Mean Girls Missing

30

July 21

2:07 pm

Monica

Mom had given me so many leftovers from brunch that I didn't know if they would fit in my little car. Bacon, sausage links, molletes, cheese stuffed corn cakes, mote pillo, anything I could imagine was placed on the table. Mom didn't play any games about breakfast. She went hard in the kitchen.

Mom and I brought out dish by dish and stacked them in my backseat until we had packed everything in. She wore her signature red Huipil, complete with lace and intricate designs. Her hair was in a low bun with a pencil stuck through the middle.

She clapped her hands together. "Okay, you have everything, yes?"

"Yes, Mama."

She pulled me in for a tight hug. "Oh, I love you. Miss you much. Come visit us soon, yes?"

Her accent was strong and thick. Those who didn't grow up listening to her talk wouldn't be able to understand her. I smiled at her.

"I love you, Mom. See you later."

"Goodbye, Monica!" Mom waved from the top step, next to my father, who still had crumbs on his lip.

I fastened my seatbelt and waved out the window. "Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad!" As soon as I drove past, I rolled the window up and blasted my air conditioning. It was way too hot to have the windows down.

My car dinged. I checked the controls to see the low gas symbol blinking gold shadows at me. Instead of hitting the highway, I went down a few gravel roads until I reached the old gas station on the corner. The gas station had been on the corner longer than I had been alive. The pumps were old, I didn't know how to use them so I always had my father come with or the attendant pump for me. The sign on top of the building had toppled long ago so there wasn't even a name anymore. It was just 'that one gas station on the corner.' People who lived in the town knew what it meant.

The gravel hit the bottom of my car until it slowed to a stop. There was only one other car in the parking lot; a bright red pick up truck. Locking my car behind me, I entered the dingy gas station and looked for someone who could help me.

The building was ice cold. There were four double-sided shelves of items, including snacks, travel necessities, medicine, and other random merchandise. There were two large coolers that had the beverages for sale. Behind the registers, there was a locked shelf with the liquor, cigarettes, and tobacco.

I couldn't see anyone inside. "Hello?" I called. "Can someone help me?"

"I can help you, sweetheart." The voice appeared before the body. It was deep, gruff. Kind of scratchy.

I looked around. I still couldn't see anyone around me.

"Where are you?" I asked. "I just need help pumping gas. I can't understand the pumps out there."

A gigantic man came into view around the corner. He had a white tank top with overalls and cowboy boots. There was a toothpick in his mouth and a scraggly red beard. His balding hair was the same color as his beard.

His eyes narrowed when he saw me. "You a paying customer?" There was a bit of country twang in his voice.

"Yeah, I have the money to pay for gas. I need someone to help me get the gas."

"Sorry, anchor baby. I'm afraid I can't help you."

Anchor baby?

"Excuse me?" I set one hand on my hip. "I've been here before and no one has ever not helped me. Is there someone else I can talk to?"