The Instagram message I sent went this way: Querido Ivan, \u00bfD\u00f3nde est\u00e1s? Llevo un par de semanas preocupado por ti. \u00bfD\u00f3nde est\u00e1s?\u2026 Dime que est\u00e1s pasando desapercibido. \u2026 Dime que no est\u00e1s en la c\u00e1rcel ni en un centro de detenci\u00f3n de mala muerte. O en el M\u00e9xico cuerdo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ivan is the guy who sells cocos frios \u2014 cold coconuts \u2014 and watermelon, pineapple and mangos from a cart on an L.A. corner I pass by most days. For nearly a year, whenever I saw his bright rainbow umbrella, my mouth started to water. My usual order: two large chopped watermelon cups \u2014 one plain for my girlfriend, and one with a splash of chamoy and tejate, for me \u2014 handed over by Ivan or his little brother with a \u201cHere, my friend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sounds dangerous right? Like Ivan and his brother are criminal masterminds?<\/p>\n
Since the second week in June, as ICE, Homeland Security, the National Guard, the Marines and who knows who else took to the streets all masked up, war-fighting ready, and started disappearing Angelenos, I\u2019d been worried about Ivan. Where was he?<\/p>\n
Hence the Instagram. I identified myself as tu amigo Miguel, the \u201ctipo\u201d in the black Acura with the two-watermelon usual.<\/p>\n
\u201cTe extra\u00f1o,\u201d I said. I missed him and the watermelon. I said I hoped he was desapercibido \u2014 lying low \u2014 and not in a sleazy detention center or back in Mexico, which at least is a sane country.<\/p>\n
That lying low would be the best-case scenario for Ivan and his brother was absurd. Two guys providing Los Angeles with iced fruit were probably on the lam, unable to earn a living because the president of the United States thought \u201creal Americans\u201d wanted their cocos frios cart.<\/p>\n
I told my friend Lance about Ivan\u2019s vanishing act. This was his response:<\/p>\n
\u201cMy youngest son, Chris, went to Cal State Northridge and got his degree in chopping fruit, but he couldn\u2019t find a job, so he went to Stanford and got a master\u2019s in cocos frios, but still no jobs. Now, thanks to Donald Trump, my boy is going to be on the corner chopping fruit. Finally.\u201d<\/p>\n
Into July, still nothing from Ivan. Finally, out of town on vacation, I heard back.<\/p>\n
\u201cHola, amigo, estamos bien, muchas gracias habiamos.\u201d One family member was taken, \u201cpero ya estamos bien\u201d and \u201ccuanto se calmen los cosas \u2026 estaremos.\u201d \u201cBut we\u2019re fine\u201d and \u201cwhen things calm down, we\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/p>\n
But when? \u201cA lot of ICE,\u201d he Instagrammed. \u201cA lot of la migra.\u201d Not yet.<\/p>\n
Days went by. Then on Monday, still out of town, I hear my phone\u2019s \u201chandoff\u201d tone. A friend texted me a picture of the rainbow umbrella: \u201cYour watermelon man is back on his corner.\u201d<\/p>\n
I tried Ivan. He messaged right back. I\u2019ll save you the Spanish: <\/p>\n
\u201cHello, good evening. I\u2019ll be waiting for you here. In the meantime, continue enjoying your lovely trip. Thank you very much. I really appreciate it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Who is this menace to society trying to fool?<\/p>\n
I owe Ivan $16. I didn\u2019t have cash for my last order in early June. Next week, I\u2019ll pay up beneath that beautiful rainbow umbrella. And get two more cups of watermelon to go.<\/p>\n
Michael Krikorian is a former Times staff writer. KrikorianWrites.com<\/a> <\/p>\n Insights <\/p>\n L.A. Times Insights<\/a> delivers AI-generated analysis on Voices content to offer all points of view. Insights does not appear on any news articles. <\/p>\n Viewpoint This article generally aligns with a Center Left<\/b> point of view. Learn more about this AI-generated analysis<\/a> Perspectives <\/p>\n The following AI-generated content is powered by Perplexity. The Los Angeles Times editorial staff does not create or edit the content.<\/p>\n Ideas expressed in the piece<\/p>\n Different views on the topic<\/p>\n\n
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