Quince Clash

by Malín Alegría

  “God does not care where you have your quinceañera,” Alpha said.

  “Yeah, but everyone at school does,” Fabi tried to explain. “And now, thanks to Alexis and Milo, I’ll have to shave my head and be Melodee’s slave for a week.”

  Abuelita Alpha got up, shaking her head. “I don’t understand you kids. You don’t want a quinceañera,” she said, pointing to Fabi. “And you two” — she gestured at Alexis and Milo — “are making up tales you know aren’t true, pa’ qué?”

  “Because Melodee is a brat and someone has to stand up to her,” Alexis stated heatedly.

  “Then why don’t you stand up to her?” Alpha suggested.

  Alexis blushed and looked away.

  “Ya, Alpha,” Grandma Trini interrupted. “Pobres huercos.” are just trying to help. They need understanding, not your scolding. Besides, no hay quinceañera fea.”

  Abuelita Alpha nodded and she sat back down. Trini was right. There was no such thing as a bad quinceañera.

  Grandma Trini turned to Fabi and cupped her hands over her granddaughter’s. “Now, mija, I know this is not what you had in mind for your birthday celebration, but you need to stop thinking about yourself for one minuto, okay?”

  Fabi nodded, feeling a bit confused. She wasn’t sure if it was from all the excitement, the quick movement from her grandmother’s glittery false lashes, or the heavy scent of her Jean Naté perfume. But she listened as her grandmother went on.

  “You have to think of la familia. We Garzas have a reputation to uphold.”

  “She’s only half Garza!” interrupted Abuelita Alpha. “The other half is Ibarra. That’s Basque, you know,” she said to Milo. “From Spain.”

  Grandma Trini cleared her throat pointedly. “Like I was saying. You are a Garza. You’re the granddaughter of the one and only Tejano Hall of Famer Little Rafa ‘Los Dedos del Valle’ Treviño Garza — don’t you forget that. And more important, you have my hair. There is no way,” she said, shaking a long manicured nail in Fabi’s face, “no way that I will let you shave your beautiful head.”

  Her grandmother pulled Fabi into a tight embrace, petting Fabi’s hair lovingly. Fabi wanted to cry out in frustration, but she couldn’t breathe because her grandmother was pressing her head down to her chest. What was she going to do?

  When her grandmother finally released her for some air, Fabi noticed that Santiago was getting along really well with the customers and even her dad was smiling from the kitchen. This could not last, she told herself. Milo smiled brightly at her from across the table.

  “What’s your problem?” she asked him.

  “Your family. They’re great. My parents don’t even talk to each other. All they do is watch TV and drink. But your relatives are just so passionate about everything.”

  “You want them?” Fabi motioned to her grandma Trini, who was adjusting her brassiere as if she was in her home alone. “You can have all of them.”

  Milo laughed.

  “You like the older ladies, don’t you, mijo?” Grandma Trini asked Milo, smiling seductively. “You know that show Cougar Town? I like that show. I want a show like that one but for women my age.”

  “Grandma!” Fabi and Alexis cried together.

  “Ay, Diosito.” Abuelita Alpha pulled her rosary from her bosom. “Please take this lost soul,” she said, referring to Grandma Trini. “Take her now.”

  “Ay, Alpha.” Trini slapped Abuelita Alpha’s thigh. “I was just teasing the muchacho. I know he’s just a baby. You need to relax. If you just let your hair down.” She reached for Abuelita Alpha’s hair tie. “You remember when you used to wear your hair loose? We used to have fun, didn’t we?”

  “Have you no shame?” Alpha cried, getting up.

  Grandma Trini started to crack up as the other abuelita stormed back to her side of the restaurant. “Don’t you worry about her,” Trini said to Alexis, Fabi, and Milo. “She’s all big hat, no cattle. Now, Fabi,” she said, growing serious. “Have you talked to your parents about this? I’m sure that now that you’re not going to New York they’ll be more willing to help you out for your quinceañera.”

  “Well, I haven’t —” Fabi began and stopped. When had she crossed that point of no return? So now she was having a quinceañera? Fabi sighed. There was just no fighting the family.

  “Go, talk to your mother right now,” Trini said, pushing Fabi forward. “See, she’s all alone looking at that book. It’s a perfect opportunity. I know she’s going to be so thrilliada. I know I am!”

  Her mother would not be thrilled, Fabi thought as she got up. Magda was leaning over the register counter, which also held gum, candies, postcards, and other trinkets. She was reviewing the bankbooks, adding up sums with her small calculator. Fabi thought about turning back. But Alexis, Grandma Trini, and Milo had their heads huddled together, watching her every move.

  “Hey, Mom,” Fabi said as she approached.

  Magda raised a finger in the air for Fabi to wait. Fabi noticed the pile of letters to her mother’s right. They were overdue hospital bills. Fabi’s dad had been recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. There were lots of tests and doctor visits now. Visits and tests that their health insurance would not cover, so they had to pay out of pocket. Fabi wasn’t supposed to be concerned, but how could she not be, when she heard her parents arguing at night about the bills, when they thought the kids were asleep?

  “It’s nothing.” Fabi turned to leave.

  “No, it’s fine,” Magda said, removing her reading glasses. “What is it?”

  Fabi pressed her lips together. What was she thinking? Her family couldn’t throw her a quinceañera. Even if they didn’t have the hospital bills, her parents still struggled. Fabi went without braces so that her sister could get voice lessons once a week. The quinceañera was an unnecessary expense.

  Magda smiled at Fabi, encouraging her to go on.

  Just then Alexis came up behind Fabi. “We got it! We got it all figured out. Did she tell you, Mom?” Alexis asked her mother.

  “Tell me what?” she asked, sensing Alexis’s enthusiasm.

  “About Fabi’s quinceañera!”

  “What? Oh, my!” her mother exclaimed. Fabi noticed with surprise the sudden twinkle in her mother’s eyes. “What are you talking about? When did this happen? Mija —” She turned to Fabi. Her eyes were dancing with hope. “I thought you didn’t —”

  “It just happened, Mom,” Alexis gushed. “Isn’t it wonderful? I’m so excited.” Alexis hugged their mom and then pulled Fabi in with her other arm. Once again, Alexis was oblivious to Fabi’s lack of enthusiasm.

  “This is so wonderful,” Magda said, tears forming in her eyes. “I had given up hope when you said you wanted to go to New York. But this —” She clapped her hands together. “This is the best news.” She turned to Alexis. “We have to start planning right away. It won’t be a big one, of course, but I’m sure we can do something real nice at the park. Maybe your grandpa will butcher a goat? Oh.” She noted Fabi’s stunned expression. “Don’t worry, mija. We will take care of everything. All you’ll have to do is show up.”

  “But, Mom.” Fabi had to jump in. “I don’t want anything too big, okay? I know we have a lot of bills with Dad being sick.”

  Alexis had started to bounce excitedly. “But that’s what I was trying to tell you. We got it all figured out. Look.” She pointed to the small TV by the gumdrop machine.

  Fabi, her mother, and Alexis moved closer to the TV. Grandma Trini and Milo were viewing the show with the utmost attention. They were watching a girl around Fabi’s age in crutches, waltzing around the dance floor with an older man in a military uniform.

  “See that girl?” Grandma Trini motioned to the screen. Her grandmother looked up with red teary eyes. “She was in a car bomb as a baby and lost her leg. She never knew her father and they just found him. He was in Iraq, a military man. The girl’s quinceañera dream was to be reunited with her biological father for the father-daughter da
nce.” Trini grabbed one of the crocheted handkerchiefs she was selling and blew her nose. “Isn’t that just beautiful?”

  Fabi noticed Milo scribbling in his notebook. “What is going on here?” she asked, growing suspicious.

  Grandma Trini slapped Fabi’s hand playfully. “Taking notes, mensa.”

  “See, Mom,” Alexis explained. “It’s a new reality TV show called Quince Dreams. If we get selected, they’ll pay for everything: the dress, the hall, the recuerdos, everything. It’ll be perfect. All we need is to write a really good story.”

  “I don’t think anyone is going to want to come to the Rio Grande Valley,” Fabi stated flatly. “Plus, my life is super boring. No one is going to want to watch it.”

  “Oh, come on,” Alexis insisted. “They have to come. Imagine Melodee’s face when she finds out that your quinceañera will be on TV.”

  Fabi smiled and admitted, “That would be nice. But how are you —”

  “Leave that up to us!” Grandma Trini said, sweeping one arm into the air with flair.

  Fabi’s chest started to tighten. Things were spinning way out of control. She could feel herself standing at the mercy of the incoming family storm. Her eyes darted to her friend, her sister, her abuelita — anyone who might rescue her. But no one seemed to notice or dared to come between Fabi and her quinceañera.

  Santiago was now a regular student, doing homework and working at the restaurant after school. Fabi didn’t understand the change, but she was too busy hiding from quince talk to find out. Melodee’s cold stare seemed to be everywhere — by her locker, in the bathroom mirror, even in the hallway bulletin. A big photo of her as the student who sold the most chocolates at the school fund drive seemed to be on every surface. Big deal, Fabi thought. She’d probably bought them all herself.

  Everyone at school was talking about the big showdown.

  But there had been no word from the Quince Dreams show, and Fabi was somewhat relieved. For a second there, she actually believed that her family might be able to pull it off. Winning the bet with Melodee was the real quince dream. She didn’t know how she would face her. Now, no matter how much she cried and begged, Fabi would have to go through with having a quinceañera. The word was out. Abuelita Alpha had invited Father Benavides to the restaurant to talk to Fabi over a plate of migas. There was no going back. Fabi was going to have a quinceañera, big or small, whether she liked it or not.

  That Saturday, Fabi met up with her best friend, Georgia Rae, at the mall. It had been weeks since they’d hung out. When Georgia Rae first moved away to McAllen at the beginning of the school year, they’d promised to see each other every weekend. But now that Fabi’s BFF was starring in a major school play, she spent all her free time rehearsing or hanging out with her new artsy friends. Fabi couldn’t help but feel left behind. They didn’t talk about it, but the distance between them was starting to get on both of their nerves.

  Fabi admired a party dress on an anorexic-looking mannequin in a display window. She never really bought anything at the mall; she just liked to window-shop and people-watch. The mall was the second-best place to go to beat the heat — the movies was number one. Georgia Rae said nothing, glaring into the distance. Fabi could tell she was fuming on the inside.

  “I can’t believe you caved in just like that. You have to say no once in a while,” Georgia Rae said as they walked past a shoe store.

  “I didn’t get a chance. You know my family. They just took over like they always do. This quince is being shoved down my throat. I’m not even a part of it. My mom seriously told me just to show up.”

  Georgia Rae stopped in front of a bookstore and stared inside, thinking. Finally, she turned back to Fabi and said, “I don’t know. Your family always seems to get in the way, and you always just let them. I just don’t get it. That was your money. You should be able to do whatever you want with it.”

  “But it wasn’t even like that,” Fabi tried to explain. “Melodee started it —” Georgia Rae huffed in annoyance and glanced away. Fabi could tell she was tired of hearing about Melodee Stanton, Dos Rios, and anything that had to do with that small town. Fabi followed her friend’s eyes to a group of artsy teenagers. They were laughing loudly and eating fries together on a raised platform. Fabi worried, for the millionth time, if now that her best friend was at a new school, Georgia Rae would forget all about her. “I’m sorry,” Fabi said. “I know we planned to go to New York.”

  “Yeah. We were supposed to see a big Broadway show.”

  “And we still will,” Fabi said, trying to sound hopeful.

  “When?” Georgia Rae asked.

  Fabi shrugged. “I don’t know. We’ll figure it out, okay?” It was obvious that something was bugging her best friend, but she was not coming out with it. “Hey, you want some pizza?” Georgia Rae just shrugged.

  Fabi headed to the pizza stand in the food court. Lots of teenagers worked at the mall. It was a highly prized job if you could get it. Her sister, Alexis, was dying to work at the mall. Fabi ordered two slices of vegetarian pizza.

  The boy behind the counter smiled. “You like vegetarian? Hardly anyone orders that.”

  Fabi looked sideways at Georgia Rae and gave him a quick smile. She shoved a bill at him.

  The boy continued talking as if they were old friends. “I don’t know why more people don’t order it. It’s real good. It’s my favorite, actually. Oh, yeah,” he said, taking Fabi’s money. “Okay, here’s your change. I can bring it to you, if you like?”

  Fabi nodded and quickly turned to find an empty table. She was sure that her face had to be bright pink. Georgia Rae poked her softly as they walked away.

  “That boy was sooooooooo trying to talk to you.”

  Fabi’s heartbeat began to race. “No.” She shook her head. “He was just being nice. That’s his job.”

  Georgia Rae’s face lit up. “Yeah, right! He offered to bring our food. C’mon, don’t tell me that’s regular customer service.”

  Fabi’s chest tightened. Was Georgia Rae right? Was he flirting? Fabi quickly glanced over her shoulder. The boy was handling the order of another customer. He was very cute, with short hair, a nice tan, and straight teeth. No. She shook her head. He was not flirting with her. Boys didn’t flirt with her. Fabi had a bunch of guy friends. But they were just friends. Georgia Rae was trying to see things that weren’t there.

  A few minutes later, Georgia Rae grabbed her wrist and said, “Don’t turn around,” in an excited whisper.

  Fabi felt trapped. She wanted to get out of there. But the pizza guy was standing next to her. There was nowhere for her to go without knocking him down, and that would be really hard to explain.

  “Hey,” he said, looking at Fabi. His big eyes pierced her like an arrow to her heart. She turned away, feeling her face getting red.

  Thankfully, Georgia Rae jumped in. She reached for the plates. “Thank you so much. Would you like to join us?”

  Fabi kicked Georgia Rae under the table. How could she be so bold? Georgia Rae winked at Fabi.

  The guy didn’t notice — he just smiled. He had a brilliant smile that lit up the entire food court and made Fabi’s heart flutter. “I can’t,” he said, sounding really sorry. It made Fabi feel dizzy. “I already had my break. Let me know what you guys think, though. I made it up myself. Like I said, we don’t usually get orders for vegetarian stuff.”

  “Well, thanks,” Georgia Rae said. She raised her eyebrows at Fabi, but Fabi still couldn’t speak.

  “Oh,” the guy added, smiling and looking embarrassed now, “my name’s Daniel.” He reached out his hand, but jerked back and wiped it on his pant leg before offering it again to Fabi.

  “Hi,” Fabi said, forgetting to say her name.

  “You’re Fabiola Garza, right?”

  Fabi glanced at Georgia Rae, who seemed impressed. Georgia Rae kicked her under the table.

  “Yup, that’s me,” Fabi replied, not knowing what else to say. This had to be the weirdes
t conversation ever. Who was this cute stranger? And how come he knew her name? “Do I know you?”

  “We’ve never actually met. I know your cousin Santiago. We used to play together, baseball.”

  “Oh,” Fabi said, feeling Georgia Rae’s smirk. “I’m sorry. It’s been so long since Santiago played.”

  “Yeah, I know. I went to his trial, but they didn’t let me speak, there were so many people. I guess your cousin is pretty popular.”

  Fabi nodded. She couldn’t stop smiling. He was so cute, with gorgeous dimples and warm eyes that made you want to melt.

  Daniel glanced over his shoulder. There were a couple of people waiting for him at the stand. “I got to go,” he said, licking his soft full lips as if trying to think of something else to say. “I’ll see you around.”

  “Yeah,” Fabi replied. As soon as he walked away, Fabi dropped her head onto the table. “Oh, my God. Did you just see that? Tell me I wasn’t dreaming.”

  Georgia Rae looked like she wanted to jump out of her chair and shout. “You definitely weren’t dreaming, girl! I told you he was trying to talk to you. He is so cute.”

  “Something has to be wrong with him,” Fabi said, biting into the pizza. “Things like that don’t happen. They don’t happen to me.”

  “What? A cute boy can’t talk to you? C’mon. You don’t give yourself any credit. Why can’t a boy like you?”

  “Um, let’s be honest. I’ve never been the girl boys ask out. I’m the friend. And I’m cool with that. Besides, I don’t want to date anyone here anyway. It’ll just make things more complicated when I move away for college.”

  Georgia Rae tilted her head as if she hadn’t heard Fabi correctly. “Now you’re just talking stupid,” she said, reaching for Fabi’s hand and shaking it a little. “Get real. A cute boy wants to talk to you. That’s it. We’re not talking marriage, just the possibility of something. Don’t fight it or try to figure it out. Just enjoy it.”

  Fabi took a deep breath. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure Daniel was still there and hadn’t turned into a troll or anything like that. He was lifting up a pie into the big pizza oven. Fabi noticed a drop of sweat rolling down the right side of his face. It made Fabi feel weak. What was happening to her? She turned back to her friend, who was staring excitedly back at her. “Take that smile off your face,” Fabi snapped, pretending to be upset.