Waking up that day, I only thought about how I was going to spend the rest of spring break. It wasn't a busy week, so I knew I had a lot of time to myself. But the main thought was, what was I going to do with all that time? Sure, I could practice my band's setlist for the talent show, but then what about any social interaction? Ok, so I guess I'll practice whenever I'm not doing anything. As soon as I was going to pick up my guitar I get a phone call. It's from my best friend. I'm known for not answering calls, and today wasn't a day of changing tradition, so I let it ring for a bit before picking it up.
"What you doing today?" She said as soon as I answered.
"Nothing really,"
"So let's go to the movies"
Movies are my one place for a break from reality, so, of course I was going to accept the offer. But I didn't want anyone else who I didn't really like to tag along.
"Who's going?"
"Just me and you"
This wasn't surprising. We usually do a lot of stuff together and alone. I always felt kind of guilty, because she has a boyfriend yet she spends time with me when they can be together.
"Awesome-"
"What movie should we see?"
I had to rush to my computer and see which movies were out. Luckily, the first movie that I saw was one I loved.
"They have the Jungle Book. Wanna see that?"
There was a pause.
With a lot of enthusiasm and pride, she finally said something.
"Yes."
"Ok cool, there's a showing at one. Cool?"
"Yup!"
Right after she said that I hung up the phone. Hey, it's a rude thing to do, but we didn't have anything else to say, and I'm not so good with goodbyes.
After hanging up, I walked to the living room. For some reason, the aroma of slowly cooked pork filled the living room, and the closer I got, the stronger the smell of all kinds of seasonings became. But it wasn't a strong smell like something from your uncle's cologne, it was a smell that diffuses itself and works together to become something great. That's the best I could describe it. I loved food and it loved me. That love came from my mom. She's an excellent cook even though she has a huge roadblock for her to cook.
My mom's handicapped, lower spine trauma. She can't move as well as others, but I'll be damned if she can't cook. Because she's handicapped and that leaves my dad as the only person who can work in the house, I help her with whatever needs to be done in the house. That means cleaning, cooking, and just regular maintenance is something I do on a daily basis in my house.
When my mom heard the door living room door close behind me, she automatically called my name out.
"Time for some labor" I thought to myself.
She was looking up to one of the cabinets.
"Get me the gandules". (They're a kind of peas we throw in our rice. It's super common for Puerto Ricans like me)
The cans of gandules were on the first shelf in the cabinet, so I didn't have to stand on a chair to reach for it. Once I brought them down I knew what we were going to make. Arroz con Gandules with Pernil. I love laughing at people who aren't so familiar with Spanish pronounce pernil. But that's just me being an asshole.
After I fill up the rice pot with the essentials, I hop into the shower. I love hot showers, they're just the best. But I did read some B.S case-study saying people that like hot showers usually lack affection, but get it from the "warm feeling of the water on your skin". As much as I'd like to disprove that, it's true for me. My school is a sausage fest, so there are not that many girls. Pair that with being friends with the only people that are in a relationship and go to school together, you get a very unhopeful teenager in terms of dating. I guess you could call me a hopeless romantic.
