It All Started With A Piñata

Chapter 2 - The Journey To The Villa

I slept for a couple of hours on the plane, and soon enough, we landed at Mexico City International Airport. Then Mom, Dad, and I bustled through the crowds to Declarations and Baggage Claim. Although it was loud with the sheer amount of travellers and the constant announcements, the atmosphere seemed silent - I couldn't tell whether it was because of our fight earlier or that we were all just exhausted from travelling. 

"Taxi!" Dad hollers as a he waves his hand like a madman. In the conglomeration of people, cabs almost had to be fought for. 

"Gracias."

Dad points to a place on a map that I can't see and the driver nods. I hadn't even bothered to ask what we were doing or where we were staying on this trip. I knew the procedure.

We enter downtown Mexico City, the lights illuminating the tall skyscrapers in the darkness. My eyes catch flashing restaurant signs. People dance and party at bars to loud Spanish music. 

 I open the window and the air is warm and humid. It feels like I'm wearing a turtleneck that is too tight.

I'm surprised when we leave downtown Mexico City behind us. All the major conferences take place in downtown.

"Dad, where exactly are we going? Isn't that downtown?"

"Yes it is. We'll be staying a little outside here."

I lean back into my seat and continue looking out the window. The streets are lined with tiny bungalows, with brown shingles and colourful paints. A few are box shaped, their beige walls smooth like a vase as if they were sculpted out of clay.

For ten minutes, I'm intrigued by the streets - the architecture was so different here. So vibrant and beautiful compared to the dull streets of where I'm from. Not that I spent much time there anyways. 

We pull up in front of a villa with a large brick fence. Dad pays the cab driver and we step out with our luggage. 

"Hello! Is Diego there? Hey buddy! It's Hugh! We're here!" Dad chuckles, as he holds the speakerphone button on the gate. 

"Come on, there is someone I would like you to meet," Dad says, beckoning us with his free hand to follow him. 

I feel a spark of anger rise in me. "I don't want to meet with your clients right now."

Mom shoots me a sharp glare and I look back at her in annoyance.

"Sterling we're not here for business. We're here to visit my best friend from college."

"Oh."

I'm too exhausted to start another fight. But how could they not bother to mention this to me before we left? Now I had a whole three weeks of pretending to be chummy with Dad's friend. Great. 

"We will be staying with the Rodriguez's villa for our whole trip. It is very nice of them to let us stay there. Now I don't want any sass, punk."

Dad flashes a jokey smile and I stifle a fake laugh. This was just his way of telling me to be on my "best behaviour" without being serious. Like that was going to happen. 

"I expect you to be friendly and introduce yourself. He has three children, Carlos, Esperanza, and Romayo. You'll be spending most of your time with them."

Ew. Three children. This was going to be harder than I thought. 

We drag our suitcases along the well-weeded tiles of the brick pathway. Miniature palm trees are evenly planted across the front lawn, a fountain placed in the centre of the yard. An assortment of large ceramic pots containing tropical plants line the inside of the fence. The villa is a large white building, with carved arches and columns. I stare at it in awe, appreciating how magnificent it looks. Maybe this trip wouldn't be so bad after all. 

Half way across the path, a short man with gelled black air opens the door and waves fanatically at us. 

"Hugh! My good buddy! It's been so long!"

He runs out the door with no shoes on and launches an aggressive hug at Dad. 

When he releases Dad he pulls Mom into a hug.

"It's good to see you too, Mae," he says. "I'll have one of the kids help you bring your luggage inside."

"Oh, that's okay, you don't have to do that," Mom says, a smile plastered on her face. 

I can tell it's the same one she uses with her clients. Yet here she is criticizing me for not wanting to spend three weeks with people I don't know. The audacity.

We start towards the villa, but just when I thought the hug fest was over, Diego turns around and looks at me. 

"You must be Sterling."

I don't know what to say to that. So, I just say "yes" and flash a nervous grin. 

For a second he doesn't say anything. This is awkward.

Then he claps a hand on my back and cracks a smile. 

"Nice to meet you, Sterling. You're going to like it here."