Chereads / Boricua in Chicago / Chapter 4 - 004 New living arrangements

Chapter 4 - 004 New living arrangements

After we got out of the school we drove to one of Miguel's favorite places in Chicago a small diner called Lennys dinar. We walked in and took some seats at the bar and some police officers were sitting near us. " Thank you for serving Chicago officers" I said calmly gesturing to the officers and Miguel looked at me happily. " thank you young lady are you kids from around here or just stopping by" the first and younger officer inquired " I live here but she just moved in with me from Puerto Rico she is my cousin" Miguel stated and he was happy that we were away from the boys at his school. "Is that right well that's really nice to hear" the older officer stated he looked kind like my dad and I felt calm around him, " you remind me of my papa he is kind and strong hearted to" I spoke out without thinking and realized what I had said "Oh do I now well I would love to meet him if you get the chance tell him about our encounter kid" the older officers said. "She cant sir I am sorry" Miguel had stated "oh really and why is that" the younger officers inquired "He died officers she can't tell him cause he died protecting citizens during la plaza shooting in Puerto Rico last month" Miguel had explained calmly to them and he's was now holding my hand to keep me from breaking down. The officers stood there in utter shock like that it was the saddest thing they had ever heard "what about your mom is she okay how's she holding up through all of this" the older officer inquired "she died in Afghanistan when I was six serving our country" I said on the verge of tears like I knew that I wanted to just cry in Miguel's arms. The officers face were now filled with fear dread and regret all facial expressions I had let alone known to well. The younger officer grabbed a napkin and pen and wrote something down on the small sheet of cloth it was an address and there names Officer lee and Hancock "If you ever miss the station just come down and we will give you a tour hell you could bring coffee the the officers" officer lee chuckled at his own remark but I still took it happily " I'll do one better I will make tres leches for you guys and you can share at the station" I laughed lightly and smiled like all of the darkness in me was gone. "I don't know what that is but hell yeah we will accept your offer but you need an escort not doing it by yourself" officer Hancock stated " I'll tag along just to make sure you stay out of trouble moonshine" Miguel was happy to see me beaming with joy "How about Sunday does that work out for you gentlemen" I inquired happily after listening to Miguel's comment "sounds great miss" officer lee had stated as he put his hat back on so he could leave and so did officer Hancock. "Bye you two see you Sunday and be good" officer Hancock said as he and officer lee we're leaving.

We left the diner after we had some burgers and fries to eat and stopped at the store to get ingredients for tres leches and five big tinfoil bake sheets to make them in and started to drive home. Miguel slept in the basement by himself the rest of the house was filled with other rooms for the twin little sisters and his mother and fathers work there was enough room in the basement area with a shabby guest room where my papa would sleep when we visited but that was going to be my new room for until I graduated high school or move out. When we pulled up we unloaded the car and brought our new groceries inside the house where my Tio and tia and Mr. Yi was about to leave he looked puzzled at my outfit and my arms filled with groceries. " I thought you were going to the school" mr Yi inquired about as to why my arms were full and we were walking to the kitchen. " We Did but after we got hungry so we went to this little diner and we met officers Hancock and Officer Lee they work at the police station nearby so we got to talking and I told him about my mama and papa and they said they were sorry about that and if I ever wanted to see a police station again I could come to theirs and they said they would really appreciate if I brought coffee so I said hey why don't I make them tres leches instead so on Sunday we are dropping them off and don't worry I used my own money for this all of this stuff is actually on sale." I talked quickly but excited about what an adventure we had went and mr Yi looked happy that I was taking a liking to my new home even though I have only been there for a full three days. After mr Yi told me the other arrangements about my sleeping quarters I decided to bake first then unpack because tres leches take about two hours to make five I should know because I did it before for my papa station a couple of times.

It had been three hours of baking and laying the cakes in the milk and covering them in frosting which is just a whipped cream Miguel and I brought the cakes to the basement fridge. And when we did there was boxes everywhere Miguel and I had glanced at each other and realized that this would be a fun project but long as expected. We got to work unpacking all of my belongings from my pictures and dance shoes to my big books and photo albums another three hours had gone by and it was nine in the evening and we were dead beat tired " Hey moonshine I think we should go to the clothing store or something because all you have are dresses shorts and tank tops" he said softly said as he hung upside down laying over the couch " okay Buba sounds fun it'll be fun we have never actually went clothes shopping while I visited you here so that should be fun" I said sleepy we hadn't eaten anything since the dinar and we didn't want to so we got cleaned up and fell asleep in my room cause he was to tired to move after reading in my bed with me.