Viper

Party Time!

The party was being held at a relatively small duplex in a street dominated by aging apartment buildings. The street was narrow to begin with and there were cars parked along both ends turning it into a one lane street. It also didn't help that most people living in or around this area decided it would be a good idea to drive trucks or SUV's. There were also food trucks parked along the street. Some sold made to order food typical to the industry, tacos, tortas, tostadas. But others sold produce, and junk food just like a regular corner store. They parked early to get the best spots or saved them the night before and park all day, leaving around 7pm.

Sammy, his sister Nicole and his mom lived in one of the many apartments in the area. For the party though, Don Fermin who was renting one of the houses had gotten permission to hold the reception in the backyard.

The catering and the refreshments started arriving at the house by noon to start setting up for diner and the party after. The tables and chairs arrived from a party supply store and a bounce house at the request of Sammy and to the disdain of his sister also arrived hours before the party would start. Cheeto helped set up the bounce house and since it was just him and Sammy they both got in it and played for a while.

In the afternoon once things had been set up people started to arrive. The music was playing through a sonido or the Mexican version of the D.J. The food, four different types of tacos fresh off a hot grill from the taquero with four different types of sources, and all the condiments were made to order. There was also fried chicken, pozole, mac and cheese, and birria.

Most people, for an event of this kind, would expect a common theme, especially for the food. That was not the case here. The common theme here was cheap, comfort food, easy to keep warm and enough to feed everyone and their mother twice. There were beers in big coolers for all with ice, a hard liquor table with kinds of tequilas, vinos and rums. Waters, there were a few , mainly for the few whom the doctors had recently prohibited from drinking and the few elder or the one aunt who never drank alcohol or even soda and made sure to let everyone the first chance they got.

Everyone was dressed with their fanciest most elaborate outfits. No suits, not a single man wore a suit. Cowboy boots, jeans, belt buckles and blazers with a white or black hat for all the Don's. The younger men again jeans with some sort of buttoned dress shirt and sneakers. The women wore their most colorful dresses, long and straight, with their heels to match their purse or bag. Their hair made out for the first time in a long while since most didn't or couldn't do their hair because of the work they did or just didn't have the time. The younger girls wearing their best fitting pair of jeans or the shortest dress they could get away with from their parents, one or two wearing something completely inappropriate just to get attention which of course they did.

As people came in they would present their gifts, congratulate the mom and the birthday girl, take pictures if they were family or close friends. The whole ordeal was exhausting especially for Nicole who had to be courteous and polite to everyone as they came in and smile and smile. It was particularly stressing once her friends got there and her mom made her take pictures with them. But in only got worse once her crush got there and all her friends, especially the girls, made her aware of it.

"Here he is, oh my god here he comes here he comes," her friends frantically whispered to her as he came towards her.

"Hi Nick, you look nice," said Ray awkwardly, his parents by his side saying hi as well to Nicole's mom and to her as well; her friends giggling to themselves as they witnessed the exchanges; his father presenting a wrapped fit to the mother.

"Esto, es de parte de Reymundo y nosotros (This is from Reymundo and us)," said the father, Ray rolling his eyes at the pronunciation of his full name.

Nicole's mom thanked them for the gesture and requested a picture of the two, making things more uncomfortable as they posed together with their hands to their sides, both excited that they were so close in proximity to one another but embarrassed that all the parents were watching them. Oh to be fifteen all over again.

While all of this was going on Sammy was playing with the rest of the kids. He liked playing with the little kids, just as Cheeto did, because he felt more comfortable with them, but he was much bigger and didn't realize it so some of the parents became nervous and eventually someone would tell him to go play with kids his own age. That usually meant making fun of him or playing jokes on him. So he liked the bounce house because he could play inn there, be out of the way and have fun. Unfortunately he was getting to outgrow that too.

Cheeto and Claudia arrived after the party was well underway. Cheeto was used to showing up to things by himself. Sometimes he would show up with some of the neighborhood guys. Being a sociable creature he always knew someone. If he didn't he would talk to everyone and be the life of the party but seldom if ever really go with a girl.

This time Claudia suggested they go together since they were both invited and she didn't want to bring more people. She didn't want to take advantage of the hosts. Cheeto had left to meet Claudia shortly after setting up earlier and was excited to come with Claudia. Not only was he taking a beautiful girl with him but it as the girl he was in love with. Though it wasn't a date, and Claudia made sure to state as much. Cheeto saw that as a minor technicality. He was one step closer, at least in his mind.

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