So be it on earth...

Ch.4 Subway Stories

The sound of knives and forks clattering against each other or against the ceramic dinnerware filled the room; Cj and Carl ate hungrily, surely they would finish long before their older sister who was barely touching her enfrijoladas.

"So... tell us, dear, how was your day? How's school going?" Under the table and with a poorly disguised smile, Frida nudged her husband. "What? I'm just interested in our daughter's academic day."

"You know you can tell us anything, baby, we love you and we would never judge your actions... as long as what you do makes you happy," said Frida after helping Carlitos cut his chicken breast into small pieces and controlling her urge to laugh. "I don't know, maybe you have some secret that you're ashamed to tell us and..."

Disregarding the anguished look on his granddaughter's face as she was caught between his son and daughter-in-law, Hector Casagrande took a big gulp from his glass filled to the brim with soda cola before turning toward the kitchen.

"Dear, please come and eat something, all the food is very tasty." Terrified, the old man discovered that, although he was no longer making eye contact, he could still feel his granddaughter's silent plea for help. "Please Rosita, if you don't come quickly your food will get cold...and I don't think these two gluttons we have for grandsons will save you anything."

Unable, from the comfort of his chair, to convince his wife to stop whatever it was she was doing locked in the kitchen, and also to get away from his granddaughter's tormentors, the septuagenarian finally got up and poked his head around the doorway to the kitchen.

"Oh for heaven's sake, Rosa, I'm sure the girl will eat when she gets hungry, or at least you should..."

"I should what? Héctor?" Rosa walked steadily into the living room carrying a small tupper and with her husband walking behind, ignoring the loud conversation, or rather sermon, about 'planning well for the future' that Carlos and his wife were giving to their very nervous daughter. ""Waiting for Maria to come back from work for those two to fight again? I don't think so, and if you're so worried about me not eating, don't worry, I've got enough for both of us."

And without further ado, Rosa slammed the door on her way out of the apartment, leaving Hector standing in the hallway. To try to shake off the feeling of helplessness, the old man snapped his mouth and turned around, bumping into Carl.

"Is she going with Ronnie? Do you think we should go with her?"

"Those are ladies' problems, compadrito," Hector tousled the boy's perfect hairdo with one hand and gently pushed him back to the table. "From experience I know that it's better to let them manage on their own... besides, I'm hungry, aren't you?"

"There's no food left, besides mom and dad keep lecturing Carlota."

"Shit..."

Having her hands full, Rosa had to resort to an old trick to get into her daughter's apartment; with a slight hip bump she managed to open the door and slip inside before it bounced against the wall and closed again. As she had expected, the whole place was silent and dark, the only light she could make out was filtering in from her granddaughter's room under the door.

"Mija, don't you want to have some dinner?" by placing her ear against the door, Rosa heard how her granddaughter moved on her bed before staying still «she's on one of those little calls again» she thought slightly irritated. "Alright, if you don't want to get out of there at least open the door, it's rude to be talking to a piece of wood."