JR SWAT 4: JunIor AdVocates

Chapter 31: What was that?

Meanwhile, backstage...

Marlene's group was settled in one room, mainly consisting of eight big rectangular aluminum tables and several utensils on top. They were joined by several other schools (20 or so students each) for the preparation of all cheeses, plus the toppings for pizza, burgers and hot dogs. They also helped assembling and marinating. Next was Gardy's group, joined by other schools as well. They were sent to the second floor of the galley, where most of the big industrial mixers were stored. Half of the group was to help three more school groups prepare the ingredients for the bread, croutons and other flour and alternative food. The other half worked on prepping and delivering the goods. Finally, the assistants guided the last group -Madrid's- towards the freezers and the storage, where most of the produce and cold cuts were stored. They were only joined by eight other students, who had been borrowed from a private institution. They were in charge of making the salads and getting the vegetables ready for toppings for other foods.

"¡Somos pocos para todo lo que quieren que hagámos!" ("We're not too many for the ton of stuff they want us to do!") Cheo complained, following the others.

Rubio agreed, showing a slight shrug of the shoulders. Mr Holligan was told they needed to prepare over five hundred salads, in order to cater to specific dietary restrictions....and now, on top of that, they needed to prepare and help deliver the vegetable toppings for the hot dogs, pizzas and burgers!

"¡Es que ya sabes, a los Mejicanos siempre nos toca lo peor!" ("You know how it is, we Mexicans always get stuck with the worst part!") Samo added, shaking his head.

"¿Por qué será que estos gringos nos ven a los latinos como esclavos?" ("Why is it that these Americans see us Latinos as slaves?") Gonzalo complained, annoyed.

"¡No se preocupen, güey! ¡Cuando yo abra mi taquería, seremos los dueños y señores del rancho! Ay! Ay! Ay!" ("Don't worry, guys! When I open my taco shop, we will be the owners and kings of the place!") Cheo finished with several war cries, as he got the others hyped up.

Rubio giggled through the noise of the boys, shaking his head. Deep down he agreed because while others got to cook and do meaningful tasks, most of the Latino students were stuck in this storage space. Even the eight guys from the private school got to stay in the cooking room!

"¡Vamos, tíos! ¡No piensen así!" ("C'mon, guys! Don't think that way!") Madrid said, approaching his team. "Trabajaremos a nuestro ritmo. Cada uno sabe su labor! Y lo mejor de todo..." ("We'll work at our own pace. Each of us knows our job! Plus, best of all...") he paused, getting all the student's attention, "No tenemos que hablar inglés!" ("We don't have to speak in English")

"Esooooo!" ("Yeah!") Rubio shouted, being joined by the others.

"Arriba, arriba, arriba!" ("Yeah, yeah, yeah!") celebrated the Mexicans in the group.

Fists were pumped in the air, high fives were shared and big smiles adorned the faces of the excited bunch. Suddenly, five teenage boys came in through the double doors, separating the storage and receiving area from the room.

"Nosotros hablamos español también!" ("We speak Spanish too!") said one of them.

"¡No mames!" ("Really?") Cheo said, skeptically, while everyone turned to the newcomers.

"Santiago, Eduardo y José son de Tijuacán. Hilario y yo, Juan Silverio, somos de Ciudad de Méjico!" ("Santiago, Eduardo y José are from Tixuacan. Hilario y I, Juan Silverio, we are from Mexico City") he said, gesturing to each one of the other young chefs.