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Creative Nonfiction

It was spring and the flowers bloomed, the trees filled with fruit and the fields had vegetables in abundance, the lush green grass of the meadow now had many scattered flowers which had vibrant colors, Everybody felt cheerful and excited and the town had a “Welcome spring” banner nailed to every door, Maria Santana was sleeping through a lovely and pleasant morning ,A parade of spices slid through her bedroom door and she was immediately pulled toward the aroma, she slid on her slippers and was about to see what the palatable smell was just when a bright face and booming voice startled her, her abuela walked in through the door “Good Morning my querida!! Hahahaha it works every time, your parents complain that they’re never able to wake you up but look, all I had to do was make your favorite breakfast and you're up in a flash!”cried abuela with a twinkle in her eye “ did you make chilaquiles?!”exclaimed Maria as she eyed the plate from which the appetizing scent was coming from “yes Maria they are just for you now once you eat this up I want you to come downstairs and help me cook a few Tacos and quesadillas for lunch”abuela requested, Maria was ecstatic to make some food with her abuela even though she had done it countless times it never got boring, so she strapped on her printed apron, brushed her long raven hair and scurried down the stairs to go to the place she spent most of her day, her abuela’s kitchen. Maria’s abuela was a gentle and loving woman with a heart bigger than the universe, her hair were raven just like Maria’s and they had several grey streaks blended in them, she had almond eyes which were dark,stormy and the color of the ocean yet they were gentle and they crinkled at the sides when she smiled, she had rosy cheeks and her curly hair were always tied up in a bun, most of the time when you would see her she would be wearing her favorite taco printed apron. Maria and her abuela made delicious meals everyday and although the meals were scrumptious they both knew that the best part was being able to cook together. 5 YEARS LATER “Hang on abuela please!” cried Maria with tears streaming down her face “Listen Maria, my sweet querida don’t waste your precious tears, I am simply going where all of us human beings go”maria’s abuela said softly “but promise me you will do something for me”abuela pleaded “anything abuela!”cried Maria as she rubbed her eyes from crying “my sweet little enchilada,just always remember that my dream is now yours” she requested “but abuelaI can't do it!, not without you”exclaimed Maria “I love you,and I am so proud to be your abuela” said Maria’s abuela and when Maria looked back at her sweet abuela, she was gone and all Maria saw was her lifeless abuela, she fell to her knees and weeped, her parents tried to comfort her telling her that she has gone to a better place but it was just never the same for Maria, over the years Maria was so depressed she forgot about her abuela’s last wish and she never dared to look at the taco printed apron which was hung on the hook, she looked glum all the time and nobody ever saw her smile, she spent days collecting old pictures of her and her abuela and she pasted them all over her room, the next morning Maria’s mum decided she would remind Maria of her abuela’s wish, “dear, I know you miss your abuela but do you remember her last wish” ma asked “I know she always dreamt of opening her own mexican restaurant but I just don’t think I can do it,cooking isn't the same without her”said Maria glumly “isn't it your abuela’s dream” ma said, a faint smile appeared on Maria’s face “maybe I will do it”she said. So the next few months Maria Santana started working on her new restaurant, first she bought a plot with money left by her abuela and she designed the building blueprints, after building and painting and decorating and setting there was only one thing left to do, name the restaurant, at first everybody didn't know what to do until Maria came up with the name, abuela’s kitchen, At first business wasn't going well, Maria’s food was delicious but it was the same as all other mexican restaurants, Then she remembered her abuela’s sweet voice “I want it to be special and organic please show the world what we have been working on for years” abuela’s voice said, Then the thought came, she could make all the food organic, so she grew a farm with loads of help and it was completely organic, there was no fruit or vegetable that was sprayed and everything was fresh, healthy and most of all delicious, The number of customers increased a great amount, everything was great but Maria was not satisfied and felt as though abuela would not like that their hard work was being put into this, so she got the restaurant closed for a few days and then she saw the place come to life. The entrance had gates which were a shade of dull blue, There was a bamboo mat and the large logo at the front said ABUELA’S KITCHEN in cursive writing, when you entered the waiters gave you a seat at a bamboo table, when the waiters come to take your order they chip of a piece of their nacho hat for everybody and give some guacamole, the waiters give complimentary plate of signature homemade salsa with warm, salty tortilla chips. The thick chunks of tomatoes and onions with hot peppers and cilantro make a perfect combination for anyone’s taste buds. The waiters and waitresses carry immense trays burdened by the weight of great tasting meals, and each dish has enough on it to make mountains jealous. Everything was going perfectly until…. cocina mexicana which is translated to mexican cuisine, now why was this an issue , because they stole A RECIPE, customers were now confused about which restaurant to go to, Maria Santana knew that cocina mexicana was is big trouble if it was ready to compete with ABUELA’S KITCHEN , So after many days of thinking of a strategy to beat the cheaters they were still clueless, Maria went to her deceased abuela’s room and lay down on the bed in despair, “sorry abuela!” but that was when she felt an odd texture underneath the sheet, it was paper!, Maria felt through everything and read what was written, soon she came to realize that these papers were not ordinary papers but they were secret recipes, Maria gasped and immediately started testing them out, after a while Maria got these dishes released and hid the recipe’s safely in her secret chest, everybody loved them and cocina mexicana got closed because of them using Maria’s recipe, The restaurant was perfect and even if abuela wasn’t right next to Maria, Maria would always know that abuela is up there wearing her taco printed apron and being proud of the wonderful restaurant! The end.

June 11, 2021 14:49

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