Page 11 of Worth the Heat
“She screamed,” Camila tells me.
“Oh? Why would a ladybug be any different than an ant? Both insects. Both bigger under a microscope.”
“Do you know how big ant eyes are? And it looked like it had hair!”Abuelawhispers, her own eyes wide. “No more microscope.”
“Alright. Camila, save the microscope for me orAbuelita. Better yet,Abuelito. He will help you find more insects, I suspect.” My parents don’t spend as much time with Camila as my grandmother, but they’ll both be more patient about bug eyes.
“What am I supposed to do after school then, Daddy?” Camila whines, a sullen expression on her face as she follows me back into the kitchen.
I sigh as I pull out the ingredients to makearroz con gandules, arice and peas dish thatAbuelataught me to make when I wasn’t much older than Camila. “There’s a swingset in the backyard. You have an entire cabinet full of craft supplies, and two shelves of books. Your room looks like a Barbie factory, and ifAbuelitabuys you any more Legos, you’ll be able to cover an entire wall.”
“I don’t like the big Legos, Daddy. I want the little ones,” she pouts.
Crouching so we’re eye level, I cluck her under her chin. “But with the big ones, you andAbuelitaget to build towers so tall that even I can’t knock them down.”
Camila giggles. “Abuelitocan’t jump that high. Will I be able to jump higher than you when I’m a grown up?”
“I’m sure if you set your mind to it, you can do anything you want,mi Chiquita,” I tell her fondly. “Now go askAbuelanicely if she’ll help cut the plantains fortostones.”
“Oh!” Camila squeals. “I lovetostones!”
Who doesn’t love a fried plantain?
ISABELLA
Arianna: SOMEONE has finally made her dramatic debut on The Eagle Has Landed, and I am so fucking excited!
Hannah: This better be about Isabella, and not one of our daughters.
Kate: I just saw it! Boy, someone got the scoop up there quickly. Isn’t Belle still at work?
Me: I am, in fact, still at work.
Me: Just an article? No picture?
Natalie: Do you WANT a picture, Belle?
Me: I was just curious.
Gianna: She’s totally going to the site right now to look.
Me: This had to be photoshopped.
Arianna: Why?
Me: Because I’m smiling. AtSebastian. Today.
Hannah: You’re allowed to smile at him.
Me: I didn’t smile at him, though! I swear I didn’t. At least I don’t think that I did.
Me: Did I smile?
Me: OMG. There’s FLOUR on my face!
Kate: It’s kinda your trademark.
Me: Lovely.
