Mandela's Dance

2

It only took a few quick trips between the car and the house till all the boxes were inside. The two girls returned back to their parents, out of breath.

"We're done, now lets go!" Lani insisted, grabbing ahold of her father's wrist as she began to try to drag him out.

Cesar huffed as he grabbed the keys from the pocket of his jeans.

Millie and Estella followed out not far behind, Estella grumbling about something under her breath. Probably about how they were gonna get what her sister wanted instead of Chinese food.

Once the front door was locked behind them, everyone loaded into the car. It was a typical Station Wagon, big enough to fit everything needed, small enough to not be a complete gas guzzler. Was it pretty? No, but it worked.

Once both girls were buckled up in the back seat, Cesar turned the keys in the ignition and began to drive.

"Do you remember where the nearest McDonald's could be?" Millie hummed, looking up from the paper map of all the streets and business in town.
"I think? Maybe? Nothing looks like it's changed much since I left... This goddamn town never changes. Always the same." He mumbled, looking out from the windshield as they began to drive farther into town and out of residential area.

Mandela never seemed to change. It was the same little shops and stores, with the same people, and the same things. The only times it seemed to change is when things are added on or torn down, or a new owner takes over a shop or something. You get the idea. But overall, it's just the same.

After a bit of driving through the main part of town, the McDonald's was spotted. Cesar let out a soft hum at the sight as Lani cheered, Estella being quick to roll her eyes before going back to fiddle with her Gameboy.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Lani cheered, looking out her window at the building. She was practically bouncing in her seat as stars glimmered in her big deep brown eyes. Just as quickly as her excitement began though, it disappeared, only to return once again.

"Look! Theres people doing construction!" She pointed out.
There were in fact, people doing construction. On the roof, specificly.

"What are they doing up there? What happened? What if they fall off the roof? Are they okay? Are we still getting McDonald's?" Questions spilt out of Lani's little mouth, only to be quickly interrupted by her older sister.

"No you idiot, we can't get McDonald's. They are fixing the roof, do you really think they will be open while under construction?" Estella scoffed out, not even bothering to look up from her Gameboy as she spoke.

While it wasn't unusual for a business to stay open even during times of minor construction, this wasn't minor. It looked as if something had blew off part of the roof. Probably a fire or something, it was hard to tell, but it definitely enough to keep it closed for a while.

"Estella, quit being an ass to your sister." Millie shot in, only earning another eye roll from the older daughter.
"Well, where are we going now?" Cesar sighed, looking at Millie with tired eyes.

"I don't know, let's just find whatever is open." She looked back down at the map again before shoving it into the glovebox.

Cesar turned the car to leave the parking lot and get back onto the road. It wasn't long till he turned into another parking lot. He put the car into a parking spot and pulled the keys out of the ignition.
"We'll find something here, there should be a few 24 hour cafes open here still."
Cesar said, before opening his door and stepping out of the vehicle.

It was a typical looking strip mall, nothing too notable, if anything, it looked a little extra dull than the previous parts of town they had just driven through. Everyone else stepped out of the van before Cesar locked it and began to lead the three girls behind him.

"Daddy, where are we going?" Lani asked, skipping along as she grabbed one of her mother's hands for support.

"To find somewhere else to eat at." He replied, his voice soft and tired.
"Ugh! It's starting to rain!" Estella scoffed, picking up her pace as she hid her Gameboy under her jacket as if it was some precious unreplaceable item.

"Yeah, let's just find somewhere to eat and go home. I don't want to have to drive in the fucking rain..." Millie pulled up the hood of her jacket, walking a bit faster as well.

Once under the overhang of the building over the sidewalk, Cesar let out a sigh, trying to recall what was along this strip mall. Though it was a bit difficult to remember all the details after having moved away what felt like so long ago now.

"Let's just go to Steph's Kitchen. I remember that place having $2 meals or something cheap like that." He hummed, looking back to his wife for approval.

She nodded, and so he gently grabbed Estella's hood to drag her along since as usual, she was distracted with her Gameboy.

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882 words

June 16, 2024