You Came to Me

8. Europa

Published: June 24th, 2021.

Word Count: 2,917

Madrid. September, 1975.

Madrid was becoming a little colder with each day that passed as it was nearing the end of September. Early fall has always been my favorite time of the year. The changing colors of the leaves and the smell of smoke that is always lingering in the air from people having fires brings me back to feeling like a child.

Luisita and I's friendship has grown quite close in the almost two months we've known each other. We see each other regularly and I'd like to think we've become important people in each others lives. Luisita even told me that Marina keeps making jokes about how I'm stealing Luisita from her, which isn't all a lie. We always try and find time to see each other.

Our schedules makes this a little hard since we work conflicting hours, but we seem to always be able to find even a couple minutes to spare. I usually see her around 6pm everyday when I take my early break to come find her in the Plaza where we meet as she's coming home from the radio station. I don't mind taking my break hours before I should because it's the only time that allows me to see her. We usually spend a couple hours together on Friday afternoons at the King's after she gets back from the library and before I start my shift.

I was walking down the stairs of the King's when I walked past the flyers that advertised jobs in the neighborhood and surrounding areas. A post that was calling for dancers caught my attention.

DANCERS NEEDED
SAT & SUN
8pm - 3am
SERIOUS INQUIRES ONLY

One of the major reasons I came to Madrid was to take my dancing and singing seriously and after two months I have made no progress with finding somewhere to perform. I am becoming more confidant in the city but I have yet to push myself to find a stable place to work at.

I found Luisita sat at the bar with a pile of books and I sat next to her. She was telling me about the drama that had happened at the radio station the day before when Mateo's father almost found out about their secret radio station when we saw Maria walk out of the door behind the bar with a foul face on her.

- "Uy, sister, what's up with you?" Luisita said with one eyebrow raised.

- "The construction people seem to think I have an engineering degree." Maria said while she was patting dust off her clothes.

With getting closer to Luisita, I have inadvertently become close to Maria too since Luisita and I usually always hang out with her nearby.

- "Are you doing some renovations or something?" I asked.

- "Oh, I forgot to tell you, Maria is turning the back room into an office." Luisita informed me, turning in her seat to look at me.

- "And a dressing room, why do you keep forgetting that part?" Maria added.

- "Because I think you need to forget about it. I mean look." She gestured at the customers of the King's. "Do you see anyone here who seems interested in hearing the singers of la Plaza de los Frutos?" She asked with a chuckle.

- "It's called rebranding." Maria replied.

- "You don't rebrand something only months after you open it." Luisita said.

- "I think having performers is a good idea." I interrupted.

- "Exactly, thank you, Amelia. See? I should keep her around instead of you." Maria said.

- "I doubt Amelia would want to put up with you, she's only nice to your face." Luisita added.

I don't know what was up with the sisters that day, but it seemed like they were going to battle it out there and then. Thankfully, the two quickly stopped when Ignacio walked into the bar.