This is from Maria's perspective.
The sun had set on our second night out of the city, casting an eerie darkness over our little community.
The first hot shower since the lights went out was a blessing. Derrick, Mr. Allen, and Ivan made a makeshift shower outside. It wasn't an actual shower. And it was public, so I had to shower in a swimsuit. But it was better than a cold rag to get the sweet off.
I settled into my new bed, the worn mattress creaking beneath me as I closed my eyes. For the first time since the lights went out, I drifted into a dream, not of intruders and violence, but of my Mami. Her warm embrace, her gentle laughter, the familiar scent of her perfume—it all felt so real, like she was truly there with me.
The peaceful nature of the town played its part in calming my mind, but I knew Derrick sleeping in the living room as a guard dog contributed to my newfound sense of security. It's comforting to know someone's always watching out for us, even if it comes in the form of a scruffy, oversized bodyguard.
Sleep came easily, was peaceful and sad, and left us well and rested as the birds chirped a natural alarm clock first thing after sunrise. I opened my eyes, realizing Rosalina was still snoring.
The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. I got up to get ready, and Rosalina jumped up. "Morning, sis," she said as she sat back on the bed.
I smiled. "Good morning, I'll go get ready for the day." She yawned, nodded, and we went about getting ready for the day.
Everyone gathered for breakfast at the worn dining table on the 4 season porch. Breakfast was a simple affair of eggs, oatmeal, and flatbread. It wasn't what my family was used to, but my kids seemed to enjoy it. I noticed Sofia finished the food and sat with a thoughtful expression on her face. It was absolutely adorable.
When we cleared up everything, I was headed out of the kitchen area. I found Sofia sitting, waiting for something. I sat down next to her on the chair next to her. We sat looking at the lake for a few seconds when she took my hand.
"Mami, are we allowed to have other kids here?" she asked suddenly, her big brown eyes searching my face for an answer.
I put my hand on her head and played with her hair. "What do you mean, Mija?"
Sofia's smile was tentative, as if unsure how I'd react. "There are other kids in the apartment and houses on this...block, I guess."
"Ah," I said, understanding dawning on me. "So that's where your other two friends came by?"
She nodded, her gaze dropping to her bowl. "Yeah. They're bored at home, but also their parents are fighting, so I want to distract them."
My heart swelled with pride as I marveled at the kind soul my daughter had become. "Mija, my dear, you are precious. I think it's fine for you to entertain the kids. Just be careful and don't break anything."
"Really?" Her eyes lit up, and she jumped from her seat, nearly knocking over her chair.
"Wait," I said, holding up a hand. "Remember, we're guests here. We need to make sure we respect everyone's space and boundaries."
"Of course, Mami!" Sofia rushed to give me a quick hug, her small arms wrapping around my neck. "Thank you!"
"Can we also make them some food? Some of them have been hungry." Sofia's innocent question hit me like a punch to the gut from a boxer. She was always so concerned about others, even in times like these.
I blinked hard, trying to hold back the sudden rush of emotion. "I'm not sure about that. Let's talk to Tsu about that. Keep in mind we are guests here as well." The words felt heavy on my tongue, but it was important to remind her – and myself – of our place in the new community.
Sofia's gaze darted around, searching for Tsu. Spotting her near the fenced area, she bolted away without another word. I followed her, my heart pounding with a mix of pride and worry. What if we're asking too much from these people who have already given us so much?
As Sofia approached the fence, she jumped up, trying to grab Tsu's attention. "Auntie Tsu...Do we...have...extra food?" Her voice quivered with the strain of jumping up to look over the fence.
Tsu looked over, her eyes softening at the sight of Sofia. As I caught up, she sighed and leaned against the fence. "Well, that depends on if we can get more soon. What did you have in mind?"
"Some...of the... kids...are...not eating enough," Sofia managed to say between bounces.
"Let me see what I can do," Tsu said gently, her voice soft as her eyes mirrored the bleeding heart I was feeling. "We'll figure something out, okay?" She glanced at me with a look of pride in her eyes.
"Thank you, Auntie Tsu!" Sofia's face lit up, and she raced back towards where Michel and Emma were waiting under the trees. I watched her go, my heart aching with love and worry for her.
"Maria," Tsu called softly, drawing my attention back to her. "We'll find a way to help those kids."
I smiled and swallowed the lump in my throat but couldn't talk, so I nodded.
"Your children are good-hearted, Maria. You should be proud," she said softly, sincerity warming her voice.
"Thank you, Tsu. My husband and I tried our best," I replied in a croak, finally finding my voice, feeling the familiar ache returning to my chest. I blinked back tears, forcing a smile.
"Sorry," she mumbled, looking down at the ground. We stood there, side by side, for a moment.
"What's this fenced area for?" I asked, eager to change the subject.
Tsu's expression brightened as she gestured towards the soil. "This is one of my gardens. I've been planning what to plant here. Got quite a list of saved seeds."
"Maybe we should plant extra, just in case?" The words slipped from my lips before I even realized it. We need more food anyway.
"Good idea, Maria. It never hurts to be prepared," Tsu agreed, nodding her approval. "We can start today if you're up for it."
I looked around. I haven't gardened since I was a teen in Mexico with my Abuela. This might be more difficult in my older age.
Tsu nodded, her gaze focused on the rolling clouds. "We still haven't heard anything from any officials about the electricity. This might take longer to fix than we want."
I sighed. "That might be true...I'm sorry for imposing."
Tsu whipped around, her eyes widening in surprise. "I'm sorry, what?" She stared at me like I'd just grown a second head.
"We came with next to nothing, and you're giving us housing and food," I explained sheepishly, my voice barely above a whisper. My hands nervously clenched into fists.
"Dear," Tsu said, stepping forward and grabbing my hand, her grip warm and strong. "You're helping around the property. You're helping keep everything running. You aren't a charity case. You are people who were given a chance and are seizing it."
I teared up and nodded, my throat tightening as I managed to croak out, "Thank you." I blinked away the tears, unwilling to let them fall.
Tsu smiled gently, her own eyes glistening. "You remind me of my youngest's girlfriend. The one who's in Japan right now. She also has a hard time receiving help."
A small laugh escaped me, the sound surprising even myself. "My abuela told me the same thing many times."
"Sounds like a wise woman," Tsu remarked, waving towards the now cold smoker. "Let's go get that done first?"
"Gabriela, Rosalina," I called out as we made our way to the smoker. "We're getting started now." My sister and daughter waved back at us and began walking over.
"Hey Maria, Tsu." Teruo's voice caught my attention. He approached us with his hands in his pockets and a friendly smile on his face. "I don't have rounds today, so I'll help out too."
Tsu laughed, her eyes crinkling up at the corners. "You are useless in the kitchen, but at least you can carry the heavy stuff."
"Harsh but fair," Teruo replied, chuckling, clutching his chest with fake outrage. I chuckled at the cuteness of their relationship. They were older than Me and Rosalina but were as childish and loving as kids.
Tsu and Teruo walked off and came back with mixing bowls, baking sheets, bags, and knives.
Teruo and I took the covers off the smoker and sampled the meat, passing it around to all of us. It was amazingly good. We all got to work, carefully packing the fully cured meat into bags.
As each bag filled and organized onto the backing sheets, Teruo hoisted them on his hands and carried them to the garage's root cellar. The weight seemed to be nothing for him. He wasn't as strong as Derrick, but he was absolutely not a slouch, either.
The 5 of us managed to get everything quickly. I smirked every time I caught Teruo or Tsu sneaking meat, thinking that we didn't notice.
Just as we were finishing up, the rumble of an engine echoed down the road. Gattor pulled in with his truck, dust swirling around the tires. He hopped out, slamming the door behind him. "Here's the first freezer that's defrosted. Twenty-five more to go."
My jaw dropped. "Why do you have that much?"
He shrugged, wiping the sweat from his brow. "In case of a situation like this."
"Of course," I muttered under my breath. Gattor was always prepared for the end of times, but it still shocked me how much he prepped.
"Well, I guess it's good that Teruo is around," Tsu sighed, her gaze flicking back to where he was still moving bags of meat. He paused, frozen, with a piece of meat in his mouth.
"What?" He mumbled. "Am I being volunteered for more work?"
Tsu mocked him, blowing up her cheeks. "For sure, Chubby Chase! You said you're not working in the clinic today!"
Gabriela and Rosalina turned away, and I heard them snicker from them and tried hard not to laugh myself.
Teruo sighed and hung his head as he finished off the meat he was munching on.
"Okay, fine, let me carry this away, and I'll come around."
Gator looked amused. "You two are hilarious! Who needs TV drama."
"Let's keep going," Tsu said, clapping her hands together and giving Gator a dirty look. "We've got a lot more work to do."
"Right," I agreed, bracing myself for another long day ahead.