A Life That Almost Happened - Lab Report Example

It listed jobs in food service, supermarket cashier, but the mere fact that he had a resume at all is evidence that he had set goals and ambitions. It tells the story of potential- the story of a life that almost happened. After graduating from North High School in 1999, Alfonso moved out of his mother's house in the government project where he grew up, instead, he went to work, driving a delivery truck for Albuquerque Tortilla. Even then he wanted to be more than a delivery boy. For a while, Alfonso had considered going into the Marine Corps, but decided instead to go to college once he paid off his truck.

In the meantime, he moved in with his sister, Miriam Celaya, and her two children. On Saturday afternoon, March 10th 2001 Alfonso had gone to his friend Rafael Espinoza's house at 31st Avenue and Washington Street. Rafa was 20 then with three kids, twins on the way, a wife and a girlfriend on the side. He said that he's not a bad guy and that he's stayed away from gangs and drugs. But Alfonso's family isn't convinced, either, so on that Saturday Alfonso has to go to Rafa's house, because Miriam doesn't approve of the friendship and doesn't want Rafa in her home.

Late that afternoon, Alfonso and another friend, Narvel Murrieta, headed towards Rafa's house in Alfonso's white pickup. Narvel had arrived in Phoenix less than two weeks ago from a small ranching community called Pantanito, in Magdalena, Sonora, where Alfonso's family also has a home. Alfonso has offered to show Narvel around, and help Narvel get acquainted with life in Phoenix. They arrived at Rafa's small gray house around 4:30. Then the three men talked outside for a while about their plans for the evening.

Narvel has never been out in Phoenix, and wants Alfonso to show him around. Today was also Rafa's girlfriend's 21st birthday. The trio makes tentative plans to meet up later in the evening to celebrate. Then they headed to the nearby house of Rafa's cousin, where Rafa plays the accordion, while the cousin gives Alfonso a guitar lesson. Then Alfonso and Narvel leave for their house while Rafa called his girlfriend Estrella, to make plans to celebrate her birthday.While at the same time, not far from Rafa's house, 18-year-old Jesus Maris pumps gas at the Texaco, a black man selling jewelry, a watch, some bracelets, chains and a semi-automatic handgun approached him.

The man wanted $100 for the gun, but Jesus talked him down to $40. He hoped to sell the gun for $100 himself and make some money. Jesus heads home around 6 p.m. and gets ready to go out for the evening. Jesus would later tell investigators, that the purchase of the gun was more a product of chance and opportunity than anything else.As dinnertime approached at the Celaya house, the family sent Noel Caudillo, one of the brothers to get hamburgers from Carl's Jr. hamburgers. After dinner, Narvel and Alfonso left together, and didn't tell the family where they're headed.

It was the last time Alfonso's mother would see her youngest son alive.Around the same time, Jesus Maris, Omar Mendez and his brother Antonio had just finished drinking a couple of beers at Omar's apartment in Mesa. They headed to a party. There, they met up with another friend and had a few more drinks. About a half-hour later, the four cruise toward Phoenix in a Chevy pickup.While Alfonso and Narvel, Estrella and her two friends, and Rafa's 15-year-old sister all arrived at Rafa's house. They got into two cars, heading out for an evening at the Mexican