Blackest Hearts

old Family

the old man led them inside the warm home which smelled like Mexican hot chocolate and food.

"My name is Carlos, please, my niece has prepared for you rooms, clothes and some food. you all should wash up. there's a bathroom upstairs and one in the basement." Carlos said leading them to the staircase. 

"Thanks," Jenna said leading them upstairs.

"I hope the clothes fit you all. My niece has a bit more meat than you but they should still be fine." Carlos said as they walked into Jenna's temporary room. 

she nodded and smiled, picking up the clothes laid on her bed and walking into the bathroom. the boys walked to their room, still followed by Carlos as they walked in. it was a simple room with two beds, pushed on either side of the room. 

"Can i go first?" Charlie asked.

"Sure, Sir, do you think we could use your washer and dryer?" Cole asked.

"Of course follow me," Carlos said leading Cole out of the room. 

Charlie grabbed his things and followed them to the basement where he slipped into the tiny bathroom and closed the door. he showered quickly since Jenna seemed to be taking up all the hot water and changed into the warm clothes that consisted of Walmart brand black sweats and a black simple t-shirt. he walked upstairs and Cole quickly went for his shower. 

Charlie tossed his wet clothes  into the washing machine where he found Jenna's and Cole's clothes. he started it and walked back upstairs. He stopped in the living room where he found Carlos sitting down in his armchair watching the news on his TV. he looked up and watched Charlie, who began to feel uncomfortable with the attention.

"You remind me so much of my sons when they were young. you all were strong and fit and good looking." Carlos said with a sad smile 

"Excuse me?" Charlie asked awkwardly.

"My boys were good kids who just didn't know what they were getting themselves into. you look like your dad when he was your age." Carlos said standing up and walking slowly to a shelf above the TV. 

he pulled down a turquoise framed picture and walked to Charlie, smiling at it before handing it to him. Charlie gently took it and looked at the photo of the family. he spotted his dad out instantly through the alarming resemblance, all except that his father's hair was a black, straight and his own was a curled chocolate brown.  

he noticed Carlos too, looking a lot younger than now. his arms were wrapped around a grinning woman which Charlie guessed was his wife, while his father stood proudly next to an older boy who was glaring at his younger brother. 

"That's your dad, and your uncle, and your grandmother," Carlos said, pointing to each of the people in the photo.

"So that makes you, my-" Charlie started.

"Your Abuelo, yes," he said with a smile. 

at that moment Jenna walked in and smiled at them both. she was also dressed in Walmart brand sweats and a fitted shirt only that hers were a grey pant and a pink top. her hair was wrapped in her towel still and she walked over to them. peering at the picture in Charlie's hands. 

"Thank you for the shower, I really needed it," she said, flashing one of her bright smiles.

"Of course, the three of you came in smelling like Duck poop." Carlos laughed. 

"Thanks for also letting us use your washer," Cole added walking in.

"come you all must be hungry, my niece has prepared for you all some Tamales," Carlos said with a smile leading his friends into the other room. 

Charlie looked back at the photo and set it down on the mantelpiece before walking after his family. 

he joined them in a humble room that was decorated with yellow and yellow sunflowers. Charlie sat down next to cole as Carlos explained to Jenna the different kinds of tamales. in the end, they all thanked him and began to devour all the food. he would occasionally laugh and bring them something to drink before he finally left for his TV program. 

"This is really good," Cole said as he stuffed his mouth with another one. 

"Stop eating like that, you're going to choke!" Charlie laughed at him. 

they finished shortly after, clearing and washing the dishes they quietly went back into the living room to find Carlos asleep with the news on. Jenna led them upstairs as they crept by the old man and up the stairs. 

"It's great that we actually have a place tonight," Jenna said quietly in front of her room. 

"No kidding," Charlie answered.

"We should try to lie low for a couple of days till the Clave frenzy passes over," Cole suggested. 

Jenna nodded before she slipped into her room and the boys walked to theirs. as Charlie walked in he saw that all of his and Cole's stuff had been washed, dried, and folded into neat stacks on their beds. he tossed it all into his fresh backpack and zipped it up, before crashing on the creaky bed.

"Do you think that Mr.  Garcia will help us?" cole asked arranging his things.

"Which one, senior or junior?" Charlie laughed. 

"Both"

"I mean I think so, so far Senior has been nothing but kind to us. as for Junior, I think so too, I mean he eventually ended up helping us in the end." Charlie answered as he stared at the ceiling. 

cole nodded and crawled into his bed, turning off the night light next to him as he rolled over.

"Yeah I guess you're right," he muttered sleepily