Erika Meza

Early one Saturday morning, a boy prepares for a trip to The Other Side/El Otro Lado. It's close -- just down the street from his school -- and it's a twin of where he lives. To get there, his father drives their truck along the Rio Grande and over a bridge, where they're greeted by a giant statue of an eagle. Their outings always include a meal at their favorite restaurant, a visit with Tío Mateo at his jewelry store, a cold treat from the paletero, and a pharmacy pickup.