Page 4 of A Dish Best Served Hot

El Hogar was one of the buildings that made up the three-block-long community center named El Vecindario because its plethora of buildings created its own little neighborhood while also serving the community at large. El Centro, the main multipurpose building that opened in the ’70s, had everything from a small art gallery to a pool for swimming classes and a large mirrored room for dance, as well as the Krav Maga class Lola had just finished teaching. Over the years they had added El Hogar, a bilingual charter school, an old folks’ home, and a health clinic. El Vecindario really did its very best to find a way to fulfill every one of the community’s needs and Lola was proud to be back in Humboldt Park working there.

Her favorite of the many tasks she did was spending time in El Hogar with kids like Ruby. While Lola had never been unhoused, she knew what it was like to feel unwanted by the people who were responsible for raising you and looking out for your well-being. “I can call your school if you want. Talk to the principal on your behalf.”

“He won’t care. He only cares when parents are there causing a scene.”

Of course, Ruby and Marcus’s mother wouldn’t do that since she’d washed her hands of her kids. When Ruby wouldn’t let her bully Marcus into attending classes at their church designed to get “confused” kids back on track, she’d sent them both packing.

“Listen, I’m going to take care of this. Until then, I need you to go to school every day and stay all day, so that these idiots have no legs to stand on when I go light their asses up. Can you do that?”

“I guess.”

Lola figured that was as much enthusiasm as she could ask for. “Until then, let me show you a move to use when someone attacks you from behind. I’ll focus on someone reaching for your butt.”

Lola spent the next twenty minutes going over the move repeatedly with Ruby until they were interrupted by the teacher of the next class, a beginners’ salsa class. Lola and Ruby quickly wiped down and put away the mats, gathered all their things, and left. Lola had every intention of walking Ruby back to El Hogar, but as soon as she reached the main lobby a voice called to her. “Lola!”

She turned and saw head secretary Mrs. Lopez waving her down. She turned quickly to Ruby. “Go straight back to El Hogar and wait for me before you talk to Yara. Got it?”

The teen nodded and left.

Lola stepped into the main office and up to the front desk that spanned the length of the room. “Yes?”

She couldn’t help but notice that the woman seemed to be buzzing with energy, poised to explode, but it wasn’t possible to tell if it was in a negative or positive way. “She’s just finishing up a meeting, but Mrs. Fonseca would like to talk to you.”

Before Lola could ask why, the door to the director’s office swung open and a petite blonde woman strode out. She had a large tote bag stuffed with what looked like colorful classroom supplies and an equally large box of stuff in her hands. Her light eyes were red-rimmed and her face streaked with tears, but she didn’t seem sad. She looked pissed. “You two are the ones getting paid the big bucks, so you can find someone to take over my position,” she was saying to the people in the office. “The expectations, the students, theparents,and you do nothing to support us. It’s impossible to work here. It’s toxic and I won’t do it another minute.” She used her hip to push the door open and brushed past Lola.

Lola finally placed the blonde’s face, usually coming in and out of the school connected to El Centro. Wide-eyed, Lola looked at Mrs. Lopez, who stared back at her equally wide-eyed. Their expressions holding a silent conversation.

Oh shit. Did you see that?

Yes, girl. That was crazy.

Yeah, it was.

The conversation would’ve continued, but a voice called out from the office. “Mrs. Lopez, did you get a hold of Lola yet?”

“She’s right here, señora.”

“Send her in, please.”

Lola was already making her way to the door, but she took her time about it because she had a sneaking suspicion what the director of the community center wanted to discuss with her.

When she’d come back to El Centro three months ago, the place Lola had spent the majority of her childhood, it had been a shock to see Mrs. Fonseca still in the director’s office. Lola was very familiar with the woman who’d been running the organization for at least twenty-six years. She was the reason Lola had gotten into community service in the first place.

As an unusually young director, Mrs. Fonseca had always been inspiring and exacting while also being pragmatic. Even though she didn’t have decades of experience before taking on the role, she knew how to get people to act, and understood the struggle. She had high expectations for her staff, but she was right there in the trenches with them trying to make progress.

Now the decades of battle showed clearly in the deep lines in her forehead, but there were also plenty of laugh lines around her sparkling brown eyes. She was waiting for Lola behind her desk, a calm but pleasant look on her face. It was so similar to every other time Lola had walked into her office that she actually had to look down at herself to make sure she wasn’t a silent child or surly teenager anymore.

With her was Dolores Galván, the principal of the school La Escuela Estrellita.

Lola hadn’t done much collaboration with the woman yet, beyond some volunteering for school functions, but she got a good vibe from the woman. Although considering the way that teacher had just stormed out, Lola wondered if she’d been wrong.

“You asked to see me?” Lola said into the silence.

“Yes, please have a seat.” Mrs. Fonseca motioned Lola to the open chair in front of her desk.

She still couldn’t get over how calm they were after what had just happened. Lola would’ve been freaking out.

“As I’m sure you can guess,” Dolores began, “I’m now short a teacher.”

---