One of the things Juan loved most about Maria was that she always seemed to understand what he was feeling. He didn’t have to explain. She just knows me.
“What did Richard tell you?” she asked.
Juan chewed his lip. “He told me that our community needs a leader. He made it sound like that should be me.”
“I think you would be a good leader,” Maria nodded with an expression like she was comparing prices in a grocery store. “You already know everybody in town. I can’t go anywhere with you. Te encante el chisme,” she added.
“I don’t gossip!” Juan protested.
Maria glared at him skeptically.
“Ok, ok! I admit it!” Juan confessed, “I have a lot of friends, so what? That doesn’t mean I’m supposed to be a leader.”
Maria patted Juan affectionally on the chest and returned to the oven and meal she was preparing. She stirred a moment, then tasted, scrunching her face. “What kind of leader?” she asked, adding a touch more salsa.
“Hmm?” Juan reached for a warm tortilla.
Maria swatted gently at his hand, “What kind of leader could you be for this community?”
“I don’t know…” Juan chewed thoughtfully. “Maybe someone like Tio Pablo? He’s el jefe around here.” Juan’s uncle Pablo was widely regarded as a driving force in the neighborhood. Nothing happened around here without his knowledge …or permission.
Maria’s face blanched, “Ay, no!” She rushed over and grabbed Juan’s arm. “Promise me you will stay away from him. They say he’s mixed up with the cartel.”
“Who says that?” Juan tried to push her away, but she held on. “He’s my uncle!”
“You’ve got lots of other uncles!” Maria stamped her foot. “Promise me you’ll stay away from that one.”
“How can I stay away? He lives just over there,” Juan gestured roughly in the direction of Pablo’s house. “I see him almost every day.”
Maria was insistent, “Promise me, Juan.”
“Ok, ok,” he relented. “Let me go, and let’s eat before it gets cold.”
They ate for a long time in silence. I’ve got to change the subject, Juan thought. “I was talking to Sofia this morning.”
“Mmm?” Maria was still upset.
“She wants to move into an apartment with her girlfriends.” Their daughter still lived with them and had to commute daily to attend ASU classes. It wasn't far, only about a half-hour drive, but Sofia had made it clear for a long time that she was tired of fighting the traffic between Phoenix and Tempe, and she wanted to live closer to campus.
“No,” Maria said flatly.
“Why not?” Juan disagreed, but he was trying to make pleasant conversation, so he worked to keep his tone pleasant. “She's growing up fast. Almost twenty-one now. It’s normal to want to move out of the house… It’s got to happen sometime.”
“We looked at apartments,” Maria began.
“You did?” Juan was a little shocked at not being included in a big decision like this. “When did you do that?”
“Since last year,” she said smugly, apparently savoring the discomfort Juan was struggling to suppress.
“Last year?” Juan thought about it for a minute. It was only February, so maybe they’d only been talking about apartments since Christmas break. “Well, Ok. That’s good. What did you find out?”
“They’re too expensive,” Maria said. It appeared to Juan that his plan was working. His wife was getting interested in this new topic.
“How much are they?”
“The one mija wants is $1,650 for a two-bedroom,” Maria explained. “She wants to share it with Sabrina.”
“What?” Juan was shocked. “$1,650? I only pay $1,100 for this whole house!”
“She would only pay half. So, $825 plus gas, electric, water, and garbage.”
“Those aren’t included?”
“No. They’re extra,” Maria sipped slowly from her bowl of pozole. “I told you they were too expensive.”
“See, that’s what I’m talking about,” Juan brought his fist down sharply on the table. “Somebody’s got to do something. How’s a kid supposed to get a start in life with prices like that?”
“Don’t get involved in politics,” Maria looked worried. “It’s all just a big game, and there are too many bad people. You can’t make a difference that way.”