8 Years Later

Chapter 5

Usnavi was in the bodega, making sure everything was ready for him to open.

It felt good to be back, running his bodega.

Just then, a very frantic looking Vanessa came running in. She was dragging a small child behind her

"Usnavi!" She said out of breath. "I need to be at work like...5 minutes ago!"

"Can you please please please watch Maria for me? I don't have a sitter and Oscar isn't home and-" she was rambling and Usnavi stopped her

"Of course I can."

"Oh my God thank you so much!" Vanessa said

She kneeled down so she was eye level with Maria. "Baby, you're gonna stay here today with my friend. Okay?"

Maria looked at Usnavi with a questioning look then at Vanessa. "Okay mommy."

"Good girl." Vanessa said kissing her forehead.

"I'll be back later!"  She said "And thank you again Usnavi!"

Before Usnavi could answer, she was gone.

A half an hour later, Maria was sitting on the counter drinking a hot chocolate.

It was a slow day so Usnavi didn't have much to do. He was reading the comics section in the daily newspaper.

"So...Maria..shouldn't you be in school?" He asked

"Shouldn't you be working?" She asked sassily.

"Woah chill. I was just wondering what you were doing here on a Wednesday morning."

Maria let out a huff then put down her cup. "I'm sick."

"You're sick? How so?" Usnavi asked.

She stared him. "Stomach ache."

"Really? Good thing I have a cure!" He walked over to where the coolers of drinks were. He came back with a neon green drink in a glass bottle.

"...what is that?" Maria asked cautiously

"Just try it. My Abuela used to give these to me whenever I had a stomach ache."

Maria took the bottle hesitantly. She opened it and took a drink. She immediately started coughing. "Ew! Gross!" She spat

"I know...the taste is pretty terrible." Usnavi said. "But it helps."

An hour later, Maria had finally managed to drink the entire mysterious liquid.

"How's your stomach feel?" Usnavi asked.

"Better." She said

"See? I told you, Abuelas always help." He smiled

Benny walked into the bodega.

"Ah, Maria. Our first customer of the day." Usnavi said smiling. "Wanna ring him up?"

Maria nodded eagerly.

Benny got his usual, a milky way, coffee and a newspaper.

"$4.50." Maria smiled at Benny.

Benny smiled and handed her a $5 bill. "Keep the change."

"Thanks Uncle Benny." She grinned.

Maria went to hand Usnavi the bill but he shook his head. "You keep it. You earned it."

Maria's face lit up.

At the end of the day, Vanessa came back to retrieve her daughter.

"Mommy! Mommy!" Maria squealed. "I gotta job!" She waved her 5 dollar bill at Vanessa.

Vanessa chuckled. "Is that so?"

"Mommy, Usnavi is the best!"

Vanessa smiled at him. "I know he is."

Usnavi smiled. "How about we get a piragua?" Usnavi asked. "My treat."

"Can we mommy? Pleaseeeeee?" Maria begged

Vanessa smiled. "I don't see why not."