In The Heights Fanfiction

Chapter 3: Benny's Dispatch

Camila was going through bills, Kevin was working on the dispatch. Rosario's car service wasn't the best car service, but it was the only one in the barrio.

"Ciento noventa y dos, en la esquina, al frente del McDonald's." Kevin was directing traffic into the dispatch. "Atención, I know it's hot but I don't want to see any drivers without a tie, this is Rosario's."

Kevin looked to Camila. She seemed stressed or troubled. Kevin cozied up to her and asked: "How can you be stressed when our muñeca's home?"

"The mechanic called, he won't touch another engine till we pay for last month." Camila sighed and put the bills down on the counter.

"Then I'll get a little grease on my hands." Kevin smiled and hugged his wife.

"Why, so you can hurt your back again?" she pulled away from the hug and picked up the bills again.

"You used to think I was sexy when I fixed cars."

"Before all that mileage..." Camila picked up a specific bill. "Mira, Uptown Investment Group..."

She offered the paper to her husband but he refused.

"Another developer. It's not an offer, it's an insult." Kevin pushed the letter back to Camila and she kept reading.

"Regency Bank." Camila opened another letter and scoffed. "We're behind on all these payments! We need an emergency loan."

"We'll go see the bank manager Monday." Kevin dropped the conversation and started to walk away.

Camila stopped him and said: "This can't wait, papi."

"The dispatcher called out." Kevin turned around to see Benny, waiting for him.

"Hey, boss, I'll cover the radio." Benny offered.

"You don't speak Spanish." Kevin blurted.

Benny wanted to work the dispatch. "Five years with these drivers?"

"You're not Latino."

Kevin would find any excuse for Benny to not work on the dispatch. Camila stepped in.

"How much English did you speak when you started here? Benny is honorary Latino." Camila smiled at Benny. He picked up on what she was trying to do.
There was a silence. Kevin offered the dispatch to Benny, but then he hesitated. Benny saw this in Kevin's eyes. He felt the dispatch in his hands.

He knelt down to the radio and announced: "Ahem, there's a new voice riding the heat wave today-"

"Just get them from point A to point B." Kevin rolled his eyes and took Camila's hand.

"I got your back." Benny smiled as the couple left the car service.

Benny felt a little nervous to start speaking, but he's always wanted this. He held the dispatch in his shaky hands and began to speak.

"Check one, two, three. Check one, two three. This is Benny on the dispatch. Yo! Atención, yo, attention! It's Benny and I'd like to mention I'm on the microphone this morning. Honk your horn if you want it."
Benny leaned forward and listened outside for the distant car horns. He heard a few and smiled.

Nina entered the car service and noticed Benny was on the dispatch.

"Okay, we got traffic on the west side. Get off and seventy-ninth, and take the left side of Riverside Drive, you might slide."

Benny kept speaking into the dispatch as he heard a series of horns and cars moving. "West end's your best friend if you catch the lights! And don't take the Deegan; Manny Ramirez is in town this weekend. Sorry Dominicans, take route eighty-seven, you ain't gettin' back in again."

Benny glanced over at Nina and did a double take. He turned around again and smiled. "Hold up a minute!"

He turned off the dispatch and ran to Nina.

"Benny, hey!" Nina waved and smiled.

"Nina, you're home today!"

His loud voice took Nina by surprise.

"Any sign-"

"Of your folks, they're on their way!" Benny smiled

"Anyway-"

"It's good to see your face."

What am I saying? Nina probably thinks I'm crazy!

"Anytime-"

Nina went to leave, but Benny grabbed her wrist.

"Hold up a minute, wait!"

She was now looking at him with wide eyes.

"You used to run this dispatch, right?" Benny let go of her wrist, Nina thought for a moment.

"Once or twice."

"Well check the technique!" He picked up the dispatch and kept his eyes on Nina. "Yo! There's a traffic accident I have to mention at the intersection of tenth ave and the Jacob Javitz Convention Center. And check it, don't get stuck in the rubber-neckin' on a hundred ninety-second, there's a double decker bus wreck!"

Benny glanced out the window of Rosario's and kept speaking into the dispatch. "Now listen up, we got a special guest!"

"Live and direct from a year out west!"

"Benny!" Nina yelled, overlapping with Benny's nonsense.

"Welcome her back, 'cause she looks mad stressed!"

"Benny!" Nina was fed up with him, she tried to get his attention.

"Nina Rosario, the barrio's best!"

Benny smiled at Nina as a few car horns honked outside Rosario's.

"Woo! Honk your horns!" Benny looked over at Nina, she was smiling. "She's smiling! Say hello!"

He offered the dispatch to her. She slid over and took it. "Hello! Good morning!"

They exchanged a look. Nina knew she was having fun with Benny.

I can't do this right now. I need to find my parents.

Nina paused and put the dispatch down slowly. "I better find my folks."

She sighed. "Thanks for the welcome wagon."

"Anytime, anytime, Nina." Benny smiled.

Nina starts to head for the door, but Benny stops her once more.
"Wait here with me. It's getting hot outside."

Nina turned around to fully face Benny.

"Turn up the A.C. Stay here with me."

He opened his arms out to her, she stood there next to Benny. They stood there by the dispatch and talked for hours.

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