Always Adam

Chapter 12

The cafe is located in a row of shops off the main street that runs through East Riverside. This was the same area I found the ice cream store on my exploration trip.  We park in a lot behind it. Once again Carlos opens the door for me. "You have very good manners," I tell him. "I was raised by my mom. She taught me well." I want to ask him what happened to his dad but decide it's to personal. He opens the door for me as we enter. I look around the small area. It's cozy. The walls are painted half white to the ceiling and the lower half is in a black and red checkered pattern. The floor is cement. I follow him over to a booth and slide in across from him. I take in his deep brown eyes. His skin is nearly the same color as mine. He's wearing one of his signature t-shirts. He catches me checking him out. I turn away to look around at the other booths. Some are black and the others red.

"So, what do you think," Carlos asks. "It looks different," I say. "Kind of weird, but yet cool." He laughs. A woman about thirty comes over and sits down next to Carlos. "Hi Cuz," he says. "How's your day going so far Maria." Another girl who appears to be closer in our age comes over with two glasses of water. "Your looking awful good Carlos," she says as she puts the water down on our table. "Back at you Hannah," he flirts back. She barely gives me a glance. "I'll be back to take your order in a couple." I watch her walk away. She's really working her hip action. It's all for nothing since Carlos isn't watching.

"Hey Carlos. Mateo is sick. I've been checking in on him every chance I get, but I'm worried about him," Maria says. "Your mom tried to call off, but they couldn't find someone to cover her shift." "Why didn't she call me," he says clearly upset. Maria stands. "You were already at school when she realized Mateo was sick. She called me to see if I could come stay with him, but I have the breakfast and lunch shift today." Carlos looks from Maria to me. I'm guessing Mateo is Carlos brother. "Shit," he says. I can tell he's torn on what to do. "Carly you can take my car back to school after you drop me at home," he says thinking it through out loud. "I'll pack you up some soup and a couple sandwiches," Maria says.

"I'll go with you Carlos," I say. He looks at me confused. "I can help you take care of him. I've taken care of Olivia and Teddy a lot of over the years when they were sick," I say then realize he has no idea who I'm talking about. Maria has disappeared and we're both just standing there. "I don't want you to miss school. It's bad enough we won't be able to work on our project idea." Maria returns with a takeout bag. "I packed a couple sandwiches for the two of you and some soup for Mateo. Once your mom makes it home, give me a call and I'll stop back to show you around for your project," Maria says. Carlos gives her a hug and says thanks.

He leaves the parking lot and takes the back alley to the road. He makes a left and then a right. He pulls up to a small dirty white sided house. "This is my house," he announces. He hurries out of the car grabbing the food. Even in his haste he's a proper gentleman. He hurries to open my door. I follow him up the walkway to the porch. He digs around his keys for the one that will open the door. I take the bag of food from his hands so he can find the key easier.

Inside the house is dark. It's small but very neat and clean. "Mateo," he calls out as we travel through the kitchen. I drop the bag of food onto the table and follow him into the living room. I reach over and touch Mateo's head. "He's burning up," I say. "Do you have a cloth we can soak in cold water," I ask him. He hurries off and returns a minute later with a cold wash cloth. I lay it on Mateo's forehead. He moans. "Hey buddy, how you doing?" Carlos asks concerned.  He moans. "Not so good," he says.

"Mateo, have you had any medicine for the fever," I ask him. "Maria gave me something a while ago," he says. "I'll call her and find out what she gave him and at what time," Carlos says digging out his phone. "Do you have a thermometer," I ask. He goes back into the bathroom while he calls Maria. He comes out with a thermometer and I slide it under Mateo's tongue. "It's been about four hours," he says after he's done talking to Maria. He comes back from the bathroom with something to help the fever. "It's 103," I tell him. He helps Mateo sit up and gives him the medicine. Carlos calls the school to explain the situation and let them know we won't be back. For the next couple hours, we sit monitoring him. We make sure to keep the wash cloth cold each time it starts to warm.