boys goodbye before taking the bus downtown to work. When Gustavo had started kindergarten, she’d taken a job at a coffee house that allowed her to work around her sons’ school hours. Since she had to leave so early, Julio took the boys to school before he went to his job.
This Christmas, Julio’s mother was coming from Los Angeles to spend the holiday with them and had agreed to care for the boys during their school break. Dina was a little concerned with the lack of space in their small, two-bedroom apartment but Gabriela had assured them that she would be happy to stay in their little sunroom.
People were already lined up outside the coffee house when Dina got there. She entered through the back where her co-workers were setting up. Dina inhaled deeply, never tiring of the enriching aroma.
“Good morning,” she called cheerily, taking her coat off and slipping quickly into her apron.
“Hey!” Muriel responded. Almost ten years younger than Dina, Muriel was the manager, friendly yet seriously professional.
She nodded to the crowd growing outside. “Look at that! I’m not opening that door until seven on the dot,” Muriel said glancing to the clock which read 6:47. “We let them in any earlier and they start to expect it.”
Yusuf smiled at Dina. He was a quiet young man, a college student who also worked around school hours, except that, pulling weekend and evening shifts, he worked full time.
At seven Muriel opened the door and the morning flew by. It wasn’t until close to ten that things started to slow down and the three of them could actually have a conversation.
“Are the kids getting excited about Christmas?” Muriel asked Dina, as she wiped down the counter.
“Oh yes!” Dina said, drying the cups that Yusuf was busy washing. “We pulled out the decorations yesterday and I found a straw angel that my father gave me when I was a little girl.”
“Ahh…” Muriel cooed.
Yusuf chuckled and Dina joined him.
“We had an angel on top of the tree when I was a kid, but when I married Julio we bought a star. That’s been the tree topper ever since,” Dina shared a bit wistfully.
Muriel scowled. “You should have an angel on top of the tree if you want one.”
Dina smiled and said, “Maybe this year. I just wish I could find a different kind of angel…”she paused, choosing her words carefully. “You know most angels look like…”
“Like her?” Yusuf nodded towards Muriel.
They all laughed, even Muriel as she rolled her large blue eyes. With her long blonde curls and porcelain complexion, there was a striking angelic resemblance, despite the stark black eye makeup, tattoos and green nail polish.
“It’d be nice if there were angels that looked like my kids,” Dina said.
“You mean ethnic angels?” Muriel asked, causing Dina and Yusuf to burst into laughter again.
To be continued December 3...
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Dina