It was one of those mornings. The ones where you smash the alarm clock and wish it was all a dream. You know, the one where you hear your mom cooking in the kitchen, see the pile of homework on your desk and wish you were a million miles away–anywhere where school was not required. But it didn’t work, all the wishing i mean. I had to get up and move.
And what’s more? The forward saying if i sent it to 20 people, my wish would be granted was wrong–again. My mom had cooked chimichanga’s. She thought the true happiness in anyone’s life should come around a table, eating together. But it couldn’t be just anything; it had to be mexican–the ‘home’ food.
“Morning, Eva!” she said, rambling on in spanish as she kissed my cheek. “I made chimichanga’s for breakfast.”
“no, mama, i’m…not hungry. Besides, Tyler is coming to pick me up soon.”
“Not hungry!” grabbing me by the arm and spinning me around, “You almost disappear into the air! If a chimichanga were as small as you, there would be nothing there! You must eat. Tyler can have some.”
“Mom, no! We’ll get something else to eat. Chimichanga’s aren’t…breakfast.” I threw her off of my arm and walked towards the front door.
“Fine, but i hope you know McDonalds doesn’t count as food.”
I rolled my eyes, mumbling under my breath, “probably healthier.”
I suppose all girls have this problem. The detachment-from-mom phase. But it wasn’t so much mom. It was the chimichanga craze. See, she had this psycho idea that bringing family together made anything healthy. I was a teenage girl. And more, i was a teenage girl in a New York City public school. Fitting in was key to surviving. And being fat and covered in grease most definitely did not fit the cool category. But Tyler did. He was gorgeous. And he was mine.
I couldn’t help but blush with excitement as i saw his car pull up. I didn’t wait for him to come get me–i ran out the door before mom could wave excitedly to him and embarrass me once more. With one of those sweet “good morning” kisses, haunted with the taste of coffee and cream cheese, he greeted me, wrapping his arm tight around me as he pulled away from the curb.
We just drove towards the heart of the city and Adams High School, the radio blasting. Not a word was said, just our pulses blending together. I loved those moments. Utter peace ramming heads with the intense chaos of the city, leaving me more excited than a kid on christmas eve. His hand beat softly on the steering wheel, his crystal blue eyes focused on the road. My hand slid up his neck, fingers twisting through his dark hair. He smiled. I smiled too, itching for another kiss.
“Eva, don’t do that while i’m driving!”
“What?” i asked, playing innocent.
“The…neck thing!”
“Oh, you mean this?” i asked, my fingers tickling the hairs on his neck.
He shuddered, “Exactly.”
I laughed, leaning over to kiss the same spot my fingers had been.
“That doesn’t help either.” But he looked at me and grabbed a kiss, sending butterflies through my stomach.
“How was your morning?” he asked, his eyes back on the road as the light turned green.
“You mean besides waking up to the smell of–”
“Chimichanga’s.” he offered, a smile toying at his mouth.
“Exactly. She just–i dunno, she wont…let go.”
“Eva, she’s spanish. I’m pretty sure you are too.”
“Well, yeah, but we’re in America. She’s not even pure spanish. I mean, why can’t she…let go–just a little. i just–chimichanga’s have got to be the worst. And she like tries to…tie it into my life. Its annoying! Like yesterday, after i missed my curfew by like ten minutes, she explodes and gives me this lecture about chimichanga’s! She goes, ‘Eva Dimaz, life cannot be wasted! And being late is wasting. Why, think if the chimichanga’s stayed in the oil too long? A burnt chimichanga is tasteless and no good! You must be perfected, like a chimichanga!’ It’s like all she thinks about, i swear!”
“Well, i know sometimes i wish my mom cared as much as yours. Minus the chimichanga’s.”
I laughed. “But your mom doesn’t ban Mcdonald’s or…Bloomingdale’s from the house! ‘Chimichanga’s are chimichanga’s, and they are best with themselves’ She doesn’t even care about what i like!”
“I think she does but…i’m just saying, your mom wants to keep your culture alive. And i guess that means chimichanga’s. I think its awesome.”
We pulled into the parking lot and i was glad that conversation was over. He always reminded me of my mom when he went on those schpeals. Not that it was exactly bad, just…annoying. But i didn’t have time to be annoyed. School was starting. Another day of judgments, challenges of the ‘cools’ and just trying to fit in. Tyler had to run, he had a test to take before school. So, with a kiss that made my insides flip, he left me to fend for myself in the psycho world called High School.
“Eva! Eva!” Kary was next to me, a sputtering cigarette in her hand. She was laughing.
“Hey, why so…happy?”
“he kissed me–just now!” She bit her lip, spinning to face someone. It was Ricky.
“Ugh! that makes you smile? I’d rather swallow my own barf.”
Kary rolled her eyes, “Then barfing would be pointless, huh. And gross. besides, he’s awesome.”
“Kay, kary, he’s sitting on a car in the parking lot looking like he hasn’t showered in a year and he smells like a street corner.”
Kary just laughed, blowing a kiss in his direction. “Like that matters? Besides, its not like we’re together. I don’t think he even knows my name.”
I just rolled my eyes, and couldn’t help but smile when one of mom’s saying came to mind. “Chimichanga’s are good together, they lose their taste alone.”
“You might wanna put that out.” i said, pointing at the cigarette, “I’m gonna be sick and the principal’s coming this way.”
She quickly dropped it to the ground and let it fizzle in the gutter, grabbing a piece of gum and shoving it in her mouth. Then she grabbed me and pulled me towards the doors. “You need to liven up Eva. Tyler’s gonna toss you if you stay so boring. Omigod, what is that smell?” She said, interupting herself, “Its like i just walked into chinatown or something.”
I quickly sniffed myself and groaned, “Its me. Mom cooked those stupid chimichanga’s again.”
Kary took a quick step away from me, “That’ gross.”
I scoffed, “C’mon! It’s not like i ate them!”
“Well you smell like you rolled in them. What if you’re contaminated?” She laughed at herself. “Kay, well, i’ve gotta go. And i probably wont see you at lunch!” she called with a wink, “Its me and ricky time!”
I grimaced, shuddering as the bell rang. I meandered through the dwindling crowds, trying hard to wish my way out of class. But it seemed, like always, my wish wouldn’t be granted. And as i finally raced to class to make the late bell, my mom’s chimichanga lessons ran through my head. She had millions “a chimichanga must be perfected–it is not born so.” or “a burnt chimchanga cannot bring joy, nor can a deblossomed woman.” I couldn’t help but smile. And as i raced into my class, i hardly heard the sarcastic statement my teacher through out. “Chimichanga’s are sweet or they are lost.” ran through my head instead. I laughed outloud, thinking of all the times my mom had thrown something about a chimichanga in my face. Maybe she was right. Maybe Tyler was right. I sank into my chair, breathing in the smells of home from my sweater, tuning the teachers droll out. It was peaceful; the smells and the thoughts. And when tyler walked in to take his seat next to mine, i just smiled. I finally understood. I had finally tasted the Chimichanga Truths.
