The kindergarten student, her family recently settled from Mexico, wiggled a loose tooth that she hoped would dislodge soon so she could collect a few coins and not feel left out again at her school’s next bake sale. Lieutenant Governor E. Lee Francis decades earlier had his own wish. He wanted a restraining order against Governor David Cargo, who supposedly was making Francis fear for his safety in the state Capitol. New Mexico Stories is full of gems such as these. They’re stories about life, not just in New Mexico but beyond. They’re stories about the human condition. They’re warm, funny, revealing and at times unsettling. Together they constitute a fascinating segment of New Mexico history. David Roybal, in daily, extraordinary rounds over fifty years, positioned himself to absorb it all.