In The Heights Fanfiction

Chapter 4: It Won't Be Long Now

Abuela Claudia was on her stoop, feeding the pigeons with birdseed. Usnavi exited the bodega and ran to her, frustrated.

"Oye, you missed another doctor's appointment!" Usnavi yelled. He stopped in his tracks and realized how rude he was acting. He shook it out of his system and pretended to start over. The pigeons flew away.

"Mijo, (My son) would you take medical advice from a man named Dr. Gross?" Abuela asked politely considering Usnavi's previous tone.

"As long as you're taking your medicine." Usnavi took his hat off and ran his fingers through his hair. "Abuela..."

There's a long silence. The pair just looked at each other until Usnavi spoke up.

"Pero, Abuela, eso no importa-"(But, Abuela, it doesn't matter-) 

"It makes my heart work better, but in return it gives me headaches. Imagínate, with what those pills cost, I could get myself a good facelift."

Usnavi sighed.  

"Sácalo de aqui, mételo pacá." (Take a bit off here, put it here.) She demonstrates with the nips and tucks on her face. "Sácalo de aqui, mételo pacá."

Usnavi was about to argue but Sonny rushed out of the bodega holding a soda pop in one hand.

"Who hooked it up? Ice cold Country Club Cola Champagne!" Sonny smiled and took a sip.

"Put that on your tab." Usnavi frowned and turned to Sonny. "You owe me five thousand, three hundred-"

"Usnavi, I think he's trying to tell you, he fixed the Frigidaire." Abuela winked at Sonny and he smiled back. Usnavi bowed his head down in defeat.

"So let's talk about that raise." Sonny elbowed his cousin. "Free sodas or I walk."

"Half price." Usnavi started to walk away. "Diet." He stopped at the bodega door. "Cola Champagne. That's my final offer!"

Usnavi walked through the bodega door. Sonny, clearly frustrated, ran over to follow his older cousin.

"Ain't no Dominicans be drinking no diet soda!" Sonny yelled, hoping Usnavi would hear him. But instead he caught Vanessa's attention.

"Be thankful, at least someone around here is getting a raise!" Vanessa walked over to Sonny and put one hand on her hip.

"I'm starting a union." Sonny took another sip of his soda. "Underage cousins of bodega worker's unite!" He raised one fist in the air and bolted into the bodega.

Vanessa heard the familiar jingle of the bodega bells and walked to the salon. It wasn't far from the bodega, only a few paces.

She made it a few minutes later and pulled out her phone.

Daniela walked out of the salon and frowned. "Excuse me, this isn't social hours."

Vanessa had the phone up to her ear, it was ringing. "Sorry, it's Con Edison. I gave my mom half of my check to pay the bills."

She explained her story to Daniela, but she just responded with: "Y que pasó? (And what happened?) She drank it away?"

Daniela sighed and put one arm around her friend. "Vanessa, when are you going to get out of that toxic environment?"

Vanessa was going to answer but a voice on the phone interrupted her. "Hi ma'am? I get my check on Monday, I can pay them. Yes, I'll hold."

Vanessa tore the phone from her ear and faced Daniela. "Daniela, I know I still owe you from last time."