Heights to Heights

4 : Sonny

"Carry me, please." Alex begs. We literally walked ten feet.

"Fine." I say, picking him up.
He rests on my hip while I walk about a block and a half to the little store.

I walk in, setting Alex down. I glance behind the counter to see a young boy about my age messing with the register, sipping on a Mountain Dew. He struggles with it then whacks it on the side, making it open.
I laugh to myself a little.
I take Alex's little hand and drag him towards the back where the refrigerated drinks are. I take out a Coke, Dr. Pepper, and a water bottle.
I walk up to the counter and set my drinks there. I crouch down to Alex's height and say,
"Get one kind of candy."

"Any kind?" He asks.

"Any kind." I smile.

He gets excited and starts looking at all the candy in front of him.
I grab a Snickers and a pack of gum and stand up to see Usnavi at the counter.

"Hey, Usnavi." I smile.

"Hi... Naomi?" He asks.

"No, Alexa." I smile.

"Oh! I'm so sorry, I'm horrible with names." He says, taking his hat off and brushing his head back with his fingers then puts it back on.

"Oh don't worry, I get it all the time." I laugh. He laughs a little along with me.
Usnavi opens his mouth to say something, but a whistle interrupts him.

"Ay, mamasita! Who is this, 'Navi?" The cash register guy asks, walking behind the counter.

"My name is-"

"I WANT THIS ONE! CAN I HAVE THIS ONE?!?" Alex screams.

"Yo, chillax." I laugh at Alex. "And yes, you can." I take the butterfinger from his hands and put it on the counter.
"This too please." I grin.
"And my name is Alexa. You are?"

"I.. Uh.." he says, his confidence gone.

"This is Sonny. My cousin." Usnavi butts in.

I smile. "Sonny."

"That's me." He laughs a little and shakes my hand.

I hand Usnavi the twenty, but he shakes his head.
"The first few times someone new to the barrio comes, it's on the house."

"Oh, well thank you Usnavi." I smile gratefully as he puts the food in a bag.

"Of course." He smiles.

"It was nice to meet you, Sonny." I smile.

"You too, Alexa." He smiles cutely.

I blush a little and pick up Alex, putting him on my hip. I wave and we walk out.

When the door shuts, Alex tugs my hair a little.

"Yes?" I ask.

"I have a question." He states.

"Shoot!" I smile at him.

"Is Sonny my abuelo?" He asks.

I raise my eyebrows, confused.
"What, no! Why?" I ask, laughing a little.

"He called you Mommy." He says, confused.

I laugh and blush, shaking my head.

Give him your number.
A small voice in the back of my head says.

What the hell.
I turn around and walk back to the bodega.

Usnavi smiled as I walked in again. He not so subtly nudges Sonny's arm. Sonny slaps his hand away, blushing.

"So you have a pen, Usnavi?" I ask.
He nods and grabs one. I set Alex down then take the pen.
He starts to wander off and I say,
"Hey. Stay next to me." I say.

"Okay, tía." [aunt] he frowns, but stays still.

I walk towards Sonny and motion for his hand.
He holds it out and I click the pen open and write my number on his palm.

"Text me." I wink, setting down the pen and walking out hand and hand with Alex.

I turn back and I see Sonny staring at his hand, jaw dropped.
Usnavi is at his side, slapping his shoulder and cheering.

I smile and pick up Alex again.

"What'd you write?" He asks.

"My phone number." I say.

"What?"

"It's the numbers you type in so you can talk to someone over the phone. Remember?"

"Oh yeaaah." He smiles.

It's quiet except for cars going by and my footsteps.

"Alexa?" He asks.

"Hmm?"

"Does that mean Sonny will be my abuelo?"

I chuckle and continue walking home.