0.5 | The Bakery/La Panederia

The twelve-year-old opened the door to a local bakery, reminiscing the smell of coffee and sweet bread hitting her nostrils. The doorbell rung indicated a new customer had entered. "Hola, bienvenido a- oh, Vydia, it's been so long since I've seen you." Mrs. Carrillo Greeted her as she walked in.

Vydia smiled at the older woman, "Good morning Mrs. Carrillo. How has this morning been?"

"You know, it's one of those slow days," she grabbed a rag and cleaned the counter.

Vydia pulled up a chair and sat down tapping her fingers against the table. Mrs. Carrillo Prepared chocolate milk for Vydia and opened the display case taking two pieces of pan dulce. She set them down in front of her, sitting down across from Vydia.

Guilty unable to pay her back, Vydia kindly rejected her, "Oh, no, thank you, Mrs. Carrillo. I've alre-"

"Ah, no, mami. My treat and you look like you could use it. You look so frail."

"Thank you." She silently ate her food in peace with Mrs. Carrillo's company. Vydia respected the older woman and enjoyed her company. She may be rude most times but she holds her tongue around her.

Mrs. Carrillo saw Vydia in the alleyway behind her panaderia one day. It was raining hard that night and she was cleaning up the café after late hours. Vydia was weak shivering from hunger with her knees brought up to her chest, afraid she had been caught. Mrs. Carillo calmly approached her and told her she wasn't going to hurt her.

She propped the door open welcoming Vydia into her shop. She offered Vydia her big raincoat and gave her hot chocolate and pan dulce. Mrs. Carrillo didn't immediately bomber Vydia with questions. She waited for her to speak because she didn't want to push her away.

When they first met up Vydia lied to her so Mrs. Carrillo didn't question her. Vydia often stole brand new clothes and changed into them before she entered the café.

Mrs. Carrillo didn't know Vydia was an orphan. Vydia lied with ease and changed topics to avoid questions about her life at home.

The night they first met, Vydia told her she ran away from home and gave a petty reason why. Mrs. Carrillo chuckled and told her straight that it was a dumb excuse and she should go home.

"It's much earlier than you usually come, aren't you supposed to be in school?"

Vydia swallowed the food in her mouth and took a swig of the chocolate milk. "No, uh, it's actually spring break. You know how the district is."

"Ah, I see." Mrs, Carillo got up to get a napkin for her. Vydia could have sworn she mumbled something with the lines 'maestros huevones'. She furrowed her eyes confused, the only word she picked up was teachers.

"How have you been? Mr. Carillo treating you nice?" she joked.

Mrs. Carrillo playfully rolled her eyes at the mention of her husband. "The usual. Cranky," she laughed. "Today is his day off. Maybe he's sitting at home wondering what to eat."

Vydia laughed. She hadn't seen Mr. Carrillo in months. He was a kind yet strict man. One time, Mrs. Carrillo told Vydia that she and Mr. Carrillo argued about the number of clothes she had in their closet. She told him she'll get rid of them when he gets rid of the unnecessary tools. He only responded 'When I die, I'll be buried with them'.

It was quite a confusing banter.

"I haven't seen him in a while." Vydia finished her drink and bread. She got off her chair and pushed it in, "Is there anything I could do to help?"

"Oh, no. It's fine, Mija. It's been a slow day. Not much has happened." Mrs. Carrillo walked up to Vydia to take her plate but she refused kindly.

"The least I could do is wash my plate." Mrs. Carillo smiled in return and watched Vydia prance into the kitchen.