Once Yours

05

"I cooked something special," her mother answered with a teasing smile.

"Really? Would you mind telling me what that something special is?" she asked her mother, smiling.

"It's a surprise," her mother replied.

They were only a few blocks away from reaching their house when they heard someone calling them from behind. It was her sister, Lara.

"I've been calling you guys for three minutes now. I thought you both had an ear problem," Lara said, taking her mother's hand to show respect. "Ma, what do we have for today?" Lara asked, patting Mara’s head.

"That's what we were talking about earlier. It's something special," Mrs. Salvatorre said with a smile while opening their small gate.

"I thought you’d finish at 9 p.m.?" Mara asked.

"Our manager sent us home early. I don't know why the sudden change," Lara answered while removing her shoes.

"Ah, I hope all managers are like that. Life for employees would be much easier," Mara added.

"Hi Dad!" Mara went to him and paid her respects. Lara followed. "How was your day today, Dad?" she asked, referring to their father, who had been in a wheelchair for two years since they had an accident on the road on their way to Santa Barbara.

"What could be better than sitting all day?" their father answered sarcastically.

They exchanged glances and proceeded to the kitchen, letting their mother push their father there for dinner.

Mara opened the food on the table and found that the something special her mother had mentioned was grilled eggplant, dipped in egg and fried, noodles as soup, and a banana for dessert. She grinned with disappointment.

"Ma," she called her mom and winked. She didn't want her mother to know she was complaining about the food.

Lara set the plates on the table, and their parents sat in their respective places. Ever since the accident, their father had been unable to work. As a teacher, their mother's income was not enough to support their needs, which was why Lara had made the difficult decision to stop attending school. It was her last year of college when she had to put her education on hold to help her mother.