Act 3, Chapter 16 Summary

The dark, greasy border guard takes his time demanding Vernon's passport or driver's license and, in the absence of either, leads him to the main building, where another official tells him one cannot enter Mexico without identification. Among many lies he rapidly considers, Vernon chooses he is meeting his parents in Tijuana. The official frustrates Vernon by demanding ever more specific information. He had better return to McAllen and call his parents. Vernon thanks him, pretends to use the phone, and sleeps a few hours on a bench. When American troopers pull up, Vernon heads back to the desk and begs to be allowed across so he can go to bed. His parents cannot make it immediately. Offering him his last $20 does the trick, and Vernon is welcomed to Mexico, 30 yards ahead of the troopers.

Mexican Fate is less tolerant than...