How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water (46)

Alexis raised the music to make a party. He had the lights that travel on the ceiling in many colors like a discoteca. Like a professional, he covered Lulú’s canas, then washed my hair. Then he washed Lulú’s hair and put it to dry. Then he cut my hair. He moved from Lulú to me back and forth, back and forth.

When he touched my head and combed my hair, I could feel my shoulders relax.

Do you trust me? Alexis said.

Yes, I trust, I said, letting him take care of me. He even cleaned my eyebrows.

You look so good, he kept saying to me and Lulú. In the mirror, we were changed. This is true.

Lulú was silent on the bus. On the train. When we returned to the neighborhood, I took her to the park to sit on a bench where we could see the bridge and the Hudson.

You look good, I said many times.

You must be happy, she said. Your Fernando is a success.

She smiled, but her eyes betrayed her.

But I understand her jealousy. It is difficult to be happy for others when you have many problems.

I paid for the salón. And La Vieja Caridad left me her money. And I have the big apartment to myself. So I told her she doesn’t have to be that way, because I will share everything with her.

That is crazy, she said.

But I have an empty room. You can live in Fernando’s room.

She looked to me, surprised.

It would be my pleasure. Stay with me, I said.

But …

But what? I said.

We are friends, not family. What will the people think if we live together?

Who cares what anybody thinks? I said, and surprised myself.

I am sure La Vieja Caridad was also smiling from the sky.

And that’s when I recognized that the third vision came true.

I was sitting by the water and I was not alone.

Was I happy? I think so. But what is a cake without frosting?




This is my last will and testament.

Dear Cara,

I, Caridad Nilsa Guillois, being of sound mind, would like to leave you, Cara Romero, the monies earned from the sale of my estate. Please call the Next Life Furniture Store, who has agreed to purchase the art and furniture on the attached sheet. Everything has been appraised and will be purchased at a total cost of $5,600 U.S. dollars. Please contact them immediately. In exchange I ask that you care for Fidel with the same tenderness and love that you cared for me all these years. He has a few good years in him left. Thank you for being a good friend to me. If anyone asks, tell them that I died without regrets.

With love,

Caridad





SENIOR WORKFORCE PROGRAM


New York, United States

Job Training Progress Report

NAME: CARA ROMERO

DATE OF BIRTH: January 18, 1953





The present social work progress report addresses the following time period:

From: February 16, 2009

To: May 10, 2009

Number of sessions:

12





Client(s) failed to attend, or cancelled within 24 hours, on 0 occasion (s).





Objectives addressed during this period:



I met with Ms. Romero for twelve sessions. During this time, we discussed her various strengths. In her own words, Ms. Romero wants to work. She is strong, she is always prepared, she is a good organizer, she is good with children, she is good under stress, she likes to invent. She also believes she has unusual skills, like the ability to smell cancer and diabetes.

Although Ms. Romero has been unemployed for over two years, she has worked as a caretaker and support system for the elderly, children of various ages, and persons with disabilities, all who live in her building. A great storyteller, she has shared multiple examples to illustrate her ability to comfort, feed, and housekeep a substantial amount of people in challenging situations. My assessment is that Ms. Romero has performed a significant amount of unpaid labor for community members.

Do you recommend continuing the Senior Workforce Program for this client? If yes, what is the recommended frequency and estimated duration?



I strongly recommend an immediate renewal of unemployment benefits and twelve additional sessions with the Senior Workforce Program for Ms. Romero—with the option for renewal.

This extension is essential in securing Cara Romero’s long-term employment.

Name: Lissette Fulana De Robertis

Date: June 05, 2009





All personal information collected is protected from unauthorized disclosure by the Senior Workforce Program. Clients have the right to access their personal information and the right to challenge the accuracy and completeness of this report.

EXTENSION OF BENEFITS





Approved_____ Denied______





TWO MONTHS LATER





Do I interrupt you? No? Oh good. I have been wanting to stop by with Fidel to bring you some pastelitos without raisins because I don’t like raisins. I fried them this morning, so they’re fresh. Also, I brought you a café con leche from the restaurant because it is better and costs three times less than the ones they sell in the white people café.

Fidel is very friendly. Everywhere I go, he wants to go. Not even on the phone can I be without Fidel making noise. With La Vieja Caridad, he was not like this. But dogs are like humans. This I learned. They are different with everybody.