#young alma

[dragoneyes613]

Alma. You just gave birth. Today. To triplets. What are you doing out of bed?

[lacasitamadrigal]

Ways to say I love you...

So I stumbled across this post a few days ago and it made me want to write a drabble for Alma and her little family. I hope you enjoy.

Alma walked down the stairs, hands clasped together as she thought about all that needed done today. Two homes on the south side needed shingles replaced. The gardens at the north end needed more water, that would mean Pepa would need to be there before the noon bell rang. Then there were the weavers who needed more fleece for clothes, that meant she needed to see if the sheep were ready for shearing yet and then the wool would need transport. All of that was besides what she would need to do for home. Sure Casita could take care of some things, the dishes were something it enjoyed, but the floors still needed to be swept and the laundry needed washed and hung out to dry. Her day looked busier the longer she thought of it and truly it was starting to give her a headache already. 

Now usually when she entered the kitchen, it was already in motion, Casita took care of the bulk of that with starting the ovens and moving some of the larger things about. This morning however things were still and quiet, the twelve year old triplets sitting at the counter in wait, looking bored and impatient. 

“Mama!” The eldest of the triplets bounded over, grasping Alma’s hands in hers with a grin and followed very closely by the other two. Their eyes were eager and bright as they smiled at their mother. 

“Buenas dias mis bebes. What is going on here?” The woman couldn’t help but smile in return, seeing them happy always made her so. 

“Mama, we were wondering… would you make huevos pericos for us?” 

“Pretty please mama?” That was her second daughter, chiming in with her hands folded in front of her, a pout on her lips. Alma blinked at the three, a brow arching as she considered the request, her hands poised on her hips. 

“But you know how to make that, Juli.” She couldn’t help but chuckle a little bit, shaking her head slightly at them. These were her children, these silly things. 

“But.. you make them really good.. Juli does too but yours are the best..” She looked at her son, his head turned down slightly and the pout very apparent. He was rubbing at his arm again but he still managed to look up at her for a moment before back down at his own feet. 

And that’s what pushed her over. 

With a soft sigh and a small smile the woman set to work. She pulled the skillet out and got the eggs and tomatoes.

“If I am to make this, you have to make the arepas.” She turned to see three bright and eager faces shining at her and laughed. “Go go, get the masa, apúrate por favor.” 

The kitchen bustled with life as the four found themselves helping each other with the exception of Alma’s huevos pericos, the children wouldn’t even look at the pan she was cooking in. How she still got roped into helping mix and mold the arepas was beyond her, surely three preteens could’ve handled that much. But she wouldn’t complain, not in the least, it had been ages since she had been the one to cook in this kitchen. Since handing the domain over to Julieta at the tender age of ten she had hardly needed to. She had missed this… 

“The arepas are ready, mama!” Pepa had the plate full, ready to take them to the table with a bright rainbow over her head. It made the woman so happy to see that. She pulled the pan from the stove and placed it on a towel on the counter, leaving the spoon in for serving. 

“How about we eat here today. I’m sure Casita wouldn’t mind us not using the dining table.” And neither would she, for once. She missed the nostalgia of cooking a meal, of eating in the kitchen with her babies, of them being so much smaller… It would be okay for today. At least for breakfast time. It’s okay for her to just be a mom. And when breakfast is over, she can be everything else she has to be, but in this moment it feels good just to be their mom.

The plates were filled and the three kids sat on the stools, happily spooning eggs into their mouths. When she finally got to her own plate, she made the discovery that all the arepas she herself had made were gone. Selecting one she knew her son had formed she smiled, watching the three dig into their plates happily. 

“Gracias, Mama. This is so good!”

“Yeah it is! These are the best huevos ever!” Julieta at least had managed to swallow her food before she spoke, Pepa seemed to be having too much of a good time for that thought. 

“Si! Gracias, mami.” Alma cupped the boy's cheek with a smile, he was easiest to reach being right next to her, and gave a nod. “Of course, mis bebes.” 

It was just eggs, tomatoes and scallions. The arepas were made the same way as they always were. And yet, Alma had to agree with them. 

Those were the best eggs she’s had in a long time…

[22heartsongs]

Reflection