Órale, today we’re going to focus on the Caló expression, eeee. Of course, it doesn’t come from any particular word or language. It’s merely an expression—more of a sound, like wow, gah, and eek. Caló-speakers use to cover a wide range of situations, from “I didn’t know that” to “you’re in big trouble.” In other words, it can be used for wow, gah, and eek, depending on the context and the inflection used by the speaker. One expression it’s not used for is “uh” because
eeee is unhesitating and very directed.
By Oscar "El Marfa" Rodriguez
Titi was finally getting back to form. By her standards, she was in good enough shape that she thought she might strap back on her 45.
“Que sura, how awful, it’s still too heavy for my bones,” Titi said to herself in front of the bathroom door mirror.
But that was not the worst of it: The huge iron protruded ridiculously from her back even as she faced the mirror. Her small frame, now reduced further by a winter and spring of chemotherapy, hardly obstructed it.
“Eeee, ruquita, you look like the Hunchback of Transylvania,” she told herself. “Vale más que trade down, esa” she told herself.“
"No. Cuito has a little FBI gun," she said to herself again. "Let’s see if he’ll trade.”
Titi was a straight thinker. A real canta me derecho, a talk-to-me-straight-type girl. She didn’t go far with nuances or allusions. When she had a thought, she acted on it right away. She got dressed in her zorro-lady outfit — black leather vest and Spanish riding hat—and walked to her backyard fence to see if Cuito was in sight.
Sure enough he was there. Shirtless and sweaty. Just coming out with a fresh beer. And taking a break from moving around the junk in his backyard.
“Hey, ese, will you trade my big gun for your little one,” she yelled out.
Cuito heard her loud and clear. He didn’t hesitate to respond.
“It’s about time, esa,” Cuito yelled back. “Been waiting all summer. Your house or mine?”
“Aquí in the shade,” she said.
“Eeee, like the old days? I was sure hoping you’d turn the corner before the cold weather,” said Cuito.
“Pos, go get it," said Titi. "Mine’s right here."
“What? Go get it?” Cuito said confused.
“Your 9 millimeter, vato. What else?” she said.
“Oh, I thought …never mind,” said Cuito.
“I was talking about trading your Sig, if you still have it,” said Titi.
“Sirol. I still have it,” said Cuito.
“Pos, if you trade even stevens, that other thing you were thinking is a separate deal y, pos, it’s time for it anyway,” said Titi.
Days later, Titi felt the first cool breeze that signaled the end of summer and immediately went to her backyard fence. She was ready for the cold weather. She felt strong again.
Cuito was in his backyard staring with a smile at one of his junk piles, apparently daydreaming.
“Hey, it’s de aquellas the season finally changed?” she said.
“Eeee, simon,” he said now rousted from his daydream.