Page 65 of A Dish Best Served Hot

“The one attached to the old clinic?”

Leo nodded.

“Lola and I were just there last week. We thought the clinic could be a good spot to use for a new El Hogar, but it’s too expensive even with all of the damage. We’re trying to think of ways to raise money, but in the past the organization has done everything you can think of and barely received anything for it.”

“How does El Vecindario keep opening all of these different departments or whatever, if they have no money?”

Saint had asked Yara that same question. “They get government funds, grants, and stuff like that, but the money is only to be used for certain things, so it’s not like they can just move it around. Sometimes even the donations they get come with caveats of where they can be used.” Saint shook his head. “You’d think people would be willing to donate to El Hogar since it provides so many services for unhoused kids, but they don’t.”

“Because most of the kids are gay and our freaking community is still homophobic as fuck.” Leo shook his head. “Hypocrites.”

Abuelo Papo’s voice blared through the space. “And now I have a special song that I picked out for one of our amazing volunteers. Lola, get up here!”

Saint swung his head to the other side of the room where Lola was frantically shaking her finger in a negative.

“Don’t be shy. You’ll like this song. I promise.”

“I can’t sing,” she called.

“Everyone can sing, some just sound better than others,” Abuelo argued. “Ven.” She didn’t move so he got the audience involved. “Lo-la. Lo-la. Lo-la.” He chanted.

More and more people jumped in until the whole room was chanting. Even Rosie was clapping in time from her spot at the side of the stage.

Lola threw up her hands in defeat and stomped over to the stage. “I warned you all,” she said. “You’re going to regret it.” When no one rushed up to take the microphone from her, she sighed. “I probably don’t even know the song.”

“It’s from one of your favorite movies.”

“How do you know that?”

“Your abuelo told me.” He motioned to Rosie, who hit a button on the stereo system in front of her.

The title of the song and original artist appeared on the screen behind Lola. “‘Pelo Suelto’ by Gloria Trevi.”

Saint remembered the song vaguely from when his tía Carmen used to play it on repeat at family functions.

A rhythmic stomping sound started and the lyrics popped up. Lola began to sing, “A mi me gusta andar de pelo suelto.”

“Did you know this was from a movie?” Leo asked.

“No.” Saint watched as Lola started to get into it, stomping her foot and shaking her shoulders to the beat.

It was immediately clear to him why Lola liked the song. While it was literally about the singer liking to wear her hair down and loose, in context it was more the singer’s declaration of who she was and promising to be herself no matter what anyone said. It was an in-your-face anthem and the perfect fit for Lola.

Leo grimaced once Lola hit the chorus where the style changed from speaking to the beat, almost like rap, to actual singing. “She wasn’t lying about not being able to sing.”

His observation was on point. Lola couldn’t seem to hit a single note correctly. However, Saint wasn’t going to give his brother an inch, because he’d take a hundred miles. “She’s doing great.” Lola was clearly having a moment up there.

She fully embraced the experience, swinging her hair and singing about how she was going to be however she wanted to be and she wasn’t going to be afraid of anyone. The audience was right there with her, clapping along and cheering. She strutted up to Rosie and shook her hair in her face. Rosie started laughing and parroted Lola’s movement as she danced along. It was the cutest fucking thing Saint had ever seen.

“Rosie likes her,” Leo said with some surprise.

“She does.” Saint didn’t take his eyes off the stage.

“But she won’t talk around her.”

Saint shrugged. “I don’t know why. I don’t think Rosie even knows why, but she talks about Lola all the time and asks about her. She’s even told me that Lola is the best teacher.”

“Well, I guess it’s good that you’re both obsessed with her, because if it was only you, there’d be a big problem.”

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