kis·met
/ˈkizmit,ˈkizˌmet/
noun
destiny; fate.
We were always fated to be in each others lives. It was written in the stars the moment we wrestled on the playground our first day of preschool. But it was easier to love him behind the veil of hatred...
Mom had been in the kitchen all day making dinner. It was her rare burst of energy that got her up that day. Mom was pretty big and I knew my little brother was going to be born soon. It didn't matter that she couldn't see her feet, or that she would cry when a sad commercial came on the tv, she still worked around the house like it would fall apart if she didn't.
The house smelled like rice, chicken, and homemade tortillas. Mom even let me help, of course I got distracted by the dough and started playing with it. I think it was her clever way of getting me out of her hair. Dad came home not long after the food was finished and the table was set. He burst into the house and scooped me and Jules in his arms.
"Did you get us anything daddy?" I asked fully aware that he indeed always got us vending machine candy that he brought home for all of us. Snicker bars for Delia, Starbursts for Jorge and Jaimie, and M&M's for me and Jules.
"Mmm, I don't know mija..." He shrugged. "I'll give you some of my candy if you show me how much you love me."
I stretched my arms out and said, "This much."
Dad looked skeptical. "Just that much?" He teased.
I stretched it so far this time I hurt my arms and my face went red. "This much, Daddy!"
Jules just threw her arms around him and held onto him so tight he had to finally let me go. Then, with Jules still wrapped around him, he greeted Mom.
"Smells good Mi Amor." He hummed, kissing her on her cheek. Mom looked tired but pleased that he complimented her. "You look beautiful, even with flour in your hair." He teased her.
"Go wash up before you eat." She said grabbing the dish rag and slapping his arm with it, playfully.
"Si, senora!" He saluted her before unclasping Jules from his neck and setting her down.
She cried for all of three seconds before Dad dropped a bag of candy onto our laps. Mom rolled her eyes but she smiled as she watched us devour the chocolate candy. Then scowlded us when we complained about not having enough room to eat her dinner. It was such a cycle by then that it wasn't even punishment when we were forced to eat dinner through tummy aches.
Delia and Jaimie then had the task of cleaning us up. Which they hated but dutifully did anyway. We all sat around the table and ate Mom's food. Daddy made a show of eating the tortilla's with loud hums of approval. Mom blushed when he said she looked beautiful with flour still in her hair.
It was perfect.
We were all stuffed and sat in the living room listening to the rain outside hit our roof. Daddy used to say if you closed your eyes, it almost sounded like the inside of a cave. Mom snorted and turned on the radio. A familiar song came on.
Mom gave Daddy a look. He smiled like he had a secret, and then he held her hand and pulled her in. He would have held her closer but her belly put enough space between them that it was comicial, we all laughed.
They danced to the first song, then they broke apart. Mom held her hand out to Jorge who awkwardly tried to keep in step with her. He wore a sour face because he thought it was embarrassing. Dad held his hands out to both Delia and Jaimie.
Delia fumbled a bit, but Jaimie was a natural. Dad said she got her dancing from Mom. They had a natural rhythm. Then when I got tired of watching, I grabbed Julia and we danced with our loose limbs.
Dad scooped us up in his arms and smiled. His brown skin wrinkled around his eyes as he smiled at us. Then he swung us around in beat, and sang to us in his horrible voice. But we didn't care.
We loved him. Even if he wasn't perfect.
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Okay so I delivered a double update, and I'm quite pleased with myself. I hope you guys enjoyed these chapter and I can't wait to share more with you guys.
In other news...Today I voted for the first time in a presidential election. I was registered to vote back in 2016 but never voted because I felt my vote didn't matter. In the end I felt immensely guilty for having a priviledge not many women and woc have around the world. So after 2016 I made a promise to myself to educate myself on politics and vote responsibly. I alone can't change the state of the world but I can begin to help.
Please if you can, go out and vote by Nov.3. Your vote does MATTER.
