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It was a searing hot day, though there had been hotter days in Washington Heights. The streets though were nearly empty, not a person in sight, on the road or sidewalks, though that was soon to change with four key players.
Rachel walked down the street, holding her three year-old son’s hand. Rachel was new here, moved a couple of months ago from San Juan. Her other son was at school, and she had an off day, what better way than to spend it with her youngest?
“It’s hot mamí.” Alexander complained, looking up to Rachel, they were both dressed for the weather. Alexander in a green tank top with a lion’s head on it, khaki shorts, and little dusty brown sandals. Rachel meanwhile wore an orangish-red dress with white flowers over it, it was very short and low cut, the V-neck going so low it ended around her rib cage, flaunting her generous figure, along with black flip flops.
“Yeah, I know, leoncito.” Rachel said. “Maybe we could get an ice cream or something.”
After saying that, the pair heard some running and a cart pushing from behind them, like they were being chased after.
“Piragua, piragua!
New block of ice, piragua!
Piragua, piragua!
So sweet and nice, piragua!”
“Oh not this again.” Rachel muttered.
“Can we get piraguas?” Alexander asked.
“Maybe, if he’s-”
A familiar sounding jingle came towards them and Rachel groaned and mumbled. “¡Maldita sea la madre que te parió!”
“The creamiest, dreamiest soft ice cream
You get from Mister Softee”
Alexander huddled against Rachel’s leg. “Mamí, I’m scared.”
“Me too baby. Me too.”
The cart and the truck came to a stop, with Rachel and Alexander right in the middle of the two.
“Señorita,” Piraguero said, panting from his run, “why don’t you have a refreshing and sweet piragua from me? For you and your son? Have you heard of the discounts I give for-”
“Beautiful boricuas and their lovely children.” Rachel finished. “I-”
“Ma’am,” Mister Softee said, throwing his head out the window, “I mean, it’s your choice, would you rather buy icy, sticky, shredded popsicles-”
“It is not a shredded popsicle!” Piraguero interrupted.
“-or the creamiest, dreamiest, ice cream in town? I can give something for the little one for half off. Anything he likes.”
“Well, you would want to keep you and your little one close to your cultural origins, right?”
“And they have a right to integrate into a new culture and eat whatever they like. I doubt they don’t have ice cream in Puerto Rico.”
“We do, but-”
“Support small business owners, señorita!” Piraguero begged. “This is my block, Mister Softee can have any other place in this city!”
“Everyone has a right to ice cream!”
“Back off Sprinkles!”
“Shut up!”
“Oh! Look at me! In my fancy little ice cream truck selling ice cream to everyone in lil’ old Piraguero’s neighborhood! Hur dur!”
Mister Softee scowled at Piraguero and grabbed a fistful of rainbow sprinkles, chucking it right at him, the sprinkles landing all over Piraguero’s face, chest, and ice block.
“Mamí!” Alexander cried. Rachel knew what she must do.
She turned her head behind her son and pointed. “Oh Alexander! Look, a kitty!”
“Kitty!” Alexander turned his head and took a few steps forward, enough time for Rachel to face both men and quickly move one of her large breasts out of the dress, nipple and all.
“Oh God!” Both men said, becoming flustered enough to stop doing things for a moment, so Rachel tucked her breast back in and scooped up Alexander, running off with him. Dear God, that was mortifying, Rachel shuddered.
“Mamí, I saw no kitty.”
“Maybe he ran away.” Rachel said as she opened the door to the nearest building, placing Alexander down as she panted.
“You’re hiding from them too?”
“Huh?” Rachel noticed where she was at, De La Vega Bodega, and it felt as though the entire block was crammed in the store, in aisles, sitting against the fridge, some people were even behind the counter, where the owner Usnavi stood with a blender, pregnant Vanessa sitting on the counter top. And nearly everyone was drinking something from white foam cups.
“Yeah…” she said, looking at the odd sight.
“It was funny at first.” A younger looking guy said, sitting near her feet whom Rachel identified as Sonny. “The rivalry, the dances, the songs, but now? It’s so annoying.”
Everyone nodded in agreement with him, some saying things like “yes”, “yeah”, and “sí”.
“So,” Usnavi said to Rachel, “would you like a Frappuccino? Vanessa said my coffee is the best” Vanessa nodded in agreement, “so I decided to expand my horizons. And just two dollars for one.”
“Yes please.” Rachel said, slamming down four dollars on the counter top. “I’m just gonna stay here for a while. Do you guys make dulce de leche Frappuccinos?”
“Of course.” Usnavi said, grabbing some of the canned stuff.
“I can’t believe you!” Piraguero yelled at Mister Softee. “Stealing all of my customers!”
“Stealing your customers? I sold nothing today!”
“Well me neither!”
“So why blame me?”
“Because fuck you!”
“Fuck you!”
“Fuck you!”
“Fuck you!”