes turned into tens of minutes then a half hour and he was still sitting there petrified. Kiki was acting as his personal counselor: "Dan, man, you have to focus, like mind and matter and that you know. Just don't think about it man. You're just sitting on a rail man. Nothing to worry about, just sitting on a rail... Ok, when I count to three you jump man, ok... ready... one, two... THREE!"

No movement from Canadian Dan.

I mean none. It was almost like he had become part of the railing. After another 10 minutes, the crowd started to get inpatient and Dan, now faced with the real prospect of being taged the school pussy, hardened his resolve. Suddenly, just like that, he said, "I'm going." and he jumped. He seemed to hang in the in the air for a long time before he fell, legs flailing into the dark water below. After what seemed an eternity, Dan's head broke the surface and he raised a fist in triumph to the cheering crowds above. I was next.

As I made my way to the jumping off point through the cheering crowd like Rocky on his way to fight Clubber Lang, Dan was swimming toward the shore. Like a storm brewing on the Texas plains, we could see trouble on the horizon in Mazatlan this afternoon.

Two of Mazatlan's finest pulled up in their white truck to the shore below and immediately took Dan into custody. Not that we were wishing ill for Dan, but Domski and I immediately shot a relieved glance at one another and cracked a smile for the first time since arriving at the bridge. The police were here, bridge jump over. Now everyone was feeling relaxed and happy as we watched the police put Dan in handcuffs.

Nothing, not even our friend about to have a night in a Mexican jail, could overcome the collective sense of relief. At this point Kiki, Sandra, and Debbie jumped into his truck to go try to secure Dan's release as we stayed behind to watch the events unfold safely from the distant bridge.

A manic joy had spread among us. Even Domski was now strutting around bragging and talking shit. I was in pretty high spirits now myself proclaiming that it's too bad the police had to spoil all the fun because I was next and I was just going to go, no hesitation. I might even stand on the rail and jump. We couldn't hear what was being said, but we could see a big conversation taking place between Kiki and the two police. They were going back and forth and back and forth and finally they took Dan out of the handcuffs. He quickly made his way up to the bridge on foot while Kiki continued talking to the police while what seemed to be a bit of money changed hands.

When Dan arrived he was the hero of the hour, having braved not only the bridge but the police as well. As Kiki took care of things below, Dan recounted his experience to the swooning ladies. The rest of us were just happy as hell the we wouldn't have to jump. Let Dan have all the ladies for all we cared. The police were here to protect the public from doing dangerous and illegal things and this whole thing was definatley both! Let me tell you, I have never been happier to see the police. I think if you had told me I had won the lottery I wouldn't have felt as good. We could see Kiki shaking hands with the police below who jumped into their truck and drove away.

When Kiki arrived, he explained what happened: "Well, man, when I got down there, you know, they were talking about taking Dan to jail so I had to talk to them.. you know. I ended to have to gave them 20 pesos to let him go..." Apparently, Kiki gave them 20 pesos and they agreed to call it a suicide attempt and let Dan go. I guess attempting suicide was no problem in Mazatlan. We were all laughing hysterically now when Kiki arrived at the punchline"... then I gave them another 20 pesos and they said the rest of us could jump too." He turned, looking directly at me and said, "I think it's your turn."

This was my first experience with the Mexican police and their little differences with their northern counterparts and it couldn't have come at a worse time. I would be the next to attempt suicide.

Part I - La Mordida

Part II - "Octopus in a Whirlpool" coming soon.